In 1981 Ad van den Berg worked with vocalist Jos Veldhuizen, bassist Peter Van Eyk, and drummer Bico De Gooijer in a band called Teaser. He auditioned for Thin Lizzy, without success. With a new line-up (Bert Heerink (vocals), Ad Van Den Berg (guitar), Dick Kemper (bass), and Jos Zoomer on drums), Teaser recorded a demo that fell into the hands of pop-journalist Kees Baars. Baars offered to manage the group, and contracted the band at Atlantic Records in the U.S..
Their debut-album was recorded at former Led Zeppelin's guitarist Jimmy Page's studio, and in 1983 their first single, Burning Heart, reached #5 in the US charts. Vandenberg toured the US as opening act for Ozzy Osbourne and KISS, and toured independently in Japan in 1984. Different Worlds, from their second album also did fairly well in the charts, but did not equal the success of Burning Heart.
The band's third album was recorded in the Netherlands, produced by Jaap Eggermont, manager of the Golden Earring. The album flopped, and not long after the band parted ways with lead-singer Bert Heerink. Demos with new lead singer Peter Struyk were not well received by Atlantic.
Around that time, Ad van den Berg (who often uses an Anglicized version of his Dutch name: Adrian Vandenberg) played as a guest-soloist on the Whitesnake album, and in 1987 Whitesnake vocalist David Coverdale asked him to join the band permanently. With the band Vandenberg amounting to nothing, the guitarist accepted the invitation.
The other members also started or joined other projects: Jos Zoomer and Peter Struyk joined Avalon, and Dick Kemper started a new band, No Exqze.
In 2004 there was a reunion session of Vandenberg, and they released a double-CD, "The Definitive Vandenberg", a compilation of the band's best songs and featuring a newly-recorded version of "Burning Heart". In January, 2005 the band released a DVD with footage of a 1984 Tokyo concert.
I'm on Fire
Vandenberg Lyrics
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All your neighbors, they think I'm a loser, they'd rather see me no more, no
[Chorus]
But when you come outside, you make it all worthwhile
And when you're holding me tight
I'm on fire, I'm on fire
Your father surely ain't making it easy, to get in touch with you
[Chorus]
Yeah yeah
I'm glad you're open, didn't notice that letter you threw out from your window
"I'll come outside tonight", was the message, we're going to let ourselves go
[Chorus]
Oh
I'm on fire, I'm on fire, I'm on fire, yeah yeah, fire
Fire
The lyrics to Vandenberg's "I'm on Fire" depict a persistent lover who is deeply interested in seeing their significant other despite the disapproval of their neighbors and the defensive actions of the lover's father. The song opens with the singer spending several days waiting outside their lover's door, hoping for even a brief glimpse of their face. The neighbors have already developed an opinion about the singer, and it's not a favorable one. They view the singer as a loser and would rather not see them around anymore.
Despite the negativity coming from the neighbors, the singer is undeterred. The moment the lover steps outside, it makes everything worth it. Presumably, they embrace, and the singer feels an intense rush of emotion, depicted as an "I'm on fire" sensation. The lover's father is not making things any easier. He has made it clear that he does not approve of the singer's pursuit of his daughter, going so far as to threaten physical harm the next time he sees the singer.
In the end, the lover does agree to meet with the singer, albeit in secret. A message is thrown out of a window, inviting the singer to come outside that night, and the two plan on letting themselves go. Overall, the song's lyrics describe a classic tale of infatuation and the lengths one might go to while pursuing love, even in the face of opposition.
Line by Line Meaning
Hanging 'round your door for days, hopin' to see your face
I've been waiting outside your house for days, hoping to catch a glimpse of you.
All your neighbors, they think I'm a loser, they'd rather see me no more, no
Everyone in your neighborhood thinks I'm a failure and they don't want to see me around anymore.
But when you come outside, you make it all worthwhile
But when you finally come outside and see me, it makes everything worth it.
And when you're holding me tight
And when you wrap your arms around me tightly,
I'm on fire, I'm on fire
I feel a strong passion and desire for you.
Your father surely ain't making it easy, to get in touch with you
Your father is not making it easy for me to contact you or see you.
He told me, the next time he sees me, he's going to beat me black 'n blue
He threatened to physically harm me the next time he sees me.
I'm glad you're open, didn't notice that letter you threw out from your window
I'm relieved that you're open to seeing me and I also didn't realize you had thrown a letter out your window.
"I'll come outside tonight", was the message, we're going to let ourselves go
Your message was that you'll come outside tonight and we can enjoy ourselves without any reservations.
I'm on fire, I'm on fire, I'm on fire, yeah yeah, fire
I have an intense and ardent passion for you that I cannot contain.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ADRIAAN VANDENBERG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind