Carl Abou Samah (in Arabic كارل أبو سمح; born in Beirut, Lebanon on April 1… Read Full Bio ↴Carl Abou Samah (in Arabic كارل أبو سمح; born in Beirut, Lebanon on April 18, 1979) is a Lebanese-born Canadian musician based in Montreal (QC), Canada. He is better known by his stage name Karl Wolf. He has been a singer, songwriter and producer since 2001, releasing his first solo album Face Behind the Face on MapleNationwide/Universal in January 2006, followed by a second album Bite the Bullet in November 2007. His third album Nightlife was released on November 17, 2009. After 9 years with EMI Music, in March 2010 he signed a new recording contract in the United States with Universal Republic.

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.

Never Let You Go
Karl Wolf Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yesterday a friend told me that he saw you
Started get on excited
She explained that you were stopping through the neighbourhood
But you were hugged... some other dude
My heart stopped for a minute but I play the cool
I should let me get the best of you
Now I'm standing here feeling like a fool
Because another man is got my girl

Never never should I let you slept on the crax
Girl I want you back girl
And I can't get you of my mind
I wish you were here right by my side
I want you, I need you girl
I can't say my life without you babe
I want you, I miss you girl
I won't let no one take you from me babe

Don't call, I belong

I don't know where we're from
I'll through with my own ways
I thought you were here to stay
I should have never never never let you go
Never never never let you go
Never never never let you go
Never never never let you go

I wish wish upon the star
There you are stand in front of me
The best of reality cause if you were in front of me say I'm sorry
I'd say I'll let the girls go
I love you more than you'll ever know
You mean the world to em so why can't you stay girl

Never never should I let you slept on the crax
Girl I want you back girl
And I can't get you of my mind

I wish you were here right by my side
I want you, I need you girl

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Karl Wolf's song "Never Let You Go" describe a man's regret and longing after losing his girl to another man. The song opens with the singer hearing news of his ex-girlfriend visiting the neighborhood with another man. Although it momentarily breaks his heart, he tries to play it cool and not let it affect him. However, he cannot shake off the feeling of being a fool and losing the love of his life. He confesses that he wants her back and cannot stop thinking about her. He wishes she was by his side and cannot imagine life without her.

The chorus is a plea for her return, and the singer vows to fight for her love. He admits that he should have never let her go and begs for forgiveness. He wishes for the day when she stands in front of him, and he can tell her how much she means to him.

Overall, the song showcases the power of love and how it can haunt us even after we've lost it. It speaks to the regret we feel when we realize we took something special for granted and how we can never let go of the hope of winning it back.

Line by Line Meaning

Yesterday a friend told me that he saw you
The singer was told by a friend that they saw someone who he has feelings for.

Started get on excited
The singer started to feel excited about the possibility of seeing the person he likes.

She explained that you were stopping through the neighbourhood
The friend explained that the person was visiting the area.

But you were hugged... some other dude
The person was seen hugging another man which made the singer feel jealous and disappointed.

My heart stopped for a minute but I play the cool
The singer felt shocked and hurt by the sight but tried to act unbothered.

I should let me get the best of you
The singer knows that he should not let his jealousy consume him.

Now I'm standing here feeling like a fool
Despite trying to remain cool, the singer now feels foolish for not expressing his true feelings earlier and losing the person he likes to someone else.

Because another man is got my girl
The person who the singer likes is now in a relationship with someone else.

Never never should I let you slept on the crax
The singer should never have let the person he likes slip away.

Girl I want you back girl
The singer wants the person he likes to come back to him.

And I can't get you of my mind
The singer cannot stop thinking about the person he likes.

I wish you were here right by my side
The singer wishes that the person he likes was with him.

I want you, I need you girl
The singer wants and needs the person he likes.

I can't say my life without you babe
The singer cannot imagine his life without the person he likes.

I want you, I miss you girl
The singer wants and misses the person he likes.

I won't let no one take you from me babe
The singer promises to not let anyone else take the person he likes away from him.

Don't call, I belong
The singer wants the person he likes to know that he is committed to her and belongs to her only.

I don't know where we're from
The singer is unsure of the status of their relationship.

I'll through with my own ways
The singer promises to change his ways and do better for the person he likes.

I thought you were here to stay
The singer believed that the person he likes was going to stay in his life.

I should have never never never let you go
The singer regrets letting the person he likes go.

I wish wish upon the star
The singer wishes for a chance to be with the person he likes.

There you are stand in front of me
The singer imagines the person he likes standing in front of him.

The best of reality cause if you were in front of me say I'm sorry
Seeing the person he likes in person would be the best reality for the singer and he would apologize for not expressing his feelings earlier.

I'd say I'll let the girls go
The singer would let go of other women and commit to the person he likes.

I love you more than you'll ever know
The singer loves the person he likes more than they could ever understand.

You mean the world to em so why can't you stay girl
The person the singer likes means everything to him and he doesn't understand why they can't be together.

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MATHIS, PICKARD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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