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)
Side By Side
Dianne Reeves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maybe we're ragged and funny
But you travel along singing a song
Side by side
Oh we don't know what's coming tomorrow
Maybe it's trouble and sorrow
But we'll travel the road sharing our load
Side by side
Through all kinds of weather
What if the sky should fall?
Just as long as we're together
It doesn't matter at all
When they've all had their quarrels and parted
We'll be the same as we started
Just traveling along singing our song
Side by side
(My sentiments exactly)
I know what you're saying yes I know what you're saying
We ain't
What if the sky should fall
Well it doesn't matter at all
(I know what you're saying)
When they've all had their quarrels and they've parted
Yeah but we are the same as we started
(I know that's right)
Traveling along singing our song
Oh we ain't got a barrel of money
And we may be ragged and funny
I know that's right but it makes no difference
Because we'll be traveling along always singing a song
Singing a song
Side by side
Sure feels good to have a friend
(Side by side)
Side by side
Through thick and thin (and thin again)
Ragged and funny
Without the money (without the money)
We still friends (friends till the end)
We still friends (side by side)
We'll be traveling (traveling along)
Spending all the money we ain't got
(well I know how that is)
We always do that kind of thing anyway
(I got credit card)
Oh traveling along
Oh singing a song
New York, Chicago
New Irelands
Los Angeles
Paris, France
London, England
Greece
I got Madrid I got Madrid
The song Side By Side by Dianne Reeves is a beautiful and poignant ballad that celebrates the power of friendship and the beauty of simple joys in life. The lyrics speak of the struggles of everyday life, the uncertainty of the future, and the challenges that one might face on the road ahead. However, in the midst of all this turmoil, the singer reminds us that we have our friends to lean on and travel along side by side no matter what life throws at us.
The opening lines of the song "Oh we ain't got a barrel of money, maybe we're ragged and funny" set the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer acknowledges the lack of material possessions or means of comfort that they might have, but insists that this doesn't matter as long as they have their friends to travel with, singing songs and sharing their burdens with. The verse "Through all kinds of weather, what if the sky should fall? Just as long as we're together, it doesn't matter at all" is particularly powerful, as it speaks directly to the enduring strength that comes from having a trusted companion during difficult times.
The final lines of the song, "Sure feels good to have a friend, Side by side, Through thick and thin (and thin again), Ragged and funny, Without the money (without the money), We still friends (friends till the end), We still friends (side by side)" are a testament to the enduring power of friendships, even when everything else in life might seem uncertain or unstable. The song is a beautiful ode to the simple joys of shared experiences and reminds us that we are never truly alone on this journey through life.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh we ain't got a barrel of money
Even though we are not rich
Maybe we're ragged and funny
We may not look picture perfect
But you travel along singing a song
You go by singing our song
Side by side
Together with you
Oh we don't know what's coming tomorrow
The future is uncertain
Maybe it's trouble and sorrow
It may bring us difficulties and sadness
But we'll travel the road sharing our load
We will carry the burden together
Side by side
Together with you
Through all kinds of weather
No matter the weather is
What if the sky should fall?
What if disaster strikes?
Just as long as we're together
As long as we are together
It doesn't matter at all
Nothing could be more important
When they've all had their quarrels and parted
Others may fight and separate
We'll be the same as we started
But we will remain the same
Just traveling along singing our song
Continuing to travel with our song
Side by side
Together with you
(My sentiments exactly)
(I totally agree)
I know what you're saying yes I know what you're saying
I understand your message
We ain't
We are not
What if the sky should fall
What if disaster strikes?
Well it doesn't matter at all
It is not important
(I know what you're saying)
(I understand what you mean)
When they've all had their quarrels and they've parted
Others may fight and separate
Yeah but we are the same as we started
But we have remained the same
(I know that's right)
(I agree)
Traveling along singing our song
Continuing to travel with our song
Oh we ain't got a barrel of money
Even though we are not rich
And we may be ragged and funny
We may not look picture perfect
I know that's right but it makes no difference
It does not matter
Because we'll be traveling along always singing a song
We will always travel singing our song
Singing a song
Singing our song
Side by side
Together with you
Sure feels good to have a friend
It is great to have a friend
(Side by side)
(Together with you)
Through thick and thin (and thin again)
Through good and bad times
Ragged and funny
Not looking picture perfect
Without the money (without the money)
Even though we are broke
We still friends (friends till the end)
We are still friends forever
We'll be traveling (traveling along)
We will still be traveling together
Spending all the money we ain't got
We will spend our non-existent money
(well I know how that is)
(I have experienced that situation)
We always do that kind of thing anyway
We always spend money we do not have
(I got credit card)
(I have a credit card)
Oh traveling along
Continuing to travel
Oh singing a song
Singing our song
New York, Chicago
Traveling through New York and Chicago
New Irelands
Visiting new places like Ireland
Los Angeles
Traveling to Los Angeles
Paris, France
Going to Paris, France
London, England
Traveling to London, England
Greece
Exploring Greece
I got Madrid I got Madrid
I am also going to Madrid, Spain
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harry Woods
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind