Born in Windsor, Ontario and raised in France and Kelowna, British Columbia, Fellows lived in Toronto, Vancouver, Guelph and Montreal before settling in Winnipeg in 1992.
In 1993, she formed her first group, Helen, with Barry Mirochnick, Paul James, and Chang. Helen broke up in 1995, and in 1996 Fellows teamed up with singer-songwriter Keri McTighe, Barry Mirochnick, Keith McLeod and Peggy Messing, to form Special Fancy. The group released one album, King Me.
In 2000 Fellows released her debut solo album, 2 Little Birds. This was followed by The Last One Standing in 2002, Paper Anniversary in 2005, and Nevertheless in 2007. These albums feature Leanne Zacharias (cello), Jason Tait (drums, vibraphone), Barry Mirochnick (drums, vocals), John K. Samson (vocals, guitar), Keith McLeod (mandolin), Monica Guenter (viola), Greg Smith (bass), Ed Reifel (percussion), and Cristina Zacharias (violin).
Fellows has performed with the Rheostatics, Veda Hille, The Mountain Goats, Kim Barlow, Old Man Luedecke, and The Weakerthans. She is married to The Weakerthans' lead singer, John K. Samson.
In 2006, Fellows and Samson recorded The Old House, an album intended only as a Christmas gift for friends and family, although they released two songs, "Taps Reversed" and "Good Salvage", for airplay on CBC Radio 3 in early 2007. Fellows and Samson also performed live on the network on March 17, 2007, to mark the final night of the network's terrestrial simulcast on CBC Radio 2.
Fellows also composes music for dance, film and television. She scored part of Clive Holden's Trains of Winnipeg film series, as well as collaborating with Tait and Samson on the associated album. In 2007, she wrote several songs for a dance piece by choreographer Susie Burpee; they were later included on her fourth solo album, Nevertheless, which was released on November 6, 2007.
Fellows has also toured as a member of The Pan-Canadian New Folk Ensemble with Kim Barlow and Old Man Luedecke.
Recently, she was artist-in-residence at Le Musee de Saint-Boniface Museum in Winnipeg (2009), and she has been writing songs for a new solo album, scheduled for release on Six Shooter Records in fall of 2010.
Sisters
Christine Fellows Lyrics
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do. Maggie is a hard nut to crack, slaps her cards down, hollers, “Wray, you shit!” Feeds the little kittens in the
barn at dawn, as you do. Jean is the youngest one, lives in a tall brick house, looks like my mom. Dogs in the
driveway wagging, “Bye! Bye! Bye!” As they do. Down to the picnic by the lake, checkered tablecloths and
chocolate cake. All these people who laugh like you. Like you do.
The lyrics to Christine Fellows's song "Sisters" depict a group of vibrant and distinct individuals who are connected by their shared experiences and familiarities. The song introduces us to Teddy, who is casually playing solitaire with curlers in her hair, and asks if she really wears lipstick to the grocery store. Teddy's answer is affirmative, highlighting her unapologetic embrace of personal style and individuality.
Maggie, on the other hand, is portrayed as a tough and assertive person, as she slaps her cards down and exclaims profanities. Nevertheless, she shows a tender side by caring for the kittens in the barn at dawn. This contrast reveals that even the most strong-willed individuals can have a softer and nurturing side.
Jean, the youngest sister, resides in a tall brick house and resembles the singer's mother. The imagery of wagging dogs in the driveway bidding farewell signifies a sense of warmth and familiarity. The lyrics then shift to a picnic by the lake, where laughter fills the air, and the people present share an infectious joy that mirrors the listener's own laughter.
Overall, "Sisters" celebrates the uniqueness and eccentricities of individual personalities while emphasizing the commonalities that bind them together. It underscores the importance of embracing and cherishing the diverse traits and experiences of those around us.
Line by Line Meaning
Teddy’s playing solitaire, yellow curlers in her hair.
Teddy is sitting alone, playing a game of solitaire, with yellow curlers in her hair.
Do you really wear lipstick to the grocery store? Yes, you do.
Is it true that you wear lipstick when you go to the grocery store? Yes, you do.
Maggie is a hard nut to crack, slaps her cards down, hollers, “Wray, you shit!”
Maggie is difficult to understand or get through to, she forcefully places her playing cards on the table and shouts, 'Wray, you shit!'
Feeds the little kittens in the barn at dawn, as you do.
Every morning, Maggie feeds the small kittens in the barn, just like you do.
Jean is the youngest one, lives in a tall brick house, looks like my mom.
Jean is the youngest sibling, she resides in a tall house made of bricks, and bears a resemblance to my mother.
Dogs in the driveway wagging, “Bye! Bye! Bye!” As they do.
The dogs in the driveway happily wag their tails and bid farewell by repetitively saying, 'Bye! Bye! Bye!' as they usually do.
Down to the picnic by the lake, checkered tablecloths and chocolate cake.
We go down to the picnic near the lake, where there are tablecloths with a checkered pattern and a tempting chocolate cake.
All these people who laugh like you. Like you do.
All of these individuals laugh in a similar manner to you, just like you always do.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Christine Fellows
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind