Kirby's soprano voice became apparent early in life and she was thought to be good enough for opera. She became a professional singer after meeting the bandleader, Ambrose at the Ilford Palais. She remained with Ambrose's band for three years and he remained her manager and mentor until his death in 1971.
She adopted the look of a 'blonde bombshell', and was compared to Marilyn Monroe. Her looks, lip-gloss and her powerful, pitch-perfect voice became her trademarks. She had a string of Top 20 hits between 1963 and 1965, the best known of which is probably her cover version of "Secret Love".
Kathy Kirby became one of the biggest stars of the mid-sixties, appearing in the Royal Command Variety Performance and three television series for BBC TV. She represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1965, and came second with the song "I Belong". She also sang the theme tune of the BBC television series Adam Adamant Lives!.
Kathy Kirby's star faded in the late sixties. She recorded twelve singles and an album between 1967 and 1973, but did they did not achieve her previous success. She continued to make television appearances, and her 1974 appearance on The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club TV variety show is available to watch on YouTube.
During the 1970s Kathy Kirby endured personal bankruptcy and some health problems, but she made occasional television appearances and performed a few live gigs on the "nostalgia circuit". In the early 80s, although only still in her early 40's, she retired from show business altogether. Kathy Kirby later lived away from the public eye in the Kensington area of London, and shunned publicity.
Her music is now attracting some renewed interest after the publication of a biography in 2005 entitled "Secrets, Loves and Lip Gloss" by James Harman, and the launch of an official website. There have been unconfirmed reports of plans to dramatise her life story based on the biography, and for some live performances.
Kirby died on 19 May 2011 after a short illness. She was 72.
Dance On
Kathy Kirby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Although the lights are low, forget it
Wait until we're alone, wait until we go home
Come on please, I don't tease
Just dance on
Don't try and kiss me now, dance on
You might be feeling quite romantic
Or we? ll miss every beat
Just dance on
Give me the sweet talk when we're leaving
From midnight on it's worth believing
You know the night has just begun
And while the music keeps on playing
Hold me close, hold me near
And I promise you? ll hear
How the beat of my heart will dance on
Give me the sweet talk when we're leaving
From midnight on it's worth believing
You know the night has just begun
And while the music keeps on playing
Hold me close, hold me near
And I promise you? ll hear
How the beat of my heart will dance on
The song "Dance On" by Kathy Kirby is a playful and upbeat tune about not rushing into love but instead focusing on dancing and enjoying the night. The lyrics suggest that the singer does not want to get too serious too quickly and instead encourages her love interest to just dance on and wait until they are alone to express any romantic feelings they may have. The chorus repeatedly emphasizes the importance of just dancing and holding each other close while the music plays. The singer promises that if he does, he will hear the beat of her heart dance on.
The song seems to be about the joy and liberation that can be found in dancing. The singer suggests that the act of dancing can help them forget about their worries and just enjoy the moment. She also suggests that the sweetness of romantic words is better appreciated after a night of dancing and music. The song is full of playful and cheeky lyrics that emphasize the importance of taking things slow and enjoying the night for what it is.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't talk of love right now, dance on
Let's enjoy the moment and dance without talking about love or romance at the present time.
Although the lights are low, forget it
The atmosphere may seem romantic due to the dim lighting, but we shouldn't focus on it.
Wait until we're alone, wait until we go home
We can talk about love and romance when we have privacy and are away from this public setting.
Come on please, I don't tease
I'm not playing any games, so let's just dance without any further advances or teasing.
Don't try and kiss me now, dance on
Let's just focus on dancing and not try to force any romantic moments or advances.
You might be feeling quite romantic
I understand that you may be feeling romantic, but we can enjoy the moment without focusing on love or kisses.
But I'll dance cheek to cheek
We can still dance in a romantic and intimate way without taking it too far.
Or we? ll miss every beat
If we let our emotions take over, we might miss the rhythm and beat of the music.
Give me the sweet talk when we're leaving
We can save the romantic talks for when we're alone and about to leave.
From midnight on it's worth believing
After midnight, love and romance may be more believable and real.
You know the night has just begun
There's still plenty of time left to enjoy the night and the music, so let's not rush things.
And while the music keeps on playing
We can continue to dance and enjoy the music without worrying about anything else.
Hold me close, hold me near
We can still be intimate and close while we dance, without having to cross any boundaries.
And I promise you? ll hear
If we just focus on dancing and enjoying the moment, you'll be able to hear the beat of my heart.
How the beat of my heart will dance on
The rhythm and passion in my heart will keep dancing on as we enjoy the music and the moment together.
Contributed by Levi O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@anthonycox5705
The blond with the big voice 1960s This take me back, in 14 days I am 75 years old and still remember the first time I heard this number.
@rarebutgreat
I heard the shadows version first and it is brilliant. Kathy Kirby adds glamour and a fantistic voice to the song . They dont make pop stars like her anymore
@juniorrobinson4678
Same here now I so prefer this version Kathy one of the great Britain singers up their with Dusty
@annehillyard
@@juniorrobinson4678 Such a good song x
@petesmith9484
@@juniorrobinson4678❤
😅
@samnidbee
Lots of us rockers! loved kathy, her looks, her personality and most of all her voice. Those days were without a doubt a lot happier, we had less and yet we had more... I personally feel a yearning for this era with singers like kathy, Connie, Helen, Billy, etc etc... call me old fashioned but the age of technology is not a patch on the 60's.
@junpet47
i agree
@rickxlcr
I always remembered what a stunningly beautiful girl she was, but had almost forgotten what a stupendously brilliant singer she was. They just don't make them like that any more.
@Orky210
Songs like this were the very reason I bunked off school...just to listen to them in my own little world and they still manage to give me that warm feeling today just as they did back in the 60s ...classic song, a wonderful singer.
@boondoggle6
how we looked forward to an appearance of Kathy Kirby on the telly in the sixties, those amazing dresses, the glossy lips - and oh boy that voice!