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. 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].
Don't go breaking my heart (With Elton John) - 1976 Star - 1981 True love (with Elton John) - 1994
She has released 39 singles, 3 EPs, 9 LPs and 2 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.
Kiki 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).
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.
Angel Eyes
Kiki Dee Lyrics
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In the many lives I lead your angel eyes are killing me
So clear and blue
So part of you
Pretend to me
What do they see
What lies behind
These angel eyes
Until you try
I'll never show
The pain inside
Will I survive
These angel eyes
Passing by still unaffected
Going nowhere I suspected
To angel eyes
Move in on me
So clear and blue
So part of you
Pretend to me
What do they see
What lies behind
These angel eyes
So clear and blue
So part of you
Pretend to me
What do they see
Will I survive
These angel eyes
You never know
Until you try
I'll never show
The pain inside
Will I survive
These angel eyes
In the land of milk and honey
Oh I know it may sound funny
But angel eyes
You're killing me
Angel eyes
You're killing me
Killing me
Angel eyes
You're killing me
Angel eyes
You're killing me
Killing me
The song "Angel Eyes" by Kiki Dee is about the power of love and the struggle to resist its hold. In the song, she describes the purity and tenderness of love, but also how it can be so overwhelming that it feels like it's killing her. She sings about the blue and clear eyes of her lover that are so much a part of them and how she pretends to know what they see, but wonders what lies behind them. The chorus repeats the line "Will I survive these angel eyes?" conveying the idea that while love can be beautiful, it also has the potential to destroy.
Throughout the song, Kiki Dee tries to resist the pull of her lover's eyes and the impact they have on her. She questions whether she can survive their power, but also acknowledges that she won't be able to hide the pain inside. The final lines refer to the classic imagery of the land of milk and honey, but she admits that even in a place like that, the power of love can still make her feel like it's killing her.
Overall, "Angel Eyes" is a song that captures the emotional turmoil of falling in love and the struggle to resist its power. It's a relatable theme that many people have experienced and the lyrics convey the depth of those emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
How can something pure and tender
The singer is wondering how something so pure and gentle can inflict harm upon them.
In the many lives I lead your angel eyes are killing me
The singer is burdened by the emotional impact inflicted by the angelic eyes of a person they encounter through many different phases of life.
So clear and blue
The eyes in question are physically described as being clear and blue.
So part of you
The eyes are a part of the person the singer is referring to.
Pretend to me
The singer is asking the person with the angelic eyes to pretend in front of them.
What do they see
The singer is curious as to what the angelic eyes perceive.
What lies behind
The singer wants to know what emotions or motivations the angelic eyes hide.
You never know
One can never know unless they try.
Until you try
One must take the risk of pursuing the person behind the angelic eyes to find out if it leads to happiness or sorrow.
I'll never show
The singer will never allow their inner pain to be revealed.
The pain inside
The singer is experiencing internal pain caused by the angelic eyes.
Will I survive
The singer is unsure if they can handle the ongoing impact of the angelic eyes.
Passing by still unaffected
Despite being a passive onlooker, the singer remains unaffected by the angelic eyes.
Going nowhere I suspected
The singer had no expectations of where their encounter with the person and their angelic eyes would lead.
To angel eyes
The song is solely referring to the impact of the person's eyes and not the person as a whole.
Move in on me
The impact of the angelic eyes on the singer intensifies.
In the land of milk and honey
This phrase is used metaphorically and represents a place of peace and prosperity.
Oh I know it may sound funny
The singer acknowledges how odd it may seem for such angelic eyes to inflict emotional pain.
But angel eyes
The singer is again emphasizing that it is specifically the eyes that are causing the pain.
You're killing me
The emotional pain inflicted by the angelic eyes is becoming too much for the singer to bear.
Killing me
The repeated use of 'killing me' emphasizes the severity of the emotional pain.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Earl Brent, Matt Dennis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind