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.
Our Love Is Here To Stay
Chris Montez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not for a year but ever and a day
The radio and the telephone and the movies that we know
May just be passing fancies and in time may go
But oh, my dear, our love is here to stay
Together we're going a long, long way
In time the Rockies may crumble, Gibraltar may tumble
But our love is here to stay
In time the Rockies may crumble, Gibraltar may tumble
They're only made of clay
But our love is here to stay
The song "Our Love Is Here To Stay" by Chris Montez is a classic love song that highlights a love that is meant to persist over time. The opening line declares, "It's very clear, our love is here to stay, not for a year but ever and a day," emphasizing the strength and longevity of the love between the two people. The following lines suggest that while external, material things may come and go (such as radio, telephone, and movies), the love between the two people will remain constant.
The chorus repeats the phrase "our love is here to stay" while adding to the imagery of the song. The lyrics state that, "in time the Rockies may crumble, Gibraltar may tumble, they're only made of clay, but our love is here to stay." This powerful imagery conveys a message of the unbreakable nature of the love shared by the two people. It's a love that surmounts even the most challenging obstacles and will stand the test of time.
Overall, the song delivers a message of hope and persistence in love in a way that has resonated with audiences for generations. The song highlights the idea that love is indeed everlasting and can stand the test of time, even in the face of external challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
It's very clear, our love is here to stay
It is extremely obvious that our love is going to last forever.
Not for a year but ever and a day
Our love will not be a temporary experience, it will last for eternity.
The radio and the telephone and the movies that we know
The entertainment of the moment may not stand the test of time.
May just be passing fancies and in time may go
What we enjoy today may lose its relevance over time and become irrelevant.
But oh, my dear, our love is here to stay
Regardless of how external factors change, our love will remain constant and eternal.
Together we're going a long, long way
Our love will carry us to our destiny, whatever that may be, for an extended period of time.
In time the Rockies may crumble, Gibraltar may tumble
Even the most sturdy physical structures may fall apart over time.
They're only made of clay
These structures are just made from humble earthly sources and powers.
But our love is here to stay
Our love will never crumble or fall apart, just as it has proven to be everlasting.
Lyrics © RALEIGH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
yuu Asami
I feel very nostargic for this high tone voice.
Those days this song was a big hit.
marty valens
Great tune
Jose Ramirez
Nice nice 👍 nice 👍
ponchannonchan
Thx! (^-^)/
Cathy Rosy
今日は、再びです。鶴田さんの絵が好きで また拝聴してしまいました。この曲とてもいいですね。イマジネーションと今の季節にもマッチしています。いつも 明るいメッセージをありがとうございます。今もなお 青春を謳歌されている、Ponchanとまつにいの音楽に乾杯 ！！！ rose
mekaribue
ponchannonchanさん
初めて聴いたとき、少女が歌っているのかと思いました。
歌詞もシンプルで覚えやすく、実際にこのフレーズを使ったこともあります。
ゴーゴー喫茶、タクト、アシベ、ラ・セーヌ、ミマツ、
あの頃は、そうです、この数日、フィギュアスケートで感動させてくれている羽生選手のように、みんな 輝いていました。
ありがとうございます。
ponchannonchan
お返事遅くなりスミマセン
青春時代のヒット曲です
懐かしいです
コメント頂きまして有り難うございましたm(__)m
Cathy Rosy
今晩は このイラストは ノエビアの似ていますね。私好きですよ。Thank you so much. Have a beautiful weekday!! rose
和久田龍二
鶴田 一郎さんだったかな？？
ponchannonchan
京子さん ＼(⌒日⌒）／こんばんは 体力と筋力は衰えましたが気持ちは青春です この曲はゴーゴー喫茶というものがあった時代に流行りました まだ少年時代 そう悪ガキだった頃ですねぇ 社交ダンスも良いですね～ フラメンコやベリーダンスも好きですよ コメントを頂戴し感激です 京子 佐藤と音楽に乾杯!!!