Based in the musical epicenter of Cali, Colombia since 2007, Holland has been exploring cumbias, salsa and Afro-Colombian music through his particular beat-focused, electronic and funk lens. His latest live band project, Quantic y Su Combo Barbaro, a carefully assembled international cast of musical creators including virtuosic salsa pianist Alfredo Linares and Pacific folklore singer Nidia Gongora, is a bold snapshot of an ever-evolving musical landscape in the Americas. Holland also works and exchanges with a cross-section of artists and producers innovatively shaping contemporary music from Latin America as we speak.
His is an on-going story of musical inspiration guided by a curiosity which aims to not only honor and collaborate with excellent artists, but to share and compose new music in a way that is organic, vibrant and relevant. As Holland explains, "I try to make music that encourages people to explore beyond their usual listening circles and check scenes and genres they may otherwise never be exposed to."
"He’s at the forefront of a new global sound.”- Gilles Peterson, BBC Radio 1
Sweet Calling
Quantic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My southern woman
Never had a chance to say goodbye
I met her back in sixty-three, she was such a mystery
She was there on Barron Street, down in New Orleans
So wild but yet so tame, she could calm a hurricane
She was only seventeen and Amelia was her name
Oh, when I took her for a ride, she got close by my side
But in my heart she fell, oh, I got pulled into her spell
I can still see her there with the flowers in her hair
Oh Amelia, my Southern woman
I can still feel you every time I close my eyes
Sweet Amelia, where did you run to?
We never had a chance to say goodbye
I remember making love underneath the stars above
I can feel the summer breeze up in magnolia trees
That night in the Southern land, the girl, she took me by the hand
And I was weak as a little lamb but I became a man
Love was pumping through my veins, her lips were sweet like sugarcane
We rode all night in the rain 'cross the Lake Poncetrain
She had a heart as fine as fire, burning innocent desire
I can still see her there with flowers in her hair
Oh, Amelia, my Southern woman
I can still feel you, every time I close my eyes
Sweet Amelia, where did you run to?
We never had a chance to say goodbye
Just like a shooting star, she vanished in the night
But I'll always remember her lips so warm and tender
In my heart she'll always shine so bright
Sweet Amelia, if I could just see her one more time
Oh Amelia, my Southern woman
I can still feel you every time I close my eyes
Sweet Amelia, where did you run to?
We never had a chance to say goodbye
Oh Amelia, my Southern woman
I can still feel you every time I close my eyes
Sweet Amelia, where did you run to?
We never had a chance to say goodbye
Oh Amelia, my Southern woman
I can still feel you every time I close my eyes
Sweet Amelia, where did you run to?
We never had a chance to say goodbye
Oh Amelia, my Southern woman
I can still feel you
every time I close my eyes.
The song "Sweet Calling" by Quantic tells a nostalgic tale of a man reminiscing about his first love, Amelia, whom we can assume has passed away. The lyrics describe their passionate and intense affair that started in New Orleans in 1963. Amelia is depicted as a wild but calming force who had a profound effect on the singer, with her flowered hair and sweet southern charm. They made love under the stars and in the rain, and Amelia became the catalyst for the singer's transformation from a boy to a man. However, their love was fleeting, and Amelia vanished like a shooting star in the night, leaving the singer with a sense of longing and regret that never faded.
The song's melancholic and wistful tone, combined with the vivid imagery of the Southern landscape, evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing for lost love. The repeated refrain of "Oh Amelia, my Southern woman, I can still feel you every time I close my eyes" emphasizes the lasting impact that Amelia had on the singer and how her memory continues to haunt him.
Overall, "Sweet Calling" is a beautifully crafted and emotionally resonant song that captures the bittersweet nature of love and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, Amelia
The song is addressed to a woman named Amelia
My southern woman
Amelia is from the American South
Never had a chance to say goodbye
The singer never got to say goodbye to Amelia
I met her back in sixty-three, she was such a mystery
The singer met Amelia in 1963 and found her to be mysterious
She was there on Barron Street, down in New Orleans
Amelia was in New Orleans on Barron Street when they met
So wild but yet so tame, she could calm a hurricane
Amelia had a seemingly contradictory personality, but her presence could have a calming effect
She was only seventeen and Amelia was her name
Amelia was only 17 years old
Oh, when I took her for a ride, she got close by my side
The singer and Amelia went for a ride together and she stayed close to him
And when I looked into her eye, Amelia kept me hypnotized
The singer was captivated by Amelia's eyes
But in my heart she fell, oh, I got pulled into her spell
The singer fell in love with Amelia and became enchanted by her
I can still see her there with the flowers in her hair
The singer remembers Amelia with flowers in her hair
I remember making love underneath the stars above
The singer and Amelia had a romantic encounter in the outdoors
I can feel the summer breeze up in magnolia trees
The surroundings of their encounter included the scent of magnolia trees and a summer breeze
That night in the Southern land, the girl, she took me by the hand
Amelia led the singer somewhere in the Southern region of the US
And I was weak as a little lamb but I became a man
The singer felt vulnerable but the experience with Amelia made him feel more mature
Love was pumping through my veins, her lips were sweet like sugarcane
The singer was deeply in love with Amelia and found her lips to be sweet
We rode all night in the rain 'cross the Lake Poncetrain
The singer and Amelia rode across Lake Poncetrain in the rain
She had a heart as fine as fire, burning innocent desire
Amelia had a passionate heart but with a sense of innocence
Just like a shooting star, she vanished in the night
Amelia disappeared suddenly, like a shooting star in the sky
But I'll always remember her lips so warm and tender
The singer will always remember the sensation of Amelia's lips
In my heart she'll always shine so bright
The singer will always cherish Amelia's memory in his heart
Sweet Amelia, if I could just see her one more time
The singer wishes he could see Amelia again
Writer(s): Alice E. Russell, William George Holland
Contributed by Jayce O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@singinblues26
2:20-2:45 gives me goosebumps!
@SuzyKeegan
I am in sheer bliss listening to Alice and Quantic.Sweet soul is the the true description for this.x
@Craftstoff
i love it the beat to alices voice ... just great
@jimitrios
I don't know how the music producers find these great songs to fill the scenes. Really miss the show !
@mattyg10101
Love Alice Russell, she has an amazing voice. But anyone know if there is an instrumental version for this track?
@sgamoun59
very very good sound !! i love it !!!
@arty-fu8do
love it (:
@CatsEyesAA
Love the intro!
@lombmusic07
oh my god, imagine this as a sound track to your life. Then again, it is, I mean, good music is for that.
@TRdonkeyshot
awesome tune