Feature Photo: Pelo #311, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Our top 10 Terence Trent D’Arby songs list presents the music of an American musician who rose to critical acclaim after the release of his 1987 debut album. Born in 1962, Terence Trent D’Arby started his music career as a member of a funk band going by the moniker Touch. The singer joined the funk band during his service period as a soldier posted in Germany. Eventually, Terence Trent D’Arby left the army moving to London where he established his solo career. Terence sought to explore the pop sound infused with progressive soul and rock sonic influences.
Terence Trent D’Arby Career Beginnings and Initial Success
The singer went on to issue his 1987 debut single “If You Let Me Stay,” a song that catapulted him to mainstream success in the UK, peaking at number seven on the Singles Chart. Terence Trent D’Arby issued his debut album, Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D’Arby, in 1987. The singer went on to claim that his debut album was the most significant recording since the 1967 album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles. His ‘impetuous’ claim just drew more attention to his debut album, which remains his best release of all time.
The album climbed to the top of the UK, Swiss, and Australian Albums Charts, topping also the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart. The album also rose to the fourth spot on the Billboard 200. Additionally, the album guided Terence Trent D’Arby to commercial success, selling over eight million album copies worldwide.
The album saw the singer hailed as a potential rival to the pop stars Prince, Sam Cooke, and Michael Jackson. “Wishing Well,” “Sign Your Name,” “Dance Little Sister,” and “If You Let Me Stay” are the best Terence Trent D’Arby songs from the album. The album earned Terence Trent D’Arby a Grammy Award in 1988 in the Best Male R&B Vocal Performance category. Other albums that had been nominated for the award include Any Love by Luther Vandross, Joy by Teddy Pendergrass, and Characters by Stevie Wonder. The album also earned Terence Trent D’Arby the BRIT Awards International Breakthrough Act accolade in 1988.
Terence Trent D’Arby’s Album Releases over the Years
After quite an audacious debut album, all eyes were on Terence Trent D’Arby, who had risen to the top ranks as a top progressive soul and pop artist. However, his self-hyped image as an unrivaled genius in the pop scene would not last for long. Terence Trent D’Arby’s 1989 sophomore studio album, Neither Fish nor Flesh failed to match (or even get close to) his debut album.
Neither Fish nor Flesh saw the singer take on an amalgam of psychedelic pop, R&B, funk, and rock. The album settles for a peak position of number twelve on the UK Albums Chart, rising to number sixty-one on the Billboard 200. Neither Fish nor Flesh only managed to sell slightly over a hundred thousand album copies in the UK, hence earning Gold certification. “This Side of Love,” “Billy Don’t Fall,” and “To Know Someone Deeply Is to Know Someone Softly” are the most popular songs by Terence Trent D’Arby from the album, Neither Fish nor Flesh.
In 1993, Terence Trent D’Arby issued his third studio album, Terence Trent D’Arby’s Symphony or Damn. The album was fairly received in the mainstream compared to the singer’s previous album. Terence Trent D’Arby’s Symphony or Damn rose to number four on the UK Albums Chart, peaking at number one hundred and nineteen on the Billboard 200. The album was Gold-certified in the UK, marking Terence Trent D’Arby’s last significant commercially successful release. “Let Her Down Easy,” “Delicate,” “She Kissed Me,” and “Do You Love Me Like You Say?” are the best Terence Trent D’Arby songs from the singer’s third outing.
Vibrator, issued in 1995, marked Terence Trent D’Arby’s fourth studio album. The album managed to rise to the eleventh spot on the UK Albums Chart. Vibrator peaked at number one hundred and seventy-eight on the Billboard 200. “Holding On to You,” “Vibrator,” and “Supermodel Sandwich” are the top musical gems from Vibrator. Unfortunately, this was his last album released under the stage name Terence Trent D’Arby. The album was also the last album by the singer to make it to the charts.
His next studio album, Wildcard, saw him use his previous and new stage name Sananda Maitreya. The singer has released eight more albums as Sananda Maitreya. However, none of these albums have managed to rekindle his lost spark in the music scene. While his star might have faded, Terence Trent D’Arby, or rather Sananda Maitreya remains a notable figure in the progressive soul/pop scene. Here we present the ten best Terence Trent D’Arby songs of all time.
#10 – O Divina
At number ten on our ten best Terence Trent D’Arby songs list is the jaunty hit “O Divina.” The song is the first hit off the singer’s fifth studio album, Wildcard. “O Divina” is a lyrical masterpiece that brings out his excellence as a songwriter. The song finds Terence Trent D’Arby embracing a bold and quite ambitious attitude, something that we reign throughout this adventurous LP.
“O Divina” serves as a perfect introduction to the inspirational music delivery of Terence Trent D’Arby on the album, Wildcard. Terence Trent D’Arby’s vocals on this hit are evocative of the smooth tenor vocals of the soul icon Sam Cooke. By the time the song was being issued, Terence Trent D’Arby’s star was already dimming hence it failed to make it to the charts.
#9 – To Know Someone Deeply Is to Know Someone Softly
After a remarkable debut album, Terence Trent D’Arby returned in 1989 with his sophomore studio album. The album was an overly ambitious piece of record, to say the least. Terence Trent D’Arby’s Middle Eastern and gospel infusions to funk, R&B, and rock sonic influences barely bore any fruits. However, songs like “To Know Someone Deeply Is to Know Someone Softly” beat all odds to claim their spot among the fan-favorite hits by Terence Trent D’Arby.
The song is a beautiful masterpiece that brings out the true value of the singer’s vocals as a pillar to his success in the music scene. It managed to rise to position forty-seven on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart. “To Know Someone Deeply Is to Know Someone Softly” went on to peak at number fifty-five on the UK Singles Chart.
#8 – Do You Love Me Like You Say?
Coming in at number eight on our top 10 Terence Trent D’Arby songs list is the breathtaking hit “Do You Love Me Like You Say?” The song is among the best Terence Trent D’Arby songs from the singer’s third studio album, Terence Trent D’Arby’s Symphony or Damn. “Do You Love Me Like You Say?” balances the singer’s songwriting skills and his ambitious sonic explorations.
Terence Trent D’Arby’s vocal delivery on this hit compares to those of legendary icons Michael Jackson and Prince. The song was a success on the UK Singles Chart where it peaked at number fourteen. “Do You Love Me Like You Say?” also made it to the Australian Singles Chart, peaking at number sixty-nine.
#7 – Dance Little Sister
“Dance Little Sister” is a jubilant cut off Terence Trent D’Arby’s debut studio album. The song is among the few releases by Terence Trent D’Arby to enter the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number thirty. “Dance Little Sister” also made an entry into the UK Singles Chart, rising to a peak position of number twenty. The song also made it to the Dutch and Australian Singles Chart, peaking at number three and forty-one, respectively.
#6 – Holding On to You
Number six on our top 10 Terence Trent D’Arby songs list is the charming hit “Holding On to You.” The song was released in 1995 and featured on the singer’s fourth studio album, Vibrator. “Holding On to You” has its lyrics allude to what it means to embrace a person in your heart. As Terence Trent D’Arby puts it, holding on to your lover means letting go of the tears, the rain, and the pain of the past. The song peaked at number twenty on the UK Singles Chart.
#5- Let Her Down Easy
Terence Trent D’Arby’s Symphony or Damn is home to the fifth pick of our top 10 Terence Trent D’Arby songs list, “Let Her Down Easy.” It is the singer’s vocal perfection on this song that makes it a record to reckon with! The heartwarming lyrics to the song are penned by singer Terence Trent D’Arby. This haunting release was a success in the mainstream, peaking at number eighteen on the UK Singles. “Let Her Down Easy” has been covered by George Michael and Ronan Keating.
#4- If You Let Me Stay
Terence Trent D’Arby was at his prime in the early stages of his solo career as evidenced by songs like “If You Let Me Stay.” The song was the singer’s debut single, which was later featured on his debut studio album. “If You Let Me Stay” finds the singer begging a lady who’s already fed up with his conduct and wishes to leave.
However, the singer was fast to note that the song was not autobiographical. The song was an instant success in the mainstream, peaking at number seven on the UK Singles Chart. The song eventually rose to the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number sixty-eight. “If You Let Me Stay” also made it to the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart, rising to a peak position of number nineteen.
#3- Delicate ft. Des’ree
The third pick on our top 10 Terence Trent D’Arby songs list is the marvelous hit “Delicate.” “Delicate” is among Terence Trent D’Arby’s best hits from his third LP, Terence Trent D’Arby’s Symphony or Damn. Terence Trent D’Arby released this hit featuring the English singer Des’ree. Des’ree is best known for her hits “You Gotta Be” and “Life.”
“Delicate” is the singer’s last solo song to enter the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number seventy-four. The song also made it to the UK Singles Chart, rising to a peak position of number fourteen.
#2- Sign Your Name
“Sign Your Name” is a musical gem from the singer’s debut studio album. Terence Trent D’Arby revealed that the song was inspired by a dream where he had Sade ask him to pen a song for her. The singer had seen Sade perform at Live Aid back in the mid-‘80s. “Sign Your Name” was an instant hit, rising to number two on the UK Singles Chart. The song also made it to the Billboard Hot 100, where it rose to the fourth spot. “Sign You Name” was a commercial success, earning Silver certification in the UK. The song has been covered by multiple artists including Sheryl Crow, Night Shift, Maria Lawson, Corinne Bailey Rae, and Michael Bolton featuring Ne-Yo.
#1- Wishing Well
Number one on our top 10 Terence Trent D’Arby songs list is the alluring hit “Wishing Well.” The song is the most sought-after release by Terence Trent D’Arby from his debut studio album. “Wishing Well” has its lyrics allude to young love. Terence Trent D’Arby revealed that the song’s line I want to be your midnight rambler is a reference to the 1969 hit “Midnight Rambler” by The Rolling Stones.
“Wishing Well” had a fantastic mainstream performance in the US topping the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart and Billboard Hot 100. The song also made it to the fourth spot on the UK Singles Chart. “Wishing Well” was covered by a few artists including Jason Spooner, Made in London, and Jim Bakkum. The song gained popularity following massive airplay on MTV.
Top 10 Terence Trent D’Arby Songs (Sananda Maitreya) article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2022
Classicrockhistory.com claims ownership of all its original content and Intellectual property under United States Copyright laws and those of all other foreign countries. No one person, business, or organization is allowed to re-publish any of our original content anywhere on the web or in print without our permission. All photos used are either public domain creative commons photos or licensed officially from Shutterstock under license with ClassicRockHistory.com. All photo credits have been placed at the end of the article. Any theft of our content will be met with swift legal action against the infringing websites.
