When Karl Wolf describes the six months since the release of his solo debut, Face Behind The Face, as "just insane," he means it in a good way. A frenzied work schedule of shooting videos, doing promotional tours, and performing in Canada and abroad is paying off, as the world is responding welcomingly to this vibrant new star.
Karl Wolf is a genuine triple threat of talent. A songwriter, producer and singer of serious skill and originality, he excels in all three roles on Face Behind The Face (released on MapleNationwide/Universal in January). As Karl sings on the title track, "I'm coming out for the whole world to see," and this is one memorable introduction.
Since its release, the album broke in the Canadian Top 100 sales chart and spawned two hit singles, "Butterflies" and "Desensitize", with the latter track (featuring hip hop star Choclair) reaching the BDS Top 40 charts. Face Behind The Face has been licensed internationally, and has made Karl Wolf an instant star in the Middle East. "'Butterflies' was at No. 1 for eight weeks on the radio there," explains Karl. "We had the biggest ever in-store signing at the Virgin store in Dubai." Wolf performed in Dubai as the special guest of the queen of modern r 'n b, Mary J. Blige, and he knocked the stadium crowd over. Add in personal props from Mary J., and you have what Karl terms "the pinnacle point of my career to date."
Wolf is destined for many more career highlights. He may be new as a solo artist, but he is certainly no musical novice. As an award-winning producer and writer, he has been responsible for many multi-platinum selling albums. It is now his time to take centrestage, and he seizes his moment with true authority.
Karl turned his back on lucrative offers of work with other artists to devote himself to Face Behind The Face. "I told myself that sooner or later I have to focus on my own music or it will just wither away. Now is the time," he explains. This meant becoming something of a recluse, burying himself in his own studio and working tirelessly on the record. "I locked myself in," recalls Karl. "I hardly went out for two years. I was a bum, I grew a beard, and would just order in pizza. I was obsessed but focused. I wanted to be right there when I had the inspiration!"
The fruits of this creative compulsion are indeed tasty. Wolf wrote and produced all the songs on Face Behind The Face, and played virtually all the instruments himself. This is a musically diverse collection of songs, fusing r 'n b, dance, pop and hiphop stylings. It is given coherence via the gentle soulfulness of KarlÕs voice and lyrics, while his beats are both imaginative and catchy, sometimes hinting at his own Middle Eastern background.
Wolf acknowledges the likes of Boyz II Men, Michael Jackson and Brian McKnight as early influences and inspirations. "I feel my music has contemporary elements but it is not scared to be emotional," he explains. "It is just the music I like. I grew up in the '80s, and music was emotional then. Today, especially in r 'n b and hiphop, everyone wants to be hard."
In musical and lyrical terms, Karl Wolf is a lover, not a fighter. Through his own family's history, he knows the consequences of war and violence, as his family was forced to leave their native Lebanon for Canada when Karl was just three. That background surfaces in the track "Summer Days (In Beirut)", and Wolf is not afraid to project positivity in his lyrics. "I am trying to be peaceful in my meaning and message. We are influential as singers, and IÕd love to influence kids in a great way."
The return of war to the country of his birth clearly saddens Karl. Plans to perform in Lebanon with Snoop Dogg obviously fell through, but he takes pride in the fact that "Summer Days" is having a positive impact there. "People there are adding the song to their Myspace sites, using it for healing," he notes.
Face Behind The Face is an honest and personal document, and Karl Wolf's definitive musical statement. "I'm most proud of this record. This is the best piece of work I have created to date, and it is important I went down my earlier musical road, just so I could gain the experience needed to create this."
Still just 27, Karl has long been the recipient of serious respect from his musical peers. He first made a real mark by writing for and co-producing "ETC..", the 2001 hit album from Gabrielle Destroismaisons. Two singles co-written by Karl reached No. 1 on the BDS Francophone Charts, and the disc earned him a Felix at the L'ADISQ Awards for "Best Mix and Sound of the Year."
His work with Gabrielle brought Wolf to the attention of Antoine Sicotte, of the top-selling pop band Sky. Upon realizing Karl also had a killer singing voice, Antoine recruited him as Sky's new lead singer in 2002. Wolf co-wrote and co-produced the third Sky album, Picture Perfect (on Sextant/EMI), one that registered strong airplay across the country. The group also toured nationally, sharing stages with the likes of Snow and Shawn Desman.
Karl and Antoine really hit the commercial jackpot with their joint work on the songs on the hugely successful Star Academie reality TV show. The subsequent album was the biggest-selling album in Canada in 2003, notching a phenomenal half-million in sales and earning Wolf a SOCAN Award for Most Popular Song. A Star Academie 11 sequel in 2004 was another big success, going double-platinum largely on the strength of Karl's writing and production.
Add in production and composition work for such other artists as Emily, Mitsou and Jerome-Philippe, and a stint as vocalist with the multi-platinum selling rap group Dubmatique, and you have one highly impressive apprenticeship. Word of his talent has spread Stateside as well, with such stars as Justin Timberlake, Christina Millan and Mya all requesting that Karl send them material.
There is plenty of life left in the filler-free Face Behind The Face. The upcoming singles "Cuz I Love You" and "Referee" further demonstrate Wolf's stylistic range, and his cross-Canada back to school Summer Days tour will confirm his prowess as a compelling performer.
The world is about to hear the sound of the Wolf, and it is one they are destined to remember. "I'm excited, and there are a lot of good things to come," Karl declares. Indeed.
Butterflies
Karl Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Movin' from side to side
Shakin' that thing in front of my eyes
How about a little taste, would you mind?
Ever had someone, that caught your eye
You get all messed up
Everything is a high
But can't get away
I made her the Sun
That shines over me
'Cause she can bring me higher
Better than most
And I wanted to be alone
But wherever I go
[Chorus]
She gives me butterflies
The sweetest feelin' I've ever known
I'm fallin'
So unbelievable
It's in my mind
And flows right down to my toes
I guess I'm fallin'
So unbelievable
The Dame's Like a Butterfly
Movin' from side to side
Shakin' that thing in front of my eyes
How about a little taste, would you mind?
She winds me up
Then shuts me down
They say Wussup?
"Karl, you should look around!"
You don't wanna know
The places she'd be"
It's all for show
Just wait and see
'Cause she can bring me higher
Better than most
And I wanted to be alone
But wherever I go
[Chorus: x2]
The Dame's Like a Butterfly
Movin' from side to side
Shakin' that thing in front of my eyes
How about a little taste, would you mind? [x2]
'Cause she can bring me higher
Better than most
And I wanted to be alone
But wherever I go
'Cause she can bring me higher
Better than most
And I wanted to be alone
But wherever I go
[Chorus: x2]
The lyrics of Karl Wolf's song "Butterflies" describe the sensation of falling in love with someone who leaves a powerful and irresistible impression. The repeated reference to the woman as a butterfly suggests her beauty and lightness, her ability to captivate and mesmerize. The lyrics describe her as "movin' from side to side, shakin' that thing in front of my eyes," capturing the sensuality and grace of the woman, which leaves the singer unable to resist her charms.
The chorus emphasizes the overwhelming and exciting nature of the feelings that the woman arouses, with the repeated description of "the sweetest feelin' I've ever known." The lyrics suggest that the woman has the power to lift the singer up and make him feel alive, even as he struggles to maintain control and stay grounded. Ultimately, he admits that he is "fallin'," and that the experience is "unbelievable," emphasizing the magic and intensity of the connection between the two.
The verses of the song describe the singer's attempt to resist the woman's pull, but his inability to stay away. He acknowledges that his infatuation with her has left him vulnerable, and that others are telling him to "look around" and be more realistic. But he is unable to resist the woman's allure, and continues to feel swept up in the experience, despite his attempts to resist.
Overall, "Butterflies" captures the thrill and excitement of falling in love, as well as the disorienting and confusing emotions that can come with such a powerful connection. The metaphor of the butterfly emphasizes the transitory and fragile nature of these feelings, while also highlighting their beauty and transformative power.
Line by Line Meaning
The Dame's Like a Butterfly
There is a woman who captivates Karl Wolf like a butterfly.
Movin' from side to side
She moves her body and sways from side to side, drawing Karl Wolf's attention towards her.
Shakin' that thing in front of my eyes
She dances provocatively and shakes her body in front of Karl Wolf's eyes, making it hard for him to look away.
How about a little taste, would you mind?
Karl Wolf is tempted to have a taste of the woman, both metaphorically and physically.
Ever had someone, that caught your eye
Karl Wolf asks if we've ever had someone catch our eye, implying that the woman he saw caught his eye too.
You get all messed up
When someone catches our eye, we feel confused, flustered, and anxious.
Everything is a high
Everything feels like a high when we're around someone we like.
I try and run
Karl Wolf tries to get away from the woman, but he isn't successful in doing so.
But can't get away
He's unable to free himself from the woman's captivating spell.
I made her the Sun
Karl Wolf put the woman on a pedestal, and she's become the center of his universe and a source of light for him.
That shines over me
The woman's presence and affection are like a ray of sunshine that comforts Karl Wolf.
'Cause she can bring me higher
He finds that the woman can elevate him and bring him to new heights.
Better than most
Karl Wolf thinks that the woman is better than most people, and he values her more highly because of that.
And I wanted to be alone
Karl Wolf initially wanted to be by himself or not be tied down to someone.
But wherever I go
But wherever he goes, he can feel the woman's presence or be reminded of her.
She gives me butterflies
The woman gives Karl Wolf a feeling of excitement and anticipation, as if he has butterflies in his stomach.
The sweetest feelin' I've ever known
This sensation of butterflies is the sweetest feeling he's ever experienced.
It's in my mind
The feeling of butterflies is not just physical, but it's also in his thoughts and emotions.
And flows right down to my toes
The sensation of butterflies is so strong that it moves down his body all the way to his toes.
I guess I'm fallin'
Karl Wolf admits that he's falling hard for the woman and can't resist her charm.
So unbelievable
The feeling is so intense that it's hard for him to believe it's real.
She winds me up
The woman toys with Karl Wolf's emotions and gets him excited and agitated.
Then shuts me down
After getting him agitated, the woman ignores Karl Wolf or doesn't respond to his advances.
They say Wussup?
Others ask Karl Wolf what's wrong since he seems so preoccupied with the woman.
"Karl, you should look around!"
Others tell Karl Wolf to be careful and not get too attached to the woman since there are plenty of other people around.
You don't wanna know
Karl Wolf is insinuating that the woman has a wild or scandalous past that he doesn't want to know about.
The places she'd be"
The woman has likely been to many different events or locations and is well-traveled or well-connected.
It's all for show
Karl Wolf suggests that the woman's behavior is all for show and that there's more to her than meets the eye.
Just wait and see
Karl Wolf is curious about the woman's true nature and wants to get to know her better.
[Chorus: x2]
Karl Wolf goes back to the chorus, repeating his feelings of being captivated and enamored by the mysterious woman he's encountered.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: KARL WOLF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@okjazzlyn
i love how he keeps his culture in his music! with the hip hop but also Arabic / Lebanese style
@chochowilliams
this makes me want to get his album even more! love this guy!
@7irman
Perfect! Great rhythm and beats ... I LOVE THIS SONG ! And Karl is such a real handsome man!
@queenzakiya91
i'm sooo obsessed with this song i even made up a dance for it bellydance mixed with a bit of hip-hop its really good!! lebanese 4 ever!!!
@lov4evr
awesome song......love it
@ibtihel84
very nice song! i just love it!!!!!!
@vidgirl4444
LOVE THIS SONG!
@Eternita11
incredible song!!Karl Wolf RULEZZZZ
@simpson2221
thats his best song why dont you make more good songs like it man
@shortybabe2009
love this song, it is my ring tone for my cell phone