McDonald became a three-time Tony Award winner by the age of 28 — for her performances in Carousel, Master Class, and Ragtime. She won her fourth in 2004 for her role in A Raisin in the Sun.
McDonald has recorded four solo albums for Nonesuch Records. Her first, the 1998 Way Back to Paradise, featured songs written by a new generation of musical theatre composers who had achieved varying degrees of prominence in the 1990s, particularly Michael John LaChiusa, Adam Guettel and Jason Robert Brown. Her subsequent albums, How Glory Goes and Happy Songs, have featured more traditional theater and cabaret songs along with some songs by these new composers. Her fourth album, Build a Bridge, features songs from the jazz/pop canon, from composers as diverse as Laura Nyro, Elvis Costello, Nellie McKay, Neil Young, Rufus Wainwright, John Mayer and Randy Newman.
Aria
Audra McDonald Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Glamour, music, and magic combine
See the maidens so anxious to shine
Look for a sign that enhances chances
She'll be his special one
What a display
What a breathtaking thrilling array
And I'll sing with passion, gusto, fit to bust
Oh, not a care in the world!
The lyrics of Audra McDonald's song Aria seem to be about the anticipation and joy of love. The opening lyrics, "Oh, how divine, glamour, music, and magic combine," sets the tone for the ethereal and enchanting world that the singer is describing. The lines "See the maidens so anxious to shine, look for a sign that enhances chances, she'll be his special one," seems to suggest that the song's narrator is watching a group of women try to catch the attention of a man they are interested in, hoping to be the one he chooses.
The chorus, "What a display, what a breathtaking thrilling array, every prince, every dog has his day, and I'll sing with passion, gusto, fit to bust, oh, not a care in the world," seems to celebrate the excitement and beauty of life. The use of the phrases "every prince, every dog has his day" appears to indicate that no matter one's station in life, everyone has the chance to experience love and joy. The final line, "oh, not a care in the world," is a moment of pure bliss, where the song's narrator is swept up in the moment and doesn't worry about anything.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, how divine
This event is beyond exquisite and wonderful
Glamour, music, and magic combine
The atmosphere is filled with elegance, melodies, and enchantment
See the maidens so anxious to shine
Observe the women who are eager to impress and gain attention
Look for a sign that enhances chances
Search for any indication that could improve prospects of love and success
She'll be his special one
One lucky lady will capture the heart of a special someone
What a display
This is an impressive and outstanding showcase
What a breathtaking thrilling array
The variety of sights is exhilarating and astonishing
Every prince, every dog has his day
Everyone, regardless of status, will have their moment to shine
And I'll sing with passion, gusto, fit to bust
I will sing with intense enthusiasm and energy, to the point of bursting
Oh, not a care in the world!
There is no need to worry or be troubled, everything is carefree and perfect
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Alan Irwin Menken, Tim Rice
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chantal Rodriguez Mäner
Oh, how divine
Glamour, music and magic combine
See the maidens so anxious to shine
Look for a sign that enhances chances
She'll be his special one
What a display
What a breathtaking, thrilling array
Every prince, every dog has his day
Let us sing with passion, gusto, fit to bust
Oh, not a care in the world
Ainun Amelia
Oh, how divine
Glamour, music, and magic combine
See the maidens so anxious to shine
Look for a sign that enhances chances
She'll be his special one
What a display
What a breathtaking, thrilling array
Every prince, every dog has his day
And I'll sing with passion, gusto, fit to bust
Oh, not a care in the world!
Frank Lesher
Here are the lyrics for the song, if anyone is interestedOh, how divine
Glamour, music, and magic combine
See the maidens so anxious to shine
Look for a sign that enhances chances
She'll be his special one
What a display
What a breathtaking, thrilling array
Every prince, every dog has his day
And I'll sing with passion, gusto, fit to bust
Oh, not a care in the world!
fe
Oh, how divine
Glamour, music and magic combine
See the maidens so anxious to shine
Look for a sign that enhances chances
She'll be his special one
What a display
What a breathtaking, thrilling array
Every prince, every dog has his day
Let us sing with passion, gusto, fit to bust
Oh, not a care in the world!
I dont know how i did that that was hard to do and long
Ramsey Miller
Lyrics from "Beauty and the Beast"
Performed by Audra McDonald
Music and lyrics by Alan Menken and Tim Rice
Oh, how divine
Glamour, music and magic combine
See the maidens so anxious to shine
Look for a sign that enhances chances
She'll be his special one
What a display
What a breathtaking, thrilling array
Every prince, every dog has his day
Let us sing with passion, gusto, fit to bust
Oh, not a care in the world!
MusicalTheatreFan2K22
I rewrote some lyrics for the one minute aria for Madame, for Samantha Bingley's interpretation, entitled, "Look At These Girls"
("Bring me my presents!")
("Sire, please accept this humble gift as a token of our appreciation.")
("Oh, just give it to me. A storybook?! You call this a present?!! Somebody's gotta have something better for me –")
"Perhaps I can be of some assistance."
Look at these girls
Go ahead, sire, give one a whirl.
Weddings happen – when I spot those pearls.
In one's a sign that enhances chances
she'll be your special one!
All on display,
in breathtaking thrilling array.
I assure you this might be your day,
and not only do they shine and look divine...
~THEY COME FROM OVER THE WORLD!~
(knock on door)
"I WASN'T FINISHED!!!"
nicoleloveswalt
When you have Audra McDonald in your musical film and only let her sing for forty seconds but let a dozen non-singers sing the rest of the time.
Ollie Lane
nicoleloveswalt Luke Evans has done Broadway, as has Emma Thompson but you're right about everyone else.
Tamir
Ollie Lane your forgetting about Josh gad
Tamir
nicoleloveswalt Audra also sings in the finale song and in days in the sun
Ollie Lane
Tamir Baldwin very true
MJC
nicoleloveswalt ... why don't we all judge it once we have seen it ... instead of hating on something we all know we're gunna see ! What's the point ? Shouldn't we just be happy they have made it now ?
Wonder Vizt
I really wish they made a full version of this song.
tobias's strawberry garden
same! its so good ughhh
Andrew W
I love how it starts so graceful and waltzy, and spirals into this dizzying cacophony. Gets the heart pumping
cirrus
Can I just say how wonderful a duo Garderobe and Cadenza are? Honestly, her voice is breathtaking and his harpsichord only enhances it...