In June 1998, McFadden auditioned for the new Irish male band (at the time), Westlife with Nicky Byrne and eventually both joined the group alongside Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Shane Filan. McFadden left Westlife in March 2004 to spend more time with his family - he was married with two children to ex-Atomic Kitten's Kerry Katona - and to work on solo projects.
Following his departure from Westlife, McFadden released his debut solo album, Irish Son which peaked within the top 5 on both the Denmark and Ireland Albums Charts, and produced his first two No. 1 solo singles "Real to Me" in four European countries and also "Almost Here", a duet with his fiancée Delta Goodrem which gained a platinum accreditation in Australia. "Like Only a Woman Can", the lead single from his second album, Set in Stone (2008), became his third No. 1 single as a solo artist. In 2010, McFadden scored his fourth No. 1 with the hit single, "Just Say So" featuring American rapper, Kevin Rudolf and gained his second Australian platinum accreditation. The single received a nomination at the 2010 ARIA Music Awards for Most Popular Australian Single.
Following the release of "Just Say So", McFadden release his third studio album, Wall Of Soundz in Australia on 23 April, 2010. The album was originally going to be released as a side-project McFadden embarked on with American songwriter Rob Conley but both decided to release it as McFadden's third solo album. It debuted at No. 27 on the ARIA Albums Chart and spent only three weeks in the ARIA top 50. "Chemical Rush" was the second single released from the album in June 2010 and peaked at No. 12 on the charts. In September 2010, McFadden released the third single titled, "Mistakes", a duet with his fiancé Delta Goodrem.
On 25th February 2011, McFadden released a new single "Just The Way You Are (Drunk at the Bar)".
Real to Me
Brian McFadden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Men in suits who think they know it all
No one knows me but they know my name
That's not real to me
Hotel lobby to the aeroplane, another country but they start to look the same
Watch the world behind a windowpane, That's not real to me.
When all the madness has been and gone
I'll raise my family and live in peace
Now that's what's real to me
Real to me
Dying flowers in a dressing room
A dangerous time to let your head make up its own mind
Got me thinking that the spirit's flown, that's not real to me
When I see my babies run
When all the madness has been and gone
I'll raise my family and live in peace
Now that's what's real to me
Picnics in the garden and the children they can play,
The first day of the summer and I'll laze here all the day
And we'll invite the family round and drink some English tea,
Then I raise up my finger and watch football on TV.
When I see my babies run
When all the madness has been and gone
I'll raise my family and live in peace
Now that's what's real to me
That's what's real to me, real to me.
Wake up you might be dreaming, wake up you might be dreaming now
The lyrics to Brian McFadden's song 'Real to Me' are about the disconnect between the superficial and often fleeting nature of fame and success in the entertainment industry and the true values of life. McFadden highlights the irony of being surrounded by people who claim to know him and treat him like a celebrity, while he feels a sense of detachment and lack of genuine connection to them. He emphasizes the emptiness of the relentless cycle of traveling from one country to another, attending glamorous events, and staying in luxurious hotel rooms, with no real sense of purpose or satisfaction. He contrasts this with his vision of a peaceful and fulfilling life centered around his family, where he can enjoy simple pleasures like picnics and watching football on TV. The repeated phrase "that's not real to me" suggests that despite the glitter and glamour of the entertainment industry, McFadden values genuine human connections and a sense of purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
Showbiz dinners and the free champagne
I attend fancy events with influential people who don't genuinely know me, all whilst drinking free champagne. However, this is not a real representation of who I am.
Men in suits who think they know it all
There are businessmen dressed in tailored suits who believe they know everything there is to know about me, despite not having a personal relationship with me. Nevertheless, this is not my reality.
No one knows me but they know my name
People are aware of my name and reputation, but they do not truly know who I am as a person. This doesn't make me feel fulfilled.
That's not real to me
The aforementioned experiences and interactions are not genuine parts of my life, and therefore, do not make me feel truly content.
Hotel lobby to the aeroplane, another country but they start to look the same
Frequent traveling makes different places begin to appear similar, causing me to feel disconnected from my surroundings. It's not realistic for me.
Watch the world behind a windowpane, That's not real to me.
Viewing the world from behind a glass window does not allow me to be fully present, and as such, it's not a realistic way of living my life.
When I see my babies run
Watching my kids run and play brings me genuine happiness and fills me with joy.
When all the madness has been and gone
When my chaotic and busy schedule calms down, I can focus on my family and my own life, which brings me more fulfillment than any high-profile event ever can.
I'll raise my family and live in peace
Being with my family and living a peaceful life is what makes me the happiest and what feels the most fulfilling and realistic to me.
Now that's what's real to me
My life, my family, my peace - these are the things that matter, and are truly real to me.
Dying flowers in a dressing room
Flowers in my dressing room that are wilting and dying symbolizes decay, death, and an overall lack of life energy.
A dangerous time to let your head make up its own mind
Overthinking and letting your thoughts take over can be dangerous and lead to negativity and unnecessary stress. It's important to stay present and grounded.
Got me thinking that the spirit's flown, that's not real to me
These negative thoughts can lead me to believe that my spirit is depleted, but I know this is not the reality of my life.
Picnics in the garden and the children they can play,
Simple joys like having picnics in the garden and watching my kids play are what make me happy and provide me with a real sense of comfort.
The first day of the summer and I'll laze here all the day
I look forward to the beginning of summer, where I can rest and relax for the day and enjoy the beauty of nature without being bombarded with external distractions.
And we'll invite the family round and drink some English tea,
Spending time with family and enjoying a cup of tea is a simple pleasure, but one that holds a great deal of meaning and value in my life.
Then I raise up my finger and watch football on TV.
Watching football on TV and cheering on my favorite team may appear to be trivial to some, but it is a simple pleasure that brings me a great deal of joy and fulfillment.
That's what's real to me
Enjoying simple pleasures with my family and living a peaceful life is my reality and what truly fulfills me.
Wake up you might be dreaming, wake up you might be dreaming now
I am encouraging people to become self-aware and realize that they might be living a dream-like existence that isn't truly fulfilling. It's important to wake up and live a real and genuine life.
Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRIAN MCFADDEN, GUY CHAMBERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind