Paige's first professional appearance was in the UK tour of the Anthony Newley/Leslie Bricusse musical The Roar of the Greasepaint—the Smell of the Crowd. She made her West End debut in Hair, and went on to featured roles in Jesus Christ Superstar, Nuts, Grease, and Billy (a musical adaptation of the film Billy Liar.)
In 1978, Hal Prince offered the still relatively unknown Paige the title role in Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita after Julie Covington, who played the role on the album turned down the part. This proved to be the defining moment in her evolution to the self proclaimed title "First Lady of British Musical Theatre".
Paige has portrayed some of Lloyd Webber's most notable female characters, originating the role of Grizabella in Cats (a role she reprised for a video release). She took on the role late in rehearsal when the actress Judi Dench had to pull out due to a torn Achilles tendon. Her performance of the song Memory from that show is her signature piece.
In 1994, Paige took over the role of Norma Desmond in Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard when Betty Buckley was ill, before stepping into the part full time the following year. She transferred to the American production to make her Broadway debut in a performance that Lloyd Webber described as "musically terrific" in 1996, staying with the show until it closed the following year. In 1998, Paige made a guest star appearance at the Andrew Lloyd Webber, fiftieth birthday celebration in the Royal Albert Hall. She sang Memory and Don't Cry for Me Argentina.
By no means has Paige limited her theatre credits to Lloyd Webber projects. In 1986, she appeared as Florence in Chess, (lyrics by Tim Rice, music by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, formerly of ABBA), a role she had originated for the 1984 RCA double-disc concept album. The show was notable at the time for its set, which featured a large, tilting stage that resembled an illuminated chess board, with a proscenium built from television screens. For this role Paige was nominated for Laurence Olivier Award in a category Outstandng Performance by an Actress in a Musical.
She followed this success with a hit revival of Cole Porter's Anything Goes in 1989 which she co-produced with Tim Rice, based on the contemporary US (Lincoln Center) production starring Patti LuPone. In 1993, she embarked on a troubled run as famed French chanteuse Édith Piaf in Pam Gems' musical play Piaf (1993). In 2000 she appeared in another acclaimed revival, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II's The King and I, in which the King was played by Jason Scott Lee.
In 2004, she sang the role of Mrs. Lovett in the New York City Opera production of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd. In June 2007 Paige will play the title role in the musical comedy The Drowsy Chaperone at London's Novello Theatre.
Paige also has had success in the UK singles charts. I Know Him So Well (from Chess), her duet with Barbara Dickson, held the #1 position in the British charts for four weeks, and still remains the biggest selling record by a female duo in the Guinness Book of Records. She also had a top ten hit with Memory from Cats. Additionally, she has had eight consecutive gold and four multi-platinum albums.
Paige released her first full studio album of new recordings in twelve years, "Essential Musicals" in October 2006. It includes popular songs from musicals identified by a poll on her radio show.
Paige has hosted her own BBC television specials as well as starred in several films for the network, and has also performed in a number of televised Royal Variety Shows. Arts commentator Melvyn Bragg hosted a special edition of The South Bank Show about Paige's career in 1996, entitled The Faces of Elaine Paige. She made special recordings of some of her most famous songs exclusively for the programme. It is frequently shown on PBS in the USA.
More recently, Paige has focused on television appearances, playing Dora Bunner in the 2004 ITV adaptation of Agatha Christie's A Murder is Announced, before performing a guest role as a post mistress in Where the Heart Is.
In September 2004, Paige began a weekly radio show, Elaine Paige on Sunday, on BBC Radio 2, featuring music from musical theatre and film scores. Occasional interviews are also featured, having included theatre impressario Cameron Mackintosh, actress Angela Lansbury, the Pet Shop Boys and Elton John. Paige's show has been described by Elisabeth Mahoney of The Guardian as a "rare wrong move" on the part of Radio 2.
Oxygen
Elaine Paige Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As if it is my first
I hold it there so deep inside me
Until I'm fit to burst
I speak each word
As if it is ypur name
I move my lips
I taste the moment
Your hand moves and so does mine
Our hearts beat
Our bodies keeping time
You are my oxygen
I breathe you in
I breathe you out
You are my oxygen
You are my love
You are what life's about
I take each breath
As if it is my last
You never know
What came so slowly
Can leave us oh so fast
I take each step
As if it is to you
I hear your voice
I feel you presence
In everything I do
My body sleeps
Your lips revive
Our eyes meet and
I know I am alive
You are my oxygen
I breathe you in
I breathe you out
You are my oxygen
You are my love
You are what life's about
I'm nobody without you
If you were not here
What would I do
What would I do
You are my oxygen
I breathe you in
I breathe you out
You are my oxygen
You are my love
You are what life's about
(Writer: Nik Kershaw)
The song "Oxygen" by Elaine Paige is a touching love ballad with a beautiful message of love and devotion. The lyrics describe the singer's deep love and need for her partner, who is evidently the most important thing in her life. She takes each breath as if it's her first or last and speaks every word as if it's her partner's name. The singer is so deeply in love that her partner has become her oxygen, the very essence of her being, and without her partner, she feels like nobody. The lyrics also showcase the idea that life is fragile and uncertain, so it's important to hold on to what you cherish most, and for the singer, that is her partner.
The singer's love and devotion are further illustrated by the visual imagery of breath, movement, and touch. The lyrics indicate that their bodies move in unison, their hearts beat together, and their lips meet. The song captures the beauty of true love, the way it can make you feel alive and the way it can enhance every moment, making life more valuable and meaningful.
In summary, "Oxygen" is a beautiful love song that describes the singer's profound love and devotion for her partner, and the life-altering impact that love can have. It is a touching reminder of the importance of cherishing the things we love most, and holding on to them tightly, as life is fragile and uncertain.
Line by Line Meaning
I take each breath
Every time I inhale, it feels like it's my first breath in the world
As if it is my first
Every breath I take brings the same level of freshness and amazement as if it's my first-ever breath
I hold it there so deep inside me
I savour each breath fully and retain it entirely inside me for a while
Until I'm fit to burst
I wait until my lungs are filled to the brim before breathing out
I speak each word
I attach great significance to every word I say
As if it is your name
I say each word as if I'm calling out your name with affection and attention
I move my lips
I enunciate each word carefully and with utmost clarity
I taste the moment
I enjoy every moment that we spend together fully and savor the flavor of the present
And still it sounds the same
Even though I relish each experience, nothing sounds as good as the sound of your name
Your hand moves and so does mine
Your touch is electrifying and guiding me through physical contact
Our hearts beat
Our hearts are in sync with each other
Our bodies keeping time
Our physical bodies are in perfect unison with our love and emotions
You are my oxygen
Without your presence and inextricable connection to me, I am nothing
I breathe you in
Your presence is my source of life and vitality
I breathe you out
I exhale my love and gratitude for you in every bit of me
You are my love
I love you with all I have and more
You are what life's about
Without you, life would be empty and meaningless
I take each breath
Every breath I take is precious and cherished
As if it is my last
I value every breath and second with you and never take it for granted
You never know
I could lose you at any moment and that thought scares me more than anything in the world
What came so slowly
Our love built gradually and over time
Can leave us oh so fast
But it's always possible for something so dear to just disappear in an instant
I take each step
Every move I make is towards you and for you
As if it is to you
I act as if everything I do is for you and motivated by love
I hear your voice
Your voice echoes in my head and guide every action of mine
I feel your presence
You are always with me in everything I do
In everything I do
You are the inspiration and motivation for every one of my actions
My body sleeps
My physical form may be at rest, but my heart and soul are always connected to you
Your lips revive
Your love brings me back to life and energizes me
Our eyes meet and
When we look into each other's eyes, nothing else matters
I know I am alive
Without you, there's simply no reason for me to exist
I'm nobody without you
My entire identity is built around my love and dependence on you
If you were not here
I can't even imagine a world where you're not by my side
What would I do
Without you, I'd be lost and completely directionless
Writer(s): Nik Kershaw, Richard Page
Contributed by Brody A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.