Former backing singers to WHAM!, PEPSI & SHIRLIE embarked on a solo career … Read Full Bio ↴Former backing singers to WHAM!, PEPSI & SHIRLIE embarked on a solo career after that group's break-up in Summer 1986. This connection was put to great use in the UK teenage magazine market where their pop/dance style appealed to suburban audiences.

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 ↴

Suddenly the stranger moves to catch my eye
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.

Goodbye stranger
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.

Overall Meaning

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

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS