Marc Almond has had a long and varied career spanning circa 40 years. During this time, after a career with Soft Cell and Marc and the Mambas, he has collaborated with an extremely wide range of artists including Antony and The Johnsons, Jools Holland, Siouxsie Sioux, Nick Cave, P.J. Proby, Nico, Kelli Ali of the Sneaker Pimps, Neal X (on the albums Fantastic Star and Open All Night), Marie France, Agnes Bernelle, Lydia Lunch, Gene Pitney on the #1 UK single "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart", Foetus (a.k.a. J. G. Thirlwell), Jimmy Somerville of The Communards and Bronski Beat, Psychic TV, Coil, Sally Timms of Mekons, King Roc, John Cale and David Johansen of The New York Dolls and German band Rosenstolz.
Almond initially shot to fame in the early 1980s as one half of synth duo Soft Cell, whose combination of drama and peep show sleaze set to an electronic beat gave them hits such as "Tainted Love" (UK #1), "Bedsitter" (UK #3), "Torch" (UK #2), "Say Hello Wave Goodbye" (UK #3), "Soul Inside" (UK # 16), "What?" (UK #3) and the club hit "Memorabilia". They were first spotted by David Oddie, boss of Wakefield based Ambergris Records in a Bradford club, who passed his enthusiasm onto Dead Good Records in Lincoln, famous for their Hicks From The Sticks compilation, who in turn approached Polygram, the newly formed amalgam of Polydor and Phonogram. Although Soft Cell disbanded in 1984 just before the release of fourth album, This Last Night In Sodom, the duo reunited in 2001 for live shows and in 2002 released a new album entitled Cruelty Without Beauty, from which the single "The Night" (UK #39) was taken.
His biggest UK hits as a solo artist have been cover versions; the aforementioned 1989 number one duet with Gene Pitney and another near chart-topper in 1991 with David McWilliams' "The Days of Pearly Spencer", which peaked at #4. In 1985, he duetted with Jimmy Somerville and Bronski Beat on a cover of Donna Summer's "I Feel Love (Medley)" and it hit #3. The highest UK positions his self-penned singles have reached so far have been "Stories of Johnny" (#23 in 1985), "Tears Run Rings" (#28 in 1988) and "Adored and Explored" (#25 in 1995).
Almond's work runs the gamut from electronica and dance music to French chanson, traditional piano ballads, and Russian romance songs, as exhibited on his 2003 album Heart on Snow. Influences include David Bowie, a childhood hero of his, as well as early 1960s Northern Soul and disco. Other major influences have been Scott Walker from Walker Brothers and Jacques Brel, 12 of whose songs Almond reworked in English for his 1989 album Jacques. Almond's own lyrics are a creative expression of what he sees and are not to be confused with his own life. He also operates a record label, Blue Star Music, on which he has released many of his solo and collaborative records in the UK.
Almond currently lives in the Bermondsey area of south east London. In his autobiography he describes previously living in Earl's Court, in a converted church in Fulham and most memorably in Soho's Berwick Street, where he lived in a flat overlooking the Raymond Revuebar.
Meet Me in My Dream
Marc Almond Lyrics
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Two young kids with wild ideas
Years gone by we sweated and saved
For a cupboard with a view
Now too old for work they say
What's the point in biding time
Living out our yesterday
When wild ideas could all come true
We could settle into being old
But all that glitters could be gold
So meet me in my dream
I won't fall asleep without you
Meet me in my dream
Underneath the Vegas lights
Look around our shabby room
Paper peeling curtains frayed
Faded photos on the wall
Like us they've all seen better days
We drew our savings from the bank
For roulette wheels and reckless nights
Sinatra's records on our minds
Fruit machines and neon lights
We threw away our everything
And blew it on a final fling
So meet me in my dream
I won't fall asleep without you
Meet me in my dream
It's lonely here without you
Remember way beck then in school
All the things we said we'd do
So meet me in my dream
Underneath the Vegas lights
Meet me in my dream
Meet me in my dream
Meet me in my dream
Underneath the Vegas lights
The song "Meet Me in My Dream" by Marc Almond is a nostalgic tune about two old friends reminiscing about their youthful ambitions and taking one last chance to live out their wild ideas. The first verse refers to their past as two young kids with wild ideas, and how they have since sweated and saved for a cupboard with a view. Now, they are too old for work, and there is no point in biding time and living out their yesterday. The chorus invites the friend to meet in a dream, underneath the Vegas lights, where all that glitters could be gold, and their wild ideas could all come true.
Moving on to the second verse, the old friends look around their shabby room and notice the peeling curtains and faded photos on the wall. They drew their savings from the bank for reckless nights and roulette wheels, with Sinatra's records on their minds, fruit machines, and neon lights. They threw away their everything and blew it on a final fling, reminding each other of the things they said they'd do and taking comfort in a dream that they can still make those ideas come true, even if only in their minds.
The theme of the song is about not losing sight of our dreams and passions, no matter how old we are or what our present circumstances may be. It's a reminder to never settle for mediocrity or simply living out our yesterday, but to take a chance and pursue what truly makes us happy.
Line by Line Meaning
Remember when we were back in school
Let's reminisce about our past when we were young and full of ideas.
Two young kids with wild ideas
We had a lot of free will and creative ideas back then.
Years gone by we sweated and saved
We worked hard all these years to build up some savings.
For a cupboard with a view
We worked to attain some luxury in our lives.
Now too old for work they say
We are told that we are too old for work now.
What's the point in biding time
We are questioning the point in waiting out our days.
Living out our yesterday
We're living a stagnant life with no change.
When wild ideas could all come true
Our crazy and innovative ideas can still be realized.
We could settle into being old
We could accept our age and settle into a mundane lifestyle.
But all that glitters could be gold
We want to pursue our passions and take risks to achieve our dreams.
So meet me in my dream
Let's come together in our aspirations.
I won't fall asleep without you
I need you to be with me to make our dreams a reality.
Underneath the Vegas lights
Let's chase our desires in the romance and excitement of the city.
Look around our shabby room
We are currently living humbly with peeling wallpaper and old photographs.
Paper peeling curtains frayed
Even our curtains are old and worn out.
Faded photos on the wall
The photographs on the wall have become dull over time.
Like us they've all seen better days
Just like the photographs, we too have seen better days in the past.
We drew our savings from the bank
We took out money from our savings account.
For roulette wheels and reckless nights
We spent our savings on gambling and wild nights.
Sinatra's records on our minds
We are thinking about classic and sentimental music.
Fruit machines and neon lights
We are surrounded by slot machines and bright lighting.
We threw away our everything
We spent everything we had on our desires.
And blew it on a final fling
We spent it all on one last wild night.
It's lonely here without you
I feel alone and lost without you by my side.
Remember way beck then in school
Let's remember our hopeful and carefree attitude from our school days.
All the things we said we'd do
We talked about achieving many things in our youth.
Meet me in my dream
Let's share our aspirations and work together to achieve them.
Underneath the Vegas lights
Let's chase our desires in the excitement of the city.
Meet me in my dream
Let's come together in our aspirations.
Meet me in my dream
Let's share our dreams and make them a reality.
Meet me in my dream
Let's work together to build a meaningful life.
Underneath the Vegas lights
Let's chase our desires and follow our hearts.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID A BALL, MARC ALMOND, RICHARD NORRIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind