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.
Gotta Be Good
Chris Isaak Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bad little boys
Stay up all night
Don't get no toys
It's easier to say than do
You got to be good
'Cause Santa's got his eye on you so
I know it's hard 'cause I'm far away
But I'll be back on Christmas Day
Until then let me hear you say
You got to be good (gotta be good)
Wait for the real thing and skip all the rest
But you got ta be good
'Cause you're the one that this Santa loves best
You've got to be good (gotta be good)
And underneath that mistletoe
I'm gonna hold you tight and then I won't let go
Because I really love you so
You got to be good (gotta be good)
(Gotta be good)
You got to be good
(So good)
You got to be good
I know it's hard when you're far away
But I'll be back on Christmas Day
Until then let me hear you say
You got to be good (gotta be good)
Bad little girls
Bad little boys
Stay up all night
Don't need no toys, aw
It's easier to say than do
It's easier to say than do
It's easier to say than do
(Oh, you gotta be good)
The song "Gotta Be Good" by Chris Isaak is a Christmas-themed tune that reminds listeners to behave well, especially during the holiday season. The song mentions bad little boys and girls who stay up all night and don't get any toys because they misbehave. However, the singer acknowledges that it's easier said than done, and one has to make an effort to be good. Santa Claus is watching, and if you want to receive gifts, you've got to be good. In the chorus, the singer repeats the phrase "gotta be good" several times, emphasizing that it's essential to good behavior.
The verse, "Wait for the real thing and skip all the rest," could be interpreted as advising listeners to be patient and not rush into things that will lead them down a wrong path. The line, "You're the one that this Santa loves best," could mean that if someone behaves well, they will be rewarded with Santa Claus's affection in the form of gifts. The lyrics also mention mistletoe, hinting at the romantic aspects of Christmas.
In summary, the song emphasizes the importance of good behavior during the Christmas season, reminding listeners that they will receive more gifts from Santa Claus if they behave well. The song's catchy chorus reinforces the message, while the verses convey other aspects of Christmas, such as patience and love.
Line by Line Meaning
Bad little girls
Children who do not behave well
Bad little boys
Children who do not behave well
Stay up all night
Stay awake during the night
Don't get no toys
They may not receive any gifts for Christmas
It's easier to say than do
Often expressing the intention of doing good is far easier than actually doing good
You got to be good
'Cause Santa's got his eye on you so
You got to be good (gotta be good)
You have to behave well because Santa is watching you
I know it's hard 'cause I'm far away
But I'll be back on Christmas Day
Until then let me hear you say
You got to be good (gotta be good)
It may be challenging as the person singing the song is away, but the children should still behave well and say that they are doing so
Wait for the real thing and skip all the rest
But you got ta be good
'Cause you're the one that this Santa loves best
You've got to be good (gotta be good)
Focus on the true meaning of Christmas and behave well to be the one that Santa loves the most
And underneath that mistletoe
I'm gonna hold you tight and then I won't let go
Because I really love you so
You got to be good (gotta be good)
The person singing the song cares about the listeners, and so they should behave well
(Gotta be good)
You got to be good
(So good)
You got to be good
Repetition and emphasis on the importance of behaving well
I know it's hard when you're far away
But I'll be back on Christmas Day
Until then let me hear you say
You got to be good (gotta be good)
Reiteration of the importance of behaving well despite the distance from the person singing the song
It's easier to say than do
It's easier to say than do
It's easier to say than do
(Oh, you gotta be good)
Reiteration of the message that it is not easy to behave well, but it is crucial to do so
Contributed by Kayla K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.