Every time I'm telling secrets
I remember how it used to be
And I realized how much I miss you
And I realize how it feels to be free
Now I see I'm up to no good (no, no, no)
And I wanna start again
Cant remember when I felt good (baby)
No I cant remember when
No, only in my dreams
As real as it may seem
It was only in my dreams
Couldn't see how much I missed you (now I do)
Couldn't see how much it meant
Now I see my world come tumbling down(tumbling down my world)
Now I see the road is bent
If I only once could hold you (no, no, no)
And remember how it used to be
If only I could scold you
And forget how it feels to be free
No, no, no, no, only in my dreams
As real as it may seem
It was only in my dreams
No, no, no, no, only in my dreams
As real as it may seem
It was only in my dreams
No, no, no, only in my dreams
As real as it may seem
It was only in my dreams
Debbie Gibson 1986
Nine years old.... let me make one disclaimer here: I don't think my ears fully developed until I was about 11.
This song came out in a time of teen pop stars all over the place. Tiffany, Debbie Gibson, it was also the time of "Pretty in Pink".
"Dreams" was written by Gibson herself when she was just 14. Believe it or not it was voted #95 on VH1's 100 Greatest songs of the 80's.
Thinking of this song reminds me of days at the roller rink, beating boys up on the play ground because they were "icky" and yes even playing with the newest Barbie and her 8 million accessories. I can't say there is a whole lot of deep seeded meaning in this song. It appears she may have let her man go and is now regretting that decision. I am sure many can relate to this. "The one who got away", and now all your left with is your dreams. Certainly everyone has that one person; the one person that always makes you say what if. This song gives you the bubblegum pop outlet to sing your heart out about it.
I am interested to see how my other half relates to this one, I am sure it was never on the top of his play list.
I can't say I wasn't warned. I was offered the opportunity to know in advance the song that would appear from my counterpart today (she herself offered the knowledge) but I declined. Now I'm rethinking the wisdom of that decision...
ReplyDeleteI too remember this song well. It came out right around the time I started getting into metal. Along with Tiffany one couldn't turn a radio on anywhere without hearing Debbie Gibson or Tiffany, so it's safe to say that this song is more seared into my memory than anything else. It's one of those songs that just drives you nuts before the radio stations are through destroying it. I think I heard it twice before the "Wow, she's only 15 (or whatever)" factor wore off and the song got old.
My problem, however, was the radio stations had a cash cow with this song. They got their hooks into a catchy tune with a talented and cute singer and milked it for all it was worth. Unfortunately, it would pretty much sap most of Debbie Gibson's career right along with it.
One thing is correct in it was never at the top of my playlist. I think my sister may have had this on cassette at one point, but I can't remember.
Overall, this song really never contained any meaning for me past the shallow bubblegum pop songs about being in love and dreaming. I never really cared about the song and usualy turned the station when it came on.
The only thing missing to make this any more sugary would be unicorns and teddy bears. That alone would have been enough to propel album sales as parents purchased this innocent sweet music for their tweens and teens.
I hope I have laid out my feelings without showing the contempt I felt for a lot of the bubblegum pop of the 1980's. It can be hard sometimes when I didn't even listen to it when I was at that age. I think I've risen to the challenge...
For my next one I may go under the radar a little. I wonder, though, will my counterpart be able to handle it?
Time to hit the forward button on the iPod.