Intro - Braveheart

Album: BraveHeart (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The name of Ashanti's fifth album was inspired by one of her favorite movies, Braveheart. The 1995 film starred Mel Gibson as a 13th century Scottish warrior leading the Scots against the British and won the Academy Award for Best Picture. "The title 'BraveHeart' is self-explanatory," she told The Drop.FM. "You have to be brave and have to have a heart in various aspects of life including relationships and your career. You have to be brave just to survive."

    "I love the movie Braveheart," Ashanti added. "The battle between the British and the Scots. The British had armor and horses and swords and shields and the Scots had handmade weapons, rags and rocks. But their passion was deniable and unstoppable."
  • BraveHeart was the first album released by Ashanti since setting up her own record label, Written Entertainment. She related the war between the powerful British and the undermanned Scots to running her own music label. "It's a metaphor for the music industry and the major labels and the independent labels like mine," the singer commented. "I've been on major labels and now I am on my own. The challenge of having my own label is balancing being a CEO and an artist. As an artist I love to create and spend hours in the studio and come up with ideas. As a CEO I have to contain that because I have to write the check."

    "As an artist I would love to be recording 20 or 24 hours a day but as the CEO I get the invoice and I have to pay for everything," Ashanti continued. "I have to find that happy medium. As a CEO I have a lot more responsibility but the return is amazing."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde

Johnette Napolitano of Concrete BlondeSongwriter Interviews

The singer/bassist for Concrete Blonde talks about how her songs come from clairvoyance, and takes us through the making of their hit "Joey."

Steely Dan

Steely DanFact or Fiction

Did they really trade their guitarist to The Doobie Brothers? Are they named after something naughty? And what's up with the band name?

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"They're Playing My Song

It wasn't her biggest hit as a songwriter (that would be "Bette Davis Eyes"), but "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" had a family connection for Jackie.

They Might Be Giants

They Might Be GiantsSongwriter Interviews

Who writes a song about a name they found in a phone book? That's just one of the everyday things these guys find to sing about. Anything in their field of vision or general scope of knowledge is fair game. If you cross paths with them, so are you.

Ralph Casale  - Session Pro

Ralph Casale - Session ProSongwriter Interviews

A top New York studio musician, Ralph played guitar on many '60s hits, including "Lightnin' Strikes," "A Lover's Concerto" and "I Am A Rock."

Dar Williams

Dar WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

A popular contemporary folk singer, Williams still remembers the sticky note that changed her life in college.