He released several solo albums in the early 80s, including Chasanova, Questionnaire, Chazablanca, and Looking At You. He hit #1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1982 with "Glad To Know You," "3,000,000 Synths," and "Ai No Corrida."
First hooking up with Dury as part of the pub group the Kilburn & the High Roads in the early part of the '70s, Jankel was asked by Dury to join his new outfit, and appeared on such Blockheads releases as 1977's New Boots & Panties!! (which spawned Dury's best-known hit, "Sex & Drugs & Rock n' Roll") and 1979's Do It Yourself, before leaving the group.
But in 1981, Jankel teamed up once more with Dury (sans the Blockheads), for the release Lord Upminster, which spawned the U.S. Top 40 dance hit "Spasticus Autisticus." But by this time, Jankel had become more interested in pursuing a solo career and he issued several releases for A&M from the early to mid-'80s: 1980's self-titled debut, 1981's Chasanova and Questionaire (the latter of which contained the U.S. dance hit "Glad to Know You," a collaboration with Dury), 1983's Chazablanca, and 1985's Looking at You.
But after the flurry of recording activity, little was heard from Jankel again.
Quincy Jones had a UK chart hit with his version of "Ai No Corrida" which reached #14 in April 1981.
Jankel returned to the Blockheads after his solo career, and worked with Ian Dury on his final album with the group. After Dury's death, Jankel continued to perform with the Blockheads.
Jankel has several composer credits for films, including D.O.A. and K2.
Ai No Corrida
Chas Jankel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I touch you
In a maze can't find my way
I think you
I drink you
You see
girl
that's what I go through every day
Is this the way it should feel?
Pinch me
I'm dreaming
But if it is don't let me know.
I'm drowning
don't save me
It's just the way I'd like to go.
You see
girl
you thrill me
Half kill me
that's what you do.
Ai no corrida
that's were I am
You send me there -
Your dream is my command.
Ai no corrida
I find myself
no other thought
Jusa you and nothing else
you and nothing else.
Before my heart saw you
Each day was just another day
Night the lonely interlude just came
then blow away.
You know
girl
Everything was come what may
until you fell in my life.
This spell that I'm under has caught me
I'm in a daze
Your lightning and thunder sets my poor heart ablaze.
You see
girl
you thrill me
Half kill me
that's what you do.
Ai no corrida
that's were I am
. . .
Ai no corrida
that's were I am
. . .
Ai no corrida
that's were I am
. . .
I hold you
I touch you
. . .
Pinch me
I'm dreaming
. . .
Ai no corrida
that's were I am
. . .
Ai no corrida
that's were I am
The lyrics to Chas Jankel's song "Ai No Corrida" describe a passionate, intense love that the singer has for their partner. The first verse sets up the image of being lost in a maze with no clear direction, but being served their partner on a tray - as if they are the only thing that makes sense in their world. The singer expresses disbelief that their feelings could be real, asking to be pinched to see if they are dreaming. They then go on to describe their desire to be completely consumed by their love, even to the point of drowning.
The chorus "Ai no corrida" is a French phrase that translates to "Bullfight of Love," and serves to emphasize the intensity of the singer's emotions. The subsequent lyrics describe how the singer's life before meeting their partner was mundane and unexciting, but now they feel completely alive and consumed by love. The final repetition of "Ai no corrida" serves as a sort of climax for the emotions expressed in the song - the singer is completely enraptured by their lover and never wants to let go.
Overall, "Ai No Corrida" is a song about the all-consuming passion of love, and the singer's desire to be consumed by it. The lyrics use vivid language and intense imagery to convey these feelings, and the chorus serves as a memorable refrain that drives home the song's message.
Line by Line Meaning
I hold you
I am physically holding onto you
I touch you
I am physically touching you
In a maze can't find my way
I am lost and unable to navigate the confusing situation I am in
I think you
You are constantly on my mind
I drink you
You intoxicate me, you consume my thoughts and actions
I'm being served you on a tray.
Your presence is handed to me effortlessly, I feel lucky to have you
You see girl, that's what I go through every day
I am constantly experiencing the overwhelming influence of your presence in my life
Is this the way it should feel?
I question whether the intense emotions and feelings I have for you are appropriate or normal
Pinch me, I'm dreaming
I can hardly believe that this is my reality, it feels surreal
But if it is don't let me know.
I am afraid of waking up from this dream or losing you, so I am not ready to face the truth if it is not real
I'm drowning, don't save me
I am so deeply immersed in love and passion that I don't want to be rescued or saved from it
It's just the way I'd like to go.
I am comfortable with accepting the consequences and risks of being in love, no matter how intense they may be
You see girl, you thrill me
You excite and stimulate me, I am addicted to your presence
Half kill me, that's what you do.
Your influence is so powerful that it takes almost everything from me, I feel weakened and vulnerable in your presence
Ai no corrida, that's where I am
I am in the middle of a passionate, intense and exotic dreamlike state in which everything revolves around you
You send me there - your dream is my command.
You have the ability to take me to this heightened state of passion and love, and I am willing to follow wherever that passion leads
I find myself, no other thought
I am so consumed by my feelings for you that I am unable to concentrate on anything else or have any other thoughts
Just you and nothing else, you and nothing else.
All I need to be happy and fulfilled is your presence, you are the only thing that matters
Before my heart saw you, each day was just another day
My life was mundane and ordinary before I met you, I was just going through the motions of everyday life
Night the lonely interlude just came, then blow away.
The lonely, quiet moments of the night were the only things that broke up the monotony of my life, but now those moments are gone because of your presence
You know girl, everything was come what may until you fell in my life.
My life was aimless and directionless before you, but now you have given it purpose
This spell that I'm under has caught me, I'm in a daze
I am so deeply in love with you that it feels like a magical spell that has taken over me, I am entranced and hypnotized by your presence
Your lightning and thunder sets my poor heart ablaze.
Your passion and intensity electrify and excite me like nothing else, it makes my heart beat faster and stronger
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BEGGARS MUSIC, LTD.
Written by: CHAZ JANKEL, KENNY YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Luis Brun
Tremenda versión original de esta magnífica y entretenida canción desde el punto de vista de su gran música. Es todo un logro, una obra maestra de la música disco-dance, una verdadera suit con diferentes fantasías de arreglos en el transcurso de la canción, pero que mantiene un ritmo constante. Destacable también la gran versión estilizada que logró el multifacético Quincy Jones el año 81, con sofisticados arreglos este gran productor musical y cantante logró una atmósfera impecable, depurada y envolvente y por ello logró primeros lugares en Estados Unidos y una gran cantidad de países. La versión de Jones fue verdaderamente un hit mundial. Pero esta versión es también tremenda con el plus que es el autor de la canción.
Gracias, bendito Creador por el talento entregado a los seres humanos, eres el autor de autores.
Gracias amigos.
Luis Brun
Director y Programador Musical
Radio Buena Música FM
solamente música
buenamusicafm.com
Christopher Miller
@Paul Shalom That would be from the late 70's to early 80's. Those were the hits. You speaking on Sinatra (what did he write) to Ray Charles (what did he write?) and we are talking HITS from a period.
I understand that you're a bit slow or obtuse but that was the MJ, Ingram, Benson... days. He was just a guy who signed his name while Temperton and others actually crafted everything.
Again, be mad, say I'm upset but honestly, why does this matter to you so much?
Quincy is an amazing talent who at a certain point became and brand and didn't want to work as much. What's wrong with that. I'm just calling it out.
Are you related?
Bill Woo
That one of the greatest musical geniuses of all time, Quincy Jones, made essentially NO CHANGES to this is the most amazing compliment a songwriter could EVER receive. Quincy Jones took nicely written hooks and turned them into masterpieces - and did so better than anyone, bar none. Yet in this case, evidently he felt no compulsion to tamper with perfection.
Sir Joe the Flee Tow
Quincy Jones' version is for radio listeners. It lost all the funky groove that Jankel put in the song.
California1998
I am going to give credit where credit is due. This version has more horns and concert driven productions and I love it! And Quincy Jones' version is also great! This is my first time hearing this version and I say it is a tie! I am a serious funk driven brutha! Lol.
Tyron Davis
Check Mate☕👍❤️🤍💙💎🇺🇸
Juston Johnson
RESPECT + to that comment. Keeping it real.
joz411no
WOW! I found my way here by way of a Quincy Jones search - a brilliant producer and composer. His rendition of this song reminds me very much of what he did for Strawberry Letter 23. With all regards for the original composition and arrangements, he found a way to add mass, presence and depth to the presentation. This was a cool song originally and he essentially gave it a new life.
Sir Joe the Flee Tow
In my opinion Quincy Jones only made it listenable for people uneducated to music. Chaz Jankel's version has a funky groove lost in Jones's version
Brendan Harding
This is just awesome, I always - stupidly - presumed it was QJ who crafted this thing. Well I'll be... Amazing!
Tony
I didn’t know either all those years from 80’s
Invanesse Charles
Its Chaz Jankel