Kamen was first brought to the public's attention in 1984 when Ray Petri featured him on the front cover of The Face. The cover showed him wearing a ski-hat, orange roll-neck sweater and aviator sunglasses.
He was most remembered, in the UK, for his 1985 beefcake performance in Levi's "Launderette" television commercial, where he strips down in order to stone-wash his blue jeans in a 1950s style public laundromat while he waits clad only in his boxer shorts, which dramatically increased their popularity. It was selected for, and came fourth, in "The 100 Greatest TV Ads of All Time" in 2000.
His first single was the 1986 UK #5 hit "Each Time You Break My Heart" from his self-titled debut album. Written and produced by Madonna and Stephen Bray, it also cracked both the U.S. dance chart (remix by Shep Pettibone) and the Top 50 in Canada. Madonna also sang the backing vocals. Her original demo remains one of many Unreleased Madonna Songs. Kamen also had a #16 follow-up in the UK with the second single, "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever", although his later singles were less-commercially successful in the UK but more so in the rest of Europe, particularly Italy, France, Germany and Spain.
He appeared on UK television, singing, on Top of the Pops (12 March 1987 and 18 October 1990), This Morning (9 April 1990), Night Network (15 April 1987, 19 August 1987 and 1988) and The Tube (31 October 1986 and 21 November 1986).
Kamen's second album Us (1989) was produced by Patrick Leonard. Madonna again made an appearance as a backing vocalist on the song "Tell Me", this time without contributing to the songwriting or production.
In 1989 Kamen performed the song "Turn It Up" on the soundtrack to Walt Disney's film, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.
A new dance remix of his self-penned 1990 song, "I Promised Myself", and his biggest hit, was featured on a 2004 various artists collection in Europe and three years later, in 2007, the Spanish singer José Galisteo recorded his own version of the song. Kamen's own version was the fourth highest played record in Europe in 1990 and reached No 1 in eight European countries.
Come Softly to Me
Nick Kamen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dahm dahm, dahm do dahm, ooby do
Dahm dahm, dahm do dahm, ooby do
Dahm dahm, dahm ooh dahm
Mm dooby do
(Come softly, darling)
(Come softly, darling)
(Come softly, darling)
(Come softly, darling)
(Come to me, stay)
(You're my ob-session)
(For ever and a day)
I want, want you to know
I love, I love you so
Please hold, hold me so tight
All through, all through the night
(Speak softly, darling)
(Hear what I say)
(I love you always)
(Always, always)
I've waited, waited so long
For your kisses and your love
Please come, come to me
From up, from up above
(Come softly, darling)
(Come softly, darling)
I need, need you so much
Wanna feel your warm touch
Mm dooby do, dahm dahm, dahm do dahm ooby do
Dahm dahm, dahm do dahm, ooby do
Dahm dahm, dahm do dahm, ooby do
Dahm dahm, dahm ooh dahm
Mm dooby do, dahm dahm, dahm do dahm ooby do
Dahm dahm, dahm do dahm, ooby do
Dahm dahm, dahm do dahm, ooby do
Dahm dahm, dahm ooh dahm
The lyrics of Nick Kamen's song "Come Softly to Me" depict a person who is deeply in love with someone and wants them to come softly to them. The song radiates an aura of love, affection, and intimacy, with the refrain "come softly, darling" repeated several times throughout the song.
The singer expresses his love for the other person and asks them to stay with him forever. He urges his lover to speak softly and hear what he has to say, assuring them of his love and devotion. The song stresses the importance of physical touch, with the singer imploring his lover to hold him tightly all through the night and feel their warm touch.
The verses express a sense of longing and anticipation, with the singer having waited so long for his lover's kisses and love. While the song may seem simplistic at first glance, the lyrics capture the essence of true love, expressing how much the singer needs and loves his lover, and how much he longs to be with them always.
Line by Line Meaning
Mm dooby do, dahm dahm, dahm do dahm ooby do
Nick Kamen is humming and singing some falsetto tones.
Dahm dahm, dahm do dahm, ooby do
Nick Kamen is repeating some nonsensical words in falsetto tones.
Dahm dahm, dahm do dahm, ooby do
Nick Kamen is repeating some nonsensical words in falsetto tones.
Dahm dahm, dahm doo dahm
Nick Kamen is repeating some nonsensical words in falsetto tones.
Mm dooby do
Nick Kamen is humming and singing some falsetto tones.
(Come softly, darling)
Nick Kamen is inviting his lover to come near him gently.
(Come softly, darling)
Nick Kamen is inviting his lover to come near him gently.
(Come softly, darling)
Nick Kamen is inviting his lover to come near him gently.
(Come softly, darling)
Nick Kamen is inviting his lover to come near him gently.
(Come softly, darling)
Nick Kamen is inviting his lover to come near him gently.
(Come to me, stay)
Nick Kamen desires his lover to come to him and be with him always.
(You're my ob-session)
Nick Kamen is saying that his lover is his obsession.
(For ever and a day)
Nick Kamen wants his lover to stay with him forever.
I want, want you to know
Nick Kamen wants his lover to know something.
I love, I love you so
Nick Kamen loves his lover very much.
Please hold, hold me so tight
Nick Kamen is asking his lover to hold him tightly.
All through, all through the night
Nick Kamen wants his lover to be with him all through the night.
(Speak softly, darling)
Nick Kamen wants his lover to speak to him softly.
(Hear what I say)
Nick Kamen wants his lover to listen to him attentively.
(I love you always)
Nick Kamen promises his love to his lover always.
(Always, always)
Nick Kamen emphasizes the previous promise by repeating 'always'.
I've waited, waited so long
Nick Kamen waited for his lover for a long time.
For your kisses and your love
Nick Kamen waited for his lover's love and kisses.
Please come, come to me
Nick Kamen wants his lover to come to him.
From up, from up above
Nick Kamen implies that his lover might come from heaven.
(Come softly, darling)
Nick Kamen is inviting his lover to come near him gently.
(Come softly, darling)
Nick Kamen is inviting his lover to come near him gently.
I need, need you so much
Nick Kamen needs his lover very much.
Wanna feel your warm touch
Nick Kamen desires to feel his lover's warm touch.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GARY TROXEL, BARBARA ELLIS, GRETCHEN CHRISTOPHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind