In an interview in The Patriot-News (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) Dawson said that she was given time to become secure in each of the two roles she understudied—Mimi and Joanne—before learning the other.
As a singer, Dawson released Paris New York And Me, her debut album, in 1991. Her second album, Black Butterfly, was released in October 1995 by EMI and included three singles that made the UK Top 40 chart: "3 Is Family" reached number 7 in July 1995, "Got to Give Me Love" reached number 27 in October 1995, and "Show Me" reached number 28 in May 1996.
The Disney Channel show Lizzie McGuire featured her 2001 single, "Nice Life".
Several multi-track "singles" of Dawson's music have been released in the United Kingdom, including 3 Is Family, Got To Give Me Love, and How I Wanna Be Loved.
Dawson's songs are included on many other albums, including EMI's Music of the Twentieth Century: 1980-1999 and Virgin's Best Dance Album 1995; she also performed on the Michael W. Smith 1989 Gospel album I 2 Eye.
Dawson married the New York jazz artist and musician, Jason Curry, on July 7, 2007 in Hamilton, Bermuda. She died at 4.37am on August 10, 2010, from colon cancer after battling the disease for just 10 months. She was 36 years old at the time of her death.
Tell Me Bonita
Dana Dawson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fix up my face
Look like a star, baby
I will buy a flower to put in my hair
So you can see just where I am
Say you will be
The one who dances up to me
The one who takes me to the sky
Show a growing girl
A romantic world
Say you will be
The one who dances close to me
The one who takes me to the sky
Way up high
Show a growing girl
A romantic world
I can′t lie
I would not miss opening night
You're just the best on your guitar, baby
But I won′t try
No I can't stay out all night
I must return before midnight
Tell Me Bonita
Weekend's alive
Down to the south we can fly
Oh oh
Fantasy nights
Tropical love is in style
Oh oh
There′s temptation creeping round my heart
As the rhythm of the music starts
Touch my hand and feel your spirits
Dance in ecstasy
Oh oh oh oh oh
Tell me, tell me, tell me, bonita
Beautiful′s the way that I feel
Tell me, tell me, tell me, bonita
That's the way to love in Brazil
Under stars in the sky dancing the night away
Carnival sounds
Sweet celebration in town oh oh
Secret desires
You can reveal at sundown, oh oh
As the samba takes us through the night
Imagination sets your dreams in flight
Now we′re free to sail across the
Sea to paradise. Woh oh
The lyrics of "Tell Me Bonita" by Dana Dawson depict a person who is preparing to see someone they are deeply interested in. They express their intentions to look their best, buying a flower to adorn their hair. They hope that the person they are addressing will be the one who dances up to them and takes them to new heights, showing them a romantic and enchanting world. The singer expresses their excitement and anticipation, emphasizing that they cannot miss the opportunity to be with this person. The lyrics also paint a vivid picture of a tropical paradise, where the couple can experience the magic of a carnival and indulge in their secret desires. Ultimately, the song captures the feelings of longing, excitement, and the hope for a passionate connection.
Line by Line Meaning
I will try to come and see you tonight
I will make an effort to come and meet you tonight
Fix up my face
I will make myself look presentable
Look like a star, baby
I want to appear glamorous and attractive
I will buy a flower to put in my hair
I will adorn my hair with a flower
So you can see just where I am
So you can easily locate me
Say you will be
Promise that you will be
The one who dances up to me
The person who approaches and dances with me
The one who takes me to the sky
The one who elevates my happiness and excitement
Way up high
To a great extent
Show a growing girl
Introduce a young woman to
A romantic world
An enchanting and passionate world
I can't lie
I cannot deceive
I would not miss opening night
I will definitely attend the first night of an event
You're just the best on your guitar, baby
You are incredibly talented on the guitar
But I won't try
However, I won't attempt
No I can't stay out all night
I cannot remain outside till late in the night
I must return before midnight
I have to come back prior to midnight
Tell Me Bonita
Inform me, beautiful
Weekend's alive
The weekend is vibrant
Down to the south we can fly
We can travel to the southern region
Fantasy nights
Nights filled with whimsical imagination
Tropical love is in style
Romantic relationships in a tropical setting are popular
There's temptation creeping round my heart
I feel the allure slowly approaching my heart
As the rhythm of the music starts
When the beat of the music begins
Touch my hand and feel your spirits
Hold my hand and experience a surge of emotions
Dance in ecstasy
Dance with intense joy and elation
Tell me, tell me, tell me, bonita
Inform me, inform me, inform me, beautiful
Beautiful's the way that I feel
I feel beautiful
That's the way to love in Brazil
That is how love is expressed in Brazil
Under stars in the sky dancing the night away
Beneath the stars in the sky, dancing all night long
Carnival sounds
Sounds associated with a lively festival
Sweet celebration in town oh oh
Cheerful festivities taking place in the city
Secret desires
Hidden aspirations
You can reveal at sundown, oh oh
You can disclose at sunset
As the samba takes us through the night
As we embrace the samba rhythm throughout the night
Imagination sets your dreams in flight
Your imagination allows your dreams to soar
Now we're free to sail across the
Now we have the freedom to voyage through
Sea to paradise. Woh oh
Sea towards paradise
Writer(s): Romano Musumarra, Carole Welsman, Walter Martino
Contributed by Mackenzie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jérôme TECHER
Elle a marquée toute mon adolescence, je suis choqué d'apprendre sa mort, j'en ai des frissons, souvenirs inoubliables de cette formidable artiste de cette belle époque des années 90. RIP Dana.
Fanny Flammen Flammen
Jay Show bonne route vers Dieu ma belle fais chanter et danser les anges comme tu nous as fait chanter et danser
Flambeau Turf
waouh la chorégraphie est vraiment superbe!! belle synchronisation des danseurs et danseuses!!! concernant l'artiste je ne la connaissais pas (ayant 22ans aujourd'hui donc 3ans quand elle a dansé sur cette zik) mais elle avait une très jolie voix!!! dommage qu'une carriere soit brisée par une maladie pareil donc RIP dana!!!
lili lilou
Toute ma jeunesse....RIP Dana, je tm et t'ecoute souvent avec une émotion constante qui n'a pas pris une ride....tu es partie trop tôt, la vie est injuste....
JexPAuk
OMG, I just heard the news, I'm so sad... I loved Dana, I was used to listening her best album on a tape 'Paris New York and me', she hadn't sung much the past 15 years as she was an actress at Broadway and I was missing her, gosh it's hard to beleive...gone so young, how unfair...R.I.P dear Dana, I miss your lovely smile already...thank you for your beautiful music. Lots of love to you up there.JexPAuk, FRANCE
Pascal JACOT
Dana a rejoint les cieux et c"est trés triste. Je me rappelle de ce titre en discothéque quand j'étais plus jeune. Que de souvenirs. merci Dana et bonne route.
french619
J' ai écouté ce titre des dizaines de fois à l' époque... Quelle tristesse de partir si jeune. RIP Dana.
Seb
elle avait beaucoup de talent ! RIP Dana!
Shiruken58
Quand j regarde des musiques comme ça, je regarde dans wikipédia si la personne qui chante est décédée ou pas, comme on ne les entends plus. Mais je ne m'attendais pas à son décès depuis 2010. A 36 ans ! Moi j'en ai 34. ça fait flippé quand même. RIP Dana :(
Salim Zaoui
shiruken ptiloup je viens d apprendre son décès aujourd'hui je suis sous le choc