Sheila E.

Released: February 19, 1987

Songwriter: Sheila E. Prince

Producer: David Z. Prince

In a flash
He caught her eye
He was everything she was looking for
He had big cash and a Brando smile
He was pretty easy 2 adore

She tried her luck, huh
I mean she played the man
She sho'nuff thought she could turn him on

But she got (stuck)
Stuck when he kissed her hand
And told her that he wanted 2 take her home

Pride and the passion
Laugh all night
Cry all day
If true love is old-fashioned
Should we pass or should we play?

In a flash
Her life had changed
(Life had changed)
Everything she feared was put on trial
(Everything was put on trial)

Priorities rearranged
(Rearranged)
She said she had 2 have him 4 a little while
And if he's good
He can teach her things
(He can teach her things)

Things about herself that she never knew
And if he's the one
The shining armor knight
Think of all the dirty things they could do

Pride and the passion
Laugh all night
Cry all day
Cuz if true love is old-fashioned
Should we pass or should we play?

What's it gonna be?
The pride or the passion, passion, passion?

In a flash
She took a chance
She let him take her 2 his crib
Music played
They started 2 dance

She said she really dug his ad-lib
What went down
I don't wanna say
(I don't wanna say)

Destiny is yours
Don't let it fool ya
And if U're wrong
Expect a massive drag
If U're right
More power 2 ya

Pride
Pride and the passion
Pride and the passion, ooh
The pride and the passion
Oh, pride and the passion

Sheila E., born Sheila Escovedo on December 12, 1957, is a singer, songwriter, and percussionist from Oakland, California. Her honorific title is “The Queen of Percussion”.

The daughter of a Mexican jazz percussionist and Creole/African-American factory worker, Sheila comes from a family of musical royalty – father Pete Escovedo and uncle Coke were members of the Santana band for a time. Her other uncles are Alejandro, who has had a sustained alt-punk career; Javier, who led the early punk pioneer band The Zeros; and Mario, who fronted the 90s group The Dragons and MEX, aka Mario Escovedo Xperience. Sheila’s brothers Juan and Peter Michael are also percussionists, with Peter working on The Wayne Brady Show. Sheila is the goddaughter of Tito Puente, a Latin Jazz pioneer and Spanish Harlem legend.

“Before I had language, I had rhythm,” she wrote in The Beat Of My Own Drum, a 2014 memoir. “I learned it before I learned my mother tongue.” At the age of 20, Sheila became a member of George Duke’s R&B jazz band, and worked with him from 1976 to 1980, during Duke’s early Epic/CBS years. By the age of 26, she had already worked or toured with Marvin Gaye, Herbie Hancock, Diana Ross, and family friend Lionel Richie.

more tracks from the album

Sheila E

From the album

Sheila E (1987)

Sheila E. popular songs

Pride and the PassionSheila E.

Sheila E.

Sheila E