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.
Going Out Of My Head
Chris Montez Lyrics
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Yes, I think I'm goin' out of my head
Over you, Over you
I want you to want me, I need you so badly
I can't think of anything but you
And I think I'm goin' out of my head
Yes, I think I'm goin' out of my head
I see you each morning
But you just walk past me You don't even know that I exist
Goin' out of my head over you
Out of my head over you Out of my head day and night
Night and day and night, Wrong or right
I must think of a way Into your heart
There's no reason why My being shy Should keep us apart
And I think I'm goin' out of my head
Yes, I think I'm goin' out of my head
Goin' out of my head over you
Out of my head over you Out of my head day and night
Night and day and night, Wrong or right
Night and day and night
Wrong or right, day or night
Everyday, every, every day
The lyrics of Chris Montez's song Going Out Of My Head are about the overwhelming feeling of love and infatuation that the singer has for someone they are deeply in love with. The lyrics suggest that the singer feels they are losing their mind over the person, unable to focus on anything other than thoughts of them. They desperately want to be wanted and needed by this person and believe that their shyness is keeping them apart.
The opening lines of the song, "Well, I think I'm goin' out of my head, Yes, I think I'm goin' out of my head, Over you, Over you," establish the theme of the song right from the start. The repetition of the line "Over you" emphasizes the singer's preoccupation with the object of their affection.
The lyrics describe how the singer sees the person they love every day but feels invisible to them, unable to capture their attention. The lines "I see you each morning, But you just walk past me, You don't even know that I exist" convey the singer's feelings of loneliness and longing.
The song's bridge, "I must think of a way, Into your heart, There's no reason why, My being shy, Should keep us apart," reveals the singer's desire to overcome their shyness to win the person's heart.
Overall, Going Out Of My Head is a powerful love song that captures the dizzying effects of infatuation and the lengths one will go to capture the attention of their beloved.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I think I'm goin' out of my head
I believe that I am losing my mind
Yes, I think I'm goin' out of my head
Indeed, I am losing my mind
Over you, Over you
You are the reason for my mental instability
I want you to want me, I need you so badly
I desire your love and attention, I crave it intensely
I can't think of anything but you
Thoughts of you consume my mind non-stop
I see you each morning
I lay my eyes on you at the start of every day
But you just walk past me
You ignore my presence completely
You don't even know that I exist
You have no knowledge or recognition of my being
Goin' out of my head over you
My obsession with you is driving me insane
Out of my head over you Out of my head day and night
My mind is fixated on you, day and night, without reprieve
Night and day and night, Wrong or right
Regardless of time or circumstance, thoughts of you remain dominant
I must think of a way Into your heart
I need to come up with a plan to win your affections
There's no reason why My being shy Should keep us apart
My timidness should not be a barrier to our potential relationship
Goin' out of my head over you
Continued obsession with you is causing further mental disintegration
Out of my head over you Out of my head day and night
Repeatedly fixated on thoughts of you, with no mental relief
Night and day and night, Wrong or right
Constantly and unrelentingly, despite just or unjust circumstances
Night and day and night
Continuously, without pause
Wrong or right, day or night
Regardless of circumstance, time of day or morality
Everyday, every, every day
Without exception, every day, constantly
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Teddy Randazzo, Bobby Weinstein
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind