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.
The Beat Goes On
Emilie-Claire Barlow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
La da da da dee, la da da da da
Charleston was once the rage, uh huh
History has turned that page, uh huh
The mini skirt's the current thing, uh huh
Teenybopper is a newborn king, uh huh
And the beat goes on
The beat goes on
Drums keep pounding a rhythm to the brain
La da da da dee, la da da da da
The grocery store's a super mart, uh huh
Little girls still break their hearts, uh huh
Oh, well, the men still keep on marching off to war
Electrically they keep their baseball scores
And the beat goes on
The beat goes on
The beat goes on and on and on
And the beat goes on
Grandmas sit in chairs and reminisce
Boys still chasing girls to get a kiss
Well, the cars keep going faster
And faster all the time
A bum still cries
Hey buddy, have you got a dime
And the beat goes on
The beat goes on
Drums keep pounding a rhythm to the brain
La da da da dee, la da da da da
And the beat goes on
The beat goes on
The beat goes on and on and on
And the beat goes on
And the beat goes on
The beat goes on
Drums keep pounding a rhythm to the brain
La da da da dee, la da da da da
The lyrics of Emilie-Claire Barlow's song "The Beat Goes On" speak to the idea of the constant and cyclical nature of life, with the beat of drums representing the rhythm that we follow throughout the years. The first verse references how fads and trends come and go over time, with the Charleston being a popular dance in the past, while the mini skirt and teenybopper culture take over in the present. Despite these changes, the beat of the drums remains constant, suggesting that certain things will always stay the same.
The second verse highlights how technology and culture have evolved over time, with the grocery store turning into a super mart and the way we consume music changing with electric baseball scores. However, war is still a part of our world and little girls still break their hearts, suggesting that certain struggles and emotions are timeless. The chorus continues to reinforce the idea of the constant beat of the drums, with grandmas reminiscing while boys still chase girls for a kiss. The song ultimately suggests that while life may change in many ways, the beat of the drums remains constant and helps us to find our way throughout the years.
Line by Line Meaning
Drums keep pounding a rhythm to the brain
The steady beat of the drums creates a pulse that moves through one's consciousness, becoming an unrelenting force that's hard to ignore.
La da da da dee, la da da da da
The nonsensical yet catchy melody repeats itself over and over again, almost like a pleasant distraction that accompanies the drums.
Charleston was once the rage, uh huh
The dance move known as the Charleston had a moment in the limelight, gaining rapid popularity before fading into obscurity.
History has turned that page, uh huh
As time passes, the things that were once the norm fade away into memory, replaced by new trends and fads that take their place.
The mini skirt's the current thing, uh huh
The fashion of the day favors short skirts for women, revealing more of their legs than was once deemed acceptable.
Teenybopper is a newborn king, uh huh
Young people have taken over as the arbiters of culture, creating new trends and leaving older generations behind.
The grocery store's a super mart, uh huh
The marketplace has evolved, creating larger, more diverse stores that offer a wider variety of products and services than ever before.
Little girls still break their hearts, uh huh
Young love can still feel as intense and painful as ever, with girls crying over boys who don't reciprocate their feelings.
Oh, well, the men still keep on marching off to war
Despite all the changes that are happening in the world, some things remain the same, with men still going off to fight and die on battlefields far from home.
Electrically they keep their baseball scores
Technology has made it easier than ever to keep up with favorite pastimes, with people using electronic devices to stay updated on sports scores in real-time.
Grandmas sit in chairs and reminisce
Older women gather together to remember the past, sharing their stories and experiences with one another and connecting through their shared history.
Boys still chasing girls to get a kiss
Romance is always in the air, with young men still trying to woo young women and steal a kiss whenever they can.
Well, the cars keep going faster
Technological advancements have led to faster, more efficient cars that can get people where they need to go more quickly than ever before.
And faster all the time
The pace of life continues to accelerate, with people constantly seeking faster and more efficient ways to get things done and stay ahead of the curve.
A bum still cries
Even in the midst of all this change, there are those who are left behind, with homeless people still begging for spare change on the street corner.
Hey buddy, have you got a dime
The plea of the homeless person is a haunting reminder that not everyone is benefitting from the progress that is being made all around them.
The beat goes on
Despite all the changes that are happening, the rhythm of life continues to march on, with time and progress moving ever forward.
The beat goes on and on and on
The repetition of the phrase reinforces the idea that life never stops moving, with changes and advancements happening constantly.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: QUINCY JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind