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
Copacabana
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 lyrics to Ambelique's song "Copacabana" tell the story of a young showgirl named Lola who works at the famous Copacabana nightclub. Lola dances and entertains the guests with her cha-cha and merengue moves, while Tony tends bar. The song describes the passion and excitement of the nightclub scene, where music and love are always in fashion. Lola meets Rico, a wealthy man who is taken with her, and invites her over to his table. This enrages Tony, who gets into a fight with Rico, leading to a chaotic scene with smashed chairs and a gun shot, leaving the listener wondering who was shot and killed.
The song then fast-forwards thirty years to the present day, where the Copacabana is now a disco, and Lola is still sitting there in her same dress, with faded feathers in her hair, drinking herself half-blind. The song ends with a warning not to fall in love at the Copacabana, perhaps referencing Lola's tragic fate.
Line by Line Meaning
Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl
There was once a young woman by the name of Lola, who was employed as a dancer and entertainer.
With yellow feathers in her hair and a dress cut down to there
Lola was known to wear flamboyant clothing that showed off her body, such as a dress with a low neckline and feathers in her hair.
She would merengue and do the cha-cha
Lola was skilled in various dance styles, such as the merengue and cha-cha, which she would perform for her audiences.
And while she tried to be a star
Lola aspired to become a prominent performer and make a name for herself.
Tony always tended bar
Tony was employed as a bartender at the same establishment where Lola performed.
Across the crowded floor, they worked from 8 til 4
Lola and Tony both worked long hours at the club where they tried to entertain and serve as many patrons as possible.
They were young and they had each other
Despite their busy schedules, Lola and Tony were a couple and had each other's love and support.
Who could ask for more?
Lola and Tony were content with the love they shared and the work they did together at the club.
At the copa (CO!) Copacabana (Copacabana)
The lyrics now transition to describing the location where Lola and Tony worked, called the Copacabana.
The hottest spot north of Havana (here)
Copa Cabana was an extremely popular nightlife destination for locals and tourists alike, known for its lively atmosphere and passionate music.
At the copa (CO!) Copacabana
The chorus repeats the name of the location, emphasizing its importance to the story.
Music and passion were always in fashion
The club was known for its energetic music and passionate performances, which further added to its popularity.
At the copa they fell in love
Lola and Tony's love for each other flourished while they worked together at the Copacabana.
His name was Rico
The lyrics now introduce a new character, Rico, as Lola's love interest.
He wore a diamond
Rico was a wealthy man who often flaunted his riches, such as by wearing a diamond.
He was escorted to his chair, he saw Lola dancing there
Rico was greeted by Lola's dancing when he arrived at the Copacabana.
And when she finished,he called her over
After Lola finished dancing, Rico requested for her to come over and talk to him.
But Rico went a bit to far
Rico made advances towards Lola that were deemed inappropriate, and went beyond the bounds of social acceptability.
Tony sailed across the bar
Tony was so enraged by Rico's actions towards Lola that he physically attacked him, even though he was a customer.
And then the punches flew and chairs were smashed in two
A brawl ensued between Tony and Rico's associates, resulting in a physical fight which caused damage to the interior of the club.
There was blood and a single gun shot
The fight escalated to such an extent that a gunshot was fired and someone was injured.
But just who shot who?
The identity of the person who fired the gun is unknown and unclear.
At the copa she lost her love
The aftermath of the fight was tragic for Lola, as she lost her love Tony amidst the chaos.
Her name is Lola, she was a showgirl,
The lyrics revert back to describing Lola, but in a different context now that her love has been taken away.
But that was 30 years ago, when they used to have a show
The passage of time is acknowledged, as it has been several years since Lola was employed as a showgirl at the Copacabana.
Now it's a disco, but not for Lola,
The club has now been repurposed as a disco, a change from its previous entertainment-based focus. However, Lola is no longer employed there.
Still in dress she used to wear,
Lola still dresses as she did when she was younger, despite the passing of time and changing of fashion trends.
Faded feathers in her hair
The feathers which used to be so colorful in her hair are now faded, symbolizing how time has elapsed and Lola has aged.
She sits there so refined,and drinks herself half-blind
Lola is now a shadow of her former self, as she spends her time drinking alone and reminiscing about her past.
She lost her youth and she lost her Tony
Lola has lost not only her youth, but also her true love Tony, whom she was never able to move on from.
Now she's lost her mind
The passage of time, the loss of her love, and her stagnant lifestyle have taken a toll on Lola's mental state.
At the copa don't fall in love
The song ends with a warning not to fall in love at the Copa Cabana, a place where love and passion can ultimately result in heartbreak and tragedy.
Don't fall in love
The repetition of this warning emphasizes how important it is to avoid the heartache and loss which Lola experienced after falling in love at the Copa Cabana.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Barry Manilow, Bruce H. Sussman, Jack A. Feldman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind