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Grammy-winning artist Melanie Fiona makes a powerful return with her new EP 'Say Yes'! 🎶 In this unforgettable performance, Melanie shares her journey as an independent artist, dives into her personal growth, and celebrates saying "yes" to her truth. From performing soulful hits like "Mona Lisa Smile" to the fan-favorite "It Kills Me," she delivers passion, connection, and energy. Don't miss Melanie's inspiring message of overcoming fears and staying true to yourself, all while treating us to her signature retro-soul sound. Say yes to this incredible moment and let Melanie Fiona move you! ✨🎤 #MelanieFiona #SayYes #LiveMusic #SoulMusic
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CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Melanie Fiona Performs “Mona Lisa” Live
10:25 - Melanie Fiona Performs “Make Me Feel Good” Live
13:39 - Sway & Melanie Fiona Sing “It Kills Me” Duet
15:13 - The Importance of Saying Yes in Life
19:57 - The Power of the Throat Chakra Explained
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0:00
We're so happy to have her here today, right, Heather B
0:02
Absolutely. She has a song that kills me from her past when she was signed to a record label
0:08
Now she's independent. She got a new project called Say Yes. She's just magnificent, incredible
0:15
and I need some of you folks that sit in it. Y'all ever watch Purple Rain
0:20
Who's seen Purple Rain? You seen the scene in the audience where Prince is performing
0:25
and the audience is looking like this? That's how you look, okay
0:29
So give us some energy. Please make some noise. She's our headliner
0:34
I need everybody to stand up. Give us standing ovation right now
0:38
for the one and only Canada's finest worldwide, Melanie Fiona! Shout out to the first two artists who performed tonight
0:49
Jalen and Nali. I was listening backstage amazing. Jalen, I love her voice so much
0:55
I'm so happy to be here with all of you guys. this has absolutely been a journey for me
1:00
As Sway said, thank you guys for the support. We recently did, we did a duet. I hope you have your vocals ready today
1:07
And it kills me. Wow. See, if you stay ready, you don't got to get ready
1:12
You know what I'm saying? Okay. You better watch out. We need a round two from our interview that we did
1:19
That viral moment. So get ready. You're going to be on standby. But as he said, I did, I put out a new project
1:24
It's been the first one in a long time. It is a six-song EP named Say Yes
1:29
Yes. Amen. Say yes to your truth. Say yes to yourself. Say yes to overcoming your fears
1:35
Say yes to everything that you deserve in your life, because it's yours. It's just waiting for you
1:40
And that's how I feel about this project and this season of my life. So I'm going to perform one of my favorite songs off the project
1:46
This is called Mona Lisa Smile, because I often feel that we talk a lot about men and their pride
1:53
but women have pride, too. And it's very important that we recognize how we carry that
1:59
And that we are carrying a lot, especially as black women. So this is Mona Lisa's Smile
2:08
Perfect picture in a broken framing. No one ever sees the broken pieces of the painting
2:15
I know you're lying. I'm lying. It's crazy. I don't really know why in the hell I'm trying to save this
2:22
If I didn't love you, I'd walk out that door. If a man can have his pride while a girl can have more
2:31
I'd rather go to war before a letter teardrop hit this floor
2:36
I'll never let you see me breaking down. You'll never have to pick me up off the ground
2:49
I'd rather stand pretty than beg and plead for your pity And I'll go a million miles wearing this Mona, Mona Lisa smile
3:08
Well, if they start coming down Mona Lisa smile Boy, I'm afraid I might drown
3:20
Mona Lisa's smile. Yeah, before I lose my mind, I'mma let you know now
3:29
I'll go a million miles wearing this Mona, Mona Lisa. You don't care to say that it's over
3:41
Instead of giving up, I learned to give you the cold shoulder. I gave you time so I'm yours and you're mine
3:48
My heart's on the line, love's who will stop Even if I could get my feet to run
3:55
I'd go around in circles cause I know I'm not done We're gonna both lose it all
4:03
Before a little tip drop hit this floor Let you see me breaking down
4:12
You'll never have to pick me up off the ground I'd rather stand pretty than begging me for your pity
4:26
And I'll go a million miles wearing this Mona, Mona Lisa smile
4:38
Well, if they start coming down, boy, I'm afraid I might drown
4:53
Yeah, before I lose my mind, I'ma let you know now. I'll go a million miles, wearing this long line
5:05
Mona needs to smile Thank you guys so much
5:21
That's a little classic, classic vibe. I think a lot of my first fans of my first project
5:28
The Bridge and the MF Life, they appreciate that one. The Retro Soul is where it all started for me
5:35
But you know, let's go to where it all started for me. Sway, are you ready? I'm ready
5:39
And it kills me. Oh man How much I really love you OK So much I wanna So much I wanna Hoo hoo hoo Yeah hoo hoo hoo
5:54
See, that's what we needed in the morning. We needed some champagne. Let's go. Let's get it ready
5:58
And it kills me. Hey. You got your microphone. To know how much I really love you
6:04
Don't shy out now. Hoo, hoo, hoo. So much I wanna. Hoo, hoo, hoo
6:10
Go ahead. Take it from here, Mel. I got it from here
6:15
Thank you. I got it from here. Y'all make some noise for Sway. And those immaculate vocals
6:25
This song changed my life. Still changing my life. Oh, yeah, yeah
6:34
I've got trouble with my friends. Trouble in my life. Problems when you don't come home at night
6:43
But when you do, you always start to fight But I can't be alone
6:56
I need you to come on home I know we're messing around
7:05
But who the hell else is gonna hold me down? I've gotta be on my mind
7:15
To think it's good work this time A part of me wants to leave
7:24
But the other side still believes And it kills me To know how much I really love you
7:34
So much I wanna Ooh, ooh, ooh You got it Ooh, ooh, ooh
7:43
Thank you, Bill Should I grab his sail Call his chick up
7:50
Start some shit Then hang out Or should I be a lady
7:56
Ooh, baby Cause I wanna have his babies Oh yeah Cause I don't
8:06
Want to be alone I don't need to be On my own
8:13
But I love this man Some things I just can't say No
8:22
I've gotta be on my mind To think it's gonna work It's high
8:31
A part of me Wants to leave But the other side Still believe
8:39
I really love you So much I love you
8:48
Do you Do you Should I pay you back
9:29
And it kills me To know how much I really love you
9:39
So much To you Can y'all sing it out
9:50
And it kills me To know how much I really love you
9:56
To know how much A little special treat
10:29
This one is for Sway specifically because when we did our interview on the project, I collaborated with an incredible rapper
10:34
by the name of LaRusso. And we did a really fun summer joint
10:39
I love it. It just feels like summer. And so I want to leave you guys with a summer vibe
10:44
This is Make Me Feel Good. Okay, make me feel. Yeah, yeah
10:49
Lately you're distracted when you come around And I be tripping out
10:54
cause you don't hear me out Are you gon' turn me up or you gon' hold me down
10:59
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah I know it's so good even when it gets bad
11:05
And this thing is for life, there ain't no going back Cause you know I'm the best thing that you ever had
11:11
So let's get back to that Wait, we're waiting out the rain
11:18
I know it's this joy, this pain And for your love I will wait
11:25
And babe it won always be this way Even if we both change My love is gonna stay the same so just make me feel Make me feel good like a Sunday morning
11:42
Sunset Boulevard, sunroof open. Puffing on a tray with the palm trees blowing
11:49
I know the plague, you ain't even gotta say it. Just make me feel good, you know how I want it
11:55
I don't wanna wait, I just wanna jump on it. Ride itself with the baseline good wind
12:02
Ay, you know how you make me feel. Like butterflies and bees
12:07
When roses start to bloom. When hummingbirds sing. I'm hoping that it's you every time my phone ring
12:14
Do-wop, do-wop, beware that thing. The sun don't always shine, but when you smile it feels like it
12:20
Insecure about your weight gain, I still like it. You want this shit to last, then you gotta build like it
12:26
know it might not last forever, but at least it feels like it. Wait, we're waiting out the rain
12:34
I know we'll destroy this pain. And for your love, I will wait
12:42
And babe, it won't always be this way. Even if we both change, my love is going to stay the same
12:53
So just make me feel. Like a Sunday morning Sunset full of sunroof
13:00
Open, puffin' on a jay With the palm trees blowin' I know the prayer
13:06
You ain't even gotta say it Just make me feel good You know how I want it
13:11
I don't wanna wait I just wanna jump on it Riding slow with the bass line
13:16
Go away Yeah, yeah Thank y'all so much! I love you guys
13:24
Thank you so much for rocking with me. Thank you. An incredible artist, and she's doing it independent
13:29
She's doing it independent. Say yes. Can you say yes? Can you say yes
13:35
Can you say yes? Yes. Yo, how'd I do, Mel? No, seriously, Mel, how'd I do
13:41
You did great. I did real? You definitely redeemed yourself from our interview
13:45
I didn't think I did bad in our interview, but so be it. I mean. That's how you feel
13:50
I mean, I actually had a lot of grace for you that morning
13:55
You did. You were a little hard on yourself. I was. But if you feel good about it, I feel great about it
13:59
Because you told me you felt good about it. You know what? And I still do. Okay. I feel even better today, though
14:06
Okay, thank you. A lot of inconsistencies here, Mel, but since you performed for us, I won't point them out
14:12
It's Gemini season. Is that it? Yeah. Y'all flip a lot. You know, Gemini, there's two of them
14:17
Yeah, yeah, y'all flippity. Y'all very flippity. There's no slander. It's just facts, guys
14:22
Are there Geminis in here? Put a hand up. It's just facts. You are outnumbered
14:27
Y'all are strange people. Wow. You don't even know yourselves. Oh, my gosh
14:32
Except for my Uncle Rob. Rob, stand up. Rob, stand up. Your brother
14:35
Uncle Rob. Uncle Rob. Barb, stand up. You got these two brothers
14:40
Look at that. Stand up. Beautiful. Those brothers stood up for you. They sure did
14:44
You know you hit the soul quotient. Thank you. When they stole the soul quotient
14:48
Yes. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Go ahead, guys. Yes, fam
14:53
And the Grammy goes to? Melanie Fiona. I mean, Grammy award winning
14:57
Grammy award winning. She is. Juno award winning. She is. And she just sang for y'all for free
15:05
Live. And gave all the live, though. All of it. Say yes
15:10
Yes. Say yes. Say yes. Yes. Melanie, this is such a powerful
15:15
I told you what I feel about the project, and it sounds good. You're an outstanding performer
15:19
Thank you. Yeah, man. It's my favorite part. To perform. Yeah. See, she's performed with some of the greatest from Drake on down, you know
15:28
but you had a history before people knew who you were. How important was that process to your success today
15:34
just the times that people didn't see you on stage? You know, it's interesting because I think a lot of people are still
15:41
discovering my performance element, which I think is great. You know, I think it's something I've always prided myself on
15:48
It's something that I put a lot of dedicated time into overcoming certain things
15:55
It's funny because when I was a kid, I was terrified of singing live in front of people
15:59
Oh, yeah, at all the family gatherings, I would make everybody turn around. My Caribbean parents would be like, Melanie, come and sing for the family
16:07
And I used to be like, just don't look at me. And now I love looking at people directly when I sing
16:14
just because I understand the importance of connection with your audience and truly what it means to really use that time
16:24
to give people something to feel, to be remembered by, and to remember you for
16:29
So it's just, that's what every encounter feels like for me, no matter whether it's speaking with someone, interviews, on stage
16:37
It's about just the connection and the impression you leave with people and really with you
16:41
I love this young lady, man. Yeah. She even, last time she came, I don't know where Mike is working
16:48
Can you hear me here? Hear me? That one. Last time she came, she hung out so she could just take Heather's cooking home
16:55
Like she wanted to cook Heather's food and Tupperware. I love this young lady
17:01
I started saying yes to certain things in the past recent year
17:05
I had to say yes to creating boundaries, personal boundaries for myself
17:10
to pour into myself what I tried to pour into others. I hadn done that So I started saying yes to things I would never say yes to I took a vacation by myself Yes Yes Yes I went to Aruba by myself
17:28
Yes. You saw the flamingos? I can't remember the hotel. I drank by myself
17:34
I said yes to it. I can't remember. I'm not a drinker. Yes, yes. I went to Jamaica by myself
17:40
Yes. Right? I said yes to just giving my, and it's been the best thing
17:44
things my auntie Katie will tell you I worked for decades and even when I took
17:50
vacation I took the family on vacation I didn't never take time
17:54
to myself. What are some of the things that personal things that you had to recently say
18:00
yes to that you normally have it? I had to say yes to putting
18:08
out new music again. Yes. For all the reasons why things take time
18:18
One of the mantras I've been living my life by is, take your time, it's yours to take
18:23
Because we often feel like we're on a clock of somebody else's time. There's really only one clock we're on
18:28
if we're given more time. Say it loud. And so for me, I just really value the space
18:35
to make a life as well as making a living. To build a family, to develop my personal relationships
18:42
with myself, my husband, God, my family, and really get to a place where there were times
18:49
when I wasn't sure if I wanted to put out new music again. I didn't know how to
18:53
I didn't know where to begin. I didn't know if I had the confidence to. I went through a lot of things professionally that really broke my spirit
19:02
And I didn't know how I was going to continue. And so I realized that once I got to this place within the last year, I had to say yes
19:10
to God's calling on my gift. because that's what I'm here to do
19:15
That's all we're here to do, truly, is to answer the call of God and the universe and when they call
19:20
And so I was being called, and I had to say yes through all the hurt or the doubt or the I don't know how
19:29
Just figure it out. Just follow through. Just follow through. So now the project just came out in April
19:35
and I'm so proud of myself. I'm so proud of myself. It's not about how many people
19:41
although I would love everybody to listen to it. It's not about the streaming numbers or the biggest rooms
19:47
It's about that it needs to reach who it reaches, but that I've fulfilled a purpose that I had with God
19:53
And so that's why Say Yes is so important to me. Melanie, Fiona, y'all
19:58
Thank you, guys. Mel, what I deeply appreciate about you is your spiritual connection
20:06
You believe in a higher power, but you also believe in the higher power within
20:11
that you possess. And I'm wondering, when I think about our throat chakra
20:17
and how sometimes it can be underdeveloped, it can be overused. And I'm wondering in your personal life
20:24
during the times of doubt, where maybe you were kind of clammed up
20:29
you weren't vocalizing your needs, right? You were swallowing a lot, just hoarding a lot of feelings
20:37
Do you feel like those times where you were unintentionally silent that impacted your vocal ability
20:45
Oh, absolutely. There was a period of 2012 right after the Grammys
20:51
the Grammy wins with CeeLo, right after, it was actually just before I toured
20:56
with Mary J. Blige. I had just put out my sophomore project, The MF Life, and I'm coming off this extreme high
21:01
the Grammys, success, highest heights, like the most fame I had ever experienced
21:06
and my voice started to have challenges. And so songs like It Kills Me
21:12
were very, very difficult to sing. I barely had 30 minutes of singing in me at some shows
21:18
and I remember I would pray and I would pray and I would pray and I'd be like, what is going on
21:22
And I went to see all these vocal doctors and they all were like
21:26
nothing's wrong with your vocal cords. And it was one doctor that said
21:31
what kind of a year have you had? and it just opened up a floodgate of taking self-inventory
21:40
How was I feeling? How was I using my voice? Who was I hanging around and what was I saying yes to
21:46
that I shouldn't have been saying yes to? Where did I need to say no so that I could get to this place
21:51
to say yes freely? It was a lot of self-reflection, and essentially what happened was
21:57
I was experiencing an energetic stress block in my throat chakra, which is, we all have, we're made of energy, and it directly attacked my voice
22:08
And it made me pause and really made me shift my entire perspective of how and when and where I choose to use the gift of my voice
22:19
And I couldn't just continue to say yes to everything. I couldn't just show up when I didn't feel well
22:24
I couldn't just take a check because it was a good one. It was really about God, I think, pulling me by my vocal cords, really
22:32
and saying, hey, I gave you this blessing. I need you to be very mindful about how you use it
22:37
And I need you to be very mindful about how you protect it
22:42
And I ended up going through just a few weeks of just deep meditative work
22:48
energy healing, some acupuncture, some Eastern medicine. And within that self-realization and actualization
22:55
I toured with Mary J. Blige and D'Angelo for six weeks and had no problems with my voice ever again
22:59
just from answering the call. Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for Melanie Fiona one time
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