Born Ezekiel Christopher Montanez in Los Angeles, California, Montez was brought up in Hawthorne, California. His early musical influences included the latino music played and performed by residents of his neighborhood, as well as Ritchie Valens. After the release of the highly successful "Let's Dance" on Monogram Records, Montez spent several years touring with artists such as Sam Cooke, The Platters, and Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, as well as The Beatles, then relatively unknown outside of Liverpool.
Early in 1963, Montez would score another hit with "Some Kinda Fun". Reaching #43 on the charts, the song utilized the same catchy keyboard instrumentation as did "Let's Dance"; fittingly, both were million sellers, and were awarded gold discs. 1963 also saw the release of Montez's only album on Monogram, Let's Dance and Have Some Kinda' Fun!!!. Shortly before Monogram folded, Montez was paired up with Kathy Young, releasing two singles as the duo Chris & Kathy, most notably surf rock classic "Shoot That Curl". While at Monogram, Montez wrote, or co-wrote, several of his own songs, such as "Chiquita Mia", "Let's Do the Limbo" and "No No No".
Two years later, Montez was practically a non-entity in the music business; however, Herb Alpert, co-founder of A&M Records, cordially invited Montez to resume his recording career at A&M. When Montez attempted to replicate his earlier rock 'n' roll success, however, Alpert personally suggested that Montez try a different approach: a middle of the road, soft ballad sound. While not particularly interested in changing his style of music, Montez decided to trust Alpert's instincts.
"Call Me", a cover version of a Petula Clark song, was the first single from his 1966 album, The More I See You / Call Me, earning Montez his biggest hit in years, eventually reaching #22. The song has since become an easy listening standard. The album's title cut, Montez's second single, was a source of confusion for certain radio disc jockeys who were unfamiliar with Montez' past as a rocker; when back-announcing the song, they would often refer to Montez as being female, likely owing to Montez's falsetto singing style. This confusion would be cleared up by the time the album, bearing Montez's pictures on the front and back sleeve, was released.
Montez would record three more albums for A&M: Time After Time (1966), Foolin' Around (1967), and Watch What Happens (1968). Although quite stylistically similar to his first hit album on A&M, they failed to mirror its success, although Time After Time's title cut and "Because of You" both managed to crack the Hot 100. In 1968, Montez departed from A&M on a three-year sabbatical. In 1972, Montez released a big hit single in Brazil, "Loco por ti". By this time, he had returned to his rock roots, albeit with more noticeable pop influence than before.
Two years later, now with CBS Records, Montez released The Best of Chris Montez, a compilation consisting of both old and new material, the newer bearing little to no resemblance to his past hits. While at CBS, he released one more album: Raza: Ay no digas, which fared well in international markets but failed to make an impact in the US. In 1983, Montez released his final album, Cartas de Amor, all of its songs being sung in Spanish. Although his recording career appears to be behind him, Montez is still an active musician, performing to mostly foreign audiences.
In 2008, Frozen Pictures announced plans to make a documentary on Montez's life and career, El viaje musical de Ezekiel Montanez: The Chris Montez Story. The film, focusing on Montez's multi-faceted musical career and considerable influence, has been previewed at several film festivals, but has not seen domestic release.
Fly Me to the Moon
Chris Montez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And let me play among the stars
Let me see what spring is like
On Jupiter and Mars
In other words,
Hold my hand
In other words,
Darling, kiss me.
And fill my heart with song
And let me sing for ever more
You are all I long for
All I worship and adore
In other words,
Please be true
In other words,
I love you.
So fill my heart with song
Let me sing for ever more
You are all I long for
All I worship and adore
In other words,
Please be true
In other words,
I love you.
The lyrics to Chris Montez's classic song "Fly Me to the Moon" paint a picture of a lover yearning to escape the ordinary and monotonous world and enter a realm of boundless possibilities. The singer beckons for his lover to take him on an adventure to explore the galaxy and all it has to offer. He longs to play among the stars and experience the wonders of the universe, hoping to see what the seasons are like on planets like Jupiter and Mars. Through this desire, the singer is expressing his eagerness to escape the mundane and see the world from an entirely different perspective.
The premise of the song is romantic, with the singer expressing his desire to unite with his beloved in a way that transcends time and space. By inviting his lover to join him on this journey, he is requesting that she shares her life with him by holding his hand and kissing him. He is attempting to convey that his love is not just about the physical attraction but the depth of emotions he feels towards her. The singer's longing to share an adventure with his lover is rooted in his love for her, and he wishes to fill his heart with song, with the promise of singing to her forevermore.
Line by Line Meaning
Fly me to the moon
Take me on a romantic journey beyond our earthly realm, to a place that is out of reach.
And let me play among the stars
Allow me to frolic like a child in the vast emptiness of space, amidst the shimmering lights of the stars.
Let me see what spring is like
Grant me the privilege of experiencing the joys of life on other planets, like the vibrant blooming of springtime on Jupiter and Mars.
On Jupiter and Mars
Specifically, let me explore these two planets, known for their unique features and potential to support life.
In other words,
Hold my hand
In simpler terms, I am asking you to show me affection and support, by taking my hand and being my partner on this journey.
In other words,
Darling, kiss me.
To put it more plainly, I am expressing my desire for intimacy and romance with you, my beloved.
And fill my heart with song
Let the music in my heart overflow, filling me with joy and inspiration.
And let me sing for ever more
Allow me to express my love and gratitude through my voice, making music that will last a lifetime and beyond.
You are all I long for
You are the only one I yearn for, the missing puzzle piece that completes me.
All I worship and adore
You are the object of my deepest devotion and admiration, the one I cherish above all else.
In other words,
Please be true
To put it bluntly, I need you to be faithful and honest with me, and promise to never let me down.
In other words,
I love you.
To sum it up succinctly, I am declaring my undying love for you, and expressing the depth of my feelings in the simplest way possible.
Writer(s): HOWARD BART
Contributed by Emily O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.