Nova attended Bristol Old Vic Theatre School for 3 years from age of 18. She initially found success as a songwriter for Jesse Green, writing the single "Flip". She was a featured artist on Italian TV Show "Non Stop" for six weeks and her single "Akiri Non Stop" was used as the theme tune. Her 1981 single "The Force" received much radio play and was a big hit in the Dance charts. She was a founder member of Toto Coelo but left before they achieved popularity due to her signing a worldwide contract with EMI.
She has also written songs and sang backing vocals for Lena Zavaroni and Cleo Laine. Though quiet for most of the 1980s and 1990s, in 2004 Nova released a compilation of her 80s songs on CD as "The Force". A year later an album of new material in the Jazz style called "Nancy Sings Jazz". The latest album "Blowout" is currently only available through iTunes.
She was noted by Paul Gambaccini in the British Hit Singles for being in the charts the same week as her sister (4th September 1982).
The Force
Nancy Nova Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A gentle persuasion
Mechanically transmitted thoughts play upon my mind
So how I am mystified
Or cunningly hypnotised
Unwittingly drawn to its side by the light of immortal eyes
A startling reaction
Magnetically pulling my soul through the atmosphere
A presence that's so divine
And yet there's no space or time
Confusion is ruling I'm lost and control is no longer mine
Lightning may have striked me
But somehow it seems more likely
It's the Force
May have lost my reason
But to me it feels so pleasing
It's the Force
When you feel it coming
And your heart can't keep from drumming
It's no good to go on running
From the Force
Stirring up your senses
In a mist of present tenses
And yet sparing no expenses
That's the Force
Feel the Force
The lyrics of Nancy Nova's song The Force suggest a powerful force that affects the mind and soul of the singer, leading her to question and lose control of her own actions. The beginning lines speak of constant innovation and a gentle push that implants thoughts in her mind. The singer appears to be confused and hypnotized by this invisible force, a presence that is defined as divine but not confined by space and time. The lyrics go on to describe a cool satisfaction and a startling reaction, hinting at the effect of the force on the singer's senses. There is a sense of mystery and intrigue as the lyrics describe the singer losing control of her own volition and being brought to the side of the force by the light of immortal eyes.
The chorus of the song describes how the force is so strong that it might have struck the singer like lightning. The singer seems to have lost her mind, yet she feels pleased and satisfied by the experience. The singer is advised not to run from the force, as it is something that is constantly stirring up her senses, and ultimately is the source of arousal; it is the force that is causing her heart to beat faster. The song ends with a call to "feel the force" and to surrender oneself to this power that seems to transcend space and time.
Interestingly, Nancy Nova's song The Force was produced by the legendary British music producer Martin Rushent, who was known for his work with artists like The Human League, Buzzcocks, and Altered Images. Rushent also produced the famous hits "Girls on film" and "Rio" for the band Duran Duran. Another interesting fact is that "The Force" was included in the soundtrack of the 2008 British film "The Bank Job".
Line by Line Meaning
Perpetual invention
Constant creativity and innovation
A gentle persuasion
A subtle, yet convincing influence
Mechanically transmitted thoughts play upon my mind
Automated ideas that dominate my thinking
So how I am mystified
I am puzzled by this phenomenon
Or cunningly hypnotised
Potentially manipulated through hypnosis
Unwittingly drawn to its side by the light of immortal eyes
Lured by an otherworldly energy
A startling reaction
A surprising response
A cool satisfaction
A composed sense of fulfillment
Magnetically pulling my soul through the atmosphere
An irresistible attraction on a deeper level
A presence that's so divine
A superior, godly aura
And yet there's no space or time
This presence exists outside of normal constraints of our world
Confusion is ruling I'm lost and control is no longer mine
Feeling disoriented and overwhelmed by the force's power
Lightning may have striked me
An intense feeling or experience that hit me suddenly
But somehow it seems more likely
More plausible that it is the force at work
May have lost my reason
May have become irrational
But to me it feels so pleasing
Despite the potential irrationality, it is still satisfying
When you feel it coming
Awareness of the force's arrival
And your heart can't keep from drumming
A strong emotional response to the force's presence
It's no good to go on running
Running away is futile as it cannot be escaped
Stirring up your senses
Evoking a physical and emotional reaction
In a mist of present tenses
Existing only in the current moment
And yet sparing no expenses
Indulging freely in the experience
That's the Force
All of these experiences and feelings are attributed to the force
Feel the Force
Urging the listener to experience the force for themselves
Contributed by Jack H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Nancy Nova
To be fair, it's only a couple of words! ...Invasion ( not invention ) ...and Somehow i am mystified ( not So How ).
Thanks NN X
Nancy Nova
Those lyrics are incorrect !!
@snowleopard9749
Perpetual invention
A gentle persuasion
Mechanically transmitted thoughts play upon my mind
So how I am mystified
Or cunningly hypnotised
Unwittingly drawn to its side by the light of immortal eyes
A startling reaction
A cool satisfaction
Magnetically pulling my soul through the atmosphere
A presence that’s so divine
And yet there’s no space or time
Confusion is ruling I’m lost and control is no longer mine
Lightning may have striked me
But somehow it seems more likely
It’s the Force
May have lost my reason
But to me it feels so pleasing
It’s the Force
When you feel it coming
And your heart can’t keep from drumming
it’s no good to go on running
From the Force
Stirring up your senses
In a mist of present tenses
And yet sparing no expenses
That’s the Force
Feel the Force
@jck1978
Just discovered this gem! Amazing track!
@SpeccyMan
What a tune. It still sounds great all these years later.
@Mannchild11
Do us all a favor and tell that to all who think some of us are stuck in the 80's. Well if we're stuck here there must be a reason to come here in the first place.
@jacquelineiona1996
Wow... un-freaking- believable...first time I've heard this...just minutes ago on a college radio station in NJ...they [college radio stations] have always RULED!!!! I was 17 when this came out.. loved New Wave... Disco...and much more... anything from England I searched for on American radio...in vain...I'm 54 now and instantly liked this!!!
@PMCcty
Hi Jacqueline..Age has nothing to do with who you are :-) Being in" touch " with myself again, i still like " wacky " tracks..I must have been 15 years when i heard this for the first time...England was indeed very innovative in music ..Check this...one year later back then
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFCe2WPnoLg.. (by the way... I will turn 52 this year )
@ingolfsmedicus2059
Cleaning up the attick in corona times I went through my records and this was at it. Thanks to Youtube I m able to listen to it after almost 40 years when I bought it. There use to be a club in Amsterdam where the acoustics were metal like in this song. Good but longtime gone memories....
@martynbutlerOBE
Was quite a hit at HEAVEN London back in the early '80s and always got a fresh airing on a big "Party Night" - AWESOME
@snowleopard9749
Perpetual invention
A gentle persuasion
Mechanically transmitted thoughts play upon my mind
So how I am mystified
Or cunningly hypnotised
Unwittingly drawn to its side by the light of immortal eyes
A startling reaction
A cool satisfaction
Magnetically pulling my soul through the atmosphere
A presence that’s so divine
And yet there’s no space or time
Confusion is ruling I’m lost and control is no longer mine
Lightning may have striked me
But somehow it seems more likely
It’s the Force
May have lost my reason
But to me it feels so pleasing
It’s the Force
When you feel it coming
And your heart can’t keep from drumming
it’s no good to go on running
From the Force
Stirring up your senses
In a mist of present tenses
And yet sparing no expenses
That’s the Force
Feel the Force