Signing with Capitol Records out of L.A. when she was 17, her self-titled debut album in 1977, produced by David Foster, won her a Juno Award for Most Promising Female Vocalist. She was nominated for the same award a second time, for her 1978 sophomore release Pretty Girls, although she did not win.
After Lisa Dalbello's third album, in 1981, she took a break from recording to re-evaluate her creative and personal priorities. However, David Bowie's former Spiders From Mars guitarist Mick Ronson saw a CBC documentary on her while working at a recording studio in Toronto and convinced her to record another album.
That album, whomanfoursays (a homophone for "human forces"), was co-produced by Dalbello and Ronson. It was also her first album recorded as Dalbello, and marked her transformation into an edgy rock artist. The transformation worked -- the album was even more successful on the Canadian pop charts than her earlier albums had been. The album spawned the hit singles "Gonna Get Close To You" and "Animal".
Ronson and Dalbello planned to record a second album, however, over Dalbello's strong objections, Ronson was passed over by both her record label, and her manager at that time, Roger Davies. Disappointed, and in an attempt to ensure the creative integrity of the Ronson/Dalbello production follow up, Dalbello submitted 4 self-produced song demos to her U.S. label and manager, only to have them rejected because they wanted a "real" producer.
Partly out of frustration and partly as a practical joke, Dalbello re-submitted the song demos under a pseudonym, "Bill Da Salleo", which was nothing more than a simple anagram of her name. To her surprise, her label and manager excitedly called her up saying that they loved the "new" demos and believed "Bill" was the perfect producer for the project.
Dalbello continued to produce the album under the pseudonym, managing to keep both her label and manager from visiting the sessions by booking the studio time late at night, and only broke the "news" of "Bill's premature death" to her Canadian A&R person Deane Cameron, just prior to delivering the album to the label, and shortly after Cameron called her out of concern that the label had no signed production agreement between Bill Da Salleo and themselves. Cameron, a maverick in Canadian music circles who was the first record label A & R person to have signing autonomy from his U.S. label counterpart out of L.A., reportedly laughed out loud, proclaiming that Dalbello had truly kicked the L.A. A&R offices' asses.
EMI released the album She in 1987. That album's singles, "Tango" and "Black on Black", were Dalbello's biggest hits. A version of "Black on Black" was also featured on the 9½ Weeks soundtrack. The success of She allowed her to tour extensively, particularly throughout Europe.
In 1991, not long after she moved from Toronto to L.A., Ronson and Dalbello discussed collaborating again. However, everything was put on hold because of a downturn in Ronson's health. Sadly, Ronson died of liver failure in 1993.
Three years later, Dalbello released whore in 1996 for EMI in Europe where she returned to tour for the rest of that year. She has not released another album since then and has instead focused on producing and writing for other artists such as Heart, Patti LaBelle -- whom she also produced, as well as Julian Lennon and Nena; some of the artists and writers she has co-written with are her friends Bryan Adams, Julian Lennon and Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson of Heart, as well as David Foster, Carole Bayer-Sager, Holly Knight, Chaka Khan, Branford Marsalis, Damhnait Doyle and Dan Hill.
In addition to having appeared on Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson's solo album Victor, contributing the lead vocal to the song "Start Today", and having recorded a duet with Duran Duran’s John Taylor, her vocals have appeared on records for Cher, Heart, Alice Cooper, Patti LaBelle, Toto, Nena, The FIXX, Rupert Hine's "Thinkman" project and Canadians Rough Trade, Kim Mitchell, Corey Hart and Glass Tiger.
Heart have covered "Black on Black", and Queensrÿche have covered "Gonna Get Close to You".
From the age of 14 and throughout the span of her recording career, Dalbello has performed vocals and voiceovers on some of the most well known TV and radio commercials in North America, for which she now also writes and arranges music. Her voice work also expanded into areas of documentary work as well as character voices for the Television anime series Sailor Moon. She performed the song "Always" for a popular Cheer detergent commercial that aired in the United States in 2003. Her song, "Faith In You (With All Your Heart)", was used to promote the launch of the Ford Focus automobile in North America; commercials featuring it played in movie theaters and on television.
Since 2002, she has been the brand announcer voice for the Canadian cable news network, CBC Newsworld. Additionally, her voice can be heard introducing CBC News anchor Peter Mansbridge on the network's flagship nightly news and current affairs program, "The National".
Danger Danger
Dalbello Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cafe across the street
My vision trembles
Like an animal in heat
This ain't no kind of place for a temporary debutante
This ain't no kind of place for a woman do don't know what she want
Walk right in the shadow
I just think about the thrill and how it terrifies me...
CHORUS
Danger Danger
Got to feel the threshold
Danger Danger
(woh-oh-oh)
Danger Danger
Overload
Danger Danger
In the heart of the Congo
The riverbeds run deep
Deep inside this woman there's a hungry heart
Burning for a little savagery
I wanna do something dangerous
Walk right through the shadow
I just think about the thrill and how it terrifies me!
CHORUS
Danger Danger
Got to feel the threshold
Danger Danger
(woh-oh-oh)
Danger Danger
Overload
Danger Danger
BRIDGE
I do what I like
I like what I do, just what I want
All my life...
I wanna bite the hand that feeds me,
Bite it right off
I wanna lick my wounds
'Til this feeling stops
I wanna do something dangerous
Walk right through the shadow
I just think about the thrill
The thrill I get, and it terrifies me!
CHORUS
Danger Danger
Got to feel the threshold
Danger Danger
(woh-oh-oh)
Danger Danger
Overload
Danger Danger
The lyrics of "Danger Danger" by Dalbello are all about taking risks and doing something dangerous, even though it may be scary. The first verse talks about being in a seemingly normal place, but feeling a sense of unease and excitement. The second verse brings in the imagery of the Congo, a place known for its dangers and mysteries. The bridge is about being true to oneself, doing what one wants, and even taking a swipe at those who try to control or restrain us. The chorus repeats the phrase "Danger Danger" as if warning or encouraging the listener to push past their fears and go for what they truly desire.
The lyrics seem to speak to the many people who yearn for something more in life, whether it's adventure, excitement, or just a sense of purpose. They suggest that it's okay to take risks and explore the unknown, and that doing so can be thrilling and even transformative. However, the song also acknowledges the fear that comes with stepping outside of one's comfort zone, and the danger that can arise from doing so.
Overall, "Danger Danger" is a powerful anthem that encourages listeners to take control of their lives and not be held back by fear or convention.
Line by Line Meaning
African sandals
Setting the scene of the exotic location with a reference to footwear
Cafe across the street
Further describing the location of the scene
My vision trembles
Expressing excitement or nerves at the unknown possibilities of the surroundings
Like an animal in heat
Comparing the intensity of the artist's feelings to that of primal passion
This ain't no kind of place for a temporary debutante
Conveying the idea that the location is not suited for a person who is unsure of themselves or their desires
This ain't no kind of place for a woman who don't know what she want
Reiterating that the location requires a strong sense of purpose and a clear idea of one's desires
I wanna do something dangerous
Stating the singer's desire for excitement or thrill-seeking
Walk right in the shadow
Suggesting that the artist is willing to take risks and go into the unknown
I just think about the thrill and how it terrifies me...
Acknowledging the fear that comes with taking risks and experiencing new things, but also reveling in the thrill of it
Danger Danger
The repeated phrase serves as a warning of the potential risks or hazardous situations the artist is willing to embrace
Got to feel the threshold
The singer must reach a certain level of danger or excitement to truly feel fulfilled
Overload
The culmination of danger and excitement creates an overwhelming feeling for the artist
In the heart of the Congo
Shifting the setting to a specific location with a reference to geographic location
The riverbeds run deep
Describing the depth of potential danger and hidden risks in the setting
Deep inside this woman there's a hungry heart
Alluding to the singer's inner desires and yearning for something more
Burning for a little savagery
Describing the artist's desire for adventure and excitement that borders on wild and untamed
I wanna do something dangerous
Reaffirming the artist's craving for risk-taking and exhilaration
Walk right through the shadow
Reiterating the willingness to take risks and embrace unknown opportunities
I just think about the thrill and how it terrifies me!
Again acknowledging the fear that comes with taking risks, but also relishing in the excitement of it
I do what I like
Asserting the artist's independence and desire to act on their own impulses
I like what I do, just what I want
Reinforcing the idea that the artist is unapologetic about pursuing their own desires
All my life...
Suggesting that this craving for risk and adventure has been a constant theme throughout the artist's life
I wanna bite the hand that feeds me,
Expressing a desire to reject societal norms and expectations, and to take control of one's own destiny
Bite it right off
Using violent imagery to portray the severity of this desire for independence and self-determination
I wanna lick my wounds
Describing the aftermath of taking risks and potentially facing consequences, but with a sense of satisfaction from having taken the risk
Til this feeling stops
Desiring to continue taking risks and experiencing new things until the excitement wears off
Contributed by Kayla M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.