These Sides of Paradise

There's a strange connection between two songs titled "This Side of Paradise". One of them is a rather minor hit by a well-known singer. The other one is a Pokémon song, serving as the English ending theme to the seventh movie, titled Destiny Deoxys in English. Other than the fact they have the same title, the connection between them seems scant. But it could be regarded as wonderful too.

I wanna know what they're not tellin'
And I don't wanna hear no lies
I just want something to believe in
Ah - it's a lonely lonely road we're on
This side of paradise
-- "This Side of Paradise", Bryan Adams

This song, with its three verses and three choruses plus a bridge, is hopeful and a little fantastical, even if it may not sound too optimistic. It can be considered an "honest plea" for the truth from someone on the darker side, as the chorus quoted above indicates. If anything, it suggests that there may be hidden hope, for someone living on a different side of "paradise". And if that hope is uncovered...

This side of paradise, is where I want to be.
This side of paradise, for you and me.
This side of paradise, what you get is what you see.
And I never thought I'd see a place as nice,
This side of paradise.
-- "This Side of Paradise", Bree Sharp

...then it may lead someone to the brighter side, to where the real "paradise" is. That's where this song comes in with its two verses and two choruses. It's quite optimistic, and it's also quite inviting. Perhaps it may be considered as an "answer song" to the other song, since some similar concepts are addressed (darkness and light, taking to the skies and going to space, and togetherness). Fundamentally, it's a full realization of the suggested hope.

Interestingly, both are rock songs and share a similar structure: verses followed by choruses. In contrast, the first song has a male vocalist, and the second has a female vocalist. The "answer song" theory makes sense in this regard, if it isn't already apparent considering the similar concepts described above, and no matter how coincidental it might be for the two songs concerned.

I've always played the songs in conjunction and in the same order above due to their exact same title, and with the above considerations, it just seems like that is meant to be. The latter song may not have been created with the former song in mind, but they do seem to connect somehow. I suppose that is the wonderful thing about them aside from their shared titles; these sides of paradise may just be where things are really at, especially for this Pokémon fan.

One year ago: Another Big Shuffle Update
Two years ago: In-Game Trainer Name Inspirations