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.
No Way
Karl Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never be my girl again,
Hey
Hey
Hey
Oh,
Hey
Hey
Oh
Welcome to Toronto it's so cold I'm undercover,
This ain't no Hollywood but shawty for a cover,
You heard my song Peace Out for my hussies,
Africa never work out now you lose it,
When I gave you half the world you were very,
Then I fell into some money problems so you left me,
And for all the shit I'd given you girl,
You move my world,
You gave me a hand, held me up high, watched me go down,
Now you trying to play nice,
Puppy eyes pouty lips won't work,
All I gotta say is no way,
Shawty don't come back,
Get it all no way,
I'm never taking you back no way,
I'm getting down with my homies in the motel now,
Do you hear me?
Shawty don't come back,
Get it all no way,
I'm never taking you back no way,
'Cause I got money in my pocket and I have it,
I'm at the number one spot I'm on top of the world,
Yo
I know you'll be what will you be acting city,
'Cause you always focus on the nitty-gritty,
You instigate every single fight,
You become a fool falling for your lies,
Shut up now go home,
Sometimes you just got to leave a brother alone,
Surrender, you pretender,
Now you forgot, I'mma make you remember babe,
You gave me a hand, held me up high, watched me go down,
Now you trying to play nice,
Puppy eyes pouty lips won't work,
All I gotta say is no way,
Shawty don't come back,
Get it all no way,
I'm never taking you back no way,
I'm getting down with my homies in the motel now,
Do you hear me?
Shawty don't come back,
Get it all no way,
I'm never taking you back no way,
'Cause I got money in my pocket and I have it,
I'm at the number one spot I'm on top of the world,
hey
hey
Top of the world,
hey
I'm never taking you back,
hey
number one spot
hey
I'm on top of the world
hey
hey
hey
oh
Whoa
You gave me a hand, held me up high, watched me go down,
Now you trying to play nice,
Puppy eyes pouty lips won't work,
All I gotta say is no way,
Shawty don't come back,
Get it all no way,
I'm never taking you back no way,
I'm getting down with my homies in the motel now,
Do you hear me?
Shawty don't come back,
Get it all no way,
I'm never taking you back no way,
'Cause I got money in my pocket and I have it,
I'm at the number one spot I'm on top of the world,
hey
hey
top of the world
hey
I'm never taking you back,
hey
Number one spot
hey
hey
hey
oh
Never be my girl,
Never be my girl again
Oh
The lyrics of Karl Wolf's "No Way" is about a woman who left the singer when he fell into some money problems. The song starts with the singer welcoming the listener to Toronto but stating that it's so cold, he's covered up. He then mentions how the woman he was dating left him when he ran into financial troubles. He had given her everything but still couldn't keep her around. The singer then goes on to address the woman, telling her that she will never be his girl again. Even though she tries to come back, he has no intention of taking her back, and she will always be just a memory to him.
The lyrics of "No Way" have a powerful message that a lot of people can relate to. It's about not letting people back into your life after they've hurt you in the past. The song's beat and flow are also pretty infectious, with catchy hooks combined with a powerful message.
Line by Line Meaning
Never be my girl,
I don't ever want you to be mine,
Never be my girl again,
I don't ever want to go through what we had again
Welcome to Toronto it's so cold I'm undercover,
It's cold in Toronto, so I'm trying to stay warm.
This ain't no Hollywood but shawty for a cover,
Toronto is not a glamorous place, but you want to give off that image.
You heard my song Peace Out for my hussies,
You listened to my song 'Peace Out' which is meant for fans or groupies.
Africa never work out now you lose it,
Our relationship didn't survive when I went to Africa, so now it's over.
When I gave you half the world you were very,
When I was able to provide you with everything, you were happy.
Then I fell into some money problems so you left me,
When I had money problems, you abandoned me.
And for all the shit I'd given you girl,
Despite all the negative things I said to you before,
You move my world,
You had a big impact on my life and changed it.
You gave me a hand, held me up high, watched me go down,
You helped me during tough times, and also witnessed me go through bad times.
Now you trying to play nice,
Now you're trying to act like everything is okay.
Puppy eyes pouty lips won't work,
Your attempts to charm me will not change my mind.
All I gotta say is no way,
I'll never give in or take you back.
Shawty don't come back,
Don't come back to me.
Get it all no way,
You won't get everything back from me.
I'm never taking you back no way,
I won't accept you back into my life.
I'm getting down with my homies in the motel now,
I'm hanging out with my friends at a motel right now.
Do you hear me?
Are you listening to me?
'Cause I got money in my pocket and I have it,
I have a lot of money with me now.
I'm at the number one spot I'm on top of the world,
I'm successful and on top of the world right now.
Yo
Just a casual greeting.
I know you'll be what will you be acting city,
You'll act like someone you're not.
'Cause you always focus on the nitty-gritty,
You pay attention to the minute details.
You instigate every single fight,
You're the one who starts every argument.
You become a fool falling for your lies,
You're foolish for believing your own lies.
Shut up now go home,
Stop talking and leave.
Sometimes you just got to leave a brother alone,
Sometimes you have to let someone be by themselves.
Surrender, you pretender,
Give up, you're pretending to be something you're not.
Now you forgot, I'mma make you remember babe,
You've forgotten about me, but I'll make you remember.
Top of the world,
At the peak of success.
I'm never taking you back,
I won't ever take you back.
number one spot
Being in the top spot.
Whoa
Just an expression of excitement or surprise.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Carl Samah
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind