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)
The Windmills of Your Mind
Dianne Reeves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a wheel within a wheel
Never ending or beginning
On an ever spinning reel
Like a snowball down a mountain
Or a carnival balloon
Like a carousel thats turning
Like a clock whose hands are sweeping
Past the minutes on its face
And the world is like an apple
Whirling silently in space
Like the circles that you find
In the windmills of your mind
Like a tunnel that you follow
To a tunnel of its own
Down a hollow to a cavern
Where the sun has never shone
Like a door that keeps revolving
In a half-forgotten dream
Or the ripples from a pebble
Someone tosses in a stream
Like a clock whose hands are sweeping
Past the minutes on its face
And the world is like an apple
Whirling silently in space
Like the circles that you find
In the windmills of your mind
Keys that jingle in your pocket
Words that jangle in your head
Why did summer go so quickly?
Was it something that I said?
Lovers walk along the shore
And leave their footprints in the sand
Was the sound of distant drumming
Just the fingers of your hand?
Pictures hanging in a hallway
Or a fragment of a song
Half remembered names and faces
But to whom do they belong?
When you knew that it was over
Were you suddenly aware
That the autumn leaves were turning
To the color of his hair?
Keys that jingle in your pocket
Words that jangle in your head
Why did summer go so quickly?
Was it something that I said?
Lovers walk along the shore
And leave their footprints in the sand
Was the sound of distant drumming
Just the fingers of your hand?
Pictures hanging in a hallway
Or a fragment of a song
Half remembered names and faces
But to whom do they belong?
When you knew that it was over
Were you suddenly aware
That the autumn leaves were turning
To the color of his hair?
Like a circle in a spiral
Like a wheel within a wheel
Never ending or beginning
On an ever-spinning reel
As the images unwind
Like the circles that you find
In the windmills of your mind
The lyrics of Dianne Reeves's song Windmills Of Your Mind are a poetic representation of the complexities of one's mind and the constantly turning and evolving nature of our thoughts and memories. The opening verse compares the mind to a spiral, a wheel within a wheel, constantly spinning and turning with no real beginning or end. This passage illustrates the way our thoughts connect and loop together, each one leading to the next in an endless cycle.
The second verse describes the mind as a tunnel or a door that keeps revolving, leading to half-forgotten dreams or memories. We are left wondering where these thoughts come from and where they lead. The third verse uses beautiful metaphors to describe our memories – keys jingling in our pocket, words jangling in our head, and images unwinding like circles in the windmills of our mind.
The chorus emphasizes the cyclical nature of our thoughts and memories with the repeated phrase "Like the circles that you find in the windmills of your mind." The final verse brings a poignant realization that our memories are inextricably tied to our emotions and experiences. The autumn leaves turning to the color of someone's hair illustrates the bittersweet nature of remembering lost love.
Overall, the Windmills Of Your Mind offers a window into the complexities of the human mind and the way that our thoughts, memories, and emotions intersect and shape our perception of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Round like the circle in a spiral
The endless and flowing nature of life, represented in the circular imagery of a spiral.
Like a wheel within a wheel
The complexity and interconnectedness of life, with multiple layers and moving parts.
Never ending or beginning
Life is a continuous cycle, without a clear starting or ending point.
On an ever spinning reel
Life is constantly in motion and always changing, like a film reel that keeps moving forward.
Like a snowball down a mountain
Life can build momentum and grow quickly, like a snowball rolling downhill.
Or a carnival balloon
Life can be a colorful and joyful experience, like a balloon at a carnival.
Like a carousel that's turning
Life can feel like a never-ending cycle, with highs and lows like a carousel ride.
Running rings around the moon
The vast and unknown nature of the universe, which can make life seem small and insignificant.
Like a clock whose hands are sweeping
The constant ticking of time, which moves steadily on without waiting for anyone or anything.
Past the minutes on its face
Time is always moving forward, no matter how much we may wish to slow it down or stop it altogether.
And the world is like an apple
The earth is a small and finite place in the vastness of the universe, yet contains within it the potential for life and growth like an apple seed.
Whirling silently in space
Despite its beauty and complexity, life can feel isolated and alone in the vastness of the universe.
Like the circles that you find
The repeating patterns and cycles that exist in life, which can be both comforting and repetitive.
In the windmills of your mind
The ever-turning ideas, thoughts, and memories that make up our innermost selves.
Like a tunnel that you follow
The path we follow in life can lead us down winding and unexpected paths, much like a tunnel.
To a tunnel of its own
Each life path is unique and has its own twists and turns, leading to many different outcomes.
Down a hollow to a cavern
Often, the journey of life can lead us through dark and unknown places, like a cavern.
Where the sun has never shone
In these unknown and often frightening places, we may feel isolated and alone, without any source of light or guidance.
Like a door that keeps revolving
The repetitive nature of life, where we may feel like we're moving in circles or going through the same routines repeatedly.
In a half-forgotten dream
Like a dream that fades upon waking, some parts of our lives may feel like distant and hazy memories.
Or the ripples from a pebble
Small events in our lives can create ripples that spread out in unexpected ways, much like a pebble creating ripples in a pond.
Someone tosses in a stream
These ripples can come from other people or be a product of our own actions, leading us down paths we never expected to take.
Keys that jingle in your pocket
The physical reminders of our lives, such as keys, can represent the tangible aspects of our memories and experiences.
Words that jangle in your head
Our thoughts and memories can be like a jangling noise in our heads, never ceasing or quieting down.
Why did summer go so quickly?
The fleeting nature of time, and the way seasons and experiences can seem to fly by in a blur.
Was it something that I said?
The introspection and self-doubt that can come after the end of a relationship or an important experience.
Lovers walk along the shore
The romance and beauty that can be found in life, even in the midst of uncertainty and chaos.
And leave their footprints in the sand
The way our actions and the actions of others can have a lasting impact on the world.
Was the sound of distant drumming
The echoing sounds of life, which can be both ominous and exciting.
Just the fingers of your hand?
The subjective nature of interpretation, and how we can't always trust our own perceptions of the world.
Pictures hanging in a hallway
Physical reminders of the past, like photos, can be like windows into our memories and experiences.
Or a fragment of a song
Even small and seemingly insignificant things can hold a great deal of emotional weight, like a piece of music or a single lyric.
Half remembered names and faces
Our memories can be imperfect and fleeting, with important details fading over time.
But to whom do they belong?
The question of who we are and who our past belongs to, and how these things shape our sense of self.
When you knew that it was over
The moment when something important in our lives ends, whether it be a relationship, a job, or a personal situation.
Were you suddenly aware
The way endings can make us hyper-aware of our surroundings and our own emotions.
That the autumn leaves were turning
The cyclical nature of life, where one ending inevitably leads to a new beginning.
To the color of his hair?
The way small details can suddenly take on a great deal of emotional significance in the aftermath of a personal loss or ending.
As the images unwind
The way our memories and experiences seem to unravel like strands of film, with new details and connections emerging over time.
Like the circles that you find
Despite their unpredictable nature, many aspects of life follow repeating patterns and cycles, which can be both fascinating and comforting.
In the windmills of your mind
Our thoughts and memories are fluid and ever-changing, like the blades of a windmill.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Marilyn Bergman, Michel Legrand, Alan Bergman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind