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.
Summer Holiday
Chris Isaak Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wondering what went wrong
With the love that seemed so strong
That summer holiday
That holiday
They were closing down the rides
All the people had gone inside
I stood out there and cried
That holiday
And I wonder
Do you ever ever ever think of me
The way it used to be
And I wonder do you ever ever ever miss me too
The way that I miss you
On that summer holiday we knew
That holiday with you
La la la la la la la la la la la
On that summer holiday
And I wonder do you ever ever ever think of me
The way it used to be
And I wonder do you ever ever ever love me too
The way that I loved you
On that summer holiday we knew
That holiday with you
La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la
On that summer holiday with you
That holiday
Oh oh
The lyrics of the song Summer Holiday by Chris Isaak capture the sadness and nostalgia of a past relationship that has ended. The song starts with the singer standing alone, wondering what went wrong with a love that once seemed so strong during a summer holiday. He remembers how they spent time together, riding rides and enjoying the holiday, but now the theme park is closing down and all the people have gone inside. Left standing alone, he cries for the loss of love that he experienced during that holiday.
The singer wonders if his former love ever thinks of him and misses him the way he misses her. He remembers the love he had for her during that summer holiday and wishes that they could go back to that time. The song ends on an open-ended note, leaving listeners to imagine whether the two will ever reunite and relive that summer holiday.
Through its poignant lyrics, the song Summer Holiday captures the universal experience of heartbreak and longing for a lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
I was standing all alone
Feeling isolated, I stood with no one to comfort me.
Wondering what went wrong
Trying to make sense of the relationship's downfall and where things started to fall apart.
With the love that seemed so strong
Despite everything, there was a sense of the love shared between the two that was once strong.
That summer holiday
Reflecting on a past summer vacation when they were happy and in love.
That holiday
A romantic break that was filled with love and joy, but has since ended.
They were closing down the rides
Signifying the end of the day/night and the end of the happy times.
All the people had gone inside
Everyone else seemed to leave and carry on with their lives without him/her.
I stood out there and cried
Feeling alone, the person couldn't hold back the tears and let them flow freely.
And I wonder Do you ever ever ever think of me
The person is thinking of their ex and is curious about whether their ex thinks of them as well.
The way it used to be
Reminiscing about the love shared between the two before the end of their relationship.
And I wonder do you ever ever ever miss me too
Questioning whether their ex misses them the way they miss their ex.
The way that I miss you
Expressing how deeply they miss their ex and how important their ex was to them.
On that summer holiday we knew
Referring back to that special moment in time when they shared an unforgettable summer holiday.
That holiday with you
Once again referring to the romantic holiday that they shared with their ex.
La la la la la la la la la la la
A soft instrumental moment to allow the emotions of the song to sink in.
On that summer holiday with you
Continuing with the emotional pull to the romantic past summer holiday with the ex.
That holiday
Once again expressing the importance of that romantic holiday and how deeply it impacted them.
Oh oh
A final lamenting cry for the past love that feels unattainable now.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHRIS ISAAK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind