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.
Diamond In The Rough
Alicia Bridges Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you like the things they say
Or do you find it disconcerting and unkind
It's a joke I've learned to live with
Being different from the crowd
They'd like to polish me up
Give me a trim, water me down, make me be like them
A diamond in the rough
Taking my time
Deciding when to shine
Diamond in the rough
Diamond in the rough
Diamond in the rough
Diamond in the rough
I had hoped that you would love me
Since I could fall in love with you
Could we find our place in each other somewhere tonight
Oh, I hope so
Or has the talk decayed the beauty
That we once began to find
Would you like to polish me up
Give me a trim, water me down, make me be like them
I'm still a diamond in the rough
A diamond in the rough
Taking my time, deciding when to shine
Diamond in the rough
Diamond in the rough
Diamond in the rough, diamond in the rough
In the song "Diamond In The Rough," Alicia Bridges shares her thoughts and feelings about how people perceive her. She questions whether the listener is influenced by people's negative comments about her or not. Despite her differences from the crowd, Bridges claims that she has learned to live with it. People's desire to change her personality and appearance, however, is not something she's willing to acquiesce to. In the chorus, Bridges states that she is still a diamond in the rough and that she's taking her time to decide when the perfect moment will present itself to shine.
Throughout the song, Bridges expresses her desire for the listener to see her for who she is and not to judge her based on rumors and negative opinions. She speaks candidly about her hope that the listener can look beyond the opinions of others and see her as the person she truly is. The lyrics of the song convey that Bridges is proud of her individuality, which sets her apart from the crowd. She is determined to maintain her authenticity and not succumb to the pressure of being someone else.
Line by Line Meaning
You've heard the way people talk about me
Have you been listening to how others have been talking about me?
Do you like the things they say
Do you agree with what they are saying about me?
Or do you find it disconcerting and unkind
Or do you find it upsetting and unpleasant?
It's a joke I've learned to live with
It's something I've come to accept as a part of my life
Being different from the crowd
Because I don't fit in with everyone else
They'd like to polish me up
They want to change me to fit their standards
Give me a trim, water me down, make me be like them
Mold me to their expectations and make me just like everyone else
But I'm a diamond in the rough
But I am unique and special, despite what others say
Taking my time
I'm not in a hurry to change who I am
Deciding when to shine
I'll show off my true potential when I am ready
I had hoped that you would love me
I was hoping you would accept me for who I am
Since I could fall in love with you
Since I fell in love with you
Could we find our place in each other somewhere tonight
Can we connect with each other tonight?
Or has the talk decayed the beauty
Or have the negative comments ruined what we once had?
That we once began to find
The connection we once had
Diamond in the rough, diamond in the rough
I am still unique and special, despite everything
Writer(s): ALICIA BRIDGES, SUSAN HUTCHESON
Contributed by Victoria Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
everydayppl101
I really loved this album as well; every once in a while I want to listen to her. Like now, so thank you.
Andrea True
I think this lady was ahead of her time in some ways. She has a strong way of expressing herself.
thais manrique
Que bueno seria que bajaran este album completo igual que el Rojo.. que bueno son., adoro ha esta mujer.
NOVEDADES CON WALLY
Tengo este disco de vinilo LP y es lo mejor que me pudo haber pasado. ALICIA BRIDGES
Lety Romero
Estoy de acuerdo ALICIA BRIDGES ES UNICA
Bob Davis
A great singer and song. But the title is misspelled in the video and just below it. It is "Diamond In The Rough," not "Diamond Is The Rough."
CARLA WALKER
No she need some ackshon
Bob Davis
@nineball26 Ack - Shaun (Cassidy) was what it made me think back then....he might come on the radio next!