Kiki Dee (born Pauline Matthews on 6 March 1947, in Little Horton, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England) is a highly successful singer/songwriter, with a career that has lasted over 40 years.
Her most famous song was a duet with Elton John, entitled "Don't Go Breaking My Heart", which was released in 1976 and went to Number 1 (she later performed another duet with Elton John for his Duets album, "True Love", which reached #2 in the UK.)
Kiki Dee began singing with a local band in Bradford in the early 1960s. Her recording career began as a session singer. She sang backing vocals for Dusty Springfield, among others, and was highly regarded by other singers but did not achieve solo success in the UK for many years. In the USA, her style was admired and she became the first British artist to be signed by Tamla Motown, releasing her first Tamla single in 1970.
In the days before Radio 1, Kiki Dee was a regular performer of other people's hits on BBC radio, and she starred with a group of session singers in the BBC2 singalong series One More Time. She even appeared in an early episode of The Benny Hill Show on 27 January 1971, performing the Blood, Sweat, and Tears hit, "You've Made Me So Very Happy". Nevertheless, it was only after she joined forces with Elton John and Rocket Records that she became a household name in the UK. Her first major hits were "I Got The Music In Me" (1974) and "Amoureuse" (1973) [1].
She has released 39 singles, 3 EPs, 9 LPs and 3 CDs to date. During the 1970s and 1980s was regularly voted the top UK female singer, with her powerful and soulful voice equally suited to rockers or ballads.
Dee has also appeared in musical theatre - notably in the lead role in the West End musical Blood Brothers. She took on the role (originally played by Barbara Dickson for the 1988 production and recording).
In 1990, she contributed to the last recording studio collaboration between Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson, the album Freudiana, performing "You're On Your Own".
She also performed at Live Aid, reprising "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" with John, and performing backing vocals on the other songs in his set.
She still tours, and occasionally makes guest appearances on television in shows such as Never Mind the Buzzcocks. She has recorded with other artists such as Dave Stewart and guitarist Carmelo Luggeri.
Sir Elton Hercules John CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is a five-time Grammy and one-time Academy Award-winning English pop/rock singer, composer and pianist.
In his four-decade career, John has been one of the dominant forces in rock and popular music, especially during the 1970s. Elton has sold more than 250 million albums[3] plus over one hundred million singles[4], making him one of the most successful artists of all time. He has more than 50 Top 40 hits including seven consecutive #1 U.S. albums, 59 Top 40 singles, 16 Top 10, 4 #2 hits, and nine #1 hits [1]. His success has had a profound impact on popular music and has contributed to the continued popularity of the piano in rock and roll. In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked Elton John #49 on their list of The Immortals: 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.[5]
Some of the characteristics of Elton John's music are his ability to quickly craft unique melodies for the lyrics of songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, his rich tenor (now baritone) voice, his classical and gospel-influenced piano, the aggressive orchestral arrangements of Paul Buckmaster among others and the flamboyant fashions and on-stage showmanship, especially evident during the 1970s.
Elton John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. He has been heavily involved in the fight against AIDS since the late 1980s and was knighted in 1998. He entered into a civil partnership with David Furnish on 21 December 2005 and continues to be a champion for the LGBT social movements.
Elton John has been named the second most played artist on British radio over the past 20 years behind George Michael.
Act of war
Elton John & Kiki Dee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How come you take it so hard when I stay out all night
If I take a drink, is that against the law
And if I have a good time, do you call that an act of war
Well you better believe it boy, this house is your home
I didn't build it up for you to live here on my own
And if you think it's easy to forget about me
We're living on the front line you and me
Fighting on this battleground of misery
Oh go ahead bring on your artillery
And we'll make this an act of war
Give it all you've got 'cause I'm all dug in
Keep the punches coming I can take them on the chin
Winner takes all, let the best man win
And we call it an act of war
Well I'm a man of convenience I work a long hard day
After twelve long hours ain't I got the right to play
If living together is getting in the way
Then I call that an act of war
Well if that's your game then honey two can play
I'm going on the town tonight and have some fun my way
Ain't no way baby this girl's gonna stay
I call it, I call it an act of war
And it looks like time ain't been on our side
If we could turn the clock back
We might survive this act of war
The lyrics to "Act of War" by Elton John and Kiki Dee explore the idea of a troubled relationship on the verge of crumbling due to a lack of trust, communication, and mutual understanding. The song appears to be a conversation between two lovers who are struggling to reconcile their differences. The first verse highlights the disparity in how the two perceive their actions. The male protagonist feels he has the right to stay out all night and have a good time, whereas his female partner sees it as a betrayal, an act of war on her emotional well-being. The female protagonist enforces her right to be treated with respect in her house, which she built for the couple, and challenges her partner's expectations of what is acceptable in a relationship. The second and third verses further expose the disconnect that has emerged between them. The couple seems to be living in a battlefield, where each is fighting to keep their ground and defend their position.
The chorus acknowledges the situation and confronts it head-on. The metaphorical language of war and battles shows the intensity of the emotions and reveals that the couple sees their relationship as a fight where each needs to defend their position. It is no longer a simple argument between two adults but an act of war, where each is fighting for control and satisfaction. In the final verse, the pair reflects on the possibility of repairing the damage and surviving the relationship. They know that time is not on their side, and the outcome is uncertain.
Line by Line Meaning
This ain't no battle honey, this ain't no fight
This situation is not a quarrel or argument
How come you take it so hard when I stay out all night
Why do you get upset when I spend the night away from home?
If I take a drink, is that against the law
Is it illegal for me to have a drink?
And if I have a good time, do you call that an act of war
Are you considering my having fun without you as a hostile action?
Well you better believe it boy, this house is your home
Believe that I have made this house a home for you
I didn't build it up for you to live here on my own
I did not create this home for you to live here alone
And if you think it's easy to forget about me
Don't assume that it's simple for me to disregard you
You'd better think twice, you'd better believe it's an act of war
You should reconsider your actions, as they are hostile and unwarranted
We're living on the front line you and me
We are living in the middle of an ongoing conflict
Fighting on this battleground of misery
We are fighting in the midst of an unhappy and difficult situation
Oh go ahead bring on your artillery
You can do your worst in attacking me
And we'll make this an act of war
We will turn this into an intentional, hostile conflict
Give it all you've got 'cause I'm all dug in
I am well-prepared and protected, so do your worst
Keep the punches coming I can take them on the chin
I can endure your attacks and fight back
Winner takes all, let the best man win
Whoever emerges victorious will take everything
And we call it an act of war
We are labeling this conflict as a deliberately hostile situation
Well I'm a man of convenience I work a long hard day
I am a man who values convenience, I put in a long day of work
After twelve long hours ain't I got the right to play
After working for twelve hours, don't I have the right to relax and enjoy myself?
If living together is getting in the way
If cohabitation is becoming a hindrance
Then I call that an act of war
In that case, I am labeling it as a hostile conflict
Well if that's your game then honey two can play
If that's the way you want to play, honey, I can do the same
I'm going on the town tonight and have some fun my way
I am going to town to have some fun on my own
Ain't no way baby this girl's gonna stay
There is no way that I am staying at home
I call it, I call it an act of war
In my opinion, my actions are a hostile conflict
And it looks like time ain't been on our side
It seems like fate has not been favorable to our relationship
If we could turn the clock back
If we could go back in time
We might survive this act of war
We could potentially overcome this conflict if we had the chance to make things right
Contributed by Carson V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jukeboxjohnnie
Id forgotten this did so badly, one of my favourite 80's tracks...
@georgemathie8123
This is Elton John's most badass performances of the 80s and Millie Jackson Ive never heard of her before who is she by the ways however this lady is freaking badass on this song with Elton damn what a forgotten classic
@ikalesunflower
Google her. She was popular in the 60s 70s and 80s
@georgemathie8123
@@ikalesunflower ok I will thanks for letting me know
@sajman213
Tina Turner was susspossed to be the girl singer but couldn't do it so THIS
@emilianoortega-guerrero2925
the soundtrack our lives... rock n roll yeah
@emilianoortega-guerrero2925
HARD ROCK AWESOME
@jayalajay5974
Great bass playing!
@guillermoortega4119
AWESOME
@ter521fad
Tina Turner refused to do this duet with Elton? I never knew that. Millie Jackson was a pretty surprising choice to replace her. I don't think a lot of people know who she is.