Etana is a Reggae singer out of Kingston, Jamaica. Not too long ago, she released her fifth studio album, entitled, “Reggae Forever”.
The artist parted ways with VP Records and this is her first time spearheading an album by herself.
“This is my first project by myself and it’s distributed by Tad’s Records. I’m hoping that all my fans will have the same love for the music like I do. I hope that they can see the growth in lyrical content, the vocals, and the versatility.”
FREE, PT. 2
“Reggae Forever” begins peacefully with an inspirational anthem that’s sure to stir up love within the hearts of listeners. The artist paints a perfect picture of being free, where prison bars aren’t able to hold her captive.
“Many chains cannot hold me. No. Concrete walls all come down. Tribulations cannot tear me down. No. I’m free. Yeah, baby. Yeah, I’m free. Yes, baby. She’s free to love, laugh, feel. Yeah, I’m free. Yes, baby.”
“I was going through a lot at the time when I wrote that song, with management changes and just finding myself. It was hard dealing with everyone telling me what I should look like and even how to write and sing. Everyone just had something to say. It was rough.” – Etana told THE STAR
FIGHTING FOR NOTHING
Etana questions why are we fighting? To her, it’s useless to do that. She addresses the skin color dilemma that’s causing division throughout the world.
Etana
“What if you could pick a color to be? Would you keep your color or would you change? If color was more than a color then would it set you free? Or would everything be the same? In this world, some people will hate you before they even know your name. In the next world, they’ll love you because they know that our blood are the same.”
The artist believes that standing together in unity will build a better tomorrow for our children.
SPREAD LOVE
The third track continues with positive vibrations. The artist suggests no matter where you’re from, keep spreading love no matter what.
“See this love that I’m feeling in my heart. Well, it’s undiluted. Yeah, and it’s concentrated. And I want to spread it to everybody in every corner all over the world.”
Spreading love has its perks. What you do to others will be done to you. So, why not spread the love by doing good? Doing so guarantees that you will be loved.
CARRY YOU
Etana reassures her man that she will be by his side, no matter what. Even though the world is a cold-hearted place, she tells him she will be there to warm him up doing those chilling times.
Etana
She encourages her man to not give up and wants him to lean on her shoulder when times get rough. She’s all he needs, and when he’s down or wounded, she will be there to nurture him with love.
YOU’RE THE ONE
Etana praises her man and credits him as the main reason why she’s happy. She’s crazy and foolishly in love with him.
“Crazy, that’s how I feel about you. You got me going through messages, boy, even your Facebook to see who you’re talking to. Foolish, well, maybe I am. Because of you, baby, you’re the one.”
SPRUNG
The artist continues to express what she’s feeling inside. Her innermost thoughts she wears on her sleeves. She’s head over heels for her man and she doesn’t know what to do.
“Oh, baby. I’m in love all over again. Try to hide but I can’t pretend. It’s crazy. All the things you got me doing. Oh, baby. I’m sprung all over again. Gotta be much more than your friend. It’s crazy but I need you up in my bed.”
MY MAN
Etana continues praising her man. He’s just for her and she’s just for him. There’s nobody like him in the world. Also, nobody can come in between their loving relationship.
He’s king and she’s queen. Also, she compares their relationship to the power couple, Jay-Z and Beyoncé.
“All of my love is for you. Know what you do what you do. Touch me right treat me good. Rude boy, me love all your rules. Can’t let a man like you go.”
SOLDIER
Etana reveals that she’s a soldier for her man’s love. It’s wartime, and she compares herself to a cloud and he’s the sunlight shining through it. Also, she admits when she sees his face she knows she has found her place.
Etana
“If the sun is shining down, we won’t go to town. People can’t talk but they cannot smile can’t hide their frowns. They say too young too sad too mad they say I am too ruin. But we take it in stride I cannot hide I love you.
“Soldier” is a song about persevering through difficult times. In every relationship, there will come a time of war, and during that time, Etana preaches to be a soldier of love.
GOOD ENOUGH
Etana tackles a relationship issue that many couples are facing. Where one person in the relationship is trying too hard to impress the other.
“I can swim ‘cross the oceans, and it wouldn’t be good enough. Show my emotions, but you still treat me rough. If all my erosion in exchange for your love. I can give you my whole life and it wouldn’t be good enough.”
Instead of being thanked by her man, Etana sings about getting mistreated because he shows her no love. No matter what she does for him. He doesn’t appreciate the loving efforts put forth by a strong woman.
BURNED
The flip side of love is usually something not good. When a female is done wrong, there’s no telling what she might do. ‘Burned’ is a story about a good girl gone bad.
Etana – “Burned”
The Jay Will-directed video shows what happens when a female catches her man cheating with another woman.
The hurt woman plots to get revenge and waits for the opportune time to drug his food. Also, she captures the woman that he was cheating on her with.
Although this is a reality that some women choose, the negative outcome of the video dilutes Etana’s message of love. We would have loved to see a positive outcome instead of fighting injustice with injustice.
But Etana warned us, “When you play with love someone’s gonna get burned.”
NO MONEY, NO LOVE
Etana sings about money and its importance to keeping a loving relationship afloat. It’s a fact that one of the main causes of divorce is lack of finances.
The artist let it be known that no money means no love. It isn’t free in today’s society because it takes money to fuel a relationship or keep the love going.
6 MINS: 21 SECS
Etana addresses people that are trying to tear her down with hurtful words. Somehow, they can’t. Through this brief moment of torment, she perseveres.
The artist admits she lives in a glass house because she throws stones. She probably shouldn’t talk because to say how you feel is to dig your own grave. Also, don’t trust shadows when the light is dark.
DESTINATION
Etana travels to her final destination, where blessings flow. The trip is guided by The Almighty One, and no one can stop her ascension.
JAH LOVE (I KNOW)
Even though Etana is a strong woman of faith, she’s knows that there is a power greater than her. So, she takes time to honor her Creator.
CONCLUSION
“Reggae Forever” is a classic project filled with positive energy, insightful lyrics of admiration, and relationship drama.
Etana
“One thing is for sure when Etana loves, she loves wholeheartedly.”
Reggae music has the ability to unite people, and Etana uses it as a vehicle to carry listeners through areas of love and drama. It’s a united we stand, divided we fall body of work. Also, we highly recommend that you add it to your music collection.
“Reggae Forever”
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