Combining the early soul-pop of Mariah Carey, the power balladry of Whitney… Read Full Bio ↴Combining the early soul-pop of Mariah Carey, the power balladry of Whitney Houston, and the sophisticated dance-pop of M People, Dina Carroll was one of the most successful U.K. female vocalists of the '90s. Born in Newmarket, Suffolk in 1968 to a Scottish mother and Afro-American G.I. father, Carroll began singing with her sister at a young age, and after winning a talent competition at school, she decided to pursue a career in the music industry. In her teens, she moved to West London after signing to independent dance label, Streetwave, where she provided uncredited vocals for a production outfit named Masquerade. In 1989, she signed to Jive/Zomba Records where she released several club hits, including a cover of Dionne Warwick's "Walk On By," and contributed to Brothers in Rhythm's single "Peace and Harmony." Her breakthrough came in 1991, when she appeared on Quartz's Top Ten dance reworking of Carole King's "It's Too Late," and was offered an album deal by A&M Records. Two years later, her first LP, So Close, had spawned two Top Five singles, "Don't Be a Stranger" and a rendition of Sunset Boulevard number "The Perfect Year" helped her to scoop Best British Female Vocalist at the 1994 Brit Awards, and up until Dido's No Angel, was the biggest-selling debut album by a female artist in U.K. chart history. After moving to Mercury Records, she developed otosclerosis, a hereditary bone disease which affects the ears, whilst working on her sophomore, Only Human, which despite reaching number two, failed to achieve the same multi-platinum sales of its predecessor. Carroll changed directions for her self-titled third effort, hooking up with Rhett Lawrence in Los Angeles for a dance-pop sound reminiscent of her club roots, but although lead single "Without Love" reached the Top 20, various record company wranglings meant that plans for its release were shelved. Other than a performance of Van Morrison's "Someone Like You" on the Bridget Jones soundtrack, and a 2001 hits compilation, Carroll hasn't released any new material since

The Perfect Year
Dina Carroll Lyrics

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Ooh

Ring out the old
Bring in the new
A midnight wish to share with you
Your lips are warm, my head is light
Were we in love before tonight?

Oh, I don't need a crowded ballroom
Everything I want is here, if you're with me
Next year will be the perfect year

No need to hear the music play
Your eyes say all there is to say
The stars can fade and they can shine
Long as your face is next to mine

I don't need a crowded ballroom
Everything I need is here, if you're with me
Next year will be the perfect year

We don't need a crowded ballroom
Everything we need is here, if you're with me
Next year will be the perfect year

It's New Year's Eve, and hopes are high
Dance one year in, kiss one goodbye
Another chance, another start
So many dreams to tease the heart

We don't need a crowded ballroom
Everything we need is here
And face to face we will embrace the perfect year

Oh, and we don't need a crowded ballroom
Everything we need is here
So face to face we shall embrace the perfect year

Ooh, uh huh
The perfect year

Overall Meaning

In the first verse of Dina Carroll's song The Perfect Year, she refers to the turning of the year, from the old to the new, and expresses her desire to share a midnight wish with someone, as the clock strikes twelve. The lyrics suggest a sense of romantic possibility, as she ponders whether there was already love between them before that night, and hints that something special might be about to happen. In the chorus, she explains that she does not need to be in a crowded ballroom to experience a perfect year, but that everything she needs is already here with her companion.

The second verse of the song paints a picture of two people simply looking into each other's eyes and allowing them to convey all the emotions they need to express. The celestial imagery in the lyrics brings a sense of allure, as stars fade and shine, while the singer declares that all she needs is to see her companion's face next to hers. The repetition of the chorus, combined with the subtle variations in the lyrics, drives home the idea that the perfect year need not be about external circumstances, such as crowded ballrooms, but can be achieved through the presence of someone special.

Line by Line Meaning

Ring out the old
Let go of the past year

Bring in the new
Welcome the new year

A midnight wish to share with you
A desire to share a special moment with a loved one

Your lips are warm, my head is light
The feeling of being in love and having butterflies in the stomach

Were we in love before tonight?
Questioning if the love existed before this night

I don't need a crowded ballroom
Not needing a grand celebration to enjoy the moment

Everything I need is here, if you're with me
The presence of a loved one makes everything perfect

Next year will be the perfect year
Believing that the future will be better

No need to hear the music play
The love and connection felt with a partner is enough

Your eyes say all there is to say
Understanding and communication without words

The stars can fade
Everything around may not matter

And they can shine
Everything around can be perfect

Long as your face is next to mine
As long as the loved one is here, nothing else matters

It's New Year's Eve, and hopes are high
Feeling optimistic about the future

Dance one year in, kiss one goodbye
Celebrating the end of the year and welcoming the new year

Another chance, another start
Opportunity to begin anew

So many dreams to tease the heart
Countless aspirations to ignite emotions

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Don Black, Andrew Webber, Christopher Hampton

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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