Kele Okereke released his first solo album, titled The Boxer on 21 June 2010, through Wichita / Polydor in the UK and Europe and Glassnote Records for the rest of the world. The album was released under the name Kele, dropping his surname. Okereke explained the album title, saying "as a boxer, you have to rely on nobody else but yourself to achieve what it is you want to achieve. Even though you take hits, you have to keep focus on your priorities and keep going. I thought that was an inspiring image". The first single from the album Tenderoni was released on 14 June 2010.
Okereke sees the 'Kele' brand as a way for him to embrace his interest in dance music. "I've been into clubbing for years. I've said from the beginning I'm into dance, it gets me excited and I think this record is going to go some way to prove that to people, hopefully." - Kele Okereke
In September 2011 it was announced that Kele would be releasing a follow up to The Boxer; an EP titled The Hunter.
On 23 July 2014 Kele announced his second solo album, entitled Trick, to be released on his own label Lilac Records via Kobalt Label Services on 13 October 2014.
He released his third album Fatherland on 6 October 2017 under his full name Kele Okereke. The album features the singles Streets Been Talking and Grounds For Resentment feat. Olly Alexander. Fatherland also features the duet Versions of Us with Grammy-winning English singer and songwriter Corinne Bailey Rea
In January 2019, Leave to Remain a new musical written by Okereke and Matt Jones debuted in London. Announced in September 2018, the musical about an interracial gay couple was preceded by the single Not the Drugs Talking which showed a move back towards beats following the more acoustic Fatherland. Telling a love story through the Prism of Brexit, the new show is accompanied by a tie-in album of new songs. Speaking about the subject matter and his feelings on the UK in 2019, Okereke claimed that “It’s not a time that I’ve been proud to be British. It’s an ugly time”.
www.iamkele.com
09 All The Things I Could Never Say
Kele Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Off my favorite shirt
Another thing that I've lost
To you
Where did you stay last night?
You didn't come home
I'm spending all of my time
You're making me older
You're making me ill
You're making me older
You're making me ill
The bottles are empty
In the cabinet
I noticed my first gray hair
Today
Why do we still do this
When we're both still young?
Putting each other down
When we need to climb
You're making me older
You're making me ill
You're making me older
You're making me ill
You're making me older
You're making me ill
You're making me older
You're making me ill
You're making me older
You're making me ill
You're making me older
You're making me ill
You're making me older
You're making me ill
You're making me older
You're making me ill
The lyrics to Kele's song "All The Things I Could Never Say" are a portrayal of a failing relationship in which one partner is causing the other to feel neglected, unimportant, and hurt. The first stanza sets up the scene, with the singer describing how their partner has torn a button off of their favorite shirt, adding it to the list of things they've lost to this relationship. The second stanza delves deeper into this turmoil, with the singer questioning where their partner was last night and waiting for a phone call that never comes.
The chorus repeats the lines "You're making me older, you're making me ill" to emphasize how damaging this relationship is becoming. The third stanza continues with the theme of loss, as the bottles in the cabinet are empty and the singer notices their first gray hair, further highlighting the negative impact this relationship is having on their life. The final stanza questions why they're still in this toxic relationship, putting each other down instead of lifting each other up when they need it.
This song tells a relatable story of a relationship that has lost its love and is held together by routine and dependence. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the impact of this destructive relationship on the singer and the toll it's taking. Overall, Kele does a fantastic job of capturing the raw emotions and toxicity of a doomed relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
You tore a button Off my favorite shirt Another thing that I've lost To you
You continue to take things from me, even things that I cherish, leaving me with nothing.
Where did you stay last night? You didn't come home I'm spending all of my time Waiting for your call
I am left alone, waiting and worrying about your whereabouts as you continue to stay out all night without any explanation.
You're making me older You're making me ill You're making me older You're making me ill
Your toxic behavior is affecting my health and well-being, making me feel older and unwell.
The bottles are empty In the cabinet I noticed my first gray hair Today
In addition to taking a toll on my emotional and physical health, your behavior is leading me to unhealthy coping mechanisms and causing me stress.
Why do we still do this When we're both still young? Putting each other down When we need to climb
Despite our youth and potential for growth and success, we are perpetuating a cycle of hurt and negativity that is holding us back.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: KELE OKEREKE, ALEX XXXCHANGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sascha Böttcher-Radtke
awesome song and a really amazing performance. Saw them live at Cologne yesterday. Really, what an incredible live performance
ragekawawa
I love that Kele gets lairy to bouncers, he did the same thing in Bristol
Lightning Bird Films (Snake DeShazer)
@ericasnyderify ???