Classic Single Spotlight: The Story of "Fairy Tale," My Debut

The Hit I Never Saw Coming

Every artist remembers their first single. It's the moment you put your voice out into the world, hoping it connects. My first single was "Fairy Tale," and to be honest, it's a song that taught me one of the most important lessons of my career: the artist isn't always right.

Today, it's consistently one of my top-streamed songs worldwide, but back in 1980, I didn't even want to release it. This is the surprising story of how my accidental first hit came to be.

A Demo Tape from a Hair Stylist

The journey of "Fairy Tale" didn't start in a record label's office; it started in a salon chair. My hair stylist gave me a demo cassette, telling me her husband wrote music and that I should sing his songs. I took the tape, and while it was rough—as most demos are—I felt the songs had potential.

Two tracks stood out: "Fairy Tale" and another called "If I Love Again." They were interesting because they both came from a bittersweet point of view. Many people hear "Fairy Tale" as a romantic love song, but if you listen closely to the lyrics, it's actually about unrequited love. "If I Love Again" is about someone who has been through a bad breakup but remains optimistic. I took them to my producer, the late Brian Robertshaw, and he agreed to produce them.

An Unexpected Beginning

When it came time to choose the first single, my manager and producer made the decision: it had to be "Fairy Tale." I disagreed. I felt my singing on the track was just okay—nothing special—and I wanted to release something that better showcased my vocal range and style. But as a new artist, I didn't have much of a decision-making voice. Looking back, it was my first real lesson in the business of music.

To my complete surprise, they were right. The single resonated with listeners in Hawaii, getting significant local radio airplay and lots of requests. It sold thousands of 45 RPM single records. It still feels surreal that "Fairy Tale" hit a home run right out of the gate.

The Enduring Legacy of a Simple Song

The most amazing part of this story is what has happened in the 40 years since. Those original 45s have become collectors' items—I recently saw one sell online for about $70 to a collector in Japan!

And in the new world of digital streaming, the irony isn't lost on me. "Fairy Tale" and "If I Love Again," the two songs I had the least expectation for, consistently remain in the top three most-streamed and Shazamed songs in my entire catalog.

The lesson I learned is a profound one: the audience decides what they love, and their perspective is what matters most. They are the ones who consume the music, and their connection to a song is a force all its own. "Fairy Tale" taught me to trust the listener, and for that, I will always be grateful.

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You can explore the full discography from this era on my official Music Page.

Is there a song you love that has a surprisingly bittersweet meaning? I'd love to hear about it in the comments.

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