Emile Pandolfi

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 Dream
Emile Pandolfi Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Dancing bears
Painted wing
Things I almost remember
And a song
Someone sing
Once upon a December

Someone holds me safe and warm

Horses prances through a silver storm
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

Overall Meaning

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