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.
See The Light
Aldo Nova Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And they call you a fool
You think "It's alright"
It's all part of the rules
But don't look away
Till you've seen the light
Or they'll get to you
Well if you want to stay
[Chorus]
See the light and you will find the answer
Morning, night anytime
See the light and you will find the answer
Morning, night anytime
If you see the light
You want to give up
Cause they're getting to you
They say live it up
And stop being a fool
[Chorus]
If you see the light
[Chorus]
If you see the light
And you do it right
And shake things up
And just get it right
Don't be a fool
Play it cool
Just get it right
Look to the light
Yeah!
The lyrics of Aldo Nova's song "See The Light" urge listeners to embrace new experiences and stay true to themselves. The song begins with a warning not to turn away from the truth, to face reality and embrace it. The lyrics suggest that if the listener wants to remain grounded and centered, they must follow their instincts and stay true to themselves. With the repeated chorus line, "See the light and you will find the answer," the song encourages the listener to stay open to new possibilities and to have faith that their path will lead them to where they need to be.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more urgent, tugging at the listener to not give into pressures and to stay true to oneself. It seems to suggest that as we age, we get lost in our day-to-day activities, jobs, status and forget what's important. It urges people to listen to the inner voice and find the right way to navigate. The song finally ends on a note of hope, with a surging energy urging listeners to embrace the light and to shake things up, but to do so with purpose and confidence.
Overall, "See The Light" can be viewed as an anthem for self-discovery, urging listeners to trust their instincts, and that staying true to oneself will eventually lead to a more fulfilling life.
Line by Line Meaning
You took to the light
You embraced a new way of thinking or belief system.
And they call you a fool
Others may criticize or judge you for your new perspective.
You think "It's alright"
You remain confident in your decision despite external negativity.
It's all part of the rules
Resistance to change is expected and common.
But don't look away
Stay committed to exploring this new path.
Till you've seen the light
Stay curious and continue to seek out answers and understanding.
Or they'll get to you
If you give up, you will fall back into old ways of thinking.
Well if you want to stay
If you want to maintain this new perspective,
Then do what you gotta do
Take action and continue to pursue this path of understanding.
See the light and you will find the answer
By embracing this new way of thinking, you will find answers to your questions and purpose in life.
Morning, night anytime
This new perspective can be applied and sought at any time.
If you see the light
If you embrace this new perspective fully,
You want to give up
You may feel discouraged or overwhelmed at times.
Cause they're getting to you
External negativity can affect your belief in this new path.
They say live it up
Others may tell you to return to your old ways of thinking.
And stop being a fool
Others may judge you for your new perspective.
And you do it right
If you commit to this new perspective fully and honestly,
And shake things up
Your new perspective can bring about change and growth.
And just get it right
By remaining committed and true to your new beliefs, you can find success and purpose.
Don't be a fool
Don't let external opinions or negativity dampen your new perspective.
Play it cool
Remain calm and collected in the face of opposition to your new beliefs.
Just get it right
Stay committed to your new beliefs and continue to grow and evolve.
Look to the light
Remain optimistic and committed to exploring new perspectives.
Lyrics © Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: NOVA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@skeletonmakesgood
Damn! That guitar solo! Killer track!!
@mikeherrera1275
Very underrated one of the best guitarist of the early 80s
@rickjones3648
Killer b side tune. Great guitar work.
@leeaxelinger2556
Love the solo, and the keyboard riff near the end.
@rockzulla
AGREED I LOVE IT ALSO AWESOME
@SB-kx5ji
he had great solos
@sergiomauriciovargaspalaci6217
Excelente
@DanAbrigg1964
Killer Guitar Solo & song!
@dickielarue1451
I used to beat the dashboard of my mom's car...a 1981 Toyota Tercel with this beauty...Drove her absolutley bananas...She saw the light, yes sir...😉✌🤘🤟🤠🥁🎸
@nategonz85
That solo holy moooly