“Chris embodies all the great qualities that I love about great singers. His talents seem limitless and I hope we will continue to work together in the future.” –David Foster
“There is nothing that Chris Mann cannot sing. From the smoothest notes to the hardest runs, he can do it effortlessly. One of my favorite male singers today. A producer’s dream to work with.”
-Walter Afanasieff
With a powerful voice and dynamic live performance, Chris Mann has emerged on the scene as an artist to watch. His blend of classically-trained tenor and contemporary pop vocals is a sound that is rare in the world of music today.
Growing up in Wichita, Kansas, Chris began playing the piano and performing at a young age. He realized music was more than a hobby when he discovered that singing was in his blood; an unearthed stack of old records he believed to be Frank Sinatra recordings were actually sung by his grandfather. This sparked a fire within him—while his friends were listening to rock and country, Chris immersed himself in Pavarotti, Robbie Williams and vintage Sinatra, forever influencing his style and persona.
Chris has worked with A-list producers including Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds (Whitney Houston), Walter Afanasieff (Andrea Bocelli, Celine Dion), Greg Wells (Adele, Jamie Cullum), Mark Hammond (Josh Groban), and Keith Thomas (Charlotte Church, Vanessa Williams) with whom he recorded a duet with Heather Headley. He has toured with Grammy Award-winner India.Arie and Tony Award-winner Idina Menzel, has performed at high profile events including the Sundance Film Festival, the Academy Awards Young Hollywood Party, the American Film Institute Awards, the Bel-Air Film Festival, and is a six-time headliner at national “Mom Blog” conventions. Recently, Chris was featured in “David Foster and Friends” at special events in Los Angeles and Washington D.C, performing “The Prayer” with Katharine McPhee and David Foster.
Chris’ voice has been featured in numerous films and television shows including Avatar, Glee 3D, Letters to Juliet, Tangled, Sex and the City 2, The Smurfs, 2012 and The Philanthropist, among others. At its inception, Fox’s hit show Glee called to feature Chris’ vocals on both the series and the accompanying soundtracks, which have sold millions of copies.
Chris’ original music has been licensed in film and television programs including Drop Dead Diva, When in Romance, and Honey 2; Office Max also licensed his music for their national “back to school” television campaign. Additionally, Lifetime selected Chris’ song “Beautiful Life” as the television promo soundtrack for Coming Home, a reality series documenting soldiers as they return home from war.
His talents run deeper than just music: Chris has acted on-screen as a member of the Dalton Academy Warblers on Fox’s Glee, has been featured on Howie Mandel’s Mobbed and has starred in numerous musicals on-stage. His credits as a writer and producer are growing as well. He is one half of the production team, Church+State, who recently produced the debut single “Sweet Vendetta” for Melody Thornton of The Pussycat Dolls.
Chris Mann has built his global fan base by embracing social media platforms such as Twitter, and his humorous yet thoughtful weekly ‘MANNblogMonday’ at ChrisMannMusic.com is a fan favorite; these efforts, and more, build the Chris Mann brand and allow unrivaled accessibility to his fans.
Chris has currently auditioned for season 2 of The Voice on NBC premiering February 5, 2012 after the Super Bowl.
Contacts: Music: Susan Markheim, Susan.Markheim [at] Azoffmusic.com
Acting: Abe Hoch, Abe [at] amgmtco.com
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Chris Mann Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all;
I'm on your side. when times get rough
And friends just cant be found,
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
When you're down and out,
When you're on the street,
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you.
I'll take your part.
When darkness comes
And pains is all around,
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
Sail on silver girl,
Sail on by.
Your time has come to shine.
All your dreams are on their way.
See how they shine.
If you need a friend
I'm sailing right behind.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind.
The lyrics to Chris Mann's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" convey a message of unwavering support and comfort in times of adversity. The first verse speaks to the singer's willingness to be there for someone who is struggling. The imagery of a bridge over troubled water represents the singer's desire to be a source of stability for the listener as they navigate difficult times. The chorus repeats this sentiment, emphasizing the depth of the singer's commitment to helping the listener through their troubles. The second verse expands on this idea, portraying the singer as a friend who will always be there, no matter how difficult the circumstances. The final section shifts from the singer's perspective to that of the listener, encouraging them to persevere and follow their dreams. Overall, the lyrics serve as a reminder that even when life seems overwhelming, there are people who care and will be there to provide support.
Line by Line Meaning
When you're weary, feeling small,
When you're tired and feeling insignificant,
When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all;
When you're crying, I'll provide emotional support for you;
I'm on your side. when times get rough
I'll be your ally when things get tough;
And friends just cant be found,
When you can't find any friends to help you out,
Like a bridge over troubled water
I'll be like a structural support system to help you across hard times;
I will lay me down.
I'll metaphorically 'lay down' my support and be there for you;
When you're down and out,
When you're feeling hopeless and defeated,
When you're on the street,
When you're homeless and on the streets,
When evening falls so hard
When nightfall brings intense emotions,
I will comfort you.
I'll give you comfort and reassurance;
I'll take your part.
I'll stand up for you and support your needs;
When darkness comes
When things get bad and it feels there's no way out,
And pains is all around,
And when pain seems to be everywhere you go,
Like a bridge over troubled water
I'll be a support structure, bridging you over your troubles;
I will lay me down.
I'll lay down my sense of self to support you;
Sail on silver girl,
Addressing a young woman, encourage her to sail on and persevere,
Sail on by.
Keep going,
Your time has come to shine.
Opportunity is coming your way, you're going to do great;
All your dreams are on their way.
Your dreams are about to come true;
See how they shine.
Your dreams are looking bright and possible;
If you need a friend
If you need an ally in life,
I'm sailing right behind.
I'm here to support you, even if not in a way that's immediately visible;
Like a bridge over troubled water
In hard times, I'll provide support to get you to the other side;
I will ease your mind.
I'll help clear and ease your mind of worries and concerns;
Like a bridge over troubled water
I'll continue to be a support structure for you, even when things feel rough;
I will ease your mind.
I'll still be there to help calm and ease your mind;
Writer(s): PAUL SIMON
Contributed by Dominic G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.