Astrid invented the name Animotion to convey energy and emotion. They recruited former L.A. Red Zone band members Frenchy O’Brien (drums), Paul Antonelli (keyboards) and Charles Ottavio (bass). Larry Ross (manager) quit CBS records to become their full time manager and he brought in Bill Wadhams (lead vocals + guitar) to front the band with Astrid. Another keyboard player was brought on board that same year when Greg Smith joined the band, together with lead guitarist Don Kirkpatrick. In March 1984 they did a showcase for Russ Regan of Polygram Records and inked the deal soon after. KROQ in Los Angeles, put Obsession on heavy rotation in December 1984.
Frenchy O’Brien left the band before the recording of Strange Behavior and was replaced by Jim Blair. In the midst of recording their third album Animotion went through personnel changes as all three of the remaining founding members (Bill Wadhams, Astrid Plane and Charles Ottavio) departed. Following their departure, Ottavio and Plane married. Actress/dancer/singer Cynthia Rhodes, known for her performance as the character "Penny Johnson" in the 1987 film Dirty Dancing, replaced Plane as female lead singer. Former solo artist/Device member Paul Engemann replaced Wadhams as the male lead for Animotion's second self-titled album. When their third record did not live up to the chart expectations, the band split in 1990.
In 2001 by special request from Alex Hart of KNRK in Portland, Oregon and with mega-effort from Bill, Animotion - once again with Astrid on lead vocals - reunited. In a display combining energy, emotion and intensity they played to a sold-out crowd. The band all agreed that it felt like magic to be onstage together again and Animotion Version 2001 was launched with Astrid Plane (lead vocals), Bill Wadhams (lead vocals + guitar), Charles Ottavio (drums), Don Kirkpatrick (lead guitar), Greg Smith (keyboards) and Kevin Rankin (drums).
For more info please visit the official website: www.AnimotionLive.com OR http://www.facebook.com/pages/Animotion/159155150791076
Calling It Love
Animotion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I believe that tomorrow would make things all right
I still tell you I love you, that you're forever mine
It makes you feel good and it buys me some time
[Chorus:]
If I told you I needed you
But I sent you away
Because I want you to stay
Calling it love
Say you'll stay
Calling it love
'Cause I'm too scared to say
Let's call it a day
I never questioned my feelings before
I felt but I felt there was it, nothin' more
But I can't keep denying the truth in my heart
Ooo, the touching and talking but we're oceans apart
[Chorus]
I've been spending my life
Thinking you're the one
Now I'm holding my lies
And the damage was done
If I told you I needed you
But I sent you away
I've been calling it love
Because I want you to stay
Calling it love
Say you'll stay
Calling it love
'Cause I'm too scared to say
I've been calling it love
I've been calling it love
Because I want you to stay
Calling it love
Say you'll stay
Calling it love
'Cause I'm too scared to say
I've been calling it love...
I've been calling it love...
The song "Calling It Love" by Animotion is about a person who is realizing that they are in love with someone, but they are too scared to admit it. The chorus, "If I told you I needed you, but I sent you away, I've been calling it love because I want you to stay," expresses this fear of being vulnerable and honest about their feelings. The singer is wrestling with their emotions, trying to convince themselves that they are doing the right thing by keeping their true feelings hidden. However, they are also aware that they are hurting the other person by not being truthful. The line "It makes you feel good and it buys me some time" further emphasizes this conflict within the singer.
In the second verse, the singer acknowledges that they have been in denial about their feelings for the other person. They have been physically intimate with them ("the touching and talking"), but emotionally distant ("we're oceans apart"). They have been in denial, struggling to come to terms with their true emotions.
Overall, "Calling It Love" is a song about fear and vulnerability in love. It speaks to the human experience of being scared to reveal our true emotions, even when we know it's the right thing to do.
Line by Line Meaning
I lay here beside you, just thinkin' all night
Lying next to you all night, I couldn't help but think about us and our relationship.
I believe that tomorrow would make things all right
Despite the problems we're having now, I have faith that things will work out in the end.
I still tell you I love you, that you're forever mine
I keep telling you that I love you and that we're meant to be together, even though I'm not sure I believe it anymore.
It makes you feel good and it buys me some time
Telling you that I love you makes you happy, and it also gives me an excuse to avoid dealing with our problems head-on.
If I told you I needed you
If I admitted to you that I need you and can't live without you,
But I sent you away
But I still pushed you away and ended things between us,
I've been calling it love
I've been using the word 'love' to describe our relationship, even though it's not accurate.
Because I want you to stay
Because I'm afraid of losing you and I want you to stay with me, even if it means pretending that everything is okay.
Calling it love
Continuing to call our relationship 'love', even though it's not genuine or healthy.
Say you'll stay
Please promise me that you'll stay with me, even though I'm lying to you and not being honest about my true feelings and intentions.
Because I'm too scared to say
I don't want to confront the truth about our relationship because I'm afraid of what it might mean for us and for me personally.
Let's call it a day
We need to end things between us because we're not happy or healthy together.
I never questioned my feelings before
In the past, I was certain about my feelings for you and our relationship.
I felt but I felt there was it, nothin' more
I was content with the way things were between us and didn't feel the need for anything more than what we had.
But I can't keep denying the truth in my heart
Now, I can't ignore my doubts and concerns about our relationship anymore.
Ooo, the touching and talking but we're oceans apart
Even though we physically touch and talk to each other, emotionally and mentally we're very distant from each other and not on the same page.
I've been spending my life
I've been dedicating my life and my time to
Thinking you're the one
Believing that you are the person I'm meant to be with and spend my life with.
Now I'm holding my lies
Now, I'm dealing with the consequences of all the lies and false promises I've made to you.
And the damage was done
Our relationship has been damaged irreparably by my dishonesty and unwillingness to confront the truth.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DESMOND CHILD, ANTON M. FIG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
OR78
I lay here beside you, just thinkin’ all night
I believe that tomorrow would make things all right
I still tell you I love you, that you’re forever mine
Ooh, it makes you feel good and it buys me some time
If I told you I needed you
But I sent you away
I’ve been calling it love 'cause I want you to stay
Calling it love, a spade is a spade
Calling it love 'cause I’m too scared to say
Let’s call it a day
I never questioned my feelings before
I felt, but I felt there was it, nothin’ more
But I can’t keep denying the truth in my heart
Ooh, the touching and talking but we’re oceans apart
If I told you I needed you
But I sent you away
I’ve been calling it love 'cause I want you to stay
Calling it love, a spade is a spade
Calling it love 'cause I’m too scared to say
Let’s call it a day
I’ve been spending my life
Thinking you’re the one
Now I’m holding my lies
And the damage is done
And if I told you I needed you
But I sent you away
I’ve been calling it love 'cause I want you to stay
Calling it love, a spade is a spade
Calling it love 'cause I’m too scared to say
Let’s call it a day
I’ve been calling it love 'cause I want u to stay
Calling it love, a spade is a spade
Calling it love 'cause I’m too scared to say
Let’s call it a day
I’ve been calling it love
I’ve been calling it love
(P.S. there's not a single resource on the net who has the "a spade is a spade " line correctly, but I'm pretty sure these are the words.)
Anne Kibbons
Cynthia Rhodes has such a beautiful voice. She is a very beautiful person. What I would give to have her energy and her talent for dancing. This is my favorite song of hers.
Cool Cat
Fantastic power ballad & should've charted much higher than it did. The new singers (especially Cynthia) were great as well. I only wish the band had stayed together a lil longer cuz they were one of the best of the 80's.
Fun fact: Anton Figg, the drummer from David Letterman’s talk show, actually co-wrote this song along with hit songwriter - Desmond Child
Tonya Ingram
What I love about this song you can truly hear my cynthia Rhodes soulful singing voice
80s beginner
in the name of good music lovers, I wanna thank you for this rare video.
we waited for this one! a long time! too long! ;)
this is such a beautiful gift for youtube! outstanding stuff !!
Cynthia Rhodes was fantastic singer, such a powerful wonderful voice!
this was the second track off Animotion's third (and last) album, and the second Single after top 10 Room To Move (previously by the band Climie Fisher). another 2 hidden gems off the album are Message Of Love and House Of Love.
THANKS AGAIN !
Nikita
yeah, such a shame for the watermarks though 🙄
Paul Wilson
All those songs should have been bigger especially in Australia .
Bs Bull
Well said. Big thanks to both of you.
RockTheNights Oze Toni
+80s beginner Your welcome! It's a pleasure sharing with people who enjoy music so passionately like you!
DeborahHarryFan
TEAM CYNTHIA FOREVER! She has so much talent and was a triple threat. An amazing dancer and actress and singer. I am so sad she left her career behind. I miss her!
Eaglechild
One of the best bands of 80s!!