Performing live is important
because you can record tracks all day
but if you really have a voice
and you perform live
people know that you can vocally sing.
I found out I was going to perform at Soul Train Awards
when my manager called me.
She said they want you to perform.
I was like, no way.
This is a big opportunity because my album is coming out.
(groovy music)
♪ My phone, chills when I saw ♪
When I heard the band's live arrangement of my song
I felt like they nailed it.
I felt like they made it bigger
'cause I was thinking like
this song is more of a vibey song.
♪ My hair ♪
I can't really even showcase my vocals on this song
so how am I gonna do that?
♪ Good morning text no more ♪
♪ I don't get no kiss when I walk out the door ♪
♪ Baby we were so deep in love ♪
So when I heard the arrangement
I was like, okay this sounds big.
Bands make the show and the music so much more.
You can slow the song down if you want.
You can play around with it.
You can make it bigger if it's not such a big song.
So I just love the idea of having a big band.
It can be a lot of pressure when performing sick.
(blows nose)
I got two days to get my voice right.
I just know that I have to do what I need to do
to take care of my throat issues right now.
No, like the end.
So I need to find a way to make it bigger than what it is
and I don't know how right now.
- I was thinking of Drake.
I was thinking, too, after the bridge.
♪ Do I love you more ♪
♪ And I'm dreaming of before ♪
- I wanna go ♪ Do I love you more ♪
So I'm gonna have her answer, right?
♪ Do I love you more ♪
♪ Old you and I miss the old us ♪
♪ Can we back step ♪ (coughs)
♪ Do I love you more ♪
♪ It was way better ♪ ♪ It was way better ♪
♪ It was way better ♪
- Same thing.
- So anthem, but it's like call and answer.
- That's all I'm saying, yeah.
If you call and response you'll stay up big, what else?
And then we can end.
- [Naija Voiceover] With the assistance of Adam and Noelle
they pretty much helped me find the pockets
and where I could show the range that I wanna show.
♪ It was way better ♪
♪ Do I love you, do I love you more ♪
♪ Do I love you more ♪
♪ I want it more ♪
♪ Do I love you more ♪
- First of all, the girl can sing.
She sounded good.
I want to just let her take the mic.
But it was helpful.
I'm gonna try and do with hoarse voice.
Sound good. - You got it.
- It kind of was a moment of women empowerment
because when she stepped up
like, that's my song.
I didn't have no problem with having someone
teach me something.
I'm just humble.
Every time something seems like it's not going to go right
it ends up being just fine.
- Let's get the sound check going, here we go.
- Walking into the Orleans Arena
I love the set up of the stage.
I love how they gon' have me looking.
I love the dancers.
I see all these faces on the chairs
and I'm like oh my god.
I gotta perform in front of these legends.
Like Yolanda Adams and Kelly Price.
All these big people and it just made me
once again, feel like that little girl all over again.
(horns warming up)
We all have to start from somewhere
so they must see something in me
that maybe one day I'll be just like them, a legend.
I guess I just kinda keep perfecting my craft
and keep working on it.
♪ Was so deep in love ♪
♪ What happened to us ♪
♪ Guess all I really wanna know is ♪
♪ Do I love you more ♪
♪ Than you love me, 'cause it was way better before ♪
This is a big deal to me
because first of all, it's live.
So whatever I do, it's going to be there.
I'm excited.
♪ Yeah, I try so hard to ignore my heart ♪
♪ Thought it was all in my mind ♪
♪ But you know my intuition never ♪
♪ My intuition never lies ♪
♪ 'Cause I don't get that good morning text no more ♪
♪ I don't get no kiss when I walk out the door ♪
♪ Baby we were so deep in love ♪
♪ Happen to us ♪
First of all, I love Draco.
He was basically just trying to teach me
how to play around with the camera.
Play around with the way I walk.
He was pretty much trying to tell me
when I came out stage
to look at the camera directly.
The next step is now just with myself.
First of all, take care of my voice
and make sure it's gon' be on point on Sunday.
I just need to find my arrangement
of, okay, this is the first verse I'ma do this.
Second verse I'ma do this.
And after the bridge I'll do this.
So pretty much it's all with me.
I just have to study what I'ma do and memorize it.
♪ Do I love you more ♪
♪ Do you still love me ♪
♪ I wanna know ♪
♪ Ooh ♪
♪ Who washed Washington's white welling underwear ♪
♪ When Washington's washing woman went west ♪
♪ Washington's wife washed Washington's white ♪
That is is vocal warm up, guys.
Now back to you, Jim.
The biggest difference today it my voice.
When I first started out I was very hoarse.
I could barely hit a high note.
Now I can do it someway.
It's showtime, it's showtime up in here.
- Just two years ago she was an unsigned artist.
Tonight this Detroit native is here
to explain the importance of a good morning text.
Ladies and gentleman, Queen Naija!
(audience cheers)
♪ I used to check my phone ♪
♪ Chills when I saw your name ♪
♪ Used to talk all night long ♪
♪ Now things are not the same ♪
♪ I used to lay in your bed ♪
When people see my live performance in Soul Train
I would like to gain new supporters.
I would like for people to just be like--
♪ Question myself ♪
that girl can sing.
♪ I don't get that good morning text no more ♪
♪ I don't get no kiss when I walk out the door ♪
♪ Baby, we were so deep in love ♪
♪ What happened to us ♪
♪ Guess all I really wanna know is ♪
♪ Do I love you more ♪
I would like them to gain a new perspective about me
and know more of who I am.
♪ Do you still love me ♪
I'm a humble superstar.
♪ Do I love you more ♪
♪ Do you still love me, I wanna know ♪
♪ Do I love you more than you love me ♪
♪ 'Cause it was way better before ♪
Thank you BET Soul Train Awards, I love you so much.
Thank y'all for having me
and recognizing my craft.
And I hope to be back next year.
♪ I wanna know, do I love you more ♪
(audience cheers)