In the interlude of the song, she clearly states the meaning of what's she's singing about. 'Paradise' is just a place your mind drifts off to in a fantasy world- to escape your dreaded reality, but the real paradise should be appreciating what most people deem underrated, simple things in their life. I hope that she finds her paradise- her true self after all these decades 💕
it's true you know. All your life you're dreaming the big dreams, searching for that excitement and adventure and glory.... it's all a lie. And when you lose everything, your dreams utterly crushed, only then you'll see the truth of things, only then you'll know what's truly important. And hopefully it's not too late by then.
I'm here in 2024 because my neighbor just pulled up to park his car, and this classic was playing....it immediately took me back to the 80's, the best musical time of my life.
A beautiful song and a beautiful lady. So much inner beauty. Thank you for sharing the story of this song, and how it was destined to be yours. So sorry to hear about the pain you suffered. I'm all choked up ... tears in my eyes. All the best to you.
The feelings, love and pain in this song is touching! It has the truth to touch everyones "Moment in times" of their lives! This song is a gift from God. The voice, lyrics and music! WOW! Charlene Marilynn Oliver, better known mononymously as Charlene, is an American easy-listening and R&B singer best known for the song "I've Never Been to Me", which, initially being a commercial flop upon its original release in 1977, became a worldwide hit upon a re-release in 1982 and has remained an enduring adult contemporary music staple. Charlene is also a songwriter, record producer and author.
These Story Behind the Song series are BRILLIANT! Thank you for doing these! Pop culture History .... also brings back memories of these songs. Lovely to get an update on Charlene.
I’ve loved this song forever it’s one of my faves ,it’s just so moving ,I didn’t realise how beautiful she is and her voice is absolutely incredible,I’m in love with her .
This song resonates with me so much. I spent my life looking for love in all the wrong places, with the wrong people and survived domestic violence. Never been to me 🙏
Being single, content,happy. Thats me. Iv been to me.I was there in a lonely marriage for 38 years. Now single 6. Happiness is within the single mind,body and soul.My love tank is full from my children. Need nothing from anyone else.
Wow what an sad and an uplifting story rolled up in one. I feel sad for the abuse she suffered at the hands of the cowardly former husband she had, but thank God she was able to survive and move forward in her life. Her song 4-sure has spoken into so many women hearts. What a magical ride that song brought her. Although I grew up in the 70’s and was into a lot music this my first time ever hearing of her and this great song.
I don't know if Charlene knew about it but this song was a big hit in the Philippines when it first came out in 1977. It remains a karaoke favorite to this day.
I was listening to the QMorning Zoo in Tampa when Scott Shannon introduced Charlene's song! My mother heard it and asked me to find her a copy. I was in college in '82, and drove from Tampa to St. Petersburg to a used record store and bought the "Charlene" album that included the song. I love that it was used in "Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" as the film's first song.
I found a second-hand LP of her named: ''Hit and Run Lover'', I didn't know ANY of the songs but bought it just because I liked ''Never been to me''. The album was an amazing 80's pop gem, she is a wonderful singer.
Love this song so much!!! The melody is so catchy, that i find myself humming it many days walking thru the shops! The lyrics are also very poignant the older i get and look back at my life!
I remember, in my younger years, when I was working as a waiter in a restaurant. a Couple were having a romantic tete-a-tete and this song came up. The man was softly repeating the words to the lady and she just melted. I learned that day the power of words...
i bought the song not long ago on digital. was flipping through some songs on Amazon heard it and said, "I remember that song!!" It was so different, sad, and beautiful.
I was sad to hear at the end that she's still never "been to me". I'm glad to hear she was honest about it, though. She's a real person, and I like that.
I would like to see this song make it back on the charts. While this song is a sad song, it also has a great message that so many people really need to hear. The older a person gets the better they hear the message in this song. This will always be a #1 hit in my book.
Gosh. For years it was just a song that stuck in my head, but now that I know the story behind the singer.....it will be engraved in my brain. Charlene, sooo sorry you had to undergo all this pain, I never knew this. Look at your beautiful daughter: you still guess who you are? Look into her eyes, and you WILL know.
Very beautiful story of Charlene's troubled first marriage . Although the lyrics reflect someone regretting not settling down , it seems i can relate to putting my eggs in one basket whilst living lives that weren't working.
@@oskie66skye I think I get it - maybe she was dreaming of that kind of life: a loving husband, a baby and a stable life, where the one she had was so turbulent, nothing like a loving marriage “should” be, as the one she describes.
Her testimony really relates to mine from abortion, domestic violence,to human trafficking 🛡️😭😭😭l cry soooo deeply every time hear this song it is God inspired and their is an annoiting on it ,it will free sooo many listening to it and bring healing God is going to you this lady's testimony powerfully 👑💎💎💎🛡️💖l felt Gods presence flow from this song rivers of living waters🔥🔥🔥🔑👑💎
I remember this song hitting me hard. I was away from home in college. Rebound from a heart break.It hit most women who listened in some way. Charlenes voice was pure gold. So lovely to hear Charlene all these years later. I saw that rebound ghost last week. How age affects the human body but doesn't really affect the memory. I can still see a young man in my mind. However reality is.Iv been to me.Not going back.❤❤
That song held me during my teen years and ended up being so truthful for me. I always had a stubborn streak and figured I would experience much heartache along the way, much as you did. It was the only song for years that spoke to a woman's ability to search for happiness and herself. Thank you for sharing your story with us. I'm so glad you got away from your abuser. Keep seeking. I have come to the notion that nothing in my life was wasted on God. He had a plan for me from the start. I hope you find the happiness you sang about wanting to find. Sincerely, Patti
What a sad song it reminds me of a woman with a sad life trying to get out and have a life of her own that's why she dreams about things like this, Paradise,,
I put this song in my humanities subject then after i discussed the meaning of this song other ladies in the class cried. Maybe they can relate . Thank you charlene for this song.
I first heard that song on the movie "Pricilla Queen of the Desert" and fell in love with it. I'd never seen an interview with Charlene before either. What a beautiful person.
She been in paradise the wealt the rich the power everywhere..but the true paradise is love that she cannot find..true love finds in her lovingly husband and her beautiful child.
Marilyn Anthony it was of a time. But of a fish out of water. That’s why it appealed to certain people. Wordy, rhyming scheme, vivid images.. tragic and regretful and a cautionary tale. Compared to Let’s get Physical...
One of my guilty pleasures. When Stevie Wonder helped her with her follow-up single, "Used To Be", I was hoping it would be a success as well. Good song, but sadly it was probably a bit too controversial for radio back then. Too bad because she has a wonderful voice that has a touch of vulnerability and honesty.
This was my song, it helped me through a bad relationship and troubled time in my life. It stayed with me even when I moved on and when I was in my late 20’s I was told the news that the one thing I longed for through my whole life was impossible and that was to have a child. That almost destroyed me so this song had even more significant meaning then and still does today and I’m 58🦋🙏🇦🇺
You are with you all the time XOX you can't find yourself because you are you, when you stop rejecting what is already you, looking for a better version.. then you will be to you xox
"Physical" went on to be the #1 song of the 80's. LOL! I absolutely love Charlene's song though. The second time around (1982), it spent 3 weeks at #3.
Charlene i love this song 😍 . Growing up with this kind of music made my childhood awesome im crying right now 😭😭.. I want you to know i love you so much ❤️❤️❤️ hope you doing well .
It always adds to something, song/movie/etc., if you learn the story behind it. Two songs that come to mind are Stevie Nicks song, "Has anyone ever written anything for you", and "Suzanne" by Leonard Cohen(I prefer the Neil Diamond version). There is also the story by Jerry Jeff Walker about how he came to write the song, "Mr. Bojangles". The man he wrote about was someone who claimed to be Bojangles, but the real Bojangles had died many years before the incident described in the song took place in the jail. Bobby Cole's version is my favorite version of that song. Thanks for posting this video.
I never knew the first version was written from a male perspective. My 20’s 30’s and 40’s were pretty much the words of this song, jumping from one relationship to another, looking for the next party, luckily for me one of those relationships produced my son, who is now a man and my best friend.
I am 44 and I missed this song somehow. I found out about it in one of Joaquin Phoenix's movies where he kills a hit man that killed his mom. Then to show a little compassion Joaquin's character laid down with the hit man and held his hand while the hitman died and they sang this song together while it was playing in the background on the radio. Weird I know but I had to Google this song once I heard it. Oh the movie is called "I was never really hear" very good medium budget movie.
Instead of re-releasing that silly disco uptempo version, she should've done that piano version that she does at the end of this video... so much better, and even adds more flair to her vocals, and a much more mature version...
Thank you Charlene for sharing your story with us! I was saddened to hear you are "still searching", yet I know why... Jesus Christ is the only one who can complete us. Once you find Him you will search no more. May His grace and peace shine upon you!
This is one of my all time favourite songs so sad though that itx about everything that was wrong in her life and if your still searching for your me it can only be found within you
