Dianne Reeves, born 23 October 1956 in Detroit, Michigan, is an American ja… Read Full Bio ↴Dianne Reeves, born 23 October 1956 in Detroit, Michigan, is an American jazz singer, known more for her live performances than her albums. Alongside her peers Dee Dee Bridgewater, Diana Krall and Cassandra Wilson she is considered one of the most important female jazz singers of our time. She lives in Denver (Colorado/USA)

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)

Pretend
Dianne Reeves Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Pretend you're happy when you're blue
It isn't very hard to do
And you'll find happiness without an end
Whenever you pretend

Remember anyone can dream
And nothing's bad as it may seem
The little things you haven't got

Could be a lot if you pretend

You'll find a love you can share
One you can call all your own
Just close your eyes, she'll be there
You'll never be alone

And if you sing this melody
You'll be pretending just like me
The world is mine, it can be yours, my friend
So why don't you pretend?

And if you sing this melody
You'll be pretending just like me

The world is mine, it can be yours, my friend
So why don't you pretend?

Overall Meaning

Dianne Reeves's song "Pretend" is a song about the power of imagination and the transformative effects of positive thinking. The lyrics tell listeners to pretend to be happy when they are feeling sad, and to focus on the good things they do have instead of dwelling on what they lack. The song encourages listeners to dream big, to believe that anything is possible, and to cultivate a positive outlook on life. The suggestion that singing the melody will make the listener "pretend just like" Dianne Reeves reinforces the idea that we have the ability to shape our own reality through our thoughts and attitudes.

The lyrics of "Pretend" are an example of the way that music can inspire and uplift us. The song acknowledges the difficulties and challenges of life, but it also suggests that we have the power to overcome them. The upbeat melody and optimistic lyrics create a sense of hope and possibility, and the repetition of the chorus encourages listeners to sing along and internalize the message of the song.

Line by Line Meaning

Pretend you're happy when you're blue
Act like you are happy even if you are sad

It isn't very hard to do
It is not difficult to pretend

And you'll find happiness without an end
You will feel happy forever

Whenever you pretend
When you are pretending

Remember anyone can dream
Everyone has the ability to dream

And nothing's bad as it may seem
Things may not be as bad as they appear

The little things you haven't got
The small things that you do not possess

Could be a lot if you pretend
Can mean a lot if you pretend

You'll find a love you can share
You will discover someone to love and share your life with

One you can call all your own
Someone who will belong solely to you

Just close your eyes, she'll be there
If you imagine it, you will feel their presence