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.
O Pato
Emilie-Claire Barlow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The duck was laughing.
The duck was dancing by the water, quack, quack, quack
The rhythm made him think he oughta quack, quack
He was dancing to the samba, the samba, the samba
Oh, goose, oh.
The goose was gaining passing by, honk, honk, honk
The bossa nova had him dancing
The new thing. The new swing.
The a lovely swan swam by, in all her majesty,
And she loosened up.
Hoochy-coochy-coo did that swan.
She joined the duck and goose and did the samba too.
You should have seen the kind of samba she could do.
They did the samba so long, they all fell right in the water.
While they were singing away,
Quack quack quack, quack quack quack
O pato.
O pato vinha cantando alegremente, quém, quém
Quando um marreco sorridente pediu
Pra entrar também no samba, no samba, no samba
O ganso gostou da dupla e fez também quém, quém
Olhou pro cisne e disse assim "vem, vem"
Que o quarteto ficará bem, muito bom, muito bem
Na beira da lagoa foram ensaiar
Para começar o tico-tico no fubá
A voz do pato era mesmo um desacato
Jogo de cena com o ganso era mato
Mas eu gostei do final quando ca? ram n'água
E ensaiando o vocal
Quém, quém, quém, quém
Quém, quém, quém, quém
O PATO
In Emilie-Claire Barlow's song "O Pato" (The Duck), the lyrics describe a duck that is quacking and laughing while dancing by the water. The duck is dancing to the samba rhythm, and the other animals nearby, such as the goose and swan, are intrigued by the music and join in on the dance. The lyrics suggest that the swan was initially hesitant to join in, but eventually loosens up and joins in on the fun with the others. Despite their unique vocal sounds, the animals all harmonize together in a joyous rendition of the song's titular refrain, "o pato."
The lyrics can be interpreted as a metaphor for the universal appeal of music and dance. The samba rhythm is infectious and draws in even the most unlikely of creatures to join in on the fun. Additionally, the lyrics suggest that despite any initial reservations or differences, ultimately everyone can come together and find common ground through the joy of music and dance.
Line by Line Meaning
The duck was quacking.
The duck was making joyful quacking sounds.
The duck was laughing.
The duck was enjoying itself and laughing out loud.
The duck was dancing by the water, quack, quack, quack
The duck was dancing near the water and quacking rhythmically.
The rhythm made him think he oughta quack, quack
The rhythm of the music motivated the duck to quack along.
He was dancing to the samba, the samba, the samba
The duck was dancing to the popular Brazilian dance called samba.
Oh, goose, oh.
The duck calls out to the goose with excitement.
The goose was gaining passing by, honk, honk, honk
The goose was walking by and honking along to the music.
He stopped and gave the dance a try, honk, honk
The goose joined in on the dancing and honked along.
the bossa nova had him dancing
The bossa nova rhythm was making the goose dance along.
The new thing. The new swing.
The goose was excited about the new dance moves and rhythm.
The a lovely swan swam by, in all her majesty, and she loosened up.
A beautiful swan swam by, and she started to loosen up and enjoy the music.
Hoochy-coochy-coo did that swan.
The swan was having a great time and expressing herself with playful sounds.
She joined the duck and goose and did the samba too.
The swan joined in on the dancing and did the samba with the duck and goose.
You should have seen the kind of samba she could do.
The swan was really good at dancing the samba, and it was impressive to watch.
They did the samba so long, they all fell right in the water.
The animals danced the samba for a long time and accidentally fell into the water.
While they were singing away, quack quack quack, quack quack quack o pato.
As they continued to quack and sing the samba, they sang the song 'O Pato.'
O pato vinha cantando alegremente, quém, quém
'O Pato' is the story of a happy duck who sings and dances.
Quando um marreco sorridente pediu
When a cheerful teals requested to join in the dance.
Pra entrar também no samba, no samba, no samba
To also participate in the samba dance.
O ganso gostou da dupla e fez também quém, quém
The goose enjoyed the company of the duck and teals and joined in on the quack sound.
Olhou pro cisne e disse assim 'vem, vem'
The goose invited the swan to come dance with them.
Que o quarteto ficará bem, muito bom, muito bem
The quartet would sound great and do very well together.
Na beira da lagoa foram ensaiar
They practiced and danced by the edge of a lagoon.
Para começar o tico-tico no fubá
To start another fun and lively song called 'Tico-Tico no Fubá.'
A voz do pato era mesmo um desacato
The duck's voice was unique and fun to listen to.
Jogo de cena com o ganso era mato
The goose and duck's playful performance was easygoing and fun.
Mas eu gostei do final quando ca? ram n'água
But the best part was when they all fell into the water at the end.
E ensaiando o vocal quém, quém, quém, quém quém, quém, quém, quém O PATO
And even when they were wet and rehearsing their vocals, they continued to quack and sing 'O PATO.'
Writer(s): Jaime Da Silva, Neuza Gentil Teixeira
Contributed by Chloe B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.