Career and Fans 'Rise Up' for Singer Andra Day

Career and Fans 'Rise Up' for Singer Andra Day

Andra Day's life changed when Stevie Wonder called her on the telephone. The music superstar asked Day if he could work with her.

That was almost six years ago. Stevie Wonder had heard about the singer from his wife at the time, Kai Millard Morris. She had discovered Day in a short video. It showed Day singing in front of a small shopping center in Malibu, California.

Andra Day said her talk with Stevie Wonder inspired her.

"I was so nervous,'' she said. "I kept saying to myself that he's just a regular person. But in the same breath, I was saying, 'He's a legend.' I felt like a meteor hit my house. It inspired me to keep pushing.''

A year later Wonder introduced Day to longtime producer Adrian Gurvitz. He signed her to his company, Buskin Records.

Now her career is taking off. The 31-year-old singer is nominated¹ for two Grammy Awards - best R&B album for her debut², "Cheers to the Fall,'' and best R&B performance for the single "Rise Up.''

Day and Grammy nominee³ Ellie Goulding will sing together at the awards ceremony. The Grammy Awards are on February 15.

Until then, Day is preparing for her upcoming 35-city show tour.

Everything seems to be falling into place for Day.

"My prayers are being answered for my career,'' she said. "There's a reason I have this platform. There's a reason I have this gift. It's a blessing⁴.''

Filmmaker Spike⁵ Lee saw Day perform last year at the Sundance Film Festival. She sang there during a Nina Simone tribute⁶. After seeing Day’s performance, Lee offered to direct the music video for her first single, “Forever Mine.”

This month, Day will appear on a Black History Month program on ESPN television. ESPN is featuring Day and her song "Rise Up'' as part of the network's Black History Month hour-long program. It airs February 14th. “Rise Up” will play during the special program, which honors⁷ black athletes.

Day has also performed in commercials with Stevie Wonder and Serena Williams. Over the holidays, the Obama family asked Day to perform in two White House events, including the 2015 National Christmas Tree Lighting⁸ ceremony.

Day said her album, “Cheers to the Fall,” is about her life. She said that includes a past relationship in which she wronged a friend.

"I want people to ... not be afraid of their truth,'' Day said. “No matter how dark or precarious⁹ it may seem, continue to pursue¹⁰ your truth.”

Words in This Story

inspire – v. to make (someone) want to do something : to give (someone) an idea about what to do or create

meteor – n. a piece of rock or metal that burns and glows¹¹ brightly in the sky as it falls from outer space into the Earth's atmosphere

legend – n. a famous or important person who is known for doing something extremely well

sign – v. to hire (someone) to do something especially by having that person sign a contract

take off – phrasal verb. to suddenly become successful or popular

fall into place – expression  to become organized; when a situation becomes as it should be

tour – n. a series of related¹² performances or appearances that occur at different places over a period of time

platform – n. something that allows someone to tell a large number of people about an idea, product, etc.

1 nominated   

adj.被提名的，被任命的 动词nominate的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• She has been nominated for the presidency. 她已经获得了董事长职位的提名。
• The movie was nominated for an Oscar. 这部电影获奥斯卡金像奖提名。

2 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

3 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

4 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。

5 spike   

n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效

参考例句：

• The spike pierced the receipts and held them in order.那个钉子穿过那些收据并使之按顺序排列。
• They'll do anything to spike the guns of the opposition.他们会使出各种手段来挫败对手。

6 tribute   

n.颂词，称赞，(表示敬意的)礼物；贡品

参考例句：

• She accepted their tribute graciously.她慈祥地接受了他们的致意。
• Many conquered nations had to pay tribute to the rulers of ancient Rome.许多被征服的国家必须向古罗马的统治者朝贡。

7 honors   

n.礼仪；荣典；礼节； 大学荣誉学位；大学优等成绩；尊敬( honor的名词复数 )；敬意；荣誉；光荣

参考例句：

• He aims at honors. 他力求名誉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We did the last honors to his remains. 我们向他的遗体告别。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

9 precarious   

adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的

参考例句：

• Our financial situation had become precarious.我们的财务状况已变得不稳定了。
• He earned a precarious living as an artist.作为一个艺术家，他过得是朝不保夕的生活。

10 pursue   

vt.继续，从事；追赶，追踪；追求

参考例句：

• He began to pursue an easy and comfortable life.他开始追求安逸舒适的生活。
• This is the path that we shall continue to pursue.这是我们要继续走的道路。

11 glows   

v.（无焰地）燃烧( glow的第三人称单数 )；脸红；尤指热的物体发出微弱而稳定的光；喜形于色

参考例句：

• The red star on top of the building glows in the darkness. 黑暗中，那栋大楼顶上的红星发出亮光。 来自辞典例句
• An electric light glows when it is turned on. 当灯被打开时，它发出光亮。 来自辞典例句

12 related   

adj.有关系的，有关联的，叙述的，讲述的

参考例句：

• I am not related to him in any way.我和他无任何关系。
• We spent days going through all related reference material.我们花了好多天功夫查阅所有有关的参考资料。