Set Adrift On Memory Bliss – PM Dawn | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#1) & R&B (#16); 1991
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
Although over ten years had passed since Blondie introduced mainstream America to the latest incarnation of African American street music with Rapture (#1, 1980), acceptance at pop radio was still an uphill climb for rap and hip-hop in 1991, despite #1 hits from Bobby Brown in 1989 and Vanilla Ice in 1990.
Enter two brothers from Jersey City, NJ; Attrel and Jarrett Cordes (a.k.a. Prince Be and DJ Minutemix). Exposed to music by everyone from The Beatles to Nat “King” Cole while they were growing up, the boys began to develop their own songs.
When their U.S. label failed to support an initial single, the PM Dawn signed with a British company where they scored with Set Adrift On Memory Bliss (#3) at summer’s end in 1991.
Three weeks into October Bliss – featuring a sample of Spandau Ballet’s 1983 smash True – debuted on the American pop chart and four weeks later it entered the Top 10.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- P.M. Dawn
Lyrics Written by:
- Gary Kemp
- Attrell Cordes
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).