He was born in Fyzabad, Trinidad and Tobago to Grenadian parents, and moved to England with his family at the age of eight. Oceans' musical influence came at an early age of his life, as his father was a musician, and realised he was inline to follow those ambitions as he was growing up. During his teenage years, he sang regularly in London clubs while also working as a tailor in London's Savile Row. He released his first single in 1972 on Spark Records as Les Charles.
When in Trinidad as a boy he adopted the name Billy Ocean, taking the surname from the local football team 'Ocean's Eleven', who had gotten the name from the famous film of the same name. The next year, 1976, was when he recorded his first album, Billy Ocean, with its first single release, "Love Really Hurts Without You," charting at number 2 in the UK Singles Chart and number 22 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. More successes ensued, including "L.O.D. (Love On Delivery)". He also wrote songs for other artists, such as La Toya Jackson. In 1981, he scored the U.S. R&B chart with "Nights (Feel Like Getting Down)".
Ocean's period of greatest success began with Suddenly during 1984, and its main single, "Caribbean Queen". The song's title and lyrics were changed for different regions, such that the song is also known as "African Queen" or "European Queen". The song won Ocean the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 1985 Grammy Awards. The album's title track also became a success, its score maximizing at #4 in both the US and the UK; and the song "Loverboy", while also being a #2 US success during 1985, from the album, was also the background music for the first scene of the popular UK BBC One TV series, Casualty, during 1986.
Ocean appeared at Live Aid in 1985, singing "Caribbean Queen" and "Loverboy", from the JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
His 1986 album Love Zone also sold well. It included the successful singles "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" (the theme from the film The Jewel of the Nile); this was a number one success in the UK and a number two in the U.S.; and "There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)" (a U.S. number one, and also a major UK success). Also included were the title track and "Love Is Forever", which were #10 and #16 U.S. successes for Ocean, respectively.
In February 1986, Ocean's video of "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" was banned by the BBC, owing to non-union members (including Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito) miming to backing vocals.
Ocean's next album, Tear Down These Walls (1988) featured another number one single, "Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car", while the album was certified platinum.
His 1993 album Time to Move On failed to produce any major successes, but his 1989 Greatest Hits collection has been a steady seller over the years, and his 1997 compilation Love Is For Ever made #7 on the UK album chart. Ocean's last studio album for Jive Records was Time to Move On, which he recorded in Chicago with R&B star R. Kelly. It turned out that R. Kelly had been a long-time admirer of the way Ocean was able to mix the more emotive soul style with a crossover popular style.
In 2002, the University of Westminster awarded Ocean an honorary doctorate of music. The awards ceremony took place in the Barbican Centre, in London. He continues to tour and record in Europe. He lives in Sunningdale, Berkshire with his wife of 27 years, Judy; and their three children Cherie, Antony and Rachel. Ocean is now a patron for Tech Music Schools in London, made up of Drumtech, Vocaltech, Guitar-X and Keyboardtech. He regularly visits to hold clinics and seminars for the students.
In October 2007, Ocean commenced his first British tour in over 15 years. In February and March 2008 he toured Australia and the Far East. His new album, Because I Love You was released on 2 February 2009. To coincide with this new tour and album launch, Ocean has been working with Adoseof Design on a website revision which is due March 2009.
For more information got to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Ocean
Here
Billy Ocean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In spite of the tears
And here we are hand in hand
It might have ended but somehow we blended
With time we did understand
[Chorus]
In my heart there is a special place for you
So for always you'll be my special girl
At the center of my world
Here's to you
It took us a while
But we'll walk down the aisle
And willingly say 'I do'
The ring on your finger
Will prove that forever I'm devoted to you
[Chorus]
Oh I was so lucky
To have found someone like you
'Cause you left the door wide open to me
And now I'm stepping in to the love that lies within
Ooh ooh ooh!
[Chorus]
So for always you'll be my special girl
At the center of my world
Here's to you
Ooh ooh ooh!
Here's to you
The song "Here's to You" by Billy Ocean talks about the longevity of a relationship despite the ups and downs they faced. The lyrics suggest that despite the tears and the possibility that their relationship could have ended, they managed to blend together and understand each other over time. The chorus shows the singer's appreciation for his significant other for always believing in him and placing him in a special place in her heart. It further indicates that they are about to get married, and the ring on her finger will be proof that he is devoted to her forever.
The verse, "Oh, I was so lucky to have found someone like you 'cause you left the door wide open to me," suggests that the singer feels grateful to have met his partner, who allowed him to be a part of her life fully. The last chorus emphasizes the importance of his lover in his life, a special girl who will always be at the center of his world.
Interpreting the lyrics can reveal that the song expresses thanks to a person who has been incredibly supportive and understanding throughout the singer's life, and thus, this song is a form of a tribute to them. The happy, upbeat melody reflects the joy that the singer's relationship brings, and the lyrics highlight the importance of loyalty, support, and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
We lasted the years
We made it through many years together
In spite of the tears
Despite the hardships and tears we faced
And here we are hand in hand
We are still standing strong, hand in hand
It might have ended but somehow we blended
Even though our relationship could have ended, we managed to blend well
With time we did understand
With time, we learned to understand and appreciate each other
In my heart there is a special place for you
You hold a special place in my heart
If only for the faith you have in me
I appreciate the trust and faith you have in me
So for always you'll be my special girl
You will always be my special girl
At the center of my world
You are the center of my world
Here's to you
Cheers to you and our love
It took us a while
It took us some time
But we'll walk down the aisle
We'll walk down the aisle together
And willingly say 'I do'
We will both willingly say 'I do'
The ring on your finger
The ring on your finger signifies our commitment
Will prove that forever I'm devoted to you
The ring is proof that I am devoted to you forever
Oh I was so lucky
I feel fortunate
To have found someone like you
To have found someone as wonderful as you
'Cause you left the door wide open to me
Because you were open to starting a relationship with me
And now I'm stepping in to the love that lies within
Now I am embracing the love that we share
Here's to you
Cheers to you and our love
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BARRY JAMES EASTMOND, BILLY OCEAN, JOLYON W. SKINNER, WAYNE ANTON BRATHWAITE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kokonuts F
Such a beautiful song 🥰🎶
Hilda Mallol
This is my wedding song and it takes my breath away always.
Thevwords are real and simple
Nena Bonita
I love your playlist just so you know. Thank you for putting the videos up. :)
arturo mendez zavala
Beautifull song
Matthew Marcinko
My wife and I danced to this on our wedding day. She's gone now. I miss her so much...
Jay Wad
1988 to today in 2022 and it's been #34 years after the Tear Down These Walls LP release by Mr. "Billy Ocean". This is also the last song and track.
Hilda Mallol
My wedding song
Rafael Griffith
It's coming up too!! Can't wait for it!!
Javier Ortegon
HERES TO YOU - BILLY OCEAN (1988) .
Jay Wad
The 7th album to be released and 3rd under Jive Records (Billy Ocean's last album under Arista). He shaved in "Time To Move On" his 8th studio album without Wayne Brathwaite, Barry Eastmond & Robert Mutt Lange.