In 1977 she was signed with Polydor Records. Her 1978 hit single "I Love the Nightlife (Disco Round)" reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 charts and was also charting on Billboard's "Hits of the World" charts. The song was also #5 on the Record World and Cash Box charts consecutively. Alicia's song was a "crossover", meaning it charted on more than one genre chart simultaneously, such as the dance tracks chart, pop charts, etc. The song was even played on country music stations.
In 1978 Alicia was a Grammy nominee and was the opening act for the awards show, performing "I Love the Nightlife". Alicia's self titled LP "Alicia Bridges" was also rising on the Billboard, Cash Box and Record World charts and the LP remained on the charts for up to 35 weeks. Both the LP and the single release were international successes for Alicia and "I Love The Nightlife" landed at the top of the charts in France and Germany with notable chart numbers in the UK, where it peaked at Number 32 on the UK singles chart, Spain and other European countries. Alicia's music was popular in Japan as well. Alicia received a RIAA Certified Gold Record for the sale of over one million copies of her hit single in the USA, as well as a gold record from Canada.
Even by 1977, Alicia was already well-versed as a rock, blues and ballad singer. "I Love The Nightlife" has a definite back beat and organ similar to early 70s R&B. Alicia's intention was to record the track as an R&B song. But it was the shrewd ear of publishing mogul Bill Lowery who first heard the song as a disco dance tune. Soon thereafter, Jim Burgess produced the 12" single remix. Ultimately it became a worldwide hit. The song has been featured in several movies including "Love At First Bite", "The Last Days of Disco" and "The Adventures of Priscilla, the Queen of the Desert".
Alicia's second single, "Body Heat", was a rock song with strong electric guitar rhythms, reflecting her earlier experience singing in rock and other genres. Although "I Love The Nightlife" was the most notable hit from the "Alicia Bridges" LP, "Broken Woman", a blues/rock song, also found favor among many fans.
In November 2006, Alicia Bridges released a remixed and remastered compilation of her songs entitled, "This Girl Don't Care". The CD jacket has three pink triangles as part of the design graphics as well as a pink triangle on the vest Alicia is wearing. Being "out" to the public for many years, Alicia has been a long-time supporter of the Gay and Lesbian communities. She has said that the re-mixed and remastered CD is especially for her gay family and friends, though it reaches out with a message for others as well. A biography, sound clips and more are available on her official website at http://www.aliciabridges.com.
Break Away
Alicia Bridges Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I picked my ego up and turned it around
Voices of angels sang a hymn in my ear
The tune was heavy and the meaning was clear
The message moved me in a sweet symphony
Lifted my spirit into sweet harmony
When they sang, "Break away"
It's the morning of your life
Break away - This is your day
Make it count, make it right, break away, break away
Some people can't believe in mystical things
But I believed it when I heard the angels sing
I watched the day break on the east side of town
I dropped the shackles that were keeping me down
I knew the message in the meaning was true
It gave me hope and it will give it to you
Oh, honey, break away
It's a new day
It's the morning of your life
Break away - This is your day
Make it count, make it right, break away, break away
The lyrics to Alicia Bridges's song Break Away describe a moment of spiritual awakening and liberation. The singer has arrived in a new town and experiences a kind of epiphany, triggered by the beautiful voices of angels singing a hymn that lifts their spirit into "sweet harmony." The message of the song is all about breaking free from shackles and limitations, and moving on into a new and better chapter of life. The repeated refrain "break away" emphasizes the importance of taking action and seizing the day, making the most of the opportunities that come our way.
The lyrics of Break Away have a deeply uplifting and motivating message that speaks to the human spirit. They encourage the listener to believe in oneself and one's potential, to embrace change and seek out new horizons, and to let go of anything that might be holding us back. The metaphor of the stars dancing, which opens the song, suggests a sense of wonder and possibility, and sets the tone for the transformative experience that follows. Overall, the song is a call to action, urging us to break out of our old patterns and make the most of the present moment.
Line by Line Meaning
The stars were dancing when I pulled into town
As I arrived in the town, the sight of the shining stars created a sense of joy and enthusiasm within me.
I picked my ego up and turned it around
I realized the need to prioritize positivity and self-improvement rather than succumbing to negative thoughts and self-doubt.
Voices of angels sang a hymn in my ear
The mystical, yet enchanting sound of the melodic hymn sung by the angels resonated with me, creating a feeling of awe and inspiration.
The tune was heavy and the meaning was clear
The song's melody had a profound effect on me and the message of the song was easily understandable.
The message moved me, in a sweet symphony
The inspiring words of the song touched my heart, creating a feeling of depth and passion that resonated within my entire being.
Lifted my spirit into sweet harmony
The song inspired me and lifted my spirit to a level of internal calmness and harmony.
When they sang, 'Break away'
As I heard the song, the message conveyed urged me to break free from my comfort zone and live my life to the fullest.
It's a new day
The song symbolizes the beginning of a new day and the endless possibilities it holds.
It's the morning of your life
The song represents a new chapter in one's life and embodies the idea of a fresh and hopeful start.
Break away - This is your day
The song urges us to break away from any shackles that may be holding us back and seize the day to make the most of it by fulfilling our dreams and aspirations.
Make it count, make it right, break away, break away
Through this repetition of the phrase 'break away', the song energizes us to take action, seize the moment, and grasp the opportunities that await us.
Some people can't believe in mystical things
The song acknowledges that not every individual may believe in mythical beings or supernatural occurrences.
But I believed it when I heard the angels sing
However, the song recounts how the artist's personal experience has led them to strongly believe in the existence of a divine being, as they felt the angels' hymn in their soul.
I watched the day break on the east side of town
The artist observes the beginning of a new day on the horizon, filling them with a sense of hope and inspiration.
I dropped the shackles that were keeping me down
The song emphasizes the importance of freeing our minds from any negative thoughts or beliefs that may be hindering our progress towards achieving our goals and aspirations.
I knew the message in the meaning was true
The song's message of breaking away from obstacles and striving towards our dreams is authentic and true to the artist's own experiences.
It gave me hope and it will give it to you
The song imbues a sense of hope and inspiration in the listener, urging them to follow their dreams and break away from limitations and self-doubt.
Oh, honey, break away
With affectionate tones, the song encourages the listener to take action and break free from their inhibitions towards achieving their life goals and aspirations.
Writer(s): SUSAN BETH HUTCHESON, ALICIA BRIDGES
Contributed by David D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.