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)
Suzanne
Dianne Reeves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can hear the boats go by
You can spend the night beside her
And you know that she's half crazy
But that's why you want to be there
And she feeds you tea and oranges
That come all the way from China
And just when you mean to tell her
Then she gets you on her wavelength
And she lets the river answer
That you've always been her lover
And you want to travel with her
And you want to travel blind
And you know that she will trust you
For you've touched her perfect body with your mind.
And Jesus was a sailor
When he walked upon the water
And he spent a long time watching
From his lonely wooden tower
And when he knew for certain
Only drowning men could see him
He said "All men will be sailors then
Until the sea shall free them"
But he himself was broken
Long before the sky would open
Forsaken, almost human
He sank beneath your wisdom like a stone
And you want to travel with him
And you want to travel blind
And you think maybe you'll trust him
For he's touched your perfect body with his mind.
Now Suzanne takes your hand
And she leads you to the river
She is wearing rags and feathers
From Salvation Army counters
And the sun pours down like honey
On our lady of the harbor
And she shows you where to look
Among the garbage and the flowers
There are heroes in the seaweed
There are children in the morning
They are leaning out for love
And they will lean that way forever
While Suzanne holds the mirror
And you want to travel with her
And you want to travel blind
And you know that you can trust her
For she's touched your perfect body with her mind.
The song "Suzanne" by Dianne Reeves is a cover of the original song by Leonard Cohen. The lyrics describe a woman named Suzanne who takes the singer down to her place near the river, where they can hear the boats go by. Suzanne is half-crazy, but the singer still wants to be with her. She feeds him tea and oranges that come from China. As the singer tries to tell her he has no love to give her, she gets him on her wavelength and lets the river answer that he's always been her lover. The second verse begins with a reference to Jesus as a sailor who spent a long time watching from his wooden tower. Once he knew that only drowning men could see him, he declared that all men would be sailors until the sea freed them. The verse ends with Jesus sinking beneath the singer's wisdom like a stone. In the final verse, Suzanne leads the singer to the river, wearing rags and feathers from Salvation Army counters. The sun pours down like honey on their lady of the harbor, and Suzanne shows the singer where to look among the garbage and flowers for heroes and children who are leaning out for love.
The first verse of "Suzanne" is full of sensory imagery that draws the listener into the world of the song. We can hear the boats go by and taste the tea and oranges from China. The second verse is a bit more abstract and philosophical, with a reference to Jesus as a sailor who declares that all men will be sailors until they are freed by the sea. The final verse brings the listener back to the sensory world, with the sun pouring down like honey and heroes and children leaning out for love.
Line by Line Meaning
Suzanne takes you down to her place near the river
Suzanne is inviting the listener to her quiet spot by the river.
You can hear the boats go by
There is calming ambiance by the river that makes it possible to hear boats going by.
You can spend the night beside her
The listener can enjoy the company of Suzanne for a night.
And you know that she's half crazy
Suzanne has some kind of eccentricity that makes her unique.
But that's why you want to be there
The listener wants to experience Suzanne's peculiar traits.
And she feeds you tea and oranges
Suzanne prepares tea and fruit that come from far away lands.
That come all the way from China
The tea and oranges are imported from China.
And just when you mean to tell her
The listener intends to break some news to her.
That you have no love to give her
The listener wants to confess that they cannot reciprocate Suzanne's attraction.
Then she gets you on her wavelength
Suzanne gets the listener to see things from her perspective.
And she lets the river answer
The sounds of the river provide the answer to the inner struggles the listener has.
That you've always been her lover
Suzanne believes that the listener has always been devoted to her.
And you want to travel with her
The listener is eager to accompany Suzanne on her journeys.
And you want to travel blind
The listener wants to follow Suzanne even if they don't know what lies ahead.
And you know that she will trust you
Suzanne has confidence in the listener's loyalty.
For you've touched her perfect body with your mind.
Suzanne feels connected to the listener beyond physical intimacy.
And Jesus was a sailor
This is a reference to the biblical account of Jesus walking on water and his brief time as a fisherman.
When he walked upon the water
This is a description of a miracle attributed to Jesus in the New Testament.
And he spent a long time watching
This is a figurative reference to Jesus observing humanity.
From his lonely wooden tower
This is a metaphor for Jesus' isolation among humanity.
And when he knew for certain
Jesus had a sense of clarity about humanity's destiny.
Only drowning men could see him
This is a metaphor that alludes to the idea of being saved from death by faith in Jesus.
He said "All men will be sailors then
Until the sea shall free them"
This is a metaphorical reference to the belief that faith in Jesus will free humanity from the struggles of life.
But he himself was broken
This is a poetic description of Jesus' human suffering, particularly in the hours leading up to his death.
Long before the sky would open
This suggests that Jesus foresaw his own suffering and death.
Forsaken, almost human
Jesus was abandoned by most of his followers and was made to endure the human suffering.
He sank beneath your wisdom like a stone
This describes how Jesus' teachings and actions are not always understood or appreciated by humanity.
And you want to travel with him
The listener wants to walk with Jesus and follow his teachings.
And you want to travel blind
The listener wants to apply blind faith in Jesus' teachings.
And you think maybe you'll trust him
The listener harbors some doubt about their ability to trust Jesus' teachings.
For he's touched your perfect body with his mind.
Jesus is believed to have the ability to affect a person's spirit in a transformative way.
Now Suzanne takes your hand
Suzanne re-enter the song reminding the listener of her presence.
And she leads you to the river
Suzanne leads the listener by the hand towards the river.
She is wearing rags and feathers
From Salvation Army counters
Suzanne's clothing seems to be a mishmash of clothes bought from the thrift store or given to her.
And the sun pours down like honey
On our lady of the harbor
The sun shines on the river and compliments Suzanne's beauty.
And she shows you where to look
Among the garbage and the flowers
Suzanne helps the listener to look past the dirt and appreciate the beauty around them.
There are heroes in the seaweed
There are children in the morning
They are leaning out for love
The poet makes this metaphorical statement indicating that positivity and the potential for growth can never under any circumstances be contained.
And they will lean that way forever
The poet suggests that this desire for growth and love is a forever and inherent aspect of humankind
While Suzanne holds the mirror
Suzanne appears to be the catalyst to have sparked current conversations in the poem.
And you want to travel with her
The listener remains convinced of the desire to travel with Suzanne.
And you want to travel blind
The listener still wants to be led by Suzanne, even if the destination is unknown.
And you know that you can trust her
The listener feels that they are able to rely on Suzanne.
For she's touched your perfect body with her mind.
The poet suggests that Suzanne and the listener share a spiritual-like bond, such as that shared between Jesus and the disciples.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Leonard Cohen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind