Chris Isaak is an American rock musician and occasional actor.
Isaak was born in Stockton, California, the son of Dorothy, a potato chip factory worker, and Joe Isaak, a forklift driver. Isaak’s mother is Italian American, originating from Genoa.
Gifted with an absolutely divine voice and a riveting stage presence, Isaak is one of the few performers that can pull off both infectious rockers and heartfelt ballads with utter conviction and unrivaled style. Though it was the former that made him cool, it was the latter that made him famous. Once his “Wicked Game” was featured in David Lynch’s 1990 film masterpiece Wild At Heart, it wasn’t long before people took notice; naturally, an ultrasexy video for the song with supermodel Helena Christensen didn’t exactly hurt his popularity. Subsequent efforts, while smoother and less steamy than his 1980s work, have all been successes.
Wicked Game
The song is a classic Love/Hate relationship. The narrator (Isaak) acknowledges that “no one could save me but you” in the first line but then paradoxically says it was “foolish” to partake in the second line. The chorus pines for not wanting to fall in love yet is sung with such passion that one knows he is, or has been in love. He expresses his reluctance, yet hints at wanting to “fall in love” knowing this love of worldly desire will most likely break his heart. The almost silent “don’t” in the chorus line “No, I don’t want to fall in love” also indicates a longing for this person, being in conflict with reason.
http://djallyn.org/media/chris-isaak-wicked-game.flvThe world was on fire
No one could save me but you.
Strange what desire will make foolish people do
I never dreamed that I’d meet somebody like you
And I never dreamed that I’d lose somebody like youNo, I don’t want to fall in love
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
No, I don’t want to fall in love
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
With youWhat a wicked game you play
To make me feel this way
What a wicked thing to do
To let me dream of you
What a wicked thing to say
You never felt this way
What a wicked thing to do
To make me dream of you
No I don’t wanna fall in love
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
No I don’t want to fall in love
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
With youWorld was on fire
No one could save me but you
Strange what desire will make foolish people do
I never dreamed that I’d love somebody like you
I never dreamed that I’d lose somebody like youNo I don’t wanna fall in love
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
No I don’t wanna fall in love
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
With you
With youNobody loves no one
- Audio from the 1988 album, Heart Shaped World:
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