He joined his first band, The Legends, at the age of 13, with his brother Dave. Hartman played keyboards and wrote much of the band's music. The band released several records but none were hits. He joined The Edgar Winter Group and played on three of their albums; Dan wrote the band's second biggest pop hit Free Ride in 1972. He launched a solo career in 1976.
In 1978 Hartman reached number-one on the Dance chart with the single "Instant Replay", which crossed over to #29 on Billboard's Hot 100; musicians Hartman worked with on the associated album include Vinnie Vincent and G.E. Smith. This was followed by his second chart topper on the Dance charts with "Relight My Fire" (1979). Both tracks are considered by many to be anthems of the disco era. There was also a cover version of Instant Replay which was a one-hit wonder for a boy duo called Yell! (Paul Varney and Daniel James) in January 1990.
He was back in the charts yet again with the top-10 single "I Can Dream About You" from the Streets of Fire soundtrack in 1984. Hartman was not featured in the video for the track, which received heavy rotation on MTV; instead, his vocals were convincingly lip-synched by Stoney Jackson,an African-American actor. Hartman then scored a third number 1 single on the Dance charts, "We Are The Young." During the next decade he worked as a songwriter and producer, and collaborated with such artists as Tina Turner, Dusty Springfield, Joe Cocker, Bonnie Tyler, Paul Young, James Brown, Nona Hendryx and Steve Winwood.
He died at age 43 in Westport, Connecticut from a brain tumor caused by AIDS. At the time of his death, Hartman's music was enjoying a revival; a cover version of his song "Relight My Fire" became a British number-one hit for Take That and Lulu. Sales of Hartman's solo recordings, group efforts, production, songwriting and compilation inclusions exceed 50 million records worldwide.
More information can be found at www.danhartman.com
The Name Of The Game
Dan Hartman Lyrics
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Is's not about money, not about fame
You are what you are
That's the name of the game
Hook your feelings up to a power station
Let your feelings broadcast across the nation, hey
Maybe a fool takes a fortune by chance
Maybe the world has lost its romance
But you've got to try to keep on dancing
The dance of the heart
The name of the game
It's not about money, not about fame
You are what you are
That's the name of the game
It's the name of the game
In love and emotion, the beat is the same
You are what you are
That's the name of the game
I don't need to be the king of the jungle
Or the queen of the heart
'Cause people try and take you and make you over
Into something you'not
Stand up!
Tell your teacher, tell your summer affair
The power is yours, the magic is there
It's at your command
So don't let it slip through your hands
The name of the game
Is's not about money, not about fame
You are what you are
That's the name of the game
Headlines, party lines
The only sense it makes is that it takes all kinds
Old friends, no friends
The dance of the heart can never end
The dance of the heart never ends, it never ends
It's not all about money
It's not all about fame
Material to the spiritual world
Stand up !
Maybe a fool makes a fortune by chance
Maybe the world has lost its romance
But you've got to try to keep on dancing the dance of the heart
Keep on dancing the dance of the heart
Name of the game
Not about money, not about fame
Hey you are what you are
That's the name of the game
It's the name of the game
In love and emotion yet the beat is the same
You are what you are
That's the name of the game
It's the name, name of the game
That's the name of the game
That's the name of the game
That's the name of the game
The Name of the Game by Dan Hartman is a song that encourages listeners to celebrate who they are despite what society expects of them. The song dismisses the idea that success is measured solely by money and fame, and instead, highlights the power of individuality and standing up for oneself. The lyrics suggest that it is important to connect with one's emotions and to let them be expressed without any reservations. The dance of the heart is a metaphor for living authentically and not being ashamed of being one's true self. The song is a reflection of the 1970s and 1980s era when people were focused on personal growth and self-improvement.
The first verse of the song encourages individuals to embrace their true self rather than measuring success based on monetary possessions or social status. The second verse advises against taking on an identity that does not represent who one is. The phrase "Maybe the world has lost its romance" suggests that people have become disconnected from their emotions and true selves. The chorus emphasizes the idea that everyone is unique and should embrace who they are. The song's repetitive nature and catchy melody encourage listeners to sing along and remind themselves of the importance of finding their own identity.
Line by Line Meaning
The name of the game
The essence of life
Is's not about money, not about fame
It's not about acquiring wealth or being famous
You are what you are
Accept yourself for who you are
That's the name of the game
That's the principle that drives life
Hook your feelings up to a power station
Express yourself boldly and with conviction
Let your feelings broadcast across the nation, hey
Let your message be known to everyone
Stand up!
Be assertive
Maybe a fool takes a fortune by chance
Fortune sometimes favors the foolish
Maybe the world has lost its romance
Perhaps people have become too pragmatic
But you've got to try to keep on dancing
You must keep going despite obstacles
The dance of the heart
The passion that inspires you
It's the name of the game
It's the principle that drives life
In love and emotion, the beat is the same
Emotions are universal
I don't need to be the king of the jungle
I don't need to be dominant
Or the queen of the heart
Or overly sentimental
'Cause people try and take you and make you over
People try to change you
Into something you're not
Into something you don't want to be
Tell your teacher, tell your summer affair
Tell everyone about your passion
The power is yours, the magic is there
You have the ability to make things happen
It's at your command
You are in control of your life
So don't let it slip through your hands
Don't let opportunities pass you by
Headlines, party lines
Sensational news and political commentary
The only sense it makes is that it takes all kinds
Everyone has their own unique perspective
Old friends, no friends
Whether you have friends or not
The dance of the heart can never end
Your passion will never fade
The dance of the heart never ends, it never ends
Your passion will always be there
It's not all about money
Life is not just about material possessions
Material to the spiritual world
There is a balance between material and spiritual life
Maybe a fool makes a fortune by chance
Fortune sometimes favors the foolish
Keep on dancing the dance of the heart
Maintain your passion
Name of the game
The principle that drives life
In love and emotion yet the beat is the same
Emotions are universal
It's the name, name of the game
That's the principle that drives life
That's the name of the game
That's the principle that drives life
Contributed by William H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.