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.
[edit]
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.
[edit]
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)
Softly as in a Morning Sunrise
Dianne Reeves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The light of love comes stealing
Into a newborn day
Flaming with all the glow of sunrise
A burning kiss is sealing
A vow that all betray
And take you high to heaven
Are the passions that kill love
And let it fall to hell
So ends the story
Softly as in a morning sunrise
The light that gave you glory
Will take it all away
Softly as in a morning sunrise
The light of love comes stealing
Into a newborn day
Flaming with all the glow of sunrise
A burning kiss is sealing
A vow that all betray
For the passions that thrill love
And take you high to heaven
Are the passions that kill love
And let it fall to hell
So ends the story
Softly as in a morning sunrise
The light that gave you glory
Will take it all away
Softly as it fades away
Softly as it fades away
Softly as it fades away
Softly as it fades away
The song "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise" by Dianne Reeves is a powerful and emotional ballad that speaks about the bittersweet cycle of love. The lyrics suggest that just as a morning sunrise brings a new day and with it, the light of love, it also holds within it the inevitability of that love fading away. The use of "softly" in the repeated refrain suggests a gentle and gradual decay, making it all the more poignant.
The song describes how the beauty and passion of love, like the fiery blaze of a sunrise, can be all-consuming and intense, leading to vows of dedication, but ultimately betrayal. The lyrics suggest that the very same overwhelming emotions that make love so exhilarating can end up being its downfall. The last line of the chorus, "so ends the story," could be interpreted as a commentary on the futility of the attempts to hold onto the fleeting nature of love.
In summary, the song's meaning is that the sun will always rise again, and with it will come the promise of love, but that love will inevitably fade away. The lyrics suggest that this cycle of love and heartbreak is an unavoidable part of the human experience and should be cherished, even though it may end in pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Softly as in a morning sunrise
The beginning of a new day, signified by the gentle and gradual appearance of sunlight.
The light of love comes stealing
Love has a way of creeping up on you, like sunlight gradually illuminating the world.
Into a newborn day
The arrival of love can feel like a fresh start, a new beginning.
Flaming with all the glow of sunrise
Passion burns bright, like the fiery colors of a sunrise.
A burning kiss is sealing
An intense and passionate physical expression of love that cements the relationship.
A vow that all betray
Despite the intensity of the moment, promises made in the heat of passion often don't last.
For the passions that thrill love
The intense emotions of love can be exciting and exhilarating.
And take you high to heaven
Loving someone can make you feel like you're on top of the world, like nothing can bring you down.
Are the passions that kill love
But those same intense emotions, if not managed properly, can drive a wedge between two people and destroy the relationship.
And let it fall to hell
The end result of giving in to these destructive passions can be the complete breakdown and dissolution of the relationship.
So ends the story
This is the ultimate fate of many relationships - they start out brightly but ultimately end in pain and disappointment.
The light that gave you glory
Love can make you feel invincible, like you have found the key to happiness and fulfillment.
Will take it all away
But just as quickly as love can bring you up, it can also bring you crashing back down to reality.
Softly as it fades away
Love can be a fleeting thing, disappearing just as gently as it arrived.
Softly as it fades away
There is nothing loud or dramatic about the end of a relationship. It can slip away quietly and almost imperceptibly.
Softly as it fades away
Love can be beautiful, but it can also be fragile and fleeting. It's important to cherish it while it lasts.
Softly as it fades away
This is the ultimate fate of many relationships, but it's important to remember that there is always the possibility of a new dawn, a new beginning.
Lyrics Β© Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN, II, OSCAR II HAMMERSTEIN, SIGMUND ROMBERG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind