In total, the duo had 34 singles chart hits on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, seven RIAA platinum albums, and six RIAA gold albums. Because of that chart success, Billboard Magazine named them the most successful duo of the rock era, surpassing even The Everly Brothers. In 2003, they were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. They were also placed #15 on the Billboard Magazine list of the 100 greatest artists of all time and the #1 duo, while VH1 placed the duo as #99 on their list of the 100 greatest artists of all time.
From their first hit in 1974 onwards, Daryl Hall and John Oates' smooth, catchy take on Philly soul brought them commercial success— including six number one singles and six platinum albums as referred to before. Hall & Oates' music was well-constructed and produced; at their best, their songs were filled with strong hooks and melodies that adhered to soul traditions without being a slave to them by incorporating elements of arena rock and new wave.
Daryl Hall, born on October 11, 1946, began performing professionally while he was a student at Temple University. In 1966, he recorded a single with Kenny Gamble and the Romeos; the group featured Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Thom Bell, who would all become the architects of Philly soul. During this time, Hall frequently appeared on sessions for Gamble and Huff. In 1967, Hall met John Oates, a fellow Temple University student. Oates was leading his own soul band at the time. The two students realized they had similar tastes and began performing together in an array of R&B and doo wop groups. By 1968, the duo had parted ways, as Oates transferred schools and Hall formed the soft rock band Gulliver; the group released one album on Elektra in the late '60s before disbanding.
After Gulliver's breakup, Hall concentrated on session work again, appearing as a backup vocalist for The Stylistics, The Delfonics, and The Intruders, among others. Oates returned to Philadelphia in 1969, and he and Hall began writing folk-oriented songs and performing together. Eventually they came to the attention of Tommy Mottola, who quickly became their manager, securing the duo a contract with Atlantic Records. On their first records — Whole Oates (1972), Abandoned Luncheonette (1973), War Babies (1974) — the duo were establishing their sound, working with producers like Arif Mardin and Todd Rundgren and removing much of their folk influences. At the beginning of 1974, the duo relocated from Philadelphia to New York. During this period, they only managed one hit — the number 60 "She's Gone" in the spring of 1974.
After they moved to RCA in 1975, the duo landed on its successful mixture of soul, pop, and rock, scoring a Top Ten single with "Sara Smile." The success of "Sara Smile" prompted the re-release of "She's Gone," which rocketed into the Top Ten as well. Released in the summer of 1976, Bigger than the Both of Us was only moderately successful upon its release. The record took off in early 1977, when "Rich Girl" became the duo's first number one single.
Although they had several minor hits between 1977 and 1980, the albums Hall & Oates released at the end of the decade were not as successful as their mid-'70s records. Nevertheless, they were more adventurous, incorporating more rock elements into their blue-eyed soul. The combination would finally pay off in late 1980, when the duo released the self-produced Voices, the album that marked the beginning of Hall & Oates' greatest commercial and artistic success. The first single from Voices, a cover of Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling," reached number 12, yet it was the second single, "Kiss on My List" that confirmed their commercial potential by becoming the duo's second number one single; its follow-up, "You Make My Dreams" hit number five. They quickly released Private Eyes in the summer of 1981; the record featured two number one hits, "Private Eyes" and "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)," as well as the Top Ten hit "Did It in a Minute." "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" also spent a week at the top of the R&B charts — a rare accomplishment for a white act. H20 followed in 1982 and it proved more successful than their two previous albums, selling over two million copies and launching their biggest hit single, "Maneater," as well as the Top Ten hits "One on One" and "Family Man." The following year, the duo released a greatest-hits compilation, Rock 'N Soul, Pt. 1, that featured two new Top Ten hits — the number two "Say It Isn't So" and "Adult Education."
In April of 1984, the Recording Industry Association of America announced that Hall & Oates had surpassed Everly Brothers as the most successful duo in rock history, earning a total of 19 gold and platinum awards. Released in October of 1984, Big Bam Boom expanded their number of gold and platinum awards, selling over two million copies and launching four Top 40 singles, including the number one "Out of Touch." Following their contract-fulfilling gold album Live at the Apollo with David Ruffin & Eddie Kendrick, Hall & Oates went on hiatus. After the lukewarm reception for Daryl Hall's 1986 solo album, Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine, the duo regrouped to release 1988's Ooh Yeah!, their first record for Arista. The first single, "Everything Your Heart Desires," went to number three and helped propel the album to platinum status.
However, none of the album's other singles broke the Top 20, indicating that the era of chart dominance had ended. Change of Season, released in 1990, confirmed that fact. Although the record went gold, it only featured one Top 40 hit — the number 11 single, "So Close." The duo mounted a comeback in 1997 with Marigold Sky, but it was only partially successful; far better was 2003's Do It for Love and the following year soul covers record Our Kind of Soul.
Realove
Hall & Oates Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One child so blind with the stars in her eyes
So why do you think that could be right
She tries but there ain't no way to buy second sight
Oh those Eastern ways on Western nites
I want to be the heart of your desire
ReaLove is a passion play
You mean to make him take it your way
I know his mind is in the shadows
He'll take you all the way through midnite
So sad you can't run but you can't fight
Oh those Eastern ways on Western nites
I want to be the heart of your desire
ReaLove is a passion play
ReaLove is a passion play
The lyrics to Hall & Oates's song "Realove" can be interpreted in different ways depending on the listener's perception. In one sense, the song tells the tale of a man who advises someone to look to heaven for true love, while a blind child with stars in her eyes tries to understand this advice. However, the idea that this "could be right" is cast into doubt, as the child lacks the ability to have "second sight" and therefore has difficulty reconciling the idea of finding true love in heaven with life on earth.
The song also alludes to the clash between Eastern and Western cultures. The lyrics mention "those Eastern ways on Western nites," suggesting that conflicts can arise when different ways of life meet. From this point, the song pivots to a more personal tone, with the line "I want to be the heart of your desire" expressing a yearning for physical intimacy. The phrase "ReaLove is a passion play" echoes this sentiment, suggesting that love is a game full of passion and excitement, but one that is ultimately fleeting.
Overall, the lyrics in "Realove" explore themes of love, culture, and perception. While the song may be open to interpretation, its lyrics evoke a sense of longing and uncertainty in the face of the mysteries of life.
Line by Line Meaning
One man says, "Look to heaven for true love"
Someone advises looking to a higher power for genuine love.
One child so blind with the stars in her eyes
A young and naive person is overwhelmed by the illusion of romance.
So why do you think that could be right
The singer questions the validity of relying on physical attraction alone.
She tries but there ain't no way to buy second sight
Though the person tries, it's impossible to purchase the ability to see beyond appearances.
Oh those Eastern ways on Western nites
A nod to the influence of Eastern philosophy on the Western mindset, especially in regard to love.
I want to be the heart of your desire
The singer wants to be the central figure in the object of their affection's longing.
ReaLove is a passion play
Real love is a dramatic performance in which emotions run high and stakes are heightened.
You mean to make him take it your way
The artist addresses someone who wants to control their partner's feelings and actions.
I know his mind is in the shadows
The artist understands that the person's intentions are unclear or obscured.
He'll take you all the way through midnite
The person will lead their partner down a path that takes them into darkness and uncertainty.
So sad you can't run but you can't fight
The situation is regrettable because the person cannot escape or resist the situation.
ReaLove is a passion play
Real love is a dramatic performance in which emotions run high and stakes are heightened.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN OATES, DARYL HALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind