Signing to Polydor Records, in 1987 the duo came out with a debut album 'All Right Now' and achieved two UK top 10 singles in 1987 with 'Heartache' (a number 2 hit) and 'Goodbye Stranger'. Later singles - 'All Right Now' and 'Can't Give Me Love' fared less well... ('Heartache' also placed within the top 10 best selling maxi singles according to Billboard Magazine for 1987)
In 1991 followed the comeback try with less successful album 'Change'.Though it included the song 'Someday' - a fellow friend called GEORGE MICHAEL had written for them, it seemed that PEPSI & SHIRLIE's following had moved on. The album, which has been released only in Europe, failed to chart and no single success resulted. Their attempts to rehabilitate their image to that of rave club divas in 1993 fooled no-one.
Pepsi then vanished from the limelight, while Shirlie Holliman married Spandau Ballet bassist Martin Kemp, later to become the best EastEnders character for years, and they remain one of the strongest showbiz couples going. They have two lovely kids, Haley and Roman. And - Shirlie still has exactly the same short bottle-blonde hairstyle that she had in 1982.
As duo - PEPSI & SHIRLIE - they went back to the studio recently (in 1999) to put backing on to GERI HALLIWELL's solo album (e.g. 'Bag It Up').
Today Pepsi plays in the musicals at Newcastle's Royal Theatre. As INFAMY and with GEORGE MICHAEL on backing vocals she also recorded a cover version of the Dead Or Alive 1980s smash hit 'You Spin Me Right Round'. And Shirlie, also Mrs. Kemp, is doing her great job - working for the GEORGE MICHAEL fans well known Ægean Net company.
Goodbye Stranger
Pepsi & Shirlie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm an empty shell and he doesn't know why.
The situation looks right
Why shouldn't we just fall?
But the feeling inside it ain't right at all.
We could have a love affair if I just give him the sign
All I really need to do is to put you out of my mind.
We couldn't be more than friends
I'm still in love
You know
And I've given my heart to him.
Momentary weakness caught me by surprise
In the strangers arms found me full of lies.
Running away from danger I couldn't help but call your name
But it wasn't you and it never felt the same.
I will always be a slave to the love he gave to me
He has locked away my heart and I don't want to find the key.
Goodbye stranger
We couldn't be more than friends
I'm still in love
You know
And I've given my heart to him.
Goodbye stranger
We couldn't be more than friends
Don't want to break the chains and I've given my heart to him.
The lyrics of Pepsi & Shirlie's song "Goodbye Stranger" tell the story of a woman who is tempted by a stranger but ultimately decides to stay committed to the love she already has. The stranger catches her eye and she considers the possibility of a love affair, but she knows deep down that it's not right. She feels guilty about even entertaining the idea and wants to put the stranger out of her mind.
The woman is honest with herself about her feelings for her true love, acknowledging that she's still in love with him and has given her heart to him. She describes a momentary weakness that led her into the stranger's arms, but she was filled with lies because it wasn't real. She runs away from the danger of the situation and calls out her true love's name, even though it wasn't him.
The lyrics reveal that the woman is a slave to the love her true love gave her, and she doesn't want to find the key to unlock her heart because it's already been taken. In the end, she says goodbye to the stranger because they couldn't be more than friends and she's committed to her true love.
Overall, the lyrics of "Goodbye Stranger" are about the importance of staying committed to someone you love, even when faced with temptation. It's a powerful message about the strength of true love and not giving in to temporary desires.
Line by Line Meaning
Suddenly the stranger moves to catch my eye
Out of nowhere, this random person tries to grab my attention
I'm an empty shell and he doesn't know why.
I feel like I have nothing inside of me and this stranger doesn't understand why
The situation looks right
Everything seems like it could work out
Why shouldn't we just fall?
Why not give it a try and see where it goes?
But the feeling inside it ain't right at all.
Something just feels off and not okay about it
We could have a love affair if I just give him the sign
If I show him I'm interested, we could have a romance
All I really need to do is to put you out of my mind.
I can make this work if I just stop thinking about my true love
Goodbye stranger
I have to say farewell to this stranger
We couldn't be more than friends
We can't be anything more than acquaintances
I'm still in love
I'm still head over heels for my true love
You know
I'm sure you are aware
And I've given my heart to him.
I have already committed my love to another
Momentary weakness caught me by surprise
I was vulnerable and made a mistake without realizing it
In the stranger's arms found me full of lies.
Being intimate with this person felt like I was living a lie
Running away from danger I couldn't help but call your name
When I needed help, your name is the only thing that came to mind
But it wasn't you and it never felt the same.
You weren't there for me and things just didn't feel right
I will always be a slave to the love he gave to me
I am always going to be devoted to the love my true love gives me
He has locked away my heart and I don't want to find the key.
I am okay with him having my heart and don't want to take it back
Don't want to break the chains and I've given my heart to him.
I don't want to risk breaking the bond I have with my true love and have already given him my heart
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Richard Davies, Roger Hodgson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rukia212002
Goodbye Stranger is a brilliant 1987 song and my favorite Pepsi and Shirlie song. One of their most underrated songs and one of their best. I love this version better than the album version. The 80's was my favorite era I wish I had a time machine so i could go back to this time.
Universo de los 80s
What a great surprise to hear this 80s song. I've never heard it before and my favorite of these girls was Heartache and this one as well!. I' ve been following them and about 5 years ago they sang together after many many years..:)
Réal
Love it! Always reminds me of giving my baby son (now aged 31) his bottle. More a case of "Hello Stranger" I suppose. Thanks for posting and sparking that memory.
pat williams
Love this song so much listen to it all the time #the best song ever in life
Jojo Jojo
Me too 80" not forgotten events 2090 ! Good evening
Varghese Porthur
Yeah...so nostalgic
coylen1
real music..touches your soul!
Shane F
a very under rated song when it was released back in 1987
Salvatore Vadala
Bel ricordo dei 21 anni con la mia Fiat 500 di 20 anni. Estate, capotte aperta ed il nastro che andava con questa canzone ed al mio fianco il mio grande amore che purtroppo oggi non ho più. Si rimane giovani a sentire questi brani, un salto indietro nella nostra gioventù.
Joanna Hall
Love this song takes me back to my youth@♡