His eponymous debut album from 1982 is said to have provided a blueprint for the hard rock of the '80s. During the '80s and '90s, he worked with fellow hard rockers Lita Ford and Jon Bon Jovi -- he contributed heavily to the latter's 1990 solo debut Blaze of Glory -- as mainstream rock began to adapt his innovations. Nova found his greatest commercial success as a songwriter and producer for Celine Dion, earning a Grammy for her 1996 album Falling Into You. This success allowed Nova to be picky with his projects, but he eventually returned to his own recording career in 2018 with the release of 2.0.
Nova learned guitar when he was 15 years old, inspired equally by Jimi Hendrix and jazz. While he cut his teeth in local clubs, he also played George Harrison in a production of Beatlemania, spending his extra hours working as a studio engineer. Eventually, he landed a publishing deal, which led to a 1982 contract with Portrait Records.
Portrait allowed Nova to produce his own 1982 debut, which resulted in the album sounding unlike most other hard rock on the radio at that time. "Fantasy" hit at precisely the right moment, burning up the AOR rock charts but also receiving heavy play on MTV. This helped "Fantasy" reach the Billboard Top 40, climbing to number 23 while making it all the way to three on their Mainstream Rock chart. The album's second single, the power ballad "Fooling Yourself," reached 65 on the Hot 100, but Aldo Nova had legs, earning its first platinum certification in 1989 and a second in 1994.
Nova had a difficult time capitalizing on this success. On his 1983 sequel Subject…Aldo Nova, the guitarist ratcheted up the synthesizers and tied together the songs with a vague concept, conceits that made the album feel vaguely New Wave. "Monkey on Your Back," the album's lead single, went to 12 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart, but "Always Be Mine" couldn't get past 107. The album nevertheless managed to earn Gold certification in 1994. The record label intervened during the recording of 1985's Twitch to help steer him back onto the charts but it didn't help: the album stiffed upon its release. After its commercial failure, Nova asked to be let out of his contract with Portrait; his time with the label would be wrapped up with the release of the 1991 compilation, A Portrait of Aldo Nova.
At that point, Nova decided to recede from the spotlight. He chose to work as a session musician, producer, and professional songwriter, areas where he was experienced. During his ascent on the charts, he appeared on records by Michael Bolton and Blue Oyster Cult, but by 1984, he also was working on records by Lita Ford and Bon Jovi. The latter proved to be a crucial connection. In 1990, he played on Jon Bon Jovi's solo debut, Blaze of Glory, where he helped come up with the title track's lead riff. Bon Jovi had a history with Nova -- Nova appears on the 1984 debut by Jon's band -- and the rocker paid it forward six years later, signing Nova to his Jambco imprint and releasing Blood on the Bricks, but the record didn't go anywhere commercially, nor did the 1997 album Nova's Dream.
Of greater importance to Nova in the late 1990s was his collaboration with Celine Dion. He worked with the singer on some of her first albums, co-writing the song "A New Day Has Come," and the collaboration continued through her 1996 album Falling Into You. He produced part of the album, taking home a Grammy Award when it won Album of the Year in 1996. Another Grammy arrived when he worked with Latin rock group La Ley on Uno, which won the Grammy for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album in 2001. In 2003, he co-wrote "This Is the Night," which became a hit for Clay Aiken after he won American Idol.
Nova was firmly a behind-the-scenes artist by the 2000s, working as a producer and songwriter, toiling away on a rock opera called The Life and Times of Eddie Gage for the better part of a decade. Instead of releasing that, Nova mounted a comeback in 2018 with 2.0, an album where he offered new versions of his old hits.
His album "The Life and Times of Eddie Gage" was released in 2022.
Bright Lights
Aldo Nova Lyrics
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Jimmy was a bonified rocking machine
He said one day I'm going to show the world
Exactly what I've got
He took a pull out sixteen and made a deal
For an iron horse and rocking steel
And then he hit the highway
Let it ride
First gear, he's off and running
Second gear, can you feel it coming
Catch the wind and ride, to heaven
Bright lights, big city
I've got a six-string up
So I'm down and dirty
I'm gonna rock a little bit
Shake a little bit
Well I've got a dream and it just won't quit
Bright lights (bright lights), big city (big city)
And here I come and you better get ready
'Cause moving up loving it feeling alive
Get on the world and ride
Gonna make it to the other side
Jackie was just a small town girl
When she really lived in another world
One where she was a queen just like you know her gene
So she packed her bags and she said goodbye
Little boy called Jimmy hitched a ride
And together they rode off to the thrills of Hollywood
Let it ride
First gear, they're off and running
Second gear, can you feel it coming
Catch the wind and ride, to heaven
Bright lights, big city
I'm heading out to the big time don't you worry
I cry a little bit, laugh a little bit
'Cause we got a dream and it just won't quit
Bright lights (bright lights), big city (big city)
What we find might not be pretty
But we're moving up, loving it, feeling alive
Get on the world and ride to make it to the other side
Bright lights, bright lights, bright lights
First gear, that's right
Catch the wind and ride, to heaven
Bright lights (bright lights), big city (big city)
What you find might not be pretty
So you cry a little bit, laugh a little bit
Only you got a dream you just don't quit
Bright lights (bright lights), big city (big city)
You gotta move like a freight train slow and steady
But you moving up, loving it, feeling alive
Get on the world and ride to make it to the other side
You got to find the bright lights
The song "Bright Lights" by Aldo Nova tells the story of two small-town individuals, Jimmy and Jackie, who share the same dream of making it big as rock stars. Jimmy is a "bonafide rocking machine" who hops on his iron horse and sets off on the highway, determined to show the world his talent. Likewise, Jackie believes she was meant to be a queen in another world, and with Jimmy by her side, they head to the bright lights of Hollywood to chase their dreams. The lyrics encourage the listener to catch the wind and ride to heaven, to not give up on their aspirations and to embrace every experience along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
A small town boy with a big time dream
Jimmy was just another small-town boy who dreamed big
Jimmy was a bonified rocking machine
Jimmy was a natural when it came to rocking music
He said one day I'm going to show the world Exactly what I've got
Jimmy was determined to showcase his talents to the world
He took a pull out sixteen and made a deal For an iron horse and rocking steel
Jimmy got an electric guitar and an amplifier in exchange for doing some work
And then he hit the highway He ain't turning back no more Let it ride
Jimmy began his journey to pursue his dreams and never looked back
First gear, he's off and running Second gear, can you feel it coming Catch the wind and ride, to heaven
Jimmy's excitement and ambition grow as he accelerates his journey
Bright lights, big city I've got a six-string up So I'm down and dirty I'm gonna rock a little bit Shake a little bit Well I've got a dream and it just won't quit
Jimmy is ready to show his skills and rock the stage, powered by his unbreakable dream
And here I come and you better get ready 'Cause moving up loving it feeling alive Get on the world and ride Gonna make it to the other side
Jimmy is preparing to take on the world and achieve success, driven by his passion and positivity
Jackie was just a small town girl When she really lived in another world One where she was a queen just like you know her gene
Jackie was a small-town girl with big dreams, envisioning herself as queen of her own world
So she packed her bags and she said goodbye Little boy called Jimmy hitched a ride And together they rode off to the thrills of Hollywood Let it ride
Jackie and Jimmy team up to chase their dreams together, venturing to Hollywood for a chance at fame
First gear, they're off and running Second gear, can you feel it coming Catch the wind and ride, to heaven
Jackie and Jimmy are excitedly pursuing their goals, pushing forward with increasing speed
Bright lights, big city I'm heading out to the big time don't you worry I cry a little bit, laugh a little bit 'Cause we got a dream and it just won't quit
Jackie and Jimmy are determined to succeed and stay optimistic, even in the face of challenges
What we find might not be pretty But we're moving up, loving it, feeling alive Get on the world and ride to make it to the other side
Jackie and Jimmy acknowledge that success may not come easy, but they are committed to enjoying the journey and making it to the top
You gotta move like a freight train slow and steady But you moving up, loving it, feeling alive Get on the world and ride to make it to the other side
Jackie and Jimmy understand that achieving their dreams requires consistent effort and perseverance, but they remain upbeat and energized to reach their destination
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Aldo Nova, Aldo Caporuscio
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind