Reader was born in Glasgow, the daughter of a welder, and the eldest of seven children (her brother, Francis, is vocalist with the band The Trash Can Sinatras). She began playing the guitar at the age of ten, and started her musical career busking, first in Glasgow's Sauchiehall Street, then in the early 1980s around Europe (where she also worked with circus and performance artists).
Back in Scotland, she joined the punk band Gang of Four as a backing singer which led to her first US tour. After leaving the band she started working as a session vocalist in London, singing with such acts as Eurythmics, Alison Moyet and Language.
In 1984, Reader sang for a brief time with disco group Outbar Squeek. Around the same time she teamed up with Mark E. Nevin, a guitarist and songwriter, to record a few of his songs. They subsequently formed Fairground Attraction, together with Simon Edwards and Roy Dodds. In 1988 the band released their first single, Perfect, which became a UK number one, winning best single at the 1989 Brit Awards. Their first album, The First of a Million Kisses, was also a success, reaching number two in the UK album chart, and winning best album at the 1989 Brit Awards.
This success was short-lived, however. In November, 1989, after a break, during which Reader had her first child, Charlie with her French-Algerian partner Milou, Mark Nevin abandoned a recording session for the second album, which would eventually lead to the splitting of the band. A makeshift second album, a collection of B-sides and live tracks, Ay Fond Kiss was rushed out the following year.
Reader returned to Scotland, but before she embarked on her solo career she took a temporary detour into acting. She played Jolene Jowett, a singer and accordionist, in John Byrne's Your Cheatin' Heart, a comedy-drama series for BBC television, set in the country music scene in Scotland.
Returning to London, Reader worked on new material with a backing band calling itself "The Patron Saints of Imperfection" (made up of Roy Dodds, Neill and Calum MacColl, and Phil Steriopoulos). This became her first solo album, recorded for RCA: 1992's Mirmama. It was followed by Eddi Reader (1994), which won her the "Best female singer" Brit Award that year, Candyfloss and Medicine (1996), Angels & Electricity (1998), Simple Soul (2001) and Driftwood (2002) - a "homegrown" release of songs recorded during the Simple Soul sessions.
In 2003, she recorded her album of material by Robert Burns with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra leading to excellent reviews and an international resurgence in interest in Scotland's Bard.
The Song "Bell Book And Candle" was included in the final soundtrack of the TV show by WB "Charmed", The name of the disc is "Charmed: The Final Chapter".
In the 2006 New Years Honours List, Reader was awarded the MBE for services to music.
Her eighth studio album Peacetime was released in the UK on 29 January 2007 on the Rough Trade label. Critically praised and produced by fellow Scottish folk musician John McCusker the album features a few Burns songs alongside brand new material with longtime collaborator Boo Hewerdine and Trashcan Sinatras' John Douglas. Reader promoted the album with a 15 date UK tour in February.
Daphne
Eddi Reader Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It is so extraordinarily full of magic
And, and in tough times of my life
I can listen to music and it makes such a difference.
Come play a while,
Come dance and sing,
Come fall and raise,
For all we are is beautiful.
You and me are the only ones.
Come play a while,
Come dance and sing,
Come fall and raise,
Become kings and queens,
For all we are is beautiful.
You and me are the only ones.
The opening lines of "Music is to me proof of the existence of god" in Eddi Reader, Mahotella Queens, Revetti Sakalar's song 'Daphne' express the idea that music possesses a transcendental quality that has the power to affect people in a way that distinguishes it from everyday life. The song suggests that music can be a source of solace or inspiration in difficult times. The lyrics stress the fact that the beauty of music can bring people together regardless of individual differences, and that this unity is something special that deserves to be celebrated.
"Come play a while, come dance and sing," the song asserts, suggesting that the sharing of music and experiences, and the creation of a community, are among the most potent experiences in life. The song also touches on the universal desire to be connected to something greater than oneself, represented in the lyrics "Become kings and queens, for all we are is beautiful. You and me are the only ones." Essentially, the song invites listeners to join in a celebration of music, dance, and the beauty of creation, highlighting the importance of living in the moment and enjoying the present.
Line by Line Meaning
Music is to me proof of the existence of god,
The beauty and magic of music feels spiritual and is evidence of a higher power.
It is so extraordinarily full of magic
Music is incredibly powerful and transformative.
And, and in tough times of my life
During difficult moments, music provides solace and support.
I can listen to music and it makes such a difference.
Music has the ability to positively impact mood and perspective.
Come play a while,
Let's enjoy each other's company and have some fun.
Come dance and sing,
Let's express ourselves through movement and vocalization.
Come fall and raise,
Let's experience the highs and lows of life together.
Become kings and queens,
We can feel important and powerful together.
For all we are is beautiful.
We are all inherently worthy and valuable.
You and me are the only ones.
We have a special bond that sets us apart from everyone else.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, REGENT MUSIC CORPORATION, BMG Rights Management
Written by: JAIME CATTO, DUNCAN PHILIP BRIDGEMAN, EDDI READER, HILDA TLOUBATLA, MILDRED MANGXOLA, NOBESETHU MBADU
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alicelascaux7222
A song not easily forgotten. Fabulous, ethereal, magical
And Kurt Vonnegut so fitting to live on in memory ... a true old soul and empathic friend
RIP
@torisfour1566
Divine especially that awesome voice at the near end....love this from 2003 that i lost a friend of mine....dedicated to my bro...
@a_forest_walker
This is one of the greatest songs ever.
@riahynanevamynd7698
Agree !