A popular trio from the city of Trondheim - the capital city of Norwegian Hard Rock. Stage Dolls quickly earned themselves a strong reputation for producing an authentic, glossy American sound married to some exceptional songs. The group's original line-up featured drummer Erlend Antonsen for the debut 'Soldiers Gun' record, produced by Bjørn Nessjø¸ at Nidaros Studios in Trondheim in the Autumn of 1982. Alongside the core personnel of vocalist / guitarist Torstein Flakne, previously a member of The Kids, the ex-Hot Lips duo of bassist Terje Storli and Erlend Antonsen, 'Soldiers Gun' also incorporated a guesting Gunnar Anders Berg with a guitar solo on the track 'Ten Tons' and keyboards courtesy of Bård Svendsen.
The first album was a self financed affair, which at first provoked little interest from the record companies. However, Polydor would be intrigued enough to ask for a potential single resulting in the track 'Soldiers Gun'. Subsequently a deal was struck. Touring across Norway in December of 1984 had the band acting as openers to TNT and having generated fan enthusiasm on the live circuit 'Soldiers Gun' soon surpassed the 20,000 sales mark.
Their first members were guitarist and vocalist Torstein Flakne, bassist Terje Storli and drummer Erlend Antonsen. In 1985 Antonsen left the band and was replaced by Steinar Krokstad. In 1993, Krokstad was replaced by Morten Skogstad. Stage dolls is known for their glam-80s rock sound and has played at every stage in Norway. In the late 80s Stage Dolls toured in the US. Their single "Love cries" went top 3 in the "Album Rock Charts" and no.46 in the Billboard Singles Charts. Now they're back touring Norway all year. Their last album is 2004's "Get a Live" which is a live album based on their 20th Anniversary Concert in their hometown Trondheim.
Other releases are:
'Soldiers Gun' - 1983,
'Commandos' - 1986,
'Stage Dolls' - 1988,
'Stripped' - 1991,
'Stories We Could Tell' - 1994,
'Shoot The Moon' - 1995 (Solo Album - Torstein Flakne),
'Dig[/abum]' - 1997,
'Good times - The Essential Stage Dolls' - 2002,
'Get A Life' - 2004,
'Get A Live' - 2004 (live album)
'Always' - 2010.
Don't Stop Believin'
Stage Dolls Lyrics
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Got a vision, got a dream
now I'm lookin' somewhere in between
imagine this, a world that's free
people livin' in harmony
some wanna sing, some wanna dance
some wanna live, given the chance
who's got it bad, who's got it good
the choice is ours to make
the world is hard to take
if you start lettin' go
there's somethin' you should know
oh-oh-oh-oh
Don't stop believin'
don't run away
hold fast the feelin'
there'll be brighter days
some wanna sing, some wanna dance
some wanna live, given the chance
picture this, a love so real
or anythin' you wanna feel
the choice is ours to make
the world is hard to take
if you start lettin' go
there's somethin' you should know
Don't stop believin'
don't run away
hold fast the feelin'
there'll be brighter days
The lyrics of the song "Don't Stop Believin'" by Stage Dolls carry a message of hope and optimism. The song seems to be addressing the problems and hardships that people face in their lives and urging them to keep on believing and not give up. The opening lines "Got a vision, got a dream, now I'm lookin' somewhere in between" suggest that the singer has a vision for a better world and is searching for a way to turn it into reality. The following lines "imagine this, a world that's free, people livin' in harmony" reinforce this idea, and the repetition of "some wanna sing, some wanna dance, some wanna live, given the chance" emphasizes that everyone deserves the opportunity to pursue their dreams and live a fulfilling life.
As the song progresses, the message becomes even more explicit, with lines such as "the choice is ours to make, the world is hard to take, if you start lettin' go, there's somethin' you should know". The tone is one of encouragement and support, and the repeated refrain of "Don't stop believin', don't run away, hold fast the feelin', there'll be brighter days" reinforces the idea that no matter how difficult things may seem, there is always hope for a better future. The final lines "picture this, a love so real, or anythin' you wanna feel" suggest that the power of imagination and positive thinking can be a source of strength and inspiration.
In summary, "Don't Stop Believin'" is a song that encourages listeners to hold on to their dreams and never give up hope. It acknowledges the challenges and difficulties of life, but reminds us that we have the power to make choices and create a better world for ourselves and others.
Line by Line Meaning
Got a vision, got a dream
I have a clear idea of what I want and what I hope for.
now I'm lookin' somewhere in between
But I also know that achieving my goals will involve taking a journey with many challenges and obstacles.
imagine this, a world that's free
I envision a world where people are no longer held back by prejudice, fear, poverty, or any other obstacle to their happiness and fulfillment.
people livin' in harmony
In this world, people will be able to coexist peacefully and with mutual respect, even though they may have different beliefs or lifestyles.
some wanna sing, some wanna dance
People have different passions and interests, but they should all have the freedom to pursue them without fear of judgment or ridicule.
some wanna live, given the chance
Everyone should have the basic right to a decent and fulfilling life, no matter who they are or where they come from.
who's got it bad, who's got it good
We should not judge people based on their circumstances or background, but rather treat everyone with empathy and compassion.
we all need to be understood
It is important for people to feel seen and heard by others, especially in a world where so many feel marginalized or invisible.
the choice is ours to make
Ultimately, the decisions we make and the actions we take have the power to shape the world we live in.
the world is hard to take
There will always be challenges and setbacks in life, but we should not lose hope or give up on our dreams.
if you start lettin' go
If we give up on our hopes and dreams, we risk losing sight of what truly matters in life.
there's somethin' you should know
But if we hold onto our faith and continue to persevere, we can overcome even the most difficult obstacles.
Don't stop believin'
So we should hold onto our dreams and never give up, no matter how hard things may seem.
don't run away
We should face our problems head-on and not shy away from the challenges before us.
hold fast the feelin'
We should keep our hope and optimism alive, even in the darkest of times.
there'll be brighter days
For with perseverance and faith, there is always hope for a better future.
picture this, a love so real
In this world I envision, there will be love and connection between all people, based on mutual respect and understanding.
or anythin' you wanna feel
And individuals will be free to explore their emotions and experiences without fear of condemnation or judgment.
Contributed by Levi O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.