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.
La belle dame sans regret
Emilie-Claire Barlow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Et moi je suis
Mes pas sont gauches
Mes pieds tu fauches
Je crains les sots
Je cherche en vain les mots
Pour m′expliquer ta vie alors
Tu ments ma soeur
Je pense tu sais
Erreurs jamais
J'ecoute tu parles
Je ne comprends pas bien
La belle dame sans regrets
Je pleure tu ris
Je chante tu cries
Tu semes les graines
D′un mauvais chéne
Mon ble s'envole
Tu en a ras le bol
J'attends, toujours
Mes cris sont sourds
Tu ments, ma soeur
Tu brises mon coeur
Je pense, tu sais
Erreurs, jamais
J′ecoute, tu parles
Je ne comprends pas bien
La belle dame sans regrets
In the song "La belle dame sans regret" by Emilie-Claire Barlow, the lyrics tell a story of a relationship that is complicated and ultimately heartbreaking. The first verse talks about dancing, but the singer's steps are clumsy and their partner, referred to as "ma soeur" (my sister), trips them up. The singer is afraid of being seen as foolish and can't find the right words to express themselves to their partner. However, they soon realize that their partner is lying to them and breaking their heart. Despite this, the singer still listens to them and tries to understand them.
The second verse continues along this theme, with the singer feeling like they are laughing and crying at the wrong times, while their partner is sowing the seeds of a bad harvest. The singer's hopes are dashed and they feel like they are waiting for something that will never come. They realize that while they were hoping for truth and honesty from their partner, they were only met with lies and betrayal.
Overall, the lyrics of "La belle dame sans regret" tell a story of a confusing and difficult relationship, with one partner lying to the other and breaking their heart. The singer tries to understand their partner but ultimately realizes that they will never be able to trust them.
Line by Line Meaning
Dansons tu dis
You ask me to dance
Et moi je suis
And I follow you
Mes pas sont gauches
My steps are clumsy
Mes pieds tu fauches
You trip me up
Je crains les sots
I fear foolishness
Je cherche en vain les mots
I try in vain to find the words
Pour m′expliquer ta vie alors
To understand your life
Tu ments ma soeur
You lie, my sister
Tu brises mon coeur
You break my heart
Je pense tu sais
I think, you know
Erreurs jamais
Never wrong
J'ecoute tu parles
I listen, you talk
Je ne comprends pas bien
I don't quite understand
La belle dame sans regrets
The beautiful lady without regrets
Je pleure tu ris
I cry, you laugh
Je chante tu cries
I sing, you shout
Tu semes les graines
You sow the seeds
D′un mauvais chéne
Of a bad oak
Mon ble s'envole
My blue fades away
Tu en a ras le bol
You've had enough
J'attends, toujours
I wait, always
Mes cris sont sourds
My screams are muted
Tu ments, ma soeur
You lie, my sister
Tu brises mon coeur
You break my heart
Je pense, tu sais
I think, you know
Erreurs, jamais
Never wrong
J′ecoute, tu parles
I listen, you talk
Je ne comprends pas bien
I don't quite understand
La belle dame sans regrets
The beautiful lady without regrets
Writer(s): Dominic James Miller, Gordon Matthew Sumner
Contributed by Matthew T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.