Dianne came from a very musical family. Her father, who died when she was two years old, was also a singer. Her mother, Vada Swanson, played trumpet. A cousin, George Duke is a well known piano and keyboard player and producer.
Dianne and her sister Sharon were raised by their grandmother in Denver, Colorado. As a child Dianne took piano lessons and sang at every opportunity. When she was 11 years old her interest in music was enhanced by an inspiring teacher who thought that music was the best way to bring students together. Dianne discovered a love of music and that she wanted to be a singer.
Her uncle, Charles Burell, a bass player with the Denver Symphony Orchestra, introduced her to the music of jazz singers, from Ella Fitzgerald to Billie Holiday. She was especially impressed by Sarah Vaughan.
1974
At the age of sixteen she was singing at the George Washington Highschool in Denver, in a highschool bigband. That same year the band played at a music festival (Convention of the National Association of Jazz Educators). Her Band won first place and it was there she met the trumpeter Clark Terry, who after discovering her became her mentor.
1975
A year later she began studying music at the University of Denver, before she moving in 1976 to Los Angeles. In L.A. her interest in Latin-American music grew, and she began experimenting with different kinds of vocal music and finally decided to pursue a career as a singer. She met Eduardo del Barrio, and she toured with his group "Caldera" and sang in Billy Child's jazz band "Night Flights". Later she tour with Sergio Mendes.
From 1983 until 1986 she toured with Harry Belafonte as a lead singer. This period saw her first experiences with world music. In 1987 she became the first vocalist to sign with Blue Note records. She moved back to Denver from Los Angeles in 1992. She sang at the closing ceremony of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.
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Grammy Awards
She has currently won 3 Grammy Awards for "Best Jazz Vocal Performance" for her albums
2001 In the Moment
2002 The Calling
2003 A Little Moonlight
2006 Good Night, And Good Luck (Soundtrack)
She is the only singer to have won this Grammy in three consecutive years.
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Discography
1977 - Welcome to My Love
1987 - Better Days
1988 - I Remember
1990 - Never Too Far
1991 - Dianne Reeves (same as Better Days)
1993 - Art & Survival
1994 - Quiet After the Storm
1996 - The Grand Encounter
1996 - Palo Alto Sessions
1997 - That Day
1997 - New Morning (live)
1999 - Bridges... produced by George Duke.
2000 - In The Moment (live)
2001 - The Calling: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan
2002 - Best of Dianne Reeves
2003 - A Little Moonlight
2004 - Christmas Time is Here
2005 - Good Night, And Good Luck (Soundtrack)
Like A Lover
Dianne Reeves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Slowly rises and kisses you awake
Your smile is soft and drowsy
As you let it play upon your face
Oh how I dream I might be like the morning sun to you
How I envy a cup that knows your lips
Let it be me, my love
Let it be me, let me be the one
Put an end to these lonely days and nights
Without you
Like a lover the river wind
Slides and ripples
Its fingers through your hair
Upon your cheek it lingers
Never having known a sweeter place
Oh how I dream I might be like the river wind to you
Like a lover the velvet moon
Shares your pillow and watches while you sleep
Its light arrives on tiptoe
Gently taking you in its embrace
Oh how I dream I might be like the velvet moon
How I dream I might be like the morning sun
How I dream I might be like the river wind the river wind
How I dream how I dream I dream
I might be with you
How I envy a cup that knows your lips
Or a table that feels your fingertips
How I dream how I dream how I dream how I dream
I might be with you
The lyrics to Dianne Reeves's song "Like A Lover" describe the yearning and longing of a person who desires to be intimately close to someone they love. The metaphors of the morning sun, river wind, and velvet moon illustrate the different ways in which this person wants to be near their loved one. The morning sun, with its slow and gentle rise and warm kiss, represents the desire to start each day by waking up next to the person they love. The river wind, with its delicate and playful touch, symbolizes the longing to caress and touch their loved one's hair and cheek. Finally, the velvet moon, with its soft and calming light, represents the desire to be close to their loved one as they sleep and to hold them in their embrace.
The second verse continues with the same desires, with the lyrics describing how the person envies a cup that knows their loved one's lips and a table that feels their fingertips. These images emphasize the sense of intimacy and closeness the person craves with their loved one. The chorus repeats the same yearning and desire to be close to their loved one, punctuated with the repeated refrain of "how I dream."
Overall, "Like A Lover" is a romantic and poetic examination of the intense longing and desire for intimacy with a loved one. The lyrics use vivid and evocative metaphors to illustrate this yearning, resulting in a song that is both dreamy and deeply emotional.
Line by Line Meaning
Like a lover the morning sun
The singer compares themselves to the morning sun, which rises slowly and lovingly to wake up the beloved.
Slowly rises and kisses you awake
The sun rises gradually and tenderly, as if it is kissing the beloved awake.
Your smile is soft and drowsy
The beloved wakes up with a gentle, dreamy smile on their face.
As you let it play upon your face
The beloved enjoys the warmth and light of the morning sun on their face.
Oh how I dream I might be like the morning sun to you
The artist wishes they could be like the morning sun to the beloved, bringing them warmth and light every day.
How I envy a cup that knows your lips
The singer envies any object that has the privilege of touching the beloved's lips.
Let it be me, my love
The singer wants to be the object that touches the beloved's lips and be the one they love.
And a table that feels your fingertips
The artist also envies any object that the beloved touches, including a table.
Let it be me, let me be the one
The artist wants to be the object the beloved touches, and wants to be the one they love.
Put an end to these lonely days and nights
The artist wishes to end their lonely and unfortunate days by being with the beloved.
Like a lover the river wind
The singer compares themselves to the river wind, which is gentle and caressing.
Slides and ripples
The river wind moves fluidly and creates soft currents in the water.
Its fingers through your hair
The river wind touches the beloved's hair as it moves past them.
Upon your cheek it lingers
The river wind caresses the beloved's cheek, staying close to them for a moment.
Never having known a sweeter place
The river wind could not imagine a place more delightful to be than with the beloved.
Oh how I dream I might be like the river wind to you
The artist wishes they could be like the river wind to the beloved, gently touching them and being close to them.
Like a lover the velvet moon
The artist compares themselves to the velvet moon, which is soft and intimate.
Shares your pillow and watches while you sleep
The velvet moon is present while the beloved sleeps, silently watching over them.
Its light arrives on tiptoe
The light of the velvet moon is gentle and careful, as if trying not to disturb the beloved.
Gently taking you in its embrace
The light of the velvet moon surrounds the beloved, gently holding them in its gentle, velvety embrace.
How I dream I might be like the velvet moon
The artist wishes they could be like the velvet moon, watching over the beloved and holding them tenderly.
How I dream how I dream
The artist dreams of being with the beloved and experiencing these moments of intimacy.
I dream I might be with you
The singer longs to be with the beloved and share these tender moments.
I might be with you
The artist hopes to one day be with the beloved and share in their intimate experiences.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAN BERGMAN, DORIVAL TOSTES CAYMMI, MARILYN BERGMAN, NELSON MOTTA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind