Before his chart success, he had his own business "Cameo Bathrooms" in Slough and built his own studio above the shop.
[edit] Discography
1994 The Real Thing UK #1
1994 Do It UK #21
1995 Why Did Ya UK #46
1996 Turn Your Love Around UK #66
1998 The Real Thing (remix) UK #51
The Real Thing
Toni Di Bart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got to be you
Real thing
If I can't have you
Got to be you
Real thing
Come on, soothe my mind
Oh, honey
(Got to be you, real thing)
I've been holdin' on
I've been lookin' for the real thing
Waitin' patiently
But I never stopped believin'
Say I'm chasin' rainbows
Livin' in a dream
Girl, I kept my fantasy
I'm never givin' in
I'll tell you why, oh, why
If I can't have you
I don't want nobody, baby
Girl, it's got be you
Oh, I need the real thing
If I can't have you
I don't want nobody, baby
Girl, it's got be you
I don't need no substitute
I need the real thing
Had a part time love
But I never fell completely
But when you touch me there
Ooh, you get me reelin', yes you do
Can I dare to wonder
If it could be you?
Girl, you set my heart on fire
When I dream of you
I wanna fly, oh so very high
If I can't have you
I don't want nobody, baby
Girl, it's got be you
Oh, I need the real thing
If I can't have you
I don't want nobody baby
Girl, it's got be you
I don't need no substitute
I need the real thing
If I can't have you
Got to be you
Real thing
Come on, stay tonight
Come on, soothe my mind, oh honey
(Got to be you, real thing)
Come on, stay tonight
Come on, soothe my mind, oh honey
(Got to be you, real thing)
The song "The Real Thing" by Toni Di Bart is a love song with lyrics centered around the idea of searching for and finding the "real thing" in a romantic partner. The chorus repeats the phrase "If I can't have you, it's got to be you, real thing" which shows the singer's strong desire for a specific person who he believes is the "real thing." He sings about holding on, looking for the real thing and waiting patiently, never giving up, even when others may say he's "chasing rainbows." The singer is clearly focused on finding the person who he believes is the "real thing" and rejects any substitutes.
The verses hint towards a past experience where the singer had a part-time love but it was never enough for him. He believes that the person he desires has the power to touch him in a way that no one else can, making him "reelin'." He's questioning if this person might be the one he's been waiting for and if he can dare to hope for a real, lasting relationship. Throughout the song, the singer expresses his unwavering belief in his search for true love and his determination to find it.
Line by Line Meaning
If I can't have you
I don't want anyone else
Got to be you
It has to be you, no one else will do
Real thing
The genuine article, not a substitute
Come on, stay tonight
Please stay with me this evening
Come on, soothe my mind
Help me relax and calm down
Oh, honey
A term of endearment, expressing affection
I've been holdin' on
I've been waiting for a long time
I've been lookin' for the real thing
I've been searching for something genuine
Waitin' patiently
I've been waiting without getting impatient
But I never stopped believin'
I always kept faith that I would find the real thing
Say I'm chasin' rainbows
Some might say I'm pursuing something elusive or unattainable
Livin' in a dream
It might seem that I'm not grounded in reality
Girl, I kept my fantasy
I imagined what the real thing would be like and kept hoping for it
I'm never givin' in
I won't give up on finding the real thing
I'll tell you why, oh, why
I'll explain the reasons for my determination
Had a part time love
I had a relationship that was only temporary
But I never fell completely
I never fully committed to it
But when you touch me there
But when you touch me in that way
Ooh, you get me reelin', yes you do
It gives me intense pleasure and excitement
Can I dare to wonder
Is it possible for me to think that...
If it could be you?
That you could be the one I've been looking for?
Girl, you set my heart on fire
You make my heart race with passion and desire
When I dream of you
In my fantasies or dreams about you
I wanna fly, oh so very high
I want to feel ecstatically happy
I don't need no substitute
I don't want anything else to take your place
Contributed by William B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@fodorflorian9008
If I can't have you
Got to be you
Real thing
If I can't have you
Got to be you
Real thing
Come on, stay tonight
Come on, soothe my mind
Oh, honey
(Got to be you, real thing)
I've been holdin' on
I've been lookin' for the real thing
Waitin' patiently
But I never stopped believin'
Say I'm chasin' rainbows
Livin' in a dream
Girl, I kept my fantasy
I'm never givin' in
I'll tell you why, oh, why
If I can't have you
I don't want nobody, baby
Girl, it's got be you
Oh, I need the real thing
If I can't have you
I don't want nobody, baby
Girl, it's got be you
I don't need no substitute
I need the real thing
Had a part time love
But I never fell completely
But when you touch me there
Ooh, you get me reelin', yes you do
Can I dare to wonder
If it could be you?
Girl, you set my heart on fire
When I dream of you
I wanna fly, oh so very high
If I can't have you
I don't want nobody, baby
Girl, it's got be you
Oh, I need the real thing
If I can't have you
I don't want nobody baby
Girl, it's got be you
I don't need no substitute
I need the real thing
If I can't have you
Got to be you
Real thing
Come on, stay tonight
Come on, soothe my mind, oh honey
(Got to be you, real thing)
Come on, stay tonight
Come on, soothe my mind, oh honey
(Got to be you, real thing)
@josssmith
It could well just be a nostalgia thing as I was a teenager then but does anyone else think 90s music just seems so much better than anything around now?
@richardwallace290
100%
@lindapirie7021
Yep, totally agree👍
@19Tharg76
My friend - practically every other decade is better than the dreck that seemingly passes for music these days.
@lunity1111
I was rly a late teenager or into music in 00 s and I think 80 s and 90 s was better for sure esp for dance I think now the only good stuff is the more off the cuff, have to dig it out on YouTube stuff. The charts just all sounds like the same song these days
@lewissell8904
second that. There genuinely is some class dance tunes around now but a lot of it is piss poor
@Keith.parker
Thankfully tunes like this ARE our time machine. Those who grew up through the 90s know nostalgia like no other generation.
Born in the 70s, schooled through the 80s, raved through the 90s... and I'd do it all again in a heartbeat 💓
@cct7558
Imagine if all of us that were there could just go back for 3 months. Please.
@Keith.parker
@cct7558 I'd go back for 3 days if I could... 3 months or 3 years be better tho...
Todays music and 'vibe' anit got nothing on those days, and I'm sooooo glad I lived thro them at the age I did ❤️
@cct7558
@@Keith.parker Me too! Loved it.