His debut, 1994's Underground Vibes, was released on the tiny French label Street Jazz and was followed by a live recording for the Inflammable imprint (one of only a few "live" recordings in a genre so reliant on the temporal concessions of the recording studio). Dubbed Underground Live, the album featured performed extrapolations of many of the tracks from his debut, as well as a few new and improvised tracks. Now nearly impossible to find, those first two albums were reissued in America by Shadow Records, packaged together as the single-CD priced Mad Blunted Jazz (particularly useful since acquiring both on import could run more than 50 dollars!).
Although Cam's music has found little acceptance in his home country, audiences in the U.K., Japan, and America have begun picking up on his style. In 1996 Cam was featured on, among many others, the sprawling Mo'Wax compilation Headz 2, remixed tracks for such artists as Tek 9 and la Funk Mob, and most recently collaborated on live and in-studio projects with Snooze and DJ Krush (he co-wrote a few tracks on the latter's 1997 Mo'Wax release, Mi Sound). Cam released Substances on Inflammable in 1997. The next year, his major-label debut, The Beat Assassinated, appeared on Columbia Records. In 2000, he released a three-volume series named The Loa Project. Cam dropped HoneyMoon, a smooth mix album that combined jazz and underground hip hop, at the close of 2001.
Swim
DJ Cam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The shapes are the same but the colours are a different hue
The lines are on fire and the tones are exploding
Looking back down the track at the landscape unfolding
There's nobody watching you
Sink or swim
There's nobody watching you
Pictures from the past right here back in front of you
The shapes have all changed and the colors are a different hue
The lines are on fire and the tones are exploding
Looking back down the track at the landscape unfolding
There's nobody watching you
Sink or swim
There's nobody watching you
Sink or swim
There's nobody watching you
Sink or swim
There's nobody watching you
Sink or swim
Just swim
Just swim
The lyrics of DJ Cam's song Swim have layers of deep meanings that can be interpreted in different ways. The opening verse of the song is suggestive of how the elements of our past remain consistent, but the way we perceive them alters. Time tends to change the colors and shapes of our memories, and the singer seems to be introspective about the changes that time can bring. The metaphorical language used is evocative and depicts the inner turmoil of the singer with the lines being described as being on fire and the tones exploding. The echoes of the poet's inner monologue create the imagery of looking back down the track and seeing the landscape unfolding. It appears that the song's message seeks to be hopeful, encouraging the listener to embrace life's changes and to take risks, rather than merely watching from the sidelines.
In contrast, the chorus of the song focuses on the idea that there's no one watching that's why you need to "just swim" - this could signify independence and taking responsibility for our own decisions. It's an empowering message, reminding the listener that they can take ownership of their life and destiny, and not to be afraid to make mistakes. Ultimately, the lyrics in the song remind us that life is a journey - full of twists and turns - and that it's essential to take chances and trust ourselves to swim even if we feel alone in the face of life's uncertainties.
Line by Line Meaning
Pictures from the past right here back in front of you
Memories from your past are present and affecting you now
The shapes are the same but the colours are a different hue
Things may seem familiar, but they've changed with time and experience
The lines are on fire and the tones are exploding
Intense emotions and feelings are being expressed
Looking back down the track at the landscape unfolding
Reflecting on the journey and how it has shaped you
There's nobody watching you
You're alone in your journey
Sink or swim
It's up to you to succeed or fail
Just swim
Keep moving forward despite the challenges
Writer(s): Christopher Alcock, Laurent Daumail Copyright: Third Side Music Inc. O.B.O. Just Isn'T Music
Contributed by Annabelle P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.