Her career began at the age of seven when she was selected as a regular performer for the music television program Young Talent Time. As a child Arena attracted attention for the power of her voice, which was considered remarkable for such a young child.
She was born to Italian parents and has a sister, Nancy (born 1961). Often billed as "Tiny Tina Arena", she was seen on weekly television singing and dancing the current pop hits. The show's policy was to promote talented children, and at the age of sixteen team members would leave, ostensibly to follow an adult career. As one of the show's youngest performers, Arena's nine year stint was also one of the show's longest. "Strong As Steel" Like most of the children who left the show, Arena carried with her a stigma that made it difficult to be taken seriously as an adult vocalist, and for a short time she contemplated ending her career, and found employment with an insurance company. She was invited to support Lionel Richie on his Australian tour, but despite this success and the profile it gave her, record companies were unwilling to offer her a recording contract. Arena persevered, playing nightclubs in Melbourne and in several stage musicals, before finally being offered a contract.
Her album Strong as Steel, released in 1990, contained one major hit single, the uptempo dance track, "I Need Your Body", whose accompanying video demonstrated Arena as a sexy and confident adult. The contrast between her adult image and that of the seven year old child she had been when she first became famous attracted considerable publicity in Australia, but some elements of the media insisted that she was little more than a novelty act. Despite the success of the further singles, The Machine's Breaking Down and the Diane Warren title track, the album failed to establish her as a major act, and she relocated to the United States.
After signing a contract with Sony Music, Arena released the album Don't Ask in 1994. It became one of the highest selling albums of the year in Australia and provided her with her first substantial hit single "Chains". The song also reached the Top 10 in the United Kingdom and Top 40 in the United States. Arena's career was said to be a priority of record executive Tommy Mottola who envisioned her achieving the level of success of Céline Dion or Mariah Carey, but the album failed to sell well in the US, and Mottola moved on to other projects. Other hits followed in Australia and Europe, including "Heaven Help My Heart", "Wasn't It Good" and "Sorrento Moon". The album won Arena five ARIA Awards for "Album of the Year", "Song of the Year" ("Chains"), "Pop Release of the Year" ("Chains") and "Best Female Vocalist", as well as a special award for "Highest Selling Female Artist in Australian History".
After more than twenty years she was finally accepted as a credible performer by both the record buying public and the Australian music industry.
Her next album In Deep (1997), produced by Foreigner's Mick Jones contained a cover version of their hit "I Want To Know What Love Is" (with backing vocals by the song's original vocalist Lou Gramm) and another major hit single "Burn". In Deep was the highest selling Australian album of the year. During this time she recorded the theme song for the film The Mask of Zorro, a duet with Marc Anthony titled "I Want To Spend My Lifetime Loving You". This song was highly successful in Europe, and Arena embraced European culture, recording several songs in French and relocating temporarily to France. During this period her greatest successes were these French recordings and they were major hits in France. A repackaged version of the In Deep album including the new French versions, and a cover version of the Edith Piaf song "Les Trois Cloches" was a major hit throughout Europe and reached number 3 in France.
Her 2001 album Just Me was a moderate success and included such hit singles as "Soul Mate #9", "Dare You To Be Happy" and "Symphony of Life". In 1998, Arena was invited to perform the role of Esmerelda in the West End production of Notre Dame de Paris in London. In 2000, she performed to the largest audience of her career at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Later that year she received an outstanding achievement ARIA Award for her career achievement, with the award also specifically recognising her success in France.
In 2003 she was recruited by Dance DJ Ray Roc to sing on his single "Never (Past Tense)". The song was one of the year's longest running hits on the Hot Dance Club Songs charet where it reached number one.
Arena completed her contract with Sony Music in the Fall of 2004, releasing a Greatest Hits album and a Greatest Hits DVD marking the end of her association with them. She was also released her Greatest Hits Live which features 90 minutes of LIVE concert footage recorded during her 2004 Greatest Hits tour in Australia.
After resigning a record deal with Columbia France, Arena recorded a new entirely French album, called Un Autre Univers (Another Universe). The album was co-written by Arena and an assortment of French and English writers and producers. The first single "Aimer jusqu'a l'impossible" (Love Till The Impossible) received airplay across French radio and debuted on the French national charts at #3. On November 17th 2005, Arena and partner Vincent Mancini became parents, with the birth of a son, Gabriel Joseph, in Paris.Arena's sixth studio album titled Songs of Love & Loss was recorded independently and self-financed as she no longer had a recording contract in Australia. The album was eventually released on 1 December 2007 after a new deal was struck with EMI Australia. The record was primarily made up of torch songs originally recorded by women in the 1960s and 70s such as Dusty Springfield and Diana Ross and the arrangements featured a full string orchestra conducted by Simon Hale. A promotional tour of Australia in early November included appearances on Dancing with the Stars and Sunrise. Five concert dates backed by a 35 piece orchestra were held in December–January: three at the Sydney Opera House and two at Melbourne's Hamer Hall. The album peaked at #3 on the ARIA Top Albums chart and was nominated for the ARIA Award for Best Selling Album.
While Arena was still promoting Songs of Love & Loss in Australia, her first French single in two years, "Entends-tu le monde?", was made available to French radio. The video was shot in and around Sydney during the promotional tour of her home country and went on heavy rotation on French music television channels upon its release. The song was the first single from her sophomore French album 7 vies which was released on 28 January 2008 and debuted at #12 on the official French charts, her highest debut ever in the country. The single "Entends-tu le monde?" was physically released on 11 February 2008 and debuted at #10 on the French charts, becoming her sixth top ten single there.
August 2008 saw Arena performing with Andrea Bocelli during his Australian tour. The two performed well received duets of "The Prayer", "Canto della Terra" and a cover of Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling in Love". Prior to the tour she had been in the UK recording her eighth studio album Songs of Love & Loss 2, which was released on 15 November 2008.[4] For this album, her vocals were recorded live with the London Studio Orchestra, again conducted by Hale.[5]
Arena & Alison Jiear at Sydney Mardi Gras 2009.Alongside fellow Australian singer and songwriter Darren Hayes, Arena appeared as a guest judge during the London auditions of Australian Idol's sixth season. The episode featuring Arena and Hayes aired on 27 August 2008. She again appeared as a guest judge on 16 November while she was in Australia to promote Songs of Love & Loss 2.
Arena has been awarded a Knighthood of the Order of National Merit, the second highest civil honour in France, by French President Nicolas Sarkozy in February 2009 for her contributions to French culture.
In March 2009, Arena toured Australia in support of her album Songs of Love & Loss 2 and also appeared as a surprise guest performer at the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras party singing a medley of "Aimer jusqu'à l'impossible" and "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" at 3 am accompanied by Alison Jiear on the latter.
2009 also saw the release of Arena's first French greatest hits album, The Best & le meilleur, and The Peel Me Sessions, an album of original material recorded in 2003 but rejected by her label at the time Sony.
A live CD and DVD was released in Australia in January 2010, The Onstage Collection, where the album peaked at #22 on the ARIA Charts.
Arena announced that she will release her seventh English studio album in 2011.
Let Me In
Tina Arena Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I conquered everyone and everything to get here
I shine my armor, keep a sharpened sword for fending you off
For years but here we go again
Through all my strategies, the nights I had to spend alone
You blew my mind and didn't mind to undermine me
My friends keep telling me to kill you, should've written you off
That you don't really miss me
Fuck you, I'm a Joan of Arc without a cause
But your eyes burn a hole through the thickest of walls
This is how empires fall
When the Devil in me
Loves the Devil in you
We have a whole lotta loving to do
(Do what you want to me, I set you free)
When the Devil in you
Loves the Devil in me
We have a whole lotta loving to do
(Angels sing quietly) feels like I've got
The Devil in me
I kept a storm at bay, divided, walked an ocean floor
I cracked a mountain, built a hideaway with curtains
I ran a marathon in high heels more than you've ever done, for fun
Of this, I'm rather certain
That's right, I'm a Joan of Arc but I want more
I'll go back, say goodbye then I'll open the door
This is how empires fall
When the Devil in me
Loves the Devil in you
We have a whole lotta loving to do
(Do what you want to me, I set you free)
When the Devil in you
Loves the Devil in me
We have a whole lotta loving to do
(Do what you want to me, I set you free)
Angels sing quietly, feels like I've got
The Devil in me
It took a little time, a moment just to figure it out
So here's my answer to the question if there's ever a doubt
Nothing matters in the moment, what am I supposed to do
When confronted with you?
When the Devil in me
Loves the Devil in you
We have a whole lotta loving to do
(Do what you want to me, I set you free)
When the Devil in you
Loves the Devil in me
We have a whole lotta loving to do
(Do what you want to me, I set you free) hey, hey
Angels sing quietly, feels like I've got
The Devil in me
In Tina Arena's song "Let Me In," the lyrics depict a tumultuous relationship filled with passion and conflict. The singer references past battles and conquerings, suggesting that they have fought their way to a certain point in their lives. The metaphor of shining armor and a sharpened sword signifies the emotional barriers the singer has erected to protect themselves from being hurt again.
Despite the singer's attempts to move on and strategize against their feelings, they find themselves drawn back into the same situation with their lover. The line "My friends keep telling me to kill you, should've written you off" indicates that the singer's loved ones advise them to let go of this toxic connection. However, the deep feelings they still hold for their lover make it difficult to sever ties completely.
The chorus reinforces the conflicting emotions within the singer. They refer to themselves as a "Joan of Arc without a cause," highlighting their fierce determination and strength. Yet, they acknowledge that their lover's presence has a powerful effect on them, as their eyes "burn a hole through the thickest of walls." This juxtaposition illustrates the battle between their desire for independence and their undeniable attraction to their significant other.
The second verse continues to emphasize the singer's resilience and refusal to be defeated. They claim to have kept a storm at bay, cracked a mountain, and achieved feats of endurance that surpass what their lover has experienced. However, despite this strength, they still yearn for something more, suggesting that they are willing to give their lover one more chance.
The bridge expresses the singer's hesitancy and uncertainty about their feelings. They admit that it took time to realize their true emotions and that they are unsure of what to do in the face of their lover's presence. The song ends with the repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the ongoing struggle between the passionate connection they share and the desire for independence.
Overall, "Let Me In" is a powerful anthem that explores the complex emotions of a person torn between their strength and their love for a person they know may not be good for them. It reflects the inner battle between the desire for independence and the allure of a passionate, yet toxic, relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
You come from memories, old battlefields, my history
You represent the past and all the struggles I have faced and overcome.
I conquered everyone and everything to get here
I have fought and triumphed over all obstacles to reach where I am now.
I shine my armor, keep a sharpened sword for fending you off
I constantly prepare and equip myself to protect against your influence.
For years but here we go again
Despite the passage of time, we find ourselves entangled once more.
Through all my strategies, the nights I had to spend alone
I have employed various tactics and endured loneliness in an attempt to escape you.
You blew my mind and didn't mind to undermine me
You amazed me but also didn't hesitate to weaken and sabotage me.
My friends keep telling me to kill you, should've written you off
Those close to me advise me to eliminate you, as I should have dismissed you long ago.
That you don't really miss me
It is evident that you do not truly long for my presence.
Fuck you, I'm a Joan of Arc without a cause
Defiantly, I proclaim that I am a Joan of Arc, driven and resolute.
But your eyes burn a hole through the thickest of walls
However, the intensity of your gaze penetrates even the most formidable barriers.
This is how empires fall
Such a situation is the catalyst for the downfall of great empires.
When the Devil in me
When the negative, darker side of my persona,
Loves the Devil in you
Finds affinity with the negative, darker side of your persona
We have a whole lotta loving to do
We are bound to engage in a tumultuous, passionate relationship
(Do what you want to me, I set you free)
(You can exert your influence on me as you please, but ultimately I release myself from your grasp)
When the Devil in you
When the negative, darker side of your persona
Loves the Devil in me
Finds affinity with the negative, darker side of my persona
We have a whole lotta loving to do
We are destined to experience a passionate, tumultuous relationship
(Angels sing quietly) feels like I've got
(Amidst all this chaos, it seems that I have)
The Devil in me
The negative, darker aspects of my persona
I kept a storm at bay, divided, walked an ocean floor
I managed to hold back a tempest, stayed separated, and braved the depths of the sea
I cracked a mountain, built a hideaway with curtains
I shattered a mountain, erected a refuge cloaked behind curtains
I ran a marathon in high heels more than you've ever done, for fun
I effortlessly completed a marathon wearing high heels, surpassing any accomplishments you have achieved purely for enjoyment
Of this, I'm rather certain
I am completely sure and confident about these achievements
That's right, I'm a Joan of Arc but I want more
Indeed, I embody the strength of Joan of Arc, yet I aspire for even greater things
I'll go back, say goodbye then I'll open the door
I will return to bid farewell, and then I will willingly open myself to the possibilities before me
This is how empires fall
Just like this, great empires crumble and decline
It took a little time, a moment just to figure it out
It required a brief period, a specific instance, to comprehend the situation
So here's my answer to the question if there's ever a doubt
Therefore, I present my response to any uncertainties or queries that may arise
Nothing matters in the moment, what am I supposed to do
At this very instant, nothing else holds significance, leaving me unsure of how to proceed
When confronted with you?
When faced with your presence and influence?
Hey, hey
An exclamation or expression of emphasis
Angels sing quietly, feels like I've got
Hushed melodies from heavenly beings, it seems as if I possess
The Devil in me
The negative, darker aspects of my persona
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Filippina Lydia Arena, Jack Earle, Mattias Lindblom, Tania Doko
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind