The Chicago native exploded onto the scene in 1998 with the album “Stay Awhile” that was produced by fellow Chicagoan Brian Culbertson. The disc scored two #1 hits and earned Cole the Oasis Smooth Jazz Award for best new artist shortly before his sophomore set, “Between Us,” was released in 2000. His catchy singles made him an instant radio favorite and he cranked them out with regularity on subsequent albums “NY LA” (2003), “Spin” (2005) and “True” (2006).
In addition to his work as solo artist, Steve has performed/recorded, with Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, Boz Scaggs, Larry Carlton, Jeff Lorber, Jim Peterik, Freddie Cole, Cyrus Chestnut, and KMFDM, and has been a featured soloist with the City of Prague Orchestra, and The Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Steve is also a founding member of The Sax Pack, a stellar sax trio completed by Marcus Anderson and Jeff Kashiwa.
In the 15 years since the release of his debut record, saxophonist Steve Cole has traveled full-circle creatively and arrived back home on his new release, “Pulse,” a 10-song set mixing R&B, contemporary jazz, gospel, blues and pop that he produced with fellow saxman David Mann. The new collection surveying Cole’s musical passions showcases the artist’s affinity for infectious melodies, a wall of horns, and soulful grooves.
From the Start
Steve Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
وخدك ياقوتة وثغرك جوهر
ونصفك كافور وثلثك عنبر
وخمسك ماورد وباقيك سكر
خلقت من الإشراق والنور والبهاء
وصورة في عقلي فجل المصور
The above lyrics belong to Steve Cole's instrumental song From The Start. While the song might not have any specific meaning, the lyrics can be interpreted in a few different ways. The first two lines of the lyrics are Arabic, and they translate to "Your resemblance is like the full moon, but you are brighter. Your cheeks are rubies, and your throat is a gem, and half of you is camphor, and a third is amber, and one-fifth is a rose, and the rest is sugar." These lines might indicate perfection and the beauty of details.
The next two lines, "Created from illumination and light and splendor, and an image in my mind, which was the best of photographers," can be interpreted to mean that the subject of the song is an ideal or a mental image of perfection. The song's title, From The Start, might indicate that the subject has been perfect from the beginning, without any flaws. However, since the song has no lyrics apart from these lines, interpretations are subjective and depend on the listener's experience.
Line by Line Meaning
شبيهك بدر التم بل انت أنور
You resemble the full moon, but you shine even brighter than it does.
وخدك ياقوتة وثغرك جوهر
Your cheeks are like rubies and your throat is a gemstone.
ونصفك كافور وثلثك عنبر
Half of you is like camphor and a third of you is amber.
وخمسك ماورد وباقيك سكر
A fifth of you is a rose and the rest is pure sugar.
خلقت من الإشراق والنور والبهاء
You were created from radiance, light, and beauty.
وصورة في عقلي فجل المصور
A mental image of you is captured in my mind, the best of photographers.
Writer(s): MANN, COLE
Contributed by Owen E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.