Isaak's music can be described as a blend of country, blues, rock'n'roll, pop and surf rock.
He signed a contract to Warner Brothers Records in 1984 for his first album "Silvertone". Isaak's contract was renewed in 1988 when Warner moved him to their Reprise Records label.
His best-known song is "Wicked Game". Though released on the 1989 album "Heart Shaped World", an instrumental version of the song was later featured in the David Lynch film 'Wild at Heart' (and also years later in the 2000 film The Family Man). An Atlanta radio station DJ began playing the full version and it quickly became a nation-wide top ten hit. The music video for the song was directed by Herb Ritts and was a big MTV and VH1 hit; shot in black and white, it starred Isaak and model Helena Christensen rolling on the beach, embracing and whispering in each others' ears.
In 1999, Isaak's "Baby Did A Bad, Bad Thing" was featured in Stanley Kubrick's final film 'Eyes Wide Shut', starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.
In 2001, Chris Isaak starred in his own television show, 'The Chris Isaak Show'. It aired from March 2001 to March 2004 in the United States on the cable television network Showtime. This adult comedy show featured Chris Isaak and his band playing themselves with the episode plots based on fictional accounts of the backstage world of Chris Isaak - the rock star next door.
In 2004, his track "Life Will Go On" was featured on the 'Chasing Liberty' soundtrack, which starred Mandy Moore and Matthew Goode.
He hosted a talk show on the Biography cable channel in the United States in 2009 that offered a unique twist - each guest was a musical artist, and both Chris and the artist performed various songs throughout each show. Eight episodes aired in early 2009, featuring guests Trisha Yearwood, Stevie Nicks, Glen Campbell, Michael Buble, Chicago, The Smashing Pumpkins, Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), and Jewel.
Isaak has also appeared in numerous films, mostly playing minor cameo roles, though he starred with Keanu Reeves and Bridget Fonda in the 1993 Bernardo Bertolucci-directed 'Little Buddha', and also played a major role in David Lynch's 'Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me' (1992). Other motion pictures include 'Married to the Mob' (1988), 'The Silence of the Lambs' (1991), 'That Thing You Do!' (1996), and 'A Dirty Shame' (2004). He also guest-starred on the Super Bowl Sunday (1996) edition of the television sitcom Friends and on the HBO miniseries, From the Earth to the Moon (HBO).
Chris is also an amateur boxer, avid surfer and a former Golden Gloves champion.
Besame Mucho
Chris Isaak Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Each time I cling to your kiss I hear music divine
Besame besame mucho
Hold me, my darling and say that you'll always be mine
This joy is something new my arms enfolding you
Never knew this thrill before
Whoever thought I'd be holding you close
Dearest one, if you should leave me
Each little dream would take wings
And my life would be through
So besame besame mucho
Love me forever and make all my dreams come true
Dearest one, if you should leave me
Each little dream would take wings
And my life would be through
So besame besame mucho
Love me forever and make all my dreams come true
The lyrics of Chris Isaak's song "Besame Mucho" speak of a love so intense and passionate that the desire for the beloved seems almost insatiable. The Spanish phrase "Besame Mucho" translates to "Kiss me a lot", and the song emphasizes this desire through repetitions of these words. The singer speaks of the joy of embracing his lover and the overwhelming feeling of love that fills his heart. He says that being so close to his lover, holding and whispering words of love, is a new experience for him that he never thought he would have.
The singer fears losing his lover and says that if he ever leaves him, it would feel as if all his dreams have vanished. He implores his lover to love him forever and make his dreams come true. These lyrics highlight the theme of passion and desire in love and how losing it would feel like losing everything.
In summary, "Besame Mucho" is a song about the intense passion and desire that comes with being in love. It speaks of the joy of being close to a lover, the fear of losing them, and the hope that they will love forever.
Line by Line Meaning
Besame besame mucho
Kiss me, kiss me a lot
Each time I cling to your kiss I hear music divine
Whenever I kiss you, I feel an otherworldly joy
Hold me, my darling and say that you'll always be mine
Embrace me, my love, and promise to always belong to me
This joy is something new my arms enfolding you
This overwhelming happiness is a new sensation to experience you close to me
Never knew this thrill before
I've never felt such intense excitement ever before
Whoever thought I'd be holding you close
I never expected to be able to hold you so intimately
To me whispering to you I adore
Whispering to you how much I adore you
Dearest one, if you should leave me
My dearest love, if you were to leave me
Each little dream would take wings
All of my dreams would evaporate into thin air
And my life would be through
And my existence would be doomed
So besame besame mucho
So, beloved, kiss me, kiss me a lot
Love me forever and make all my dreams come true
Love me for eternity and fulfill every single one of my dreams
Contributed by Miles V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Merce Escobar
If you listen to older versions of this classic song, Chris Isaak is so paying homage. Very respectfully done. His version is due a very high respect for its composition and, of course, that velvet and silky voice of his that lands notes by never touching down but by lilting ever so effortlessly as is his signature style. Muchas gracias💖
John Benn
WOW
Wonderful version of a great tune sung by a very talented vocalist.
Those lyrics & that incredible voice & backing---it couldn't get much better!!!!
From a 71yo Aussie fan.
Miss Moose
Beautiful song & Chris' voice suits it perfectly
Daniel Leyva
Well, extra points for the musical arrangement, which is, in my opinion, the jewel of this particular version. I believe I'm qualified to say that this version has the authentic flavor of the Mexican bolero of the 40's.
ElseMa
Formidable song Una cancion muy linda ❤
Rafa Ojeda
Muy bonita version!! No cabe duda que consuelito sigue inspirando toda la pasion, amor !! Viva Mexico!!
jolasz
Bardzo dobre wykonanie, świetny głos,no i melodia...
Jimmy Smith
I love the up tempo and power in his voice.
Infanzones
Muy buena versión,.Extraordinario señor Isaak.
Enrique Munera
Impecable version de Chris Isaak !!!