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.
Pennies From Heaven
Emilie-Claire Barlow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't you know each cloud contains pennies from heaven?
You'll find your fortune's fallin' all over the town
Be sure that your umbrella is upside down
Trade them for a package of sunshine and flowers
If you want the things you love, you must have showers
So, when you hear it thunder, don't run under a tree
Every time, every time it rains, it's gonna rain pennies from heaven
Don't you know every cloud contains lots of pennies from heaven
You'll find your fortune's fallin', baby, all over the town
Be sure, be sure that your umbrella is upside down
Trade them for a package of sunshine and flowers
If you want the things you love, you've got to have showers
So, when you hear it thunder, don't run under a tree
There'll be pennies from heaven for you and me
The song Pennies from Heaven by Emilie-Claire Barlow is a classic swing jazz piece that captures the optimism of the 1930s era. The song’s central metaphor is of the rain bringing unexpected fortunes to the listener in the form of pennies. The phrase pennies from heaven refers to unexpected luck that comes from seemingly nowhere. The singer suggests that even the dark clouds have something to offer, and each cloud carries pennies filled with wealth and beauty. The pouring rain is thus a sign of a fortune being showered upon the town, for those who are patient enough to wait and catch the pennies.
The singer then offers a piece of advice to the listeners, asking them to keep an open mind and seize the opportunity. They urge the listeners to keep their umbrellas upside down, so that they can collect the pennies from heaven that the rain is bringing. The song also highlights the importance of perseverance, as the singer posits that those who want their dreams to come true will need to endure tough times and rough weather like thunderstorms. The refrain insists that every time it rains, there will be pennies from heaven for anybody who is willing to look up and grab them.
Overall, Pennies from Heaven is a song that captures the essence of hope, perseverance, and optimism in the midst of trouble. It speaks to the human desire for unexpected rewards and the joy of finding meaning in the smallest things. Barlow’s rendition of this classic tune is a fitting tribute to the golden era of swing music.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time it rains, it rains pennies from heaven
Good things will come to those who persevere through the bad times because life has a funny way of rewarding those who stick it out until the end
Don't you know each cloud contains pennies from heaven?
Opportunities to improve your life are all around you, you just have to be aware and ready to seize them when they present themselves
You'll find your fortune's fallin' all over the town
A positive attitude and outlook on life will attract good fortune and abundance in all aspects of one's life, and it can be found in all corners of the world
Be sure that your umbrella is upside down
Always be prepared to catch the blessings that come your way, even if they come unexpectedly and in ways you don't anticipate
Trade them for a package of sunshine and flowers
Use the good times as fuel for the bad times and turn the negative into a positive experience
If you want the things you love, you must have showers
To get what you want in life, you must endure the tough times and push through the struggles, as nothing comes easy
So, when you hear it thunder, don't run under a tree
When things get tough or scary, don't shy away from them or take the easy way out. Face them head-on and make the most of the situation
There'll be pennies from heaven for you and me
No matter how bleak a situation may seem, there is always hope that something good will come out of it. Keep an open mind and heart and good things will follow.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Arthur Johnston, Johnny Burke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind