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
You Belong to Someone Else
Kele Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And to me in your eyes,
I'm full aware you holding me,
Won't let me go.
I've seen you in my daydreams,
I've seen you in the clouds,
Cus you're the first word on my lips,
I think you're great.
How did you come to trick me,
A stutter and a smile,
I told myself I'm smarter,
Smarter than this.
I didn't think I'd miss you,
When you left my room,
I'm counting down the days til I see you.
I hear your voice like thunder,
And to me in your eyes,
I'm full aware you're holding me,
Won't let me go.
I've seen you in my daydreams,
I've seen you in the clouds,
Cus you're the first word on my lips,
You said the taxis looked like sharks
And the grey town busses in the waves
I squeeze the inside of your hand
This is happiness at last.
I let you in
But I can't let you out,
The silent spark every time we touch
I sweep the hair out of your eyes
This is love.
(You belong to someone else
You belong to someone else
You belong to someone else
You belong to someone else)
The lyrics of Kele's song You Belong to Someone Else describe the intense infatuation and desire the singer has for someone who does not belong to them. The song opens with the singer describing the power this person holds over them, comparing the sound of their voice to thunder and acknowledging their strong desire to be held by them. The singer recognizes that they think about this person constantly, going as far as saying that they are the first word on their lips.
Despite this intense attraction, the second verse shows the singer grappling with the reality of the situation. They acknowledge that they have been tricked in some way, and they try to convince themselves that they are smarter than this situation. However, it's clear that their feelings for this person are strong, and they can't help but miss them when they leave. The song concludes by describing a moment of happiness shared with the person, where everything feels perfect and right in the world.
Overall, the song captures the intense emotions and confusion that come with being infatuated with someone who is with someone else. The lyrics expertly convey the desire, hope, and resignation that the singer feels throughout the song, making it a powerful and relatable track for anyone who has been in a similar situation.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear your voice like thunder,
Your voice is loud and dominant, making it impossible for me to ignore.
And to me in your eyes,
In your eyes, I see a reflection of myself and our possible future together.
I'm full aware you holding me,
I am aware you are holding onto me, and I feel safe and protected as a result.
Won't let me go.
You are unwilling to let me out of your grasp, indicating how much you care for me.
I've seen you in my daydreams,
In my daydreams, I picture you and me together, and you play an important role in my thoughts.
I've seen you in the clouds,
Even in the clouds, I imagine your presence, making you a critical figure in my life.
Cus you're the first word on my lips,
I cannot help but speak your name and keep you at the forefront of my mind.
How did you come to trick me,
I wonder how you managed to captivate me so thoroughly, leaving me with a stutter and a smile whenever we speak.
A stutter and a smile,
You make me so nervous that I struggle to speak but can't help grinning whenever you're around.
I told myself I'm smarter,
I insisted to myself that I wouldn't be tricked by anyone, especially not you.
Smarter than this.
I thought I was too intelligent to be swept away by romance, but you proved me wrong.
I didn't think I'd miss you,
After you left my room, I did not expect to feel the emptiness of your absence so acutely.
When you left my room,
Once you left my immediate presence, I realized how much your presence means to me.
I'm counting down the days til I see you.
I am eagerly awaiting our next meeting, and I am marking the days on my calendar.
You said the taxis looked like sharks
You have a quirky sense of humor and find ways to make even mundane things amusing.
And the grey town busses in the waves
You have a vivid imagination and see things in a unique, creative way.
I squeeze the inside of your hand
When we touch, there is a strong, passionate connection between us that makes me want to hold onto you.
This is happiness at last.
Being with you makes me feel truly happy and fulfilled, and I have finally found what I was searching for.
I let you in
I have allowed myself to be vulnerable with you, sharing my thoughts and feelings more than I would with most people.
But I can't let you out,
Even though I know I should, I cannot let myself distance myself from you.
The silent spark every time we touch
There is a subtle but powerful connection between us that becomes apparent whenever we touch.
I sweep the hair out of your eyes
In this intimate moment, I want to do whatever I can to ensure you feel loved and seen.
This is love.
What we have together is more than just a passing infatuation; it is love that is deep, meaningful, and real.
(You belong to someone else
I acknowledge that you are currently with another person and are therefore unavailable to me.
You belong to someone else
You have a connection with another person that is important, meaningful and valuable to you.
You belong to someone else
You are in a committed relationship with someone else.
You belong to someone else)
I understand and accept that I need to move on, even though it is difficult for me to do so.
Contributed by Camden P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Andyontherocks
i play this all the time when i am around people and they are always saying "who is this?" of course my true friends know instantly that it is kele as i play it all the time! an amazing track!
Danny F
love it. touches of paul simon in their also. sounds awesome
darkangel8792
I love the album cover
Winsomemorrison39 MorrisonJos
I love this song wow
Danny Igoe
ridiculous.. but gid
beckandradiohead
Worst album cover....