Following in the footsteps of Gregory Issacs, John Holt, K… Read Full Bio ↴AMBELIQUE
Following in the footsteps of Gregory Issacs, John Holt, Ken Booth, Beres Hammond Freddie McGregor, and Dennis Brown. Ambelique has now joined that selective group of Artists from Jamaica who sing and perform deep soulful reggae the way it should be done!
There’s an old saying ‘nothing happens before its time’. It could have been coined especially for Ambelique, who despite his wealth of current hits and rocketing popularity among grassroots enthusiasts, waited patiently for his breakthrough into the reggae big time. Then again, Ambelique is no ordinary singer. His tones of expressions and vocal technique are simple outstanding, and the soul in his voice so moving at times, the listener is reminded of early R&B greats such as Sam Cooke.
Jamaican by Birth, he was raised in the Waltham Park area of Kingston, the same neighbourhood that gave us Dennis Brown, Freddie McGregor, Sugar Minot and The Stewart Brothers [Tinga & Roman]. It was Ska and Rock steady Legend Derrick Harriot who took him to the Studio for the first time.
Ambelique left Jamaica for New York. It was in New York where he was introduced and worked along side Third World lead singer Bunny Rugs, with touring band Hugh Hendricks & The Buccaneers. Ambelique moved to Los Angels where he joined a group called first with a group called Third Eye, then with Methuselem. During this time he embarked on self-producing project, under the guidance of the renowned Engineer / Producer Carl Pitterson.
In 1994 he returned to Jamaica and was introduced to Sly & Robbie the Jamaican musical giants by Noel Brown, and on the recommendation of Colin ''Bulby'' York - for whom he later recorded hits Lonely Soldier, Stick To The Task and Soldier On The Front Line. It was Sly & Robbie who gave him his long awaited entry into the Reggae mainstream, with his version of Brian McKnight's One Last Cry and R. Kelly's For You, both rocketing to the top of the New York Reggae charts in 1996, and hit Caribbean single 'Cuando Cuando' inspiring an entire album of covers entitled Ambelique Sings The Classics which was released the following year and rocked the Reggae Charts. Recognizing the commercial potential, Island Jamaica soon issued he and Chevelle Franklin's cover of Richie Valen's La Bamba on CD single. Ambelique also contributed two songs to the Sly & Robbie & Friends Grammy winning album of 1999 - one of them Penny Lover and the other an unaccredited version of the Rolling Stones' Satisfaction featuring Keith Richards on guitar. The future looked bright from this most self-effacing of newcomers, but Island Jamaica folded, leaving Ambelique and Sly & Robbie to seek their fortunes elsewhere.
His R&B sound and feel worked beautifully on a handful of singles released after the Classic's Album e.g., ‘Worker Man’, ‘Me Oh My’ and ‘Is It Still Good To You’, Ambelique turned freelance soon after recording tracks for Gordon 'Flash' Lee, Fat Eyes and Clive Hunt in Jamaica- High Power, Phillip Smart [Shoulder To Cry On] Don One [Hands of Time] in the USA. The impact he created in America can be measured by the proliferation of tracks included on VP Records best selling Strictly the Best and Reggae Gold Series.
In 2000 Ambelique shot to the top of the Reggae Charts with the song Sheriff in Town Bluer Than Blue both winning a place on the Rhythm Selector Series on Jet Star.
Ambelique singles has repeatedly appeared on the Jet Star compilation Albums, his work in the UK has also found success in the USA, with the hit Love Doctor topping the New York Reggae charts once again, he has completed albums for Phillip Smart, Don One and Jet Star, a late release of a track from his 2nd album also topped the charts in New York 'Share My Love' featuring Chevelle Franklin re-enstating him as the most popular lovers artist in this millennium Followed by Albums "Love Got a Hold on me and Special Attention , Reggae Gold Classics each one holding a top spot in the Reggae Album Charts
Ambelique's album on the Devious Records Label is set to be released in 2005 to much acclaim, "Entitled Lets Take a Chance.
His next Album ‘The Vibes of Ambelique’ is set to be release 2007.
This Album is very special to Ambelique as it involves a selection of some of his very best work.
A super songwriter as a master stylist, his objective is to make timeless music that will last for generations to come and true form has achieved this on virtually everything he has touched since re- entering the business during the mid-nineties.
“People just want to get famous and make money, but I want to make songs that still sell ten to twenty years from now'.
You see music is the medium by which everybody can be taught, as artists we should say something meaningful.” Ambelique
Copa Cabana
Ambelique Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With yellow feathers in her hair and a dress cut down to there
She would merengue and do the cha-cha
And while she tried to be a star
Tony always tended bar
Across the crowded floor, they worked from 8 til 4
They were young and they had each other
Who could ask for more?
At the copa (CO!) Copacabana (Copacabana)
The hottest spot north of Havana (here)
At the copa (CO!) Copacabana
Music and passion were always in fashion
At the copa they fell in love
His name was Rico
He wore a diamond
He was escorted to his chair, he saw Lola dancing there
And when she finished,he called her over
But Rico went a bit to far
Tony sailed across the bar
And then the punches flew and chairs were smashed in two
There was blood and a single gun shot
But just who shot who?
At the copa she lost her love
Her name is Lola, she was a showgirl,
But that was 30 years ago, when they used to have a show
Now it's a disco, but not for Lola,
Still in dress she used to wear,
Faded feathers in her hair
She sits there so refined,and drinks herself half-blind
She lost her youth and she lost her Tony
Now she's lost her mind
At the copa don't fall in love
Don't fall in love
The song "Copa Cabana" by Ambelique tells the story of Lola, a showgirl with yellow feathers in her hair and a dress cut down to there. She would dance the merengue and cha-cha while Tony, the bartender, tended to the crowd. They were young and in love, working hard from 8 until 4 at the Copacabana, the hottest spot north of Havana. However, their love story takes a turn when Rico, a man wearing a diamond, takes notice of Lola dancing and calls her over. Rico then went too far, and Tony defended Lola by getting into a fight with Rico. This resulted in chaos and a gunshot ringing out, leaving the fate of the characters unknown.
The song then fast-forwards 30 years where Lola, older and alone, still wears her showgirl dress and sits at the Copacabana bar. The place has turned into a disco, and Lola drinks herself half-blind while reminiscing about her lost youth and love with Tony. The song ends with a warning to not fall in love at the Copa Cabana, as it seems to only bring heartache.
This story of love, loss, and nostalgia captures the essence of the classic disco era. The lyrics painted a vivid picture of the vibrant and exciting atmosphere of the Copacabana, but also highlight the fragility of love and the pain of lost youth.
Line by Line Meaning
Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl
Introducing Lola as the singer of the song, a former showgirl.
With yellow feathers in her hair and a dress cut down to there
Describing Lola's flamboyant appearance with yellow feathers and a provocative dress.
She would merengue and do the cha-cha
Describing Lola's dancing skills, particularly her proficiency in merengue and cha-cha.
And while she tried to be a star, Tony always tended bar
Establishing that Lola and Tony worked together, with Lola pursuing stardom while Tony worked as a bartender.
Across the crowded floor, they worked from 8 til 4
Highlighting the long hours that Lola and Tony worked together at the club.
They were young and they had each other, who could ask for more?
Emphasizing the bond between Lola and Tony, who were young and in love with each other at the time.
At the copa (CO!) Copacabana (Copacabana)
Introducing the Copacabana club, a popular spot that Lola and Tony worked at.
The hottest spot north of Havana (here)
Describing the Copacabana as a trendy nightclub that rivals even the best spots in Havana.
Music and passion were always in fashion
Highlighting the lively atmosphere at the Copacabana, where music and dancing are always in style.
At the copa they fell in love
Reiterating the fact that Lola and Tony fell in love while working together at the Copacabana.
His name was Rico, he wore a diamond
Introducing Rico, a wealthy and flashy character who makes an appearance at the Copacabana.
He was escorted to his chair, he saw Lola dancing there
Describing Rico's arrival at the club and his attraction to Lola, who was performing.
And when she finished, he called her over
Describing how Rico approached Lola after her performance.
But Rico went a bit too far, Tony sailed across the bar
Explaining that Rico's advances were rebuffed by Lola and that Tony intervened by attacking him.
And then the punches flew and chairs were smashed in two
Depicting the resulting brawl at the Copacabana, where violence erupted between Tony and Rico's entourage.
There was blood and a single gunshot, but just who shot who?
Describing the chaos that resulted from the fight, with an unspecified gunshot being heard and confusion over who fired the gun.
At the copa she lost her love
Revealing that Lola's love for Tony ended at the Copacabana that fateful night.
Her name is Lola, she was a showgirl, but that was 30 years ago, when they used to have a show
Describing Lola in the present day, as an older woman reminiscing about her days as a showgirl.
Now it's a disco, but not for Lola
Explaining that the Copacabana has changed into a disco, which Lola does not enjoy.
Still in dress she used to wear, faded feathers in her hair
Describing Lola's appearance in the present day, as a woman who still wears the dress and feathers she wore in her prime.
She sits there so refined, and drinks herself half-blind
Depicting Lola as a refined, older woman who drinks to excess to cope with her loneliness and heartbreak.
She lost her youth and she lost her Tony, now she's lost her mind
Revealing that Lola has lost not only her youth and love, but also her sanity as a result of her tragic past.
At the copa don't fall in love, don't fall in love
Concluding the song with a warning to new visitors of the Copacabana not to fall in love, as Lola and Tony's story serves as a cautionary tale.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BARRY MANILOW, BRUCE H. SUSSMAN, JACK A. FELDMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind