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
Going Home
Ambelique Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Going back where I came from, I've had more than I can stand
Of watching men destroy my dreams
They picked my brain till it was clean
When I was up they knocked me down
I ain't going to hand around, I'm going home
I'm going home, going home
Came to this old town seeking fortune and some fame
Never got the chance to prove myself, though I tried to play their game
But using people just ain't my thing
And I don't dangle from any string
To please some fool that don't care about
They turned me inside out, I'm going home
I'm going home, going home
Tell someone to meet me I'm coming home
Tell someone to meet me I'm coming home
I'm going home, going home
Tell someone to meet me I'm coming home
I'm going home, going home
Tell someone to meet me I'm coming home
I'm going home, going home
Tell someone to meet me I'm coming home
The song "Going Home" by Ambelique is about the struggle of someone who has come to a new town seeking fortune and success, only to be met with disappointment and rejection. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been taken advantage of and had their dreams crushed by people who don't care about them. The first stanza sees the singer sitting in a railway station with their suitcase in hand, ready to leave and go back to where they came from. The second stanza shows the singer's determination to not be a pawn in someone else's game, and to not compromise their values just to please others. The chorus, "I'm going home, going home / Tell someone to meet me I'm coming home", represents the singer's desire to return to a place where they are accepted and where they feel they belong.
The theme of the song is relatable to anyone who has ever experienced disappointment and rejection in their pursuit of success. The lyrics suggest that it is important to stay true to oneself and not to compromise one's values just to please others. The idea of going home represents a return to one's roots and a sense of belonging.
Line by Line Meaning
Sitting in a railway station with my suitcase in my hand
I am currently situated in a train station, holding my luggage and feeling emotionally drained.
Going back where I came from, I've had more than I can stand
I am returning to my place of origin because I have experienced more than I can tolerate in this new setting.
Of watching men destroy my dreams
I have observed men ruining my aspirations.
They picked my brain till it was clean
They drained me of all my knowledge and ideas.
When I was up they knocked me down
Whenever I achieved success, they made sure to bring me back down.
I ain't going to hand around, I'm going home
I won't linger around here any longer; I am headed back home.
Tell someone to meet me I'm coming home
Please inform someone to meet me when I arrive home.
Came to this old town seeking fortune and some fame
I arrived in this town hoping to acquire wealth and recognition.
Never got the chance to prove myself, though I tried to play their game
I couldn't showcase my abilities despite following their rules.
But using people just ain't my thing
Manipulating people doesn't align with my beliefs.
And I don't dangle from any string
I refuse to be controlled by anyone's power or influence.
To please some fool that don't care about
I won't go out of my way to impress someone who doesn't value my efforts.
They turned me inside out, I'm going home
Their actions have left me feeling completely drained, and I am returning home.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LINDA CREED, LINDA DIANE CREED, THOM BELL, THOMAS RANDOLPH BELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind