The group initially attracted attention as a sound system, playing records at house and street parties (where their clothing style, dubbed "Funki Dred," started a line of clothing). Founded by Jazzie B and featuring a changing roster of other musicians - notably Nellee Hooper, Simon Law, Phillip 'Daddae' Harvey and Caron Wheeler - Soul II Soul's experiments in music-making of their own resulted in the dub plate "Fairplay," which secured them a recording contract with Virgin Records.
The group also had some success in the United States, where "Back To Life" reached the Top 10 and was certified platinum, and the album (renamed asKeep On Moving for the US market) reached the Top 20 and sold over two million copies. The group also won two Grammy Awards; Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals for "Back To Life", and Best R&B Instrumental for "African Dance".
Their follow-up album, Vol. II: 1990 - A New Decade, yielded two Top 10 hits, "Get A Life" and "A Dream's A Dream", the latter featuring vocals byVictoria Wilson James. This album also reached number 1, and was certified platinum by the BPI, and reached the Top 30 in the US where it was certified gold. In April 1990, Soul II Soul got three US Soul Train awards.[3] The band had one more Top 10 in 1992 with "Joy", taken from their third album Vol. III: Just Right, which itself peaked at number 3 and was certified gold by the BPI. However, by this time the band's commercial success was in decline.
Their greatest hitscompilation album, Volume IV: The Singles 88-93, was released in late 1993 and peaked at number 10. Soul II Soul reached Volume Vof their series of albums for Virgin in 1995, which peaked at number 13. They then moved to Island Records and released two more albums in 1997,Volume VI Time for Change and the remix album @REMIX.or.jp, but these failed to chart. The group then virtually disbanded for some years, but reformed for various live dates in the 2000s.
In 2002, Doreen Waddell, a former singer with Soul II Soul living in Hove, died after being hit by three cars while fleeing from a shoplifting incident. The 36-year-old, who left a 4-year-old son, sang lead vocals on Feel Free and Happiness (Dub), and backing vocals on other tracks, on the album Club Classics Vol. One.
The daughter of former member Melissa Bell, Alexandra Burke, was the winner of the 2008 series of the UK television talent contest The X Factor and has since gone on to a successful music career of her own.[4] On 2 December 2008, a radio programme about Soul II Soul was broadcast on BBC Radio 4.
The Soul II Soul Sound System featuring Caron Wheeler toured Australia nationally in February 2009. They played the Playground Weekender Festivalnear Sydney, New South Wales. Soul II Soul performed live at the Yasalam free concerts in conjunction with the 2009 Formula 1TM Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix celebrations in October 2009.
This thing called life
know whats the meaning of the line
tell me
well its like dreaming of your goals ,
ambitions feeling free
achieve what
whats in your minds eye
this is what you should gain
satisfaction becomes a shinnning example
a test of a sample of a new race
that has ample supply of positivity
you mean flow
well like electricity
so you see a clear way with no ambiguity
dont you know
whats the meaning
whats the meaning of life
whats the meaning
whats the meaning of life
elevate your mind
free your soul
well come on come on
feel the feeling let your body take control
well dont be afraid to experiment you know umm
go ahead you know and implement your ideas
your notions put them in motion
like the words the funki dreds have spoken to you
so listen up loud and clear
this is a word you must be aware of
what ya gonna do put it in your life tool
and thats the meaning of life
whats the meaning
whats the meaning of life
whats the meaning
whats the meaning of life
whats the meaning
whats the meaning of life
whats the meaning
whats the meaning of life
and it goes on
elevate your mind
free your soul
well come on come on
feel the feeling let your body take control
so there it is work it out for yourself
yeah , be selective be ojective
be an asset to the collective
as you know you have to get a life
whats the meaning
whats the meaning of life
whats the meaning
whats the meaning of life
whats the meaning
whats the meaning of life
whats the meaning
whats the meaning of life
elevate your mind
free your soul
well come on come on
feel the feeling let your body take control
ah yeah
