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.
I'll Go Crazy
Chris Isaak Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you leave me, I'll go crazy
'Cause I love you, love you
Oh, I love you too much
If you quit me, I'll go crazy
If you forget me, I'll go crazy
'Cause I love you, love you
You've got to live for yourself
Yourself and nobody else
You've got to live for yourself
Yourself and nobody else
The lyrics to Chris Isaak's song "I'll Go Crazy" reflect the intense emotions of a lover who fears losing their partner. The repetition of the phrase "I'll go crazy" highlights the intensity of the singer's attachment to their lover, suggesting that without them, they would lose their grip on reality. The lines "If you leave me, I'll go crazy / If you forget me, I'll go crazy" reflect the singer's deep need for validation and affection from their partner- without them, their sense of self would be deeply destabilized.
Despite this intense attachment, however, the song's final lines offer a message of self-empowerment. The lines "You've got to live for yourself / Yourself and nobody else" suggest that in the end, it's important to prioritize one's own happiness and well-being, rather than becoming too dependent on one person for validation and support.
Overall, the lyrics to "I'll Go Crazy" capture the intensity of romantic attachment, as well as the fear and uncertainty that can come when faced with the possibility of losing that attachment. At the same time, the song also offers a message of self-empowerment and self-love, encouraging listeners to prioritize their own happiness and well-being above all else.
Line by Line Meaning
If you leave me, I'll go crazy
If you choose to depart from me, I will become mentally unstable and irrational
If you quit me, I'll go crazy
If you decide to abandon me, I will lose my mind and behave erratically
'Cause I love you, love you
My overwhelming adoration for you is the reason for my unstable state of mind
Oh, I love you too much
My love for you is so intense that it causes me distress and instability
If you forget me, I'll go crazy
If you were to neglect me, I would become insane and act in a deranged way
You've got to live for yourself
It's important for you to prioritize yourself and your own needs
Yourself and nobody else
You shouldn't base your decisions or actions on external factors or other people's expectations
You've got to live for yourself
It's crucial to prioritize your own well-being and happiness
Yourself and nobody else
Your actions and choices should align with your own values and goals, rather than others'
Lyrics Β© Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
M S
Love all his music. Hopefully, one day Iβll be able to see him play live!
patricia kenney
Me too.
Vonda Brannan
Where has he been all of my life?? Fantastic voice!
K SHIRLEY
Thank you Chris Isaak for being alive and gracing the world's presence with your music and you :-). xxxooo
Ella Jean Hill
He's GREAT love his voice
La Poetessa
Wow!!! This song is amazing!!!! He is just amazing!! They all are!!
wade5941
Wow!! Haven't really ever listened to Chris before. Impressive.
Lynn JC
Can't stop listening to this!
La Pash
ΠΡΠ°ΡΠΈΠ²ΡΠΉ Π³ΠΎΠ»ΠΎΡ, ΠΊΡΠ°ΡΠΈΠ²Π°Ρ Π²Π½Π΅ΡΠ½ΠΎΡΡΡ! ΠΡΠΎΡΡΠΎ Π²Π»ΡΠ±Π»Π΅Π½Π° Π½Π°Π²Π΅ΠΊΠΈ!:-)))
Loida Cuckson
Chris is One of the best singer. I love him <3