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
Soon As You're Ready
Billy Ocean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are you ready for me baby ooh ooh ooh ooh
I'm ready
Oh I know you don't wanna be lonely
Nobody wants to be by themselves
I know that you're broken-hearted
And you're cautious at the moment
Just look in my direction
Don't fight it ooh no
And you will discover we were meant for each other
As soon as you're ready as soon as you make up your mind
I'll be there in the wings with love that's one of a kind
As soon as you're ready oh oh
Thought you were his one and only but he took you for a ride
Oh it's such a pity your feelings you've gotta hide
Don't close the book baby your past experience is misleading
There's so much you should be reading on love baby
Don't let it turn your heart to stone
Remember you're not alone
As soon as you're ready as soon as your hearts strong enough
If you wanna take one more chance
I've got good love as soon as you're ready
Call me baby as soon as you are ready
Oh I'll come running
As soon as you're ready oh ooh
Anytime I'll be there in a hurry don't you worry
Whenever you call
Don't close the book baby
Your past experience is misleading
There's so much you could be reading on love oh baby
Don't let it turn your heart to stone
Remember you're not alone ooh ooh
I've got good love oh baby
I've got good love you know that
I've got good love as soon as you're ready
Call my name baby as soon as you're ready
Oh call me baby
Whenever you're ready to rock steady with me
Whenever you're ready to rock steady with me
The lyrics to Billy Ocean's "Soon As You're Ready" speak to someone who is hesitant to love again because of past hurt. The singer understands that the listener doesn't want to be alone, but they are cautious at the moment because they have been hurt before. However, the singer tells the listener that they will be there for them when they are ready to love again. The singer urges the listener not to let past hurt turn their heart to stone and to remember that they are not alone.
The lyrics are both hopeful and sympathetic, understanding that the road to love can be a rocky one. The singer is patient and willing to wait for the listener to be ready. The phrase "as soon as you're ready" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the singer's willingness to be there for the listener when they are ready to take a chance on love again.
Overall, "Soon As You're Ready" is a romantic and reassuring song that speaks to the power of love and the need for patience and understanding in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you ready for me baby
Are you emotionally prepared to accept my love?
Are you ready for me baby ooh ooh ooh ooh
Are you sure you're ready for the type of love I have to offer?
I'm ready
I am prepared to offer you the love that you need.
Oh I know you don't wanna be lonely
I understand that being alone is not what you desire.
Nobody wants to be by themselves
It's natural to want companionship and love.
I know that you're broken-hearted
I understand that you're going through a difficult time with your heart.
And you're cautious at the moment
You're not willing to jump into something new until you're absolutely ready.
But sooner or later you're gonna be needing some affection
Eventually, you'll want to feel loved and cared for.
Just look in my direction
I'm the one who can give you the affection you need.
Don't fight it ooh no
Don't resist your feelings for me.
And you will discover we were meant for each other
Our love is special and meant to be.
As soon as you're ready as soon as you make up your mind
When you're ready to take the leap, I'll be here waiting.
I'll be there in the wings with love that's one of a kind
I have a unique type of love that only I can offer you.
Thought you were his one and only but he took you for a ride
You thought you had love with someone else, but they let you down.
Oh it's such a pity your feelings you've gotta hide
It's a shame that you have to hide your true feelings because of past experiences.
Don't close the book baby your past experience is misleading
Don't let past negative experiences cloud your judgment about love.
There's so much you should be reading on love baby
Love is a complex thing that requires time and understanding.
As soon as you're ready as soon as your hearts strong enough
When you've healed enough to love again, I'll be here.
If you wanna take one more chance
If you want to give love a try again...
I've got good love as soon as you're ready
I have the type of love that you need when you're ready.
Call me baby as soon as you are ready
Reach out to me when you're ready to take the next step.
Oh I'll come running
I'll be there for you when you need me.
Anytime I'll be there in a hurry don't you worry
You can count on me to be by your side whenever you need me.
Whenever you call
I'll be here waiting for your call.
Don't let it turn your heart to stone
Don't let past negative experiences harden your heart to love.
Remember you're not alone ooh ooh
You don't have to go through life alone, I'm here for you.
I've got good love oh baby
I have a special love that only I can give you.
Call my name baby as soon as you're ready
Reach out to me when you're ready to love again.
Whenever you're ready to rock steady with me
When you're ready to commit to a serious relationship, I'll be here.
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
Marc Pierini
He was one of the better R&B vocalists of the 80s.
David Ayinde
One of my favourite of Billy Ocean's songs. From his 1988 Album "Tear Down These Walls".
Bullet Beats
Great album
alioune fal
Just great!
alioune fal
Wonderful 80’s!
Matu Masia
Soon as you ready, soon as you make up your mind .... Oh man.
Ramee Sumrein
Lift your shields, folks.