Barlow's first album, Sings, was released in 1998. She has received seven nominations for Canada's Juno Awards with her album Seule ce soir winning for best Jazz Vocal Recording in 2013 and Clear Day winning the same award in 2016. Seule ce soir also won Album of the Year – Jazz Interpretation at the 2013 ADISQ Awards. Barlow was also nominated for the Jack Richardson Producer of the Year Award at the 2016 Juno Awards.
Barlow was named Female Vocalist of the Year at the 2008 National Jazz Awards. She has named as influences Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, and Stevie Wonder.
Barlow has voiced various characters for animated television series, including Sailor Mars and Sailor Venus in Sailor Moon, Courtney, Laurie and Ellody in the Total Drama series, Chrissy in 6teen, Mrs. Ridgemount in Stoked, Bunny in Almost Naked Animals and Theresa Falcone (MacDougall) in Fugget About It.
Born in Toronto to parents who were professional musicians, Barlow grew up in recording studios and by age seven had begun a career singing television and radio commercials.
She was encouraged by her parents to sing and study several instruments including piano, cello, clarinet, and violin. Barlow studied voice at the Etobicoke School of Arts and music theory and arranging at Humber College.
Barlow's grandfathers were ventriloquist Cy Leonard and actor Bob Homme (who played The Friendly Giant). Her father is award-winning jazz drummer Brian Barlow (aka Brian Leonard). Her mother, Judy Tate, is a composer, arranger and singer. Her uncle was Richard Homme, a Canadian jazz bassist who died 6 May 2011.
I'll Be Home for Christmas
Emilie-Claire Barlow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can plan on me
Please have snow
And mistletoe
And presents by the tree
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the lovelight gleams
If only in my dreams
In my dreams
I′m dreaming tonight
Of a place I love
Even more than I usually do
And although I know
It's a long road back
I promise you
I promise you-ooh
I promise you
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the lovelight gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
In my dreams
In my dreams
In my dreams
The song I'll Be Home for Christmas by Emilie-Claire Barlow is a classic holiday tune that primarily talks about the desire to be home surrounded by loved ones during Christmas time. The opening lyrics, "I'll be home for Christmas, you can plan on me," suggest a promise being made to those who are away from their families and loved ones during Christmas. The desire for snow, mistletoe, and presents by the tree adds to the imagery of a picture-perfect Christmas with loved ones.
The sentiment continues as the singer speaks about dreaming of a place she loves even more than she usually does. This place is most likely her home where she wishes to spend her time during the holidays. However, despite the distance and long road back home, she promises to return to her loved ones even if it's only in her dreams. The song ends with the phrase "I'll be home for Christmas if only in my dreams" suggesting that although the separation from loved ones during the holidays can be difficult, the desire to be reunited with family is always present.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll be home for Christmas
I will return to my home to celebrate Christmas
You can plan on me
You can rely on me to come home for Christmas
Please have snow
I request you to have snow around for the perfect Christmas vibe
And mistletoe
I request you to have mistletoe roamed around the house to add more joy to our celebration
And presents by the tree
I expect you to have gifts wrapped and placed under the Christmas tree
Christmas Eve will find me
On the eve of Christmas, I will be found at someplace
Where the lovelight gleams
Where the warmth of love has been spread all over
I'll be home for Christmas
I will return to my loving home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
Even if I am not able to come home physically, I will still celebrate Christmas in my dreams
I'm dreaming tonight
Tonight I am dreaming of a happy place
Of a place I love
A place that I am fond of
Even more than I usually do
I love this place more than I usually do, today
And although I know
Even though I understand the fact
It's a long road back
It is a lengthy journey to come back home
I promise you
I assure you
I promise you-ooh
I give you my word
Christmas Eve will find me
On the eve of Christmas, I will be found at some place
Where the lovelight gleams
Where warmth of love has been spread all over
I'll be home for Christmas
I will definitely come home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
Even if I am not able to come home physically, I will still celebrate Christmas in my dreams
In my dreams
Even if I am not able to come home physically, I will still celebrate Christmas in my dreams
In my dreams
Even if I am not able to come home physically, I will still celebrate Christmas in my dreams
In my dreams
Even if I am not able to come home physically, I will still celebrate Christmas in my dreams
Writer(s): Walter Kent, Buck Ram, Kim Gannon
Contributed by Audrey K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.