She is the only person to have received Grammy nominations in the jazz, popular and classical music awards.
Laine was born in a London suburb to a Jamaican father and English mother who sent her to singing and dancing lessons at an early age. She did not take up singing seriously until her mid-twenties, however. She auditioned successfully for a band led by musician John Dankworth, with which she performed until 1958, when she and Dankworth married.
She then began her career as a singer and actress. She played the lead in a new play at London's famous Royal Court Theatre, home of the new wave of playwrights of the 1950s: Harold Pinter and the like. This led to other stage performances such as the musical Valmouth in 1959, the play A Time to Laugh (with Robert Morley and Ruth Gordon) in 1962, and eventually to her show stopping Julie in the Wendy Toye production of Showboat at the Adelphi Theatre in London in 1971.
During this period she had two major recording successes. You'll Answer to Me reached the British Top 10 while Laine was 'prima donna' in the 1961 Edinburgh Festival production of Kurt Weill's opera/ballet The Seven Deadly Sins. In 1964 her Shakespeare and All that Jazz album with Dankworth received widespread critical acclaim, and to this day remains an important milestone in her identification with the more unusual aspects of a singer's repertoire.
1972 marked the start of Laine's international activities, with a successful first tour of Australia. Shortly afterwards, her career in the United States was launched with a concert at New York's Lincoln Center, followed in 1973 by the first of many Carnegie Hall appearances. Coast-to-coast tours of the U.S. and Canada soon followed, and with them a succession of record albums and television appearances. This led, after several nominations, to Cleo's first Grammy award, in recognition of the live recording of her 1983 Carnegie concert.
Laine colaborated with many great classical musicians including James Galway, Nigel Kennedy, Julian Lloyd Webber and John Williams.
Other important recordings during that time were duet albums with Ray Charles (Porgy and Bess) and Mel Tormé (see Nothing Without You), as well as Arnold Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire which won Laine a classical Grammy nomination.
Laine's relationship with the musical theatre, started in Britain, continued in the United States with starring performances in Sondheim's A Little Night Music and The Merry Widow (Michigan Opera). In 1985 she originated the role of Princess Puffer in the Broadway hit musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood, for which she received a Tony nomination, and in 1989 she received the Los Angeles critics' acclaim for her portrayal of the Witch in Sondheim's Into the Woods.
In the 2006 New Years Honours list, her husband John Dankworth was made a knight bachelor, becoming Sir John Dankworth. As his wife, she is entitled to be known as "Lady Dankworth," however, she uses her own professional name.
I've Got a Crush On You
Cleo Laine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got I've got a crush on you, sweetie pie
All the day and nighttime, hear me sigh
I never had the least notion
That I could fall with so much emotion
Could you coo
Could you care
The world will pardon my mush
Cause I've got a crush, my baby, on you
How glad a million laddies
From millionaires to caddies
Would be to capture me!
But you had such persistence,
You wore down my resistance:
I fell, and it was swell
You're my big and brave and handsome Romeo
How I won you, I shall never, never know
It's not that you're attractive
but, oh, my heart grew active
When you came into view.
I've got a crush on you, Sweetie pie.
All the day and night-time, hear me sigh
I never had the least notion
That I could fall with so much emotion
Could you coo?
Could you care
For a cunning cottage we could share?
The world will pardon my mush
'Cause I've got a crush, my baby, on you
In Cleo Laine's song "I've Got A Crush On You," the singer expresses how she has fallen deeply in love with someone, and cannot stop thinking about them. The lyrics describe how this person has captured the singer's heart, and how she experiences strong emotions around them. The phrase "sweetie pie" is used as a term of endearment for this person, emphasizing how much the singer cares for them.
The lyrics also include a romantic proposal of sorts, as the singer asks if this person would like to share a "cunning cottage" with her. This suggests that the singer is envisioning a future with this person, where they can live a simple and happy life together. Despite the potential criticism or ridicule from others for her mushiness, the singer declares that she does not care because she is so in love with this person.
Overall, "I've Got A Crush On You" is a sweet and charming expression of love, full of heartfelt emotions and intimate sentiments.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh, I've got a crush on someone
I am experiencing strong emotions of attraction towards someone.
I've got I've got a crush on you, sweetie pie
You are the specific person towards whom I have these strong feelings of attraction.
All the day and nighttime, hear me sigh
My thoughts are consumed with thoughts of you, both during the day and night, causing me to sigh from the intensity of my feelings.
I never had the least notion
I never expected to feel this way about someone.
That I could fall with so much emotion
I am surprised at the depth of my feelings towards you, as I did not expect to feel this strongly about anyone.
Could you coo
Can you express your affection towards me in a way that is both charming and captivating?
Could you care
Are you capable of showing me the level of affection that I desire?
For a cunning cottage we could share
Would you be interested in sharing a charming and cozy home with me?
The world will pardon my mush
Others will forgive me for expressing overly sentimental or romantic thoughts and feelings.
Cause I've got a crush, my baby, on you
My intense feelings of attraction are what is causing me to express myself in a sentimental way towards you.
How glad a million laddies
Many men would feel fortunate to have the opportunity to be with me.
From millionaires to caddies
Men of all financial statuses would be interested in pursuing a relationship with me.
Would be to capture me!
Many men would be eager to win my affection and attention, but you are the one who has succeeded.
But you had such persistence,
You demonstrated persistence and determination in pursuing me.
You wore down my resistance:
Your persistence was successful in breaking down the barriers that I initially had towards you.
I fell, and it was swell
I ultimately succumbed to your advances, and it has been a wonderful experience.
You're my big and brave and handsome Romeo
You are the object of my affection and admiration - someone who I see as a strong and attractive romantic partner.
How I won you, I shall never, never know
I am unsure how I was able to capture your heart and earn your affection.
It's not that you're attractive
While you are physically appealing, that is not the only reason I have fallen for you.
but, oh, my heart grew active
Rather, my feelings of attraction towards you are due to a deeper connection or chemistry I feel between us.
When you came into view.
My feelings of attraction towards you were triggered or strengthened when I first caught sight of you.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
matt rosengarten
Timeless elegance. Never goes out of style.
Tony Learner
Cleo does a lot of good things with 4 octaves ... she took her songs to new heights for sure ... her voice control is most impressive ... her delivery emotes the theatrical flair of a dramatic play ... her scatting floored me ... bravo to her and to the gifted musicians as well ... piano and sax take a special bow ... standing ovation! Thank you for posting.
Tanya Grealis
I just love her voice sooooo much... my father was a huge fan and I was lucky that he was... everything I hear sing I am taken back to such a great time in my life when my father was still with me... we would watch her TV specials when they came on... I often would put one of her many albums on when I was a child doing house work...rarely listened to rock on the radio... I grew up on Jazz ❤ thank you Dame Cleo 🙏 😘 ❤
Peter Paramus
My wife and I had the honour and great pleasure of meeting Cleo and John twice, back in the eighties. A hugely talented, unpretentious and warm couple. R.I.P., John. Mes hommages, Lady Cleo!
Irene E
finding this... I am speechless, I am happy, I am completely overwhelmed and in tears... My great vocal Idol of all times, growing up hearing her perform and collecting as many albums official and non official as I possibly could; The musical partnership with her departed husband Sir John Dankworth was iconic; and I dread the day when we hear that she is no longer with us... Bless her!
wezz music
The amazing Cleo laine & The sumptuous Johnny Dankworth were my musical history and shall be forever more. Fabulous, incendery vocals and astounding musical delivery.
Carla Martin
Love this! Both great friends of my late father and with whom my father used to play with! Wonderful!
Christine Ramsey
Fantastic range, and delivery.
Doesn't get much better than perfection.
John Perks
It's not just the range she has - try standing on a cat;s tail and it would beat four octaves - it's her suberb feeling for what can be done in the music world. A truly great woman in all ways.
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