“Khamelien”, pronounced, (ke-me-le-an), like… Read Full Bio ↴The Artist - Khamelien
“Khamelien”, pronounced, (ke-me-le-an), like the reptile, grew up on the beautiful island of Trinidad. Born Damien Dominique Reid, “Khamelien” and his family struggled to make ends meet after his father left them with little more than a roof over their heads and moved to Canada. His family knew that no matter how bad things got, they always had each other and their friends and neighbors. The people of his small town would simply find ways to help someone in need. “When someone needed something and someone else had it, they gave it to them. That’s just the way it was” recalls Damien. “That’s how people showed love for one another”
Searching for a way to fit in to the diverse culture of the island, a young Damien studied the many musical rhythms that surrounded him. He learned to use these sounds to entertain himself and his family. While other kids his age were just hanging around and often got in trouble, he would take any opportunity he could to sing. He remembers singing in his church choir at the age of 7. Even though he was the youngest member of the choir, he was also one of the best singers. While everyone praised his talent, he was just happy being part of a group. He recalls how he would rush off after church to meet his friends and how they would spend hours singing the songs that were popular at the time. He learned to use music as a way to be accepted. Despite not having much money, he realized there was plenty to be happy about. He had family, and friends, and he had music.
Priding himself on always being able to adapt to any situation, especially musically, his friends quickly started calling him “chameleon”. He later changed the spelling, using “Kh” in keeping with Rastafarian tradition and ending it with “ien” as in Damien, his birth name.
Mired in poverty, "Khamelien’s" mother looked for a way out and a better life for her children, so she packed up their few personal belongs and headed to Brooklyn, New York. Although they had little in hand they brought plenty in their hearts. “Khamelien”, then a teenager, says that as he was leaving Trinidad, his friends all told him he should pursue his musical talents when he arrived in the states. These words of encouragement are what drive him today. Although he was uncertain of what lied ahead, he knew that he always had a song to sing and those songs contained a big part of him, his homeland. And so the journey along with a dream began for the youngster from Trinidad.
Upon arriving in New York, he spent a lot of time trying to hone his musical talents. He began writing his own songs and could often be found on the local street corners of Brooklyn and in Ozone park Queens, New York, singing and rapping with the local crowd. His style was unique. His songs were more R&B with some Ragamuffin (A form of Reggae) and a little street rap mixed in. This combined with a Caribbean accent made him stand out. His smooth and sweet voice started to get a lot of attention. He recalls how the people he hung around with would wait for him to show up; often so that they could impress a friend who had never heard him sing. He continued to work on his music and often entered music competitions. It was at one of these competitions that he was noticed by music producer, Dadou Pasquet, who brought him into the studio and helped him produce his first demo CD. This is when “Khamelien” began to think that maybe his dream could come true. This experience along with a later opportunity to work in a recording studio completed the picture for “Khamelien”. He now knew what he needed to do in order to become a complete artist. He needed to focus on the three key elements; the ability to write good songs, the ability to sing those songs, and the ability to record those songs. He was sure he could do all three.
It wasn’t until after 9/11, that he left New York and headed to Orlando Florida. There, “khamelien” began to work on his delivery and performance skills. He incorporated a “happy”, “easy” style he remembers feeling in Trinidad, with the “edginess” he acquired in New York. His first big break came when he landed a gig as the headliner at a popular Universal Studios night club. It’s there that claims to have developed what he calls “A party room” style that he describes “as a place where people have to find ways to fit in”. It’s the music that allows this to happen, he says. “It’s the sense that we belong that makes us feel good “. “It feels good to fit in”... Maybe we’re all Chameleons?
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Never Say Never
Khamelien Lyrics
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But I know we’ll be together again
Some day we will be together again
Woe oh oh darling
From the moment I saw your face
Memories I can’t erase
How I long for your embrace
Every time I tell myself
I can love someone else
But it’s like you hold my heart
Cause I can’t love without you baby
Some people say never say never
But I know we’ll be together again
Some day we will be together again
Woe oh oh darling
You are the only one
My only love is you (I know that true love cant done)
And without you
My heart’s off beat
My eyes won’t sleep baby
Sleep without you
Yuh see the wise man said fools fall in love
And the stars and the moon shine from above
Being with you is all I’m thinking of
And how your heart fits mine like ah hand in ah glove
Lonely days and nights wondering how you are
Memories of us cruising in the car
Oh baby love now I believe
That true love was meant to be cause
Some people say never say never
But I know we’ll be together again
Some day we will be together again
Woe oh oh darling
You are the only one
My only love is you (I know that true love cant done)
And without you
My heart’s off beat
My eyes won’t sleep baby
Sleep without you
You oh oh oh oh oh oh ah ah
Ah say me feel it in ah mi heart
Feel it in ah mi soul
Feel it in ah mi body
tell the whole wide world
oh oh oh oh oh oh oh ah ah
and no matter what they do
no matter how they try
no matter what they say
true love will never die
You are the only one
My only love is you (I know that true love cant done)
And without you
My heart’s off beat
My eyes won’t sleep baby
Sleep without you (ah say the wise man said fools fall in love)
You are the only one (ah say the stars and the moon shine from above)
My only love is you (I know that true love cant done)
And without you (lonely days and nights wondering how you are)
My heart’s off beat
My eyes won’t sleep baby
Sleep without you
oh oh oh oh oh oh oh ah ah
The lyrics of Khamelien's song "Never Say Never" convey a deep sense of longing and yearning for a lost love. The singer acknowledges the advice of others who say "never say never," implying that they shouldn't completely give up hope on reuniting with their love. Despite the uncertainty, the singer believes in the possibility of being together with their beloved once again in the future. This sentiment is expressed with emotional resonance as the words "woe oh oh darling" are repeated, capturing the melancholic yearning for a reunion.
The imagery painted in the lyrics is poignant, with the singer reminiscing about the moment they first saw their love's face and how those memories remain etched in their mind. The desire for their embrace is palpable, highlighting the depth of emotional connection they shared. Despite attempts to move on and love someone else, the singer feels bound to their past love, unable to fully let go because they feel like their heart is still held captive by them.
The lyrics continue to emphasize the profound impact of this love, with the singer declaring that their only love is the one they long for. The absence of this love leaves their heart out of rhythm and disrupts their ability to find peace in sleep. The reference to the wise man's words about fools falling in love and the celestial imagery of stars and the moon further heighten the sense of longing and devotion that the singer feels towards their lost love.
The song culminates in a powerful declaration of enduring love, with the assertion that true love will never die. The repetition of the refrain underscores the unwavering belief in a reunion and the eternal nature of their love. The song ends with a plea for their love to return, expressing the deep emotional turmoil and emptiness experienced in the absence of their beloved. Overall, the lyrics of "Never Say Never" encapsulate the universal theme of love lost and the hope for a reunion that resonates with anyone who has experienced the pain of separation from a loved one.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Dadou Pasquet, Damien Rahim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind