Nick Kamen (born Ivor Neville Kamen, 15 April 1962, Harlow, Essex, England … Read Full Bio ↴Nick Kamen (born Ivor Neville Kamen, 15 April 1962, Harlow, Essex, England - 4 May 2021) was an English male model, songwriter and musician, and brother of session guitarist Chester Kamen and artist Barry Kamen.

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.

Oh How Happy
Nick Kamen Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh how happy you have made me
Oh how happy you have made me

Oh how happy

I have kissed your lips a thousand times
More times than i can count
I have called you mine

You stood by me in my darkest hour
And your love has given me so much power

Oh how happy you have made me
Oh how happy you have made me
Oh how happy you have made me
Oh how happy you have made me

Oh how happy

In our years togheter
We've had stormy weather
But our love is so strong
Some how we carry on

Oh how happy you have made me
Oh how happy you have made me
Oh how happy you have made me
Oh how happy you have made me

Girl you brought joy in my empty life
And all that was wrong
You have made so right

Our love
Our love
Our love

You have made me Oh so happy

Oh how happy you have made me
Oh how happy you have made me
Oh how happy you have made me
Oh how happy you have made me

Oh how happy
Oh how happy
Oh how happy

You have made me
You have made me

You have made me
You have made me

Overall Meaning

The song "Oh How Happy" by Nick Kamen describes the joy and happiness that a relationship has brought into his life. He sings about how the person he is with has made him feel so happy and loved, having kissed their lips countless times and calling them his own. He also mentions how this person has supported him during his darkest times, giving him strength and power with their love. The chorus repeatedly emphasizes just how happy this person has made him feel.

Throughout their time together, they have experienced some tough times, but their love has persevered and remained strong. Kamen mentions that this person has brought joy into his previously empty life, and has been able to make things right. The song ends with Kamen repeating how incredibly happy this person has made him feel.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh how happy you have made me
Expressing joy and gratitude towards the person who has brought happiness into the singer's life

I have kissed your lips a thousand times
Emphasizing the depth and intensity of the singer's love and devotion towards their partner

More times than i can count
Further underscoring the endless and immeasurable nature of the singer's love

I have called you mine
Claiming ownership of the partner as a symbol of their strong emotional bond

You stood by me in my darkest hour
Reflecting on how the partner provided support and comfort during a difficult time in the artist's life

And your love has given me so much power
Acknowledging how the partner's affection has empowered the singer to overcome challenges and obstacles in life

In our years together
Referencing the passage of time that the couple has spent together, signifying the depth of their emotional connection

We've had stormy weather
Admitting that the relationship hasn't always been smooth sailing

But our love is so strong
Asserting that the relationship has endured despite difficulties due to the strength of their love

Somehow we carry on
Implying that the couple perseveres through tough times, powered by their love for each other

Girl you brought joy in my empty life
Expressing how the partner has transformed the singer's life from one of emptiness and sadness to one of happiness and fulfillment

And all that was wrong
Suggesting that the partner has helped to correct mistakes and issues in the artist's life and relationship history

You have made so right
Reiterating the idea that the partner has brought positivity and happiness into the singer's life

Our love
Acknowledging the shared and mutual nature of the couple's romantic connection

You have made me Oh so happy
Summing up the central theme of the song and reinforcing the partner's role in bringing joy to the singer's life

You have made me
Reiterating the profound impact that the partner has had on the artist's emotional state and wellbeing

Oh how happy
Echoing the song's chorus and overall message of gratitude towards the partner

Oh how happy
Repeating the previous line to emphasize the singer's intense happiness and contentment with their relationship

Oh how happy
Concluding the song with a final refrain of gratitude and joy towards the partner

You have made me
Repeating the same phrase from earlier in the song to reinforce the partner's importance in the artist's life

Contributed by Hailey L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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