Background in brief
In 1997, Chris Chameleon became the bassist and front man of one of South Africa’s proudest musical exports, Boo!. In 7 years Boo! acquired an enormous following worldwide by performing 800 gigs in 17 countries, including 14 states in the USA. The band also received a South African Music Award in 2002 for ‘Best Pop Album.’
In 2005, Chris Chameleon embarked on a solo career and has since become one of South Africa's most successful artists, both on home ground and in the Benelux Countries.
Chris Chameleonn has released six solo albums and two live albums between 2005 and 2009. Five of these albums were nominated for the prestigious South African Music Awards (SAMA) in the years relevant to the release dates. “7de Hemel” won the SAMA for Best Afrikaans Contemporary Album in 2007 and “Kyk Hoe Lyk Ons Nou” won the SAMA for Best Afrikaans Contemporary Album in 2010. In 2008 ,2009 and 2010 Chameleon was also nominated for the SAMA in the coveted Best Male Artist category.
Chameleon has also released 3 live DVD's up to date. These DVD's perfectly capture why he is renowned for his incredible versatility by moving with remarkable ease between Folk, Contemporary, Rock and Classical, English and Afrikaans.
In August 2007, Chris Chameleon signed a record deal with the premier independent label in the Netherlands, Excelsior Recordings. The album Ek vir Jou is being distributed by Excelsior Recordings in the Benelux countries (The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.)
Chameleon has completed various successful tours in the Benelux Countries over the last three years in prestigious theaters as a solo artist as well as in rock venues with a band. On 18 July 2009 he performed at the 46664 Mandela Day Concert in New York with legends such as Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and Josh Groban.
Chris Chameleon’s talents are not limited to performance and songwriting as he has written monthly columns for both the country’s top music magazine Stage, and the thought provoking magazine called Insig and is currently writing a biweekly column for national newspaper Beeld. As an actor he’s either starred or had supporting roles in over 30 TV and movie productions over the last 17 years.
On average, he performs up to 150 gigs per year to sold out audiences in South Africa, Namibia, Belgium, England, and The Netherlands. In 2009, he released a new album “Kyk Hoe Lyk Ons Nou” and hosted a 4-part documentary broadcasted on South African national TV of the same title.
2010 saw Chameleon recording a new Boo! album, "The Three of Us," to be released later in the year, as well as acting in popular SA TV programme “Binnelanders”. Chris will also continue to perform in Belgium and the Netherlands and possibly other territories.
So as you can see, true to his name, there are many colours to this Chameleon, and music is what keeps his heart pumping. Chris Chameleon has proven that his talent and appeal defy conventional demographics and genrefication. Here is an artist whose relevance extends beyond the local South African scene to include a wider international audience.
With simply a guitar and unusual voice-work, Chris Chameleon has captured the intrigue of fans worldwide and is set to be a pioneering force for South African music in the world ... watch this space!
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Chris Chameleon’s popularity and world-class talent has also been evident from various awards that he has won over the past four years. These awards are:
• SAMA Award for Best Afrikaans Contemporary Album – “Kyk Hoe Lyk Ons Nou” 2010
• KANNA Award for Best Male Artist at the Klein Karoo National Arts Festival in 2009
• INNIBOS Award for Most Popular Production at Innibos 2009
• Huisgenoot Tempo Award for Most Popular Afrikaans Album for “Ek Vir Jou” 2008
• Vonk Award for Best Solo DVD for “Klassieke Chameleon” 2008
• SAMA Award for Best Afrikaans Contemporary Album – “7de Hemel” 2007
• Medal of Honour: Awarded to Chris by the SA Academy of Science and Art for his contribution to Afrikaans Music - 2007
• FAK Award for Exceptional Cultural Achievement - 2007
• VONK Award for Best Male Solo Artist - 2007
• VONK Award for Best Songwriter for STERREDANK - 2007
• KANNA Award for Best Music Theatre Production at KKNK - 2007
• People’s Choice Award for KLASSIEKE CHAMELEON at Aardklop 2007
• Huisgenoot Tempo Award for Favourite Contemporary Artist - 2006
• Vonk Award for Best Male Artist - 2006
• Vonk Award for Best Male Album: “Ek Herhaal Jou” - 2006
• MK89 Award for Best Solo Video “Die Onverkrygbare” - 2006
• MK89 Award for Sexiest Video “Die Onverkrygbare” - 2006
• AMT Award for Best Male Album: “7de Hemel” - 2006
• AMT Award for Best Male video: “Groet” – 2006
Further SAMA nominations included:
* Best Male Artist – Chris Chameleon 2008, 2009 & 2010
* Album of the Year for “Klassieke Chameleon” - 2009
* Best Afrikaans DVD for “Klassieke Chameleon” - 2009
* Best Afrikaans Contemporary Album for “Klassieke Chameleon” - 2009
* MTN Record of the Year for “Sterredank” - 2009
* Best Male Artist – Chris Chameleon - 2008
* Best Global Chart DVD for “Flight of an Extraordinary Alien” - 2008
* Best Afrikaans Contemporary Album for “Ek Vir Jou” - 2008
* Song of the Year for “Droomland” - 2007
* Best Alternative Album for “Shine” - 2007
* Best Afrikaans Contemporary Album for “Ek Herhaal Jou” - 2006
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Garden
Chris Chameleon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As I recall I left so all of a sudden
I've seen scenes and scenery
I've passed through them and now they pass through me
But I have come home to the change
Yeah, I have come home to change
Home to
The change is in the neighbours, change is in the floor
And in your mosaics and our so much more
Oceans and emotions and what seethes beneath and has come over me
Have passed like landscapes beneath the plane
They've passed like landscapes beneath the plane
Home to
This is one of the reasons
I decided to go it alone
This is one of my reasons
I decided to go it alone, baby
This is one of the reasons (It's not that I don't love you)
I decided to go it alone, baby (It's not that I don't want to be with you)
This is one of my reasons (It's 'cause I know)
I decided to go it alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, alone (I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know)
Home to the change
The song "Garden" by Chris Chameleon reflects on the changes that have occurred while he was away from home. The first verse refers to the return of rain, the seasons that have passed and the memories of leaving suddenly, and the landscapes that he has seen during his travels. The repetition of the line "I've seen scenes and scenery, I've passed through them and now they pass through me" highlights the impact that these experiences have had on him.
The second verse speaks about the changes that have occurred in his absence, such as changes in the neighbours, the floor, and even in the emotions that seethe beneath the surface. The line "They've passed like landscapes beneath the plane" is a metaphorical connection between the landscapes he saw on his journey and the changes he experienced in his personal life. The chorus, "Yeah, I have come home to change, home to the change," highlights the significance of returning home, which is a place of familiarity, yet with new changes.
The bridge also carries a significant message, where Chris Chameleon acknowledges that going alone was one of his personal reasons for growth. The line "It's not that I don't love you, it's not that I don't want to be with you," suggests that his decision to go alone is personal, and not related to the relationship with his partner. In contrast, the phrase "it's 'cause I know" implies that he is aware of the significance of self-discovery.
Line by Line Meaning
Months of rain have come again to my garden
The rainy season has returned to my garden after a long time
As I recall I left so all of a sudden
I remember leaving suddenly without any prior planning
I've seen scenes and scenery
I have witnessed different views and landscapes
I've passed through them and now they pass through me
I have crossed through those landscapes and now those memories are within me
But I have come home to the change
Although there are many changes, I have come home to them
Yeah, I have come home to change
Yes, I have come home to face the changes
The change is in the neighbours, change is in the floor
The changes are in the neighbors and the floor of the house
And in your mosaics and our so much more
The changes are also present in the beautiful mosaics and other things
Oceans and emotions and what seethes beneath and has come over me
Tides of emotions and thoughts have taken over me, like the ocean waves
Have passed like landscapes beneath the plane
Like the landscapes that pass by when flying in a plane, those emotions and thoughts have passed by
This is one of the reasons I decided to go it alone
This is among the reasons why I chose to be alone
(It's not that I don't love you)
(It's not because I don't love you)
(It's not that I don't want to be with you)
(It's not because I don't want to be with you)
(It's 'cause I know)
(It's because I know)
I decided to go it alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, alone, alone
I chose to be alone despite everything else (repeated for emphasis)
Home to the change
Home to all the changes in my life
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