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.
Each Time You Break My Heart
Nick Kamen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Each time you break my heart
I know how it feels to be the talk of the town
I'm not gonna let you go and run around
I need to know that you'll be true to me
Cause that's the way it's got to be
Is love so blind that you cannot see
I'm trying hard not to walk out the door
Know that I, oh, know that I can't take no more
Each time you break my heart
I try to put my pride aside
Each time you break my heart
A little voice inside me cries
No matter what you do or say
I'm gonna love you, I'm gonna love you anyway
And if you're so sure that I'm not your kind
How come you can't just walk away
In the beginning we were nothing but glad
Those were the best days that we ever had
There's no compassion, all your warmth is gone
Tell me how, oh, how can I keep holding on
Each time you break my heart
I try to put my pride aside
Each time you break my heart
A little voice inside me cries
I see the look in your eyes
I know you're hurting inside
Let me try
To make you love me again
I'll say that I knew you when
You were mine
You were mine
Each time, oh, yeah
In the beginning we were nothing but glad
Those were the best days that we ever had
There's no compassion, all your warmth is gone
Tell me how, oh, how can I keep holding on
I see the look in your eyes
I know you're hurting inside
Let me try
To make you love me again
I'll say that I knew you when
You were mine
You were mine
Each time you break my heart
I try to put my pride aside
Each time you break my heart
A little voice inside me cries
Each time you break my heart again
Well I can say I knew you when (each time)
You were mine
(Each time you break my heart)
I try to put my pride aside
(Each time you break my heart)
Oh, oh, oh
(Break my heart, don't break my heart)
(Break my heart, don't break my heart)
(Break my heart, don't break my heart)
(Break my heart, don't break my heart)
The song "Each Time You Break My Heart" by Nick Kamen is about a person who is repeatedly hurt by their partner but cannot seem to let go of the relationship. The lyrics reflect the singer's struggle to maintain their sense of self-respect and dignity while being mistreated by the person they love. The opening lines "Each time you break my heart, I know how it feels to be the talk of the town" suggest that the singer is aware that their relationship problems are not a secret and that others are witnessing their pain.
The singer declares that they will not allow their partner to "go and run around" and that they need to be reassured that their partner will be faithful. However, the partner's refusal to make any promises causes the singer to question whether their love is genuine or if they are blinded by their emotions. The following lines "I'm trying hard not to walk out the door, Know that I, oh, know that I can't take no more" suggest that the singer is torn between their love for their partner and the need to preserve their self-respect.
Despite the repeated hurtful behavior of their partner, the singer cannot seem to let go of their love. The chorus "Each time you break my heart, a little voice inside me cries" implies that the singer's love is still strong, even in the face of repeated heartbreak. The song is a melancholic reflection on the pain of loving someone who is unable to reciprocate that love, and the difficulty of letting go.
Line by Line Meaning
Each time you break my heart
The pain I feel when you hurt me repeatedly.
I know how it feels to be the talk of the town
I feel embarrassed and ashamed when others gossip about us.
I'm not gonna let you go and run around
I want you to commit to our relationship and stop seeing other people.
I need to know that you'll be true to me
I need your loyalty and honesty to trust you again.
Cause that's the way it's got to be
I won't settle for anything less than a faithful partner.
Why can't you give your promise to me
I want you to make a commitment to our relationship and stick to it.
Is love so blind that you cannot see
Do you not recognize the impact of your actions on our relationship?
I'm trying hard not to walk out the door
I don't want to end our relationship, but I'm struggling to trust you.
Know that I, oh, know that I can't take no more
I've been hurt too many times and I can't handle it anymore.
A little voice inside me cries
My emotions are overwhelming me, making me feel like I want to cry.
No matter what you do or say
I'm committed to loving you, even if it means enduring pain.
How come you can't just walk away
Why do you stay in this relationship if you're not committed to it?
Those were the best days that we ever had
I remember our happier times together.
There's no compassion, all your warmth is gone
You're not showing me affection or understanding anymore.
Tell me how, oh, how can I keep holding on
I'm struggling to remain dedicated to our relationship without your reassurance.
I see the look in your eyes
I can detect that you're hurting, too.
I'll say that I knew you when
I'll always remember the positive memories from our time together.
Each time, oh, yeah
The pain you caused me is a recurring, ongoing issue.
Well I can say I knew you when (each time)
Each time you hurt me, it becomes easier for me to move on.
Oh, oh, oh
Expressing my emotional pain and struggle.
Break my heart, don't break my heart
I don't want to experience your emotional rollercoaster anymore.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: . MADONNA, STEPHEN BRAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mario Mariusz
TRACKS
7" Single WEA 248 527-7 (Warner)
Each Time You Break My Heart - Nick Kamen 4:30 PLAY
Each Time You Break My Heart - Nick Kamen (Instrumental) 4:35
1986
12" Maxi WEA 248 526-0 (Warner)
Each Time You Break My Heart - Nick Kamen (Dance Mix) 6:53
Each Time You Break My Heart - Nick Kamen 4:30 PLAY
Each Time You Break My Heart - Nick Kamen (Extended Instrumental) 5:14
Mario Mariusz
TRACKS
7" Single WEA 248 527-7 (Warner)
Each Time You Break My Heart - Nick Kamen 4:30 PLAY
Each Time You Break My Heart - Nick Kamen (Instrumental) 4:35
1986
12" Maxi WEA 248 526-0 (Warner)
Each Time You Break My Heart - Nick Kamen (Dance Mix) 6:53
Each Time You Break My Heart - Nick Kamen 4:30 PLAY
Each Time You Break My Heart - Nick Kamen (Extended Instrumental) 5:14
Alejandro Herrera
esta es la mejor versión que escuché en 1987 a los diecinueve por la radio 😊
ferdy borrisnot
Conduciendo por la noche
Súbete a mi coche
Que nos vamos a escapar...
DEP. Me gusta mucho Nick Kamen y Anthrboy sigue sus pasos y me gusta escucharlo cuando estoy triste
Pierre Labrecque
The BEST for '80's😀👏❗
MarsFire
Still incredible. Stephen bray had such a perfect sound with madonnna
rosa ventola
Mi piace e'ritmato
Marco Antonio Trejo Fernandez
Todo un éxito
antonesauf
If she wants you enough she'll write you a hit too
Samuel Reis
🇧🇷❤️💕
Annalisa Mulasso
Ciao a tutti che bel video grazie ! Each Time you break my heart è stata la sua prima canzone e grazie a questa canzone ha avuto successo peccato che poi si è ritirato era davvero un grande cantante dalla voce angelica e dolce ! Era un ragazzo stupendo e molto bravo in tutto quello che faceva....... ragazzi come lui al giorno d'oggi ce ne sono ben pochi ! Sei stato un grande caro Nick e lo sarai per sempre anche da lassù...... ciao bellissimo Angelo del Paradiso riposa in pace 🌈😇🙏💔😢🕯💐