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.

The dance
Emile Pandolfi Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Looking back on the memory of
The dance we shared ?neath the stars above
For a moment all the world was right
How could I have known that you'd ever say goodbye

And now I'm glad I don't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance

I could have missed the pain
But I'd have had to miss the dance

Holding you I held everything
For a moment wasn't I a king
But if I'd only known the king would fall
Hey who's to say you know
I might have changed it all

And now I'm glad I don't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance
I could have missed the pain
But I'd have had to miss the dance

Yes my life is better left to chance

I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance

Overall Meaning

The Dance by Emile Pandolfi is a song about memories and how they are sometimes bittersweet. The singer is looking back on the memory of a dance that he shared with someone special, and how at that moment, everything felt perfect. However, after the dance, this person said goodbye, and the singer is left to wonder what might have been. Despite the pain that the singer feels now, he realizes that he wouldn't have missed the dance for anything, as it was a beautiful moment that he will always cherish.

The lyrics convey the idea that life is unpredictable, and sometimes we don't know what the future will bring. The singer suggests that it's better to embrace the uncertainty of life and enjoy the good moments while we can, rather than trying to control everything and missing out on the beauty of life. The metaphor of the dance symbolizes the fleeting nature of life and how we need to make the most of every moment.

Line by Line Meaning

Looking back on the memory of
Reflecting on the past experience of

The dance we shared ‘neath the stars above
The moment when we danced under the stars

For a moment all the world was right
Everything seemed perfect for that moment

How could I have known that you'd ever say goodbye
I never anticipated that you would leave me someday

And now I'm glad I don't know
I am happy that I don't know the future

The way it all would end the way it all would go
How the future would unfold is unpredictable

Our lives are better left to chance
Our future should be decided by fate

I could have missed the pain
I could have avoided the heartache

But I'd have had to miss the dance
But I would have never experienced that beautiful moment

Holding you I held everything
When I was with you, I had everything I wanted

For a moment wasn't I a king
For a moment, I felt like a powerful king