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.
Keep It to Yourself
Kiki Dee Lyrics
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And it makes my blood run cold
I have to think twice
Before I pick up the phone
I don't have the strength left
To make excuses
No need to feel this way
Unlike you I mean what I say
If you want to confess go to somebody else
I don't want to buy what you have to sell
Don't waste your time don't waste your breathe
I don't want to know what you have to tell
Just keep it to yourself
I don't want to buy what you have to sell
If you want to impress try somebody else
Now I meet with silence
And I greet him like a friend
Release the burden
And feel some hope again
There's no loss without you
But everything to gain
No malice here to spend
You realize in the end
I don't want to know what you have to tell
If you want to confess go to somebody else
I don't want to buy what you have to sell
You're wasting your time you're wasting your breathe
I don't want to know what you have to tell
Just keep it to yourself
I don't want to buy what you have to sell
If you want to impress try somebody else
To gaze into your eyes
And hear at the same time lies
Of all the ways that you can help
You can even help yourself
Somebody else may be impressed
By your love and business sense
Find someone of your own
And just leave me alone
No need to feel this way
Unlike you I mean what I say
I don't want to know what you have to tell
If you want to confess go to somebody else
I don't want to buy what you have to sell
I don't want to know what you have to tell
If you want to impress go to somebody else
I don't want to buy what you have to sell
I don't want to know what you have to tell
Tell somebody else
I don't want to buy what you have to sell
I don't want to know what you have to tell
Keep it to yourself
I don't want to buy what you have to sell
I don't want to know what you have to tell
No no no that's means nothing to me
I don't want to buy what you have to sell
In Kiki Dee's song Keep It To Yourself, the singer receives an unwelcome visit or phone call from someone they don't want to talk to. The sound of a knock on the door "makes [their] blood run cold" and they find themselves avoiding picking up the phone. The singer doesn't want to hear what the other person has to say, nor do they want to buy into any ideas they might be selling. Instead, they simply want the person to keep their thoughts to themselves and leave them alone. The singer is done with the other person's lies and manipulation, and is ready to move on with their life without them.
The song is a powerful statement about the importance of boundaries and self-respect in relationships. It encourages listeners to assert their own needs and desires and to stand up to those who might try to take advantage of them. By refusing to engage with someone who has hurt or betrayed them, the singer of the song is able to maintain their own sense of dignity and self-worth. The song offers a message of empowerment and self-care that is particularly relevant in today's world, where it can be all too easy to get sucked into the drama of other people's lives.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear a knock on my door
Someone is at my door, which makes me anxious.
And it makes my blood run cold
The thought of who could be at the door scares me.
I have to think twice
I hesitate before deciding to answer the phone or door.
Before I pick up the phone
I consider whether or not I want to take the call.
I don't have the strength left
I am tired of dealing with excuses and lies.
To make excuses
I don't want to make excuses for myself or others anymore.
No need to feel this way
I don't want to feel anxious or uneasy.
Unlike you I mean what I say
I am honest and truthful, unlike the person trying to contact me.
I don't want to know what you have to tell
I do not want to hear anything the person has to say.
If you want to confess go to somebody else
If the person has something to confess, they should tell someone else.
I don't want to buy what you have to sell
I am not interested in whatever the person is trying to sell or persuade me to do.
Don't waste your time don't waste your breath
The person should not bother trying to convince or explain anything to me because I am not interested.
Just keep it to yourself
The person should not tell me anything and should keep it to themselves.
If you want to impress try somebody else
If the person wants to impress someone, they should try with someone else who might be interested.
Now I meet with silence
I have stopped responding to the person and am giving them the silent treatment.
And I greet him like a friend
Despite ignoring them, I try to maintain a civil relationship with the person.
Release the burden
I feel relieved for not having to deal with the person's lies and excuses anymore.
And feel some hope again
I feel optimistic about the future without this person's negativity in my life.
There's no loss without you
I do not feel any loss or sadness without the person in my life.
But everything to gain
I feel like I have gained more by not having to deal with the person's negativity.
No malice here to spend
I do not hold any grudges or ill-will towards the person.
You realize in the end
The person will eventually understand and accept that I am not interested and do not want to hear from them.
To gaze into your eyes
The person may try to look into my eyes to connect with me emotionally.
And hear at the same time lies
However, I know that the person is lying.
Of all the ways that you can help
Even if the person is trying to help, I do not need or want their assistance.
You can even help yourself
The person may benefit more from helping themselves instead of trying to involve me in their issues.
Find someone of your own
The person should find someone else to talk to or solicit for help.
And just leave me alone
I want the person to stop trying to contact me and leave me alone.
No no no that's means nothing to me
The person's actions and words have no effect on me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JON BAVIN, KIKI DEE, PATRICK SEYMOUR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind