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.
Mele Kalikimaka
Chris Isaak Lyrics
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On a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day,
That's the island greeting that we send to you
From the land where palm trees sway,
Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright,
The sun to shine all day with all the stars at night,
Mele Kalikimaka is the thing we say
On a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day
Mele Kalikimaka is the thing we say,
On a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day,
That's the island greeting that we send to you
From the land where palm trees sway,
Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright,
The sun to shine all day with all the stars at night,
Mele Kalikimaka is the thing we say
On a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day,
A very Merry Christmas,
A very Merry Christmas to you.
Chris Isaak's Mele Kalikimaka is a feel-good Christmas song with a tropical twist. The lyrics celebrate the picturesque beauty of Hawaii, sending the listener warm holiday greetings from the land of palm trees and sunshine. The title itself is a Hawaiian way of saying "Merry Christmas," which starts the first verse and chorus. The song expresses the Hawaiian people's anticipation of a green and bright Christmas on the island, the sun shining all day, and the stars shining bright all night. The song portrays Christmas in Hawaii as a time of warmth, happiness, and excitement.
The lyrics of the song give insight into the culture and traditions of Hawaii during the festive season. Palm trees are a common sight in Hawaii, and they are symbolic of the state's tropical climate. The mention of the sun shining all day is indicative of Hawaii's tropical climate, which is characterized by numerous sun-filled days. The last lines of the song serve as a well-wishing message for Christmas, reinforcing the gaiety of the holiday season.
Line by Line Meaning
Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say,
The phrase 'Mele Kalikimaka' is what we say
On a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day,
Specifically on a bright, sunny Christmas day in Hawaii
That's the island greeting that we send to you
This is the typical greeting we send from the island to you
From the land where palm trees sway,
From the place where palm trees sway in the breeze
Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright,
In Hawaii, we expect a vibrant, green, and bright Christmas
The sun to shine all day with all the stars at night,
The sun will shine brightly all day, and at night we will see the stars
Mele Kalikimaka is the thing we say
Again, we say 'Mele Kalikimaka'
On a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day,
Once more, it's on a sunny Hawaiian Christmas day
A very Merry Christmas,
We wish you a very joyful Christmas
A very Merry Christmas to you.
And we hope you have a great one.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, DEMI MUSIC CORP. D/B/A LICHELLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: R. Alex Anderson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind