Pianist/ Comedian, Emile Pandolfi
Steinway Art… Read Full Bio ↴Emile Pandolfi
Pianist/ Comedian, Emile Pandolfi
Steinway Artist Emile Pandolfi is a highly regarded performer known for his mesmerizing live shows and sophistication as an artist. Born in New York but raised in Greenville, SC, Pandolfi is a classically trained pianist, an instrument he took up at the age of five. He earned a degree in piano performance, but turned to popular music afterward in search of more humor and flexibility. Such exploration led Pandolfi to perform in England and Australia before landing base in Los Angeles, where he would arrange compositions for dancing, acting, and opera coaches, cruise ships, and clubs. Most notably, his impeccability led him to be one of four pianists to record the anthem "Rhapsody In Blue" to be played at the opening ceremonies for the 1984 Olympics, not to mention one of 84 pianists to perform live at the event. This experience also led him elsewhere, mostly along the comedy route, playing improv shows with Bobcat Goldthwait, Jay Leno, Robin Williams, David Letterman, Jerry Seinfeld, and many more.
Pandolfi moved his family back to his hometown of Greenville in the mid-'80s and became a resident pianist at a local club until 1993. During this time, he also recorded his debut album entitled By Request, which was picked up by a national distributor and released in 1991. Sales of By Request have surpassed gold status. His work is in such high demand that his various material of Broadway show tunes, standards, and film scores have lead Pandolfi to sell nearly three million albums worldwide. His album roster also includes the critically acclaimed Please Welcome... (1993), Nights on Broadway (1994), and Evening Romance (2000).
Aside from his musical passions, Pandolfi contributed his talents to a fundraiser with the United Way in 1994, a benefit concert showcasing his musical and comical talents while raising thousands of dollars for various charities.
~ MacKenzie Wilson, All Music Guide
Classically trained from the age of five, Emile has applied his considerable technical skills to the creation of beautiful, classically influenced piano solo arrangements.
The live performance is more than a musical concert, however. Drawing on his years at LA’s Comedy Store and his very personable, friendly sense of humor, Emile introduces, or “sets up” each medley or piece. In the classical portion of the show, he uses humor and sometimes, costume to bring even greater enjoyment and understanding of the pieces. The result is that audience members quickly feel at ease and experience two hours of exceptional entertainment in a variety of genres.
Once Upon a December
Emile Pandolfi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Painted wing
Things I almost remember
And a song
Someone sing
Once upon a December
Someone holds me safe and warm
Figures dancing gracefully across my memories
Ah
Someone holds me safe and warm
Horses prance through a silver storm
Figures dancing gracefully across my memories
Far away
Long ago
Glowing as an ember
Things my heart
Used to know
Things it yearns to remember
And a song someone sings
Once upon a December
The lyrics to Emile Pandolfi's "Once Upon a December" paint a rich picture of a person reminiscing about their past. The mentions of "dancing bears," "painted wings," and "figures dancing gracefully" evoke a sense of whimsy and wonder. These images are then contrasted with the more grounded and comforting mention of someone holding the singer "safe and warm."
The second verse then delves deeper into the past, with the singer reflecting on distant memories that still hold a powerful emotional sway. The use of the phrase "glowing as an ember" suggests both the warmth and the fragility of these recollections. And again, there is the mention of a song being sung - a reminder that music can be a powerful trigger for memories.
Overall, "Once Upon a December" seems to be about the power of memory, and the way that even the most distant or fleeting recollections can hold a profound emotional resonance. The juxtaposition of childlike whimsy and more mature, bittersweet nostalgia creates a poignant and deeply moving tone.
Line by Line Meaning
Dancing bears
Reminiscing about a performance with bears dancing
Painted wing
Recalling a painted wing that has lost its lustrous appearance
Things I almost remember
Memories that are almost within reach but not quite
And a song
A song that accompanies the memories
Someone sing
Someone performing the song
Once upon a December
The time frame for these memories is December
Someone holds me safe and warm
Feeling a sense of security and comfort from someone's embrace
Horses prances through a silver storm
A picturesque scene with horses braving a storm
Figures dancing gracefully across my memories
Dancing figures that have made a striking impression in memory
Far away
A time in the distant past
Long ago
An event that occurred some time ago
Glowing as an ember
The memory still burns as bright as an ember
Things my heart
The memories that stir the heart's emotions
Used to know
Things that are no longer known or present
Things it yearns to remember
A strong desire to recall these forgotten memories
And a song someone sings
The reprise of a song that brings back these memories
Once upon a December
Once again, the memories are tied to the month of December
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gingi Vitis
Dancing bears, painted wings
Things I almost remember
And a song someone sings
Once upon a December
Someone holds me safe and warm
Horses prance through a silver storm
Figures dancing gracefully
Across my memory
Someone holds me safe and warm
Horses prance through a silver storm
Figures dancing gracefully
Across my memory
Far away, long ago
Glowing dim as an ember
Things my heart used to know
Things it yearns to remember
And a song someone sings
Once upon a December
Steve Mendel
/Epic Lyrics/
Mishas (bears) pointe
Murals' divine
Of all that may regain memory
From close one's sweetful tune
Such the tale on winter night
This embrace that I had forgot
Carriage of God cross the white typhoon
Statues seemed to make alive again as if those days again
This embrace that I had forgot
Carriage of God cross the white typhoon
Statues seemed to make alive again as if those days again
In distant,
At a time,
Burning sparks like the gemstone
Of this mind
Tried to grasp
To suchs that lost and forgotten
From close one's sweetful tune
Such the tale on winter night
Farzin Sabbagh
It's been years that I listen to this piece it is fantastic and really meaningful with a magnitude that my english ability is incapable of explaining. Thank you Emile.
Emile Pandolfi
And thank YOU for really listening! You express yourself beautifully in English!
Emile Pandolfi
How very kind of you. Thank you.
95_jimin_street 234
this song means so much to me, one of my absolute favorites growing up, and until now. This performance expressed the emotions of this song perfectly, I’m inlove.
Emile Pandolfi
Yay! for us!
Emile Pandolfi
Thank you. So glad you like this arrangement.
Muns The Fool
I don't personally care much for Christmas or its songs, nor have I ever seen Anastasia, but Pandolfi's version of this piece must be my favorite piece of music that's ever been performed. While "less can be more", this arrangement has always shown me that out of an absolutely masterful performance, where there is "so much" to be heard, so much emotion and detail can still be heard and felt through the breathing of the tempo and certain notes accentuating themselves out of the massive waves of tonality... An infinitely complicated symphony of so many sounds, all channeled through one man, his truly masterful skill and his piano. To me, Pandolfi represents a level of musicianship that is simply awe-inspiring and unforgettable, and there will always be something about its greatness that I simply cannot find words for.
I hope Mr. Pandolfi will have a superb Christmas. Thank you so much for moving me and lifting my spirits with this amazing performance, yet again. :)
Emile Pandolfi
Wow! You are a poet! and a genuine lover of art - I am sure, in ALL its forms. I am honored to be a part of your listening environment. Thank you for the elegantly expressed description of the music.
BrettWoodPiano
Once upon a December is not a Christmas song! And I highly recommend seeing a performance of the theater version of Anastasia. Or just listening to it. It is incredible
Emile Pandolfi
You are a true artist yourself, in the way that you write. So beautifully expressed! what you had to say. I enjoyed reading it ! I am so glad that the music resonated with you. Music makes friends. Hope your Christmas was a great one.