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.
The Face I Love
Chris Montez Lyrics
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and peaceful sheep on clovered hills
the morning song of whippoorwills
and you'll see the face that I love
Think of any old sky
getting ready to cry
down comes the rain but
Then think of things like far off isles
to blue green eyes and sunlit smiles
and in your hand a wishing star
the one you got is too far above
Every lovely view introduces you
to the face I love
Every lovely view introduces you
to the face I love
Then think of things like far off isles
to blue green eyes and sunlit smiles
and in your hand a wishing star
the one you got is too far above
Every lovely view introduces you
to the face I love
to the face I love
to the face I love
The lyrics to Chris Montez's "The Face I Love" paint a vivid picture of the things that remind the singer of his beloved. He implores us to think of idyllic scenes, such as daffodils, peaceful sheep grazing on clovered hills, and the morning song of whippoorwills. These serene images are juxtaposed with the impending storm, which will bring with it a shower of colorful confetti instead of rain. The singer urges us to think of far-off isles, blue-green eyes, sunlit smiles, and even a wishing star that is out of reach. According to him, any lovely view can introduce us to the face he loves.
The song's lyrics highlight the idea that love is found in the beauty of nature, as much as in the object of one's affection. The description of nature's beauty serves to emphasize the beauty of the beloved, who is all the more precious for reminding the singer of these natural gifts. Furthermore, the poetic contrast between rain and confetti emphasizes the idea that love can bring joy and light to even the gloomiest of situations.
In summary, Chris Montez's "The Face I Love" is a romantic ode to the power of love, nature, and beauty. The lyrics remind us of that special someone who brings light and joy into our lives and whose face is mirrored in the beauty of the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
Think of things like daffodils
and peaceful sheep on clovered hills
the morning song of whippoorwills
and you'll see the face that I love
If you imagine serene images like blooming daffodils, tranquil sheep on grassy hills, and the melodious chirping of birds during the morning hours, you will realize the beauty of the person I love
Think of any old sky
getting ready to cry
down comes the rain but
It's raining confetti
Even if the sky appears dull and gloomy, as if about to pour rain, it could suddenly transform into a joyous sight as confetti-like objects shower down from it
Then think of things like far off isles
to blue green eyes and sunlit smiles
and in your hand a wishing star
the one you got is too far above
As you contemplate idyllic locations far away, and the bright and cheerful eyes coupled with radiant smiles of a loved one, you dream of holding a lucky wishing star, but the one you have seems to sit too high in the sky, hard to reach
Every lovely view introduces you
to the face I love
Whenever I come across anything strikingly beautiful, it reminds me of my beloved's stunning countenance
Every lovely view introduces you
to the face I love
Whenever I come across anything strikingly beautiful, it reminds me of my beloved's stunning countenance
Then think of things like far off isles
to blue green eyes and sunlit smiles
and in your hand a wishing star
the one you got is too far above
As you contemplate idyllic locations far away, and the bright and cheerful eyes coupled with radiant smiles of a loved one, you dream of holding a lucky wishing star, but the one you have seems to sit too high in the sky, hard to reach
Every lovely view introduces you
to the face I love
to the face I love
to the face I love
Whenever I come across anything strikingly beautiful, it reminds me of my beloved's stunning countenance that I adore and cherish, over and over again.
Writer(s): Marcos Kostenbader Valle, Carlos Pingarilho, Ray Gilbert, Paulo Sergio Kostenb Valle
Contributed by Natalie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.