Swingin' was not as much of a hit for Dino as his debut album 24/7 was. The album failed to chart in the single digits on the Billboard charts. The album reached #82 on the US Billboard 200 falling off shortly after. New Jack Swing and synth-pop was becoming a thing of the past. Synth-pop was played out by then. That is one of many reasons why Swingin' did not chart very high.
However the songwriting is much better. Dino showed maturity and lyrical growth in songwriting on this album with songs such as Wish on a Star, Tongue Kiss,
Can't Get Away From You is about not being able to get the person you love out of your head. That alone drives you nuts.
Dino does not know what to do. He is alone in his bed. All he thinks about is her. He doesn’t know if he should call. He checks the clock for the time.Her face has never left his mind. He feels the heat of the summer slowly creep into his room. He quickly dials her number. Dino feels his heart begin to boom. Her voice echoes inside of him just like an angel above. He wishes that she would come over. He needs her love.
Dino can't get away from her or her love. Time is moving slow. He waits for her to come see him. He wants her next to him. He might not ever let her go. Suddenly he hears a knock on the door. He rushes to let her inside. No longer can he hide his feelings. She is the one he adores.
He’s waited for so long for her love. He keeps coming back for more. More of her love. Her love keeps him going strong. The touch of her skin is embraced with a kiss. Excitement grows deep within. He never knew these feelings could exist. He feels the passion get stronger. They fit so perfect together.
Falling for You is a sweet love song that deals with falling in love with someone.
As the days go by, Dino finds his heart getting weaker for her. He can’t seem to get her off his mind. He can't deny this passion. He feels it with the touch of her hand.
The lyrics to the chorus give away everything.
CHORUS
You've got me falling for you
I'm falling in love
You've got me falling for you
I'm falling in love
Tongue Kiss is a sexual love song that is provocative in nature and very humorous. Tongue Kiss is more explicit in nature than any of his other songs from his catalogue. Dino took a different approach in songwriting by writing from a mature person’s perspective and by diving into the more sexual side of love.
She's the type of girl who wants to have some fun but doesn't want to go all the way. Dino has tried everything to be the one but it doesn't seem to matter anyway.
He has even tried to persuade her with candy and it made her smile. Yet she always hesitates to take a chance as she wants to make sure it's worth the while. She says, “We can do a little of that. We can do a little of this. We can tongue kiss. We can have some fun tonight. But that's all we can do.” (This is explained during the chorus as well. So this means that Dino is not getting any nookie tonight. There’s no chance of him going to second base either.
Every little thing she does just drives him mad up the wall. He has no clue as to how long he will last. He wants to be bad every time he’s alone with her.She doesn't want things to move too fast. Dino attempts to unwind her by doing a little bump n’ grind. But she always puts the fire out before it gets hot. She says she doesn't wanna fool around.
Tonight is the night Dino plans to play his cards right. He is going to try with all his might to know her and show her that he is the only one for her. The closer he gets, the more he wants. He tries real hard to act nonchalantly. It drives him crazy when she's holding his hand. He has to be patient if he wants to be her man.
Why Do You Do Me? is a sad heartbreaking love song about why Dino has been done so badly. It’s a heartbreak hotel type of song. Think George Michael - Careless Whisperer and Merge - What Makes You Want To Want To Lie To Me when you listen to Why Do You Do Me?.
Dino gave her everything including all the love he had. He asks, “Why do you do me so bad?” “I give you all the love I have!”
He reminisces on the past where he remembers when her love was only his. She was his lover and friend. They had a real good time. But now things are different as the other person acts so inconsistent. Dino doesn't know what to do. She tells him it’s over. She wants to be alone. He can't believe it's true. Lyrics to Verse 1 explain everything.
VERSE 1
Back in the times
I remember when your love was only mine
You were my lover
And you were my friend
We had a real good time
But now things are different
'Cause you act so inconsistent
I don't know what to do
You tell me it's over
You wanna be alone
I can't believe it's true
So tell me
Notice how the rhyming scheme on Verse 1 uses the suffix “-ent”. Read some of these lyrics to understand.:
“We had a real good time/But now things are different/'Cause you act so inconsistent/I don't know what to do”
Verse 2 has Dino questioning her about if their love was real. He tells her, “Give me the reason. Say what's on your mind.Tell me how you feel. 'Cause I don't believe it. What a waste of time I thought your love was real. I'm trying to be optimistic but you're so unrealistic. It doesn't make much sense. Was our love a lie? Was it just a game? Don't leave me in suspense. Just tell me.”
VERSE 2
Give me the reason
Say what's on your mind
Tell me how you feel
'Cause I don't believe it
What a waste of time
I thought your love was real
I'm trying to be optimistic
But you're so unrealistic
It doesn't make much sense
Was our love a lie
Was it just a game
Don't leave me in suspense
Just tell me
Wish on a Star deals with no longer being with the person you cherish and not being able to tell them goodbye. The pain of not being able to tell someone goodbye is emotionally painful. You live with a lot of regret when you are unable to tell a person you cherish or admire goodbye.
Dino is in disbelief that the person he cherished is away from him. That person is gone. He knows that person had to leave. He hopes and prays that they are happy. Sometimes he feels alone because time keeps painting a picture in his mind that he is no longer with them. He’ll be there to wish on a star every night underneath the moonlight that one day he will hold her tight. Make everything all right.
Dino feels the pain as he attempts to hold back his tears. It's just not the same. He would give everything to have them here. He can remember all the good times they shared. That person made him happy. That person gave him hope to fill his dreams and now he wishes they could share them with him. Now that person is gone. He didn’t get the chance to tell them goodbye.
I rate this album 4/5****.
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