Kon Kan is a Canadian synthpop project conceived & formed by musican/prod… Read Full Bio ↴Kon Kan is a Canadian synthpop project conceived & formed by musican/producer/dj Barry Harris (vocals, keyboard, guitar), in 1988 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. His debut album, 'Move to Move' (1989), produced the international hit single "I Beg Your Pardon (I Never Promised You a Rose Garden)" (also known as "I Beg Your Pardon"), which sampled pop country star Lynn Anderson's "Rose Garden". Kevin Wynne was a hired session singer to sing lead vocals on IBYP. The name Kon Kan is a parody of the Canadian content regulations (often referred to as "Can Con") that mandate that thirty per cent of songs played on commercial radio stations in Canada must be Canadian in origin.

Though the aforementioned hit single earned much success, particularly in the U.K. where it spent many weeks on the charts and peaked at #5, it also left the group saddled with the 'one hit wonder' label outside of Canada & Brasil. Yet, from the same album, he returned to the Canadian charts with another original/cover combination, "Puss N' Boots/These Boots (Are Made For Walkin')". The track included resung interpolation snippets of Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" and Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'". Another single, "Harry Houdini", failed to chart completely in America, but scored a Top 40 placing in Canada and also peaked at #14 in the New Zealand Singles Chart.

Wynne, who sang on 6 of 9 tracks from 'Move to Move', left shortly after its release at the end of 1989. Wynne did not pursue a solo career & currently owns a printing business since 2010. Harris released two more albums under the group's original name "Syntonic" & "VIDA!" taking on all lead vocals. He then went on to form the eurodance inspired group Outta Control together with musicians Kimberley Wetmore and Rachid. He also later became a celebrated remixer under the moniker Thunderpuss. Harris rerecorded and reissued "Barry Harris Presents Kon Kan - I Beg Your Pardon 2014" with new remixes. Harris took on sole administrator duties in the digital era on Kon Kan's Spotify page in 2016 and Apple Music/iTunes 2018. In 2020 he rereleased the Kon Kan L.P. VIDA! digitally world-wide with additional remixes never before available. In 2023 Harris continues on as Kon Kan releasing "Stars" July 2023 and "Sinful Wishes (Moonlight Mix) ft. Kimberley Wetmore August 2023.

I Can't Anwser That
Kon Kan Lyrics

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I know Beethoven wrote a symphony in B
Why should I care, it doesn't mean a thing to me
I know that Saint-Tropez is never very far
But what I don't know is, how near we are

You know I've always had the money here to pay the rent
You know I wanna believe
But if you stay or go there's one thing

That you oughta know
That it's a sin to deceive

If you really want it
Show me that you need it
Will I still believe it?
Well, I can't answer that

Will we stay together?
Change is like the weather
Will it be forever?
Well, I can't answer that

I know Picasso painted memories in blue
What does it matter, 'cause he never painted you
I knew a king who had to set his people free
But what I don't know is, do you need me?

If you would only tell me what it is I need to know
Then maybe we'll make a start
You keep me waiting, I'm an understudy in the show
Are you too scared of your heart?

If you really want it
Show me that you need it
Will I still believe it?
Well, I can't answer that

Will we stay together?
Change is like the weather
Will it be forever?
Well, I can't answer that

You know I'll always have the money here to pay the rent
You know I wanna believe
But if you stay or go there's one thing that you oughta know
That it's a sin to decieve

If you really want it
Show me that you need it
Will I still believe it?
Well, I can't answer that

Will we stay together?
Change is like the weather
Will it be forever?
Well, I can't answer that

If you really want it
Show me that you need it
Will I still believe it?
Well, I can't answer that

Will we stay together?
Change is like the weather
Will it be forever?
Well, I can't answer that

Will it be forever?
Well, I can't answer that

Overall Meaning

Kon Kan's song "I Can't Answer That" is about uncertainty in a relationship, as the singer is unsure about the future and whether they will stay together. The lyrics reference famous figures and events, such as Beethoven, Saint-Tropez, Picasso, and a king who sets his people free. However, the singer acknowledges that knowing these things is not important compared to knowing whether their partner truly needs and wants to be with them. The song also touches on the themes of trust and honesty, as the singer emphasizes that it is a sin to deceive.

Through its catchy synthpop sound, "I Can't Answer That" offers a relatable message about the complexity of relationships and the unknown future. It speaks to the human need for reassurance and the many questions that can arise in a relationship, especially when there is doubt or uncertainty. In the end, the song leaves the listener without a clear answer but invites us to embrace the uncertainty and enjoy the moment.

Line by Line Meaning

I know Beethoven wrote a symphony in B
I am aware of the fact that Beethoven created a musical composition in B major

Why should I care, it doesn't mean a thing to me
However, this information is useless to me and I cannot find any relevance to it

I know that Saint-Tropez is never very far
I am familiar with the fact that Saint-Tropez is relatively close to our location

But what I don't know is, how near we are
What is uncertain to me is the exact proximity of our distance

You know I've always had the money here to pay the rent
You are aware that I have the financial means to cover the cost of rent

You know I wanna believe
You are also aware that I have a desire to believe in something

But if you stay or go there's one thing that you oughta know
However, if you choose to stay or leave, there is something that you should be aware of

That it's a sin to deceive
It is morally wrong to deceive or lie

If you really want it
If you truly desire something

Show me that you need it
Demonstrate that you truly require or desire it

Will I still believe it?
However, I am unsure if I will believe it even if you do so

Well, I can't answer that
Unfortunately, I am unable to provide a response to that question

Will we stay together?
I am uncertain if we will remain in a relationship together

Change is like the weather
Change is as unpredictable and uncontrollable as the weather

Will it be forever?
I am unsure if our relationship will last indefinitely

I know Picasso painted memories in blue
I am aware that Picasso created artworks using blue to represent memories

What does it matter, 'cause he never painted you
However, this information is irrelevant since he never depicted you in his artwork

I knew a king who had to set his people free
I have knowledge of a king who had to liberate his subjects from oppression

But what I don't know is, do you need me?
However, what is uncertain to me is whether or not you require my presence in your life

If you would only tell me what it is I need to know
If only you would inform me of the information that I am missing

Then maybe we'll make a start
Perhaps, we can begin to work towards a common goal

You keep me waiting, I'm an understudy in the show
Your delay in providing me with the necessary information makes me feel like a performer who is only an understudy and not the main act

Are you too scared of your heart?
Is fear preventing you from expressing your true feelings?

Will it be forever?
Again, I am uncertain if our relationship will last indefinitely

Well, I can't answer that
Unfortunately, I cannot provide a definitive response to that question

Writer(s): B. Harris, B. Mitchell

Contributed by Owen W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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TRACKS