In 2007, Cécile moved to Aix-en-Provence, France, to study law as well as classical and baroque voice at the Darius Milhaud Conservatory. It was in Aix-en-Provence, with reedist and teacher Jean-François Bonnel, that she started learning about improvisation, instrumental and vocal repertoire ranging from the 1910s on, and sang with her first band. In 2009, after a series of concerts in Paris, she recorded her first album "Cécile", with Jean-François Bonnel's Paris Quintet. A year later, she won the Thelonious Monk competition in Washington D.C.
Cécile performs unique interpretations of unknown and scarcely recorded jazz and blues compositions. She focuses on a theatrical portrayal of the jazz standard and composes music and lyrics which she also sings in French, her native language as well as in Spanish. She enjoys popularity in Europe and in the United States, performing in clubs, concert halls, and festivals accompanied by renowned musicians like Jean-Francois Bonnel, Rodney Whitaker, Aaron Diehl, Dan Nimmer, Sadao Watanabe, Jacky Terrasson (with an a noted collaboration in his "Gouache" Universal CD), Archie Shepp, and Jonathan Batiste. She sings for the 2nd consecutive year for the Chanel’s « Chance » ad campaign. In August 2012, Cécile recorded at the Avatar Studios a CD to be released early next year for the Mack Avenue Label with Aaron Diehl, Rodney Whitaker, Herlin Riley and James Chirillo.
Cécile has performed at numerous festivals such as Jazz à Vienne, Ascona, Whitley Bay, Montauban, Foix, with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra in New York’s Lincoln Center and Chicago’s Symphony Center and with her own band at the Kennedy Center, the Spoleto Jazz Festival, Detroit Jazz Festival and other venues.
Ben Ratliff writes in The New York Times “she sings clearly, with her full pitch range, from a pronounced low end to full and distinct high notes, used sparingly — like the one I heard a few weeks ago at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola on the last word of “What a Little Moonlight Can Do,” the spire in a magnificent set. Her voice clamps into each song, performing careful variations on pitch, stretching words but generally not scatting; her face conveys meaning, representing sorrow or serenity like a silent-movie actor. She also presents a lot of jazz history, and other things…”
Look At Me
Cécile McLorin Salvant Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why don't you look at me
The way you look at all the other girls you see
I'm your friend
I guess I'll always be, but I'm in love with you endlessly
All the time
All of the tiime I've lost trying to make you come to me at any cost
All i am, all that I'll ever be, is just a clown for you when you're blue.
Blue as the nights I'd wish we'd spent together what a lovely time together blue
as that glimpse of light
When i almost think you might, just look at me
Cécile McLorin Salvant's song Look At Me speaks of unrequited love and the pain of being invisible to the person you have feelings for. The song is a plea for attention, a cry for recognition and an expression of the female persona's deep love for the male object of her desire. She begins by asking him to look at her, to notice her presence in his life and to give her the same attention he gives to other girls he sees. Despite being friends, she confesses that she is hopelessly in love with him and has been trying to get his attention for a long time. She highlights the time she has spent trying to make him notice her and the fact that she has become nothing more than a clown for him to turn to when he is feeling blue.
In the second verse, the female persona paints a beautiful picture of the time they could have spent together, longing for that glimpse of light that would signify his attention. She sings about the moments she has hoped and wished for them to be together and the beautiful memories that they could make. Yet, she seems to feel that all her efforts may be in vain, continually questioning if he will ever "just look at me". The song captures the angst and frustration of unreciprocated feelings and the great lengths that people go to in pursuit of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Look at me
I want your attention and I want you to see me.
Why don't you look at me
I am wondering why you don't give me the same attention you give to other girls you see.
The way you look at all the other girls you see
I feel like you look at other girls with interest and admiration but not me.
I'm your friend
I value our friendship and I hope it does not change because I am in love with you.
I guess I'll always be, but I'm in love with you endlessly
I have accepted that I will always be your friend, but my feelings for you are strong and will never go away.
All the time
I have spent a lot of time thinking about you and trying to get your attention.
All of the time I've lost trying to make you come to me at any cost
I have wasted a lot of time trying to get you to notice me, even if it means sacrificing my own happiness.
All I am, all that I'll ever be, is just a clown for you when you're blue.
I feel like I am nothing more to you than someone who entertains you when you are sad.
Blue as the nights I'd wish we'd spent together what a lovely time together blue
I imagine spending peaceful and happy nights with you and it brings me joy.
As that glimpse of light when I almost think you might, just look at me
Sometimes I feel like you might just give me a chance and look at me differently, but it's just a fleeting hope.
Writer(s): Cecile Mclorin Salvant
Contributed by Jeremiah B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lowtech5380
Beautiful, elegant, smooth, heart felt, sensual,....in other words...a CLASSIC. And as you know...the classics NEVER get old.
@Mayflower357
+Low Tech Right on! That was so well stated, I don't think that I could possibly agree more. :)
@lowtech5380
+May Okiwe I just got hip to this artist while listening to an interview she did with Terry Gross on NPR radio. Just an awesome, smooth voice. Classic jazz is my fav!
@Mayflower357
Low Tech Hi! If you are enjoying Cecile's sophomore album, then you have to listen to her freshman album, "Womanchild". It's just as spectacular, I promise you! :) I am a huge fan of classic blues and jazz vocalists myself, so I am not surprised that we both love Cecile. ;-)
@sandysunrise9618
+Low Tech Absolutely perfect description of her flawless voice ... what an amazing talent she is!! A forever fan!!
@lowtech5380
+May Okiwe Hello May! I will have to check out that album. I bet it is very good. Her voice is classic. Thank you for the advice, and I will let you know what I think!
@ez88uc
Cécile McLorin Salvant is EVERYTHING!!! That voice...
@banji4to
stunning its like a blend of ella, billie and sarah
@Kkid54
Such a wonderful musician! We listened to her at our Jazz group today and we were all astounded by her vocal profundity!
@moanman1776
She the truth. Period. Master Class is over.
One.