Emilie-Claire Barlow (born 6 June 1976) is a Canadian singer, arranger, rec… Read Full Bio ↴Emilie-Claire Barlow (born 6 June 1976) is a Canadian singer, arranger, record producer, and voice actress. She has released several albums on her label, Empress Music Group, and has voiced characters for animated television series. She performs in English, French, and Portuguese.

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.

Les Yeux Ouverts
Emilie-Claire Barlow Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ce souvenir je te le rends.
Des souvenirs, tu sais j'en ai tellement.
Puisqu'on rva de jours errants.
Pas la peine de changer trop...
Ce souvenir je te le prends.
Des souvenirs, comme ca j'en ai tout le temps.
Si par erreur la vie nous spare,
J'le sortirai d'mon tiroir.

J'reve les yeux ouverts.
A m'fait du bien.
A ne va pas plus loin.
J'vais pas voir derriere
Puisque j'aime bien.
Vivement demain.
Un dernier verre de sherry.
Du sherry mon amant quand je m'ennuie.
Tous les jours se ressemblent a prsent.
Tu me manques terriblement...
J'reve les yeux ouverts.
A m'fait du bien.
A ne va pas plus loin.
J'vais pas voir derriere
Puisque j'aime bien.
Vivement demain.
Un dernier verre de sherry.
Du sherry mon amant quand je m'ennuie.

Tous les jours se ressemblent a prsent.
Tu me manques terriblement

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Emilie-Claire Barlow's "Les Yeux Ouverts" describe a person who reminisces about fond memories with someone that they have separated from. The singer indicates that they have many memories but chooses to keep this particular one as it holds great significance. Amidst the melancholic reminiscing, the singer has hope for the future and looks forward to what tomorrow might bring. The song is a beautiful portrayal of how memories of cherished moments can uplift a person in times of sadness.

The lyrics depict a person who once shared a beautiful connection with someone they loved dearly. The vivid description of "Un dernier verre de sherry" (one last glass of sherry) reminisces about the times spent with their lover, symbolizing the memories that they have cherishingly kept in their hearts. The singer evokes the sadness of the separation from the loved one, indicated by the phrase "Tu me manques terriblement" that translates to "I miss you terribly." At the same time, the singer chooses to remain optimistic about the future by saying, "J'reve les yeux ouverts" (I dream with my eyes open). The lyrics' overall message reflects that in times of sadness, holding onto cherished memories uplifts the soul and gives hope for the future.

Line by Line Meaning

Ce souvenir je te le rends.
I'm giving you back this memory.

Des souvenirs, tu sais j'en ai tellement.
You know I have so many memories.

Puisqu'on rva de jours errants.
Since we dream of wandering days.

Pas la peine de changer trop...
There's no need to change too much.

Ce souvenir je te le prends.
I'm taking this memory.

Des souvenirs, comme ca j'en ai tout le temps.
I have memories like that all the time.

Si par erreur la vie nous spare,
If life mistakenly separates us,

J'le sortirai d'mon tiroir.
I'll take it out of my drawer.

J'reve les yeux ouverts.
I dream with my eyes open.

A m'fait du bien.
It makes me feel good.

A ne va pas plus loin.
It's not going any further.