In the late 1990s, she had major dance hits with the songs "In a Dream," "When I'm Gone," and "Can't We Try" (a duet with Collage and remake of the Dan Hill and Vonda Shepard 1987 hit song). All of these tracks appeared on her 1998 debut album entitled What Are You Lookin' At?. She released a second album, Instant Pleasure, in 2000. Instant Pleasure included the single "What U Did 2 Me" which reached #101 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2001. Her best charting success is in Canada, where she is still active performing shows at clubs. Her debut single "I Fell in Love" distributed by the then BMG Canada reached #1 on the Canadian Singles Chart while the follow-up "In a Dream" was at #6.
In 1996, "I Fell In Love" peaked at #61 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1997. It hit the #1 spot on the Canadian Singles Chart singles chart during that year, making it the most successful freestyle dance music single of the decade in Canada.[citation needed] The single also peaked at #9 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart in the USA.
The follow-up to "I Fell In Love," peaked at #72 on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1997. It was #6 on the Hot 100 Canadian Singles Chart and solidified Rockell's position on the artist roster of the then BMG Music Canada. It also peaked at #13 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart.
"Can't We Try" with Collage peaked at #59 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1998. The single peaked at #11 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart.
"When I'm Gone" failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1999, but appeared on the Hot Dance Airplay and Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts. It also peaked at #21 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart.
Rockell's lead-off single to her second album Instant Pleasure, "What U Did 2 Me," was her best selling single and it garnered her a music video. It fared well on Hot Dance Airplay and Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts.
She also released "The Dance" (a cover of the Garth Brooks hit) and "Tears," but neither of these singles charted on the Hot 100. Both singles performed well on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play and Hot Dance Airplay charts. "The Dance" peaked at #27 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart and "Tears" peaked at #16 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart.
In 2005, she came back with "L.O.V.E.", produced by DJ Mickey Bono of the Beat Thrillerz. A limited independent release that had a trance remix by Lenny "Linus" Douglas and freestyle remixes by Russ Castella and Randy Taylor-Weber, the original writer/producer of "In a Dream". It became a modest Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart hit. It also received some dance radio airplay.
In spring 2007 Rockell recorded a new single, "Playing My Love." It was released to Dance/Rhythmic format radio in July 2007. A freestyle remix by Salsation 3 was released in November 2007. A nationwide tour with several dance artists including Joe Zangie was announced as well.
In November 2007, Rockell released a new dance single with Canada's Odeon Records, "You Keep Me Hanging On," a remake of the Supremes' original.
In 2009, Rockell released a dance cover of Donna Summer's "On The Radio" with several remixes.
The Dance
Rockell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The dance we shared 'neath the stars alone
For a moment all the world was right
How could I have known that you'd ever say goodbye
And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
Holding you I held everything
For a moment wasn't I a king
But if I'd only known how the king would fall
Hey who's to say you know I might have chanced it all
And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance
Yes my life is better left to chance
I could have missed the pain but I'd of had to miss the dance
Rockell's song "The Dance" is a powerful reminiscence of a past relationship. The singer opens up about a particular memory. They are looking back on the way things used to be with the person they loved. The song focuses on an evening when everything felt perfect - they danced together under the stars, and it seemed that the entire world was in sync. The singer then acknowledges how things went awry later on. The relationship came to an unexpected end, and they experienced pain and sorrow. However, they came to understand that life is unpredictable - chance and fate are at play. Had they known how things would end, they may not have chosen to take the risk and enjoy the dance.
The song's message is melancholic, but there is also hope in its lyrics. The singer recognizes that the experience of love and the dance they shared was worth the pain that came in its aftermath. They reflect on how the intensity of the feelings they shared made them feel alive and complete, if only for a brief moment. The song embraces the idea of living in the moment and being open to whatever the future holds, even if it's not what we expect.
Line by Line Meaning
Looking back on the memory of
Reflecting on the past
The dance we shared 'neath the stars alone
The moment when we danced under the stars
For a moment all the world was right
Everything felt perfect for a brief moment
How could I have known that you'd ever say goodbye
I never thought you would leave me
And now I'm glad I didn't know
I'm grateful that I didn't see it coming
The way it all would end the way it all would go
How our story would end
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
It's better to let life happen naturally, even if it means facing pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance
But I wouldn't want to miss the good parts, like the dance
Holding you I held everything
Being with you was enough for me
For a moment wasn't I a king
I felt on top of the world
But if I'd only known how the king would fall
If only I had known that things wouldn't end well
Hey who's to say you know I might have chanced it all
But even knowing the outcome, I might have still taken the risk
Yes my life is better left to chance
I believe in the power of fate and letting things happen naturally
I could have missed the pain but I'd of had to miss the dance
I might have avoided the heartbreak, but I wouldn't want to miss the good parts of life
Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Tony Arata
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind