Obsession by Animotion Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Labyrinth of Desire
Lyrics
I cannot sleep
I am your possession
Unopened at your feet
There’s no balance
No equality
Be still I will not accept defeat
I will have you
Yes, I will have you
I will find a way and I will have you
Like a butterfly
A wild butterly
I will collect you and capture you
You are an obsession
You’re my obsession
Who do you want me to be
To make you sleep with me
You are an obsession
You’re my obsession
Who do you want me to be
To make you sleep with me
I feed you I drink you
My day and my night
I need you I need you
By sun or candlelight
You protest
You want to leave
Stay
Oh, there’s no alternative
Your face appears again
I see the beauty there
But I see danger
Stranger beware
A circumstance
In your naked dreams
Your affection is not what it seems
You are an obsession
You’re my obsession
Who do you want me to be
To make you sleep with me
You are an obsession
You’re my obsession
Who do you want me to be
To make you sleep with me
My fantasy has turned to madness
And all my goodness
Has turned to badness
My need to possess you
Has consumed my soul
My life is trembling
I have no control
I will have you
Yes, I will have you
I will find a way and I will have you
Like a butterfly
A wild butterly
I will collect you and capture you
You are an obsession
You’re my obsession
Who do you want me to be
To make you sleep with me
You are an obsession
You’re my obsession
Who do you want me to be
To make you sleep with me
In the neon-lit corridors of the 1980s, a song pulsated with a fervor that encapsulated the decade’s infatuation with longing and possession. ‘Obsession’ by Animotion, a track that beamed across airwaves and crackled through the burgeoning medium of music video, delves into the complexities of human desire with an urgency that is impossible to ignore. The song, penned by Holly Knight and Michael Des Barres, became an anthem for those ensnared by the throes of an all-consuming passion.
Yet, beyond the catchy synth-pop beats and the impassioned duet lies a rich tapestry of meaning that continues to resonate with audiences today. The storyline sketched in Animotion’s ‘Obsession’ is a dark poetic exploration of love, power, and control, wrapped in the hypnotic rhythms that defined a musical era. This article peels back the layers of the song’s narrative, delving deep into its psyche to unearth the timeless messages coded within its lyrics.
The Butterfly Effect: Capturing Fleeting Desire
‘Obsession’ opens with a powerful dynamic of possession and surrender, revealing the troubling premise of a love that verges on the predatory. The symbolism of the butterfly—delicate, elusive, and enchanting—serves as a poignant metaphor for the ephemeral object of desire. The protagonist’s proclaimed intent to ‘collect’ and ‘capture’ points towards a dangerous infatuation, stripping away freedom and hinting at an obsession that could be as beautiful as it is destructive.
The captivating language of ‘I will have you, like a butterfly, a wild butterfly’ is a vivid portrayal of the potent blend of beauty and danger that intense longing can bring. In comparing the pursuit of love to the trapping of an exquisite insect, Animotion’s song paints a picture of passion that refuses to accept boundaries, questioning where affection ends and the need for possession begins.
The Siren’s Call: Deciphering the Song’s Hidden Meaning
Beneath the veneer of ‘Obsession’s’ high-energy melody lies a cautionary tale of infatuation turned awry. It is a testament to the fine line between devotion and obsession, a line that, once crossed, becomes almost indiscernible. The lyrics weave a narrative of a self-consuming passion that seeps into every crevice of existence, stating, ‘My fantasy has turned to madness, and all my goodness has turned to badness.’
The juxtaposition of dream and danger in the lines, ‘Your face appears again, I see the beauty there, but I see danger’ underscores the song’s profound commentary on the volatile nature of desire. What starts as attraction may metamorphose into an unhealthy fixation, where the once benign longing mutates into something inexorably dark, blotting out rational thought and coloring every action.
The Pulse of the Night: Dancing on the Edge of Sanity
The repeating plea ‘Who do you want me to be, to make you sleep with me?’ is delivered with a kind of ritualistic intensity that captures the essence of the song’s driving narrative. It bespeaks the transformation that one is willing to undergo in the pursuit of the one they yearn for, forgoing personal identity in favor of becoming the imagined ideal of another.
The feverish repetition of this line, coupled with the up-tempo beat, creates a sense of psychological vertigo. The driving synth score that underpins this haunting question embodies the restless energy of a mind ensnared by obsession, a mind that dances feverishly on the precipice between desire and madness.
A Portrait of Passion: The Artistry behind Animotion’s Approach
The vocal delivery in Animotion’s ‘Obsession’ is a taut wire of tension that effectively conveys the inner turmoil of its characters. The interplay between male and female perspectives within the song adds a dimensionality that is as engrossing as it is unsettling. As the vocalists exchange lines, the listener is drawn into a narrative that feels as intimate as it is universal, a love story laced with undercurrents of power and possession.
This interplay is mirrored in the structure of the song itself – a relentless build-up of verses that spiral towards the insistent chorus, a refrain that is impossible to shake. The musical arrangement is a masterclass in reflecting thematic content, using the excavation of sound to underpin a psychological landscape fraught with tension and desire.
Echoes of a Decade: Why ‘Obsession’ Still Resonates
History has shown us that the themes explored in ‘Obsession’ are anything but dated. As we navigate the complexities of modern love, power dynamics, and the quest for connection, the song’s laserlight focus on the raw edges of passion remains as relevant as it ever was. Its continued popularity attests to the universality of its message—the endless human drive to seek, to want, and sometimes, to lose oneself in the pursuit of another.
As much a part of 80s lore as neon leg warmers and shoulder-padded power suits, ‘Obsession’ captures a zeitgeist yet transcends it, reverberating through the decades and striking a chord with new generations. With its haunting lyrics and pulsating beat, Animotion’s hit remains a compelling study on the shadows cast by the flames of desire.
