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/Soul Bossa Nova
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 in Emilie-Claire Barlow's song The Beat Goes On/Soul Bossa Nova express the idea that change is constant, but the beat of music remains consistent. The first verse describes how dancing has changed over time, where the Charleston was the popular dance in the past, and now the mini skirt and teeny bopper culture have taken over. However, despite these changes, the beat of music continues to go on. The second verse mentions how even mundane things like grocery stores have changed into superstores, yet the pattern of little girls' hearts breaking and men marching off to war still remains.
The chorus emphasizes the constant presence of music, with drums continually pounding a rhythm to the brain. The following verses suggest that while the world continues to change, some things remain the same, such as grandmothers sitting in chairs and reminiscing, and boys chasing girls to get a kiss. The final lyrics describe how the beat goes on even in tough times, with the car's speed and the bum's pleas for money remaining constant.
Overall, the song emphasizes the idea that despite the inevitable changes in the world, the beat of music remains a constant and unifying force for people across generations and cultures.
Line by Line Meaning
Drums keep pounding a rhythm to the brain
The constant and unchanging beat of the drums keeps resonating in our minds, possibly representing the monotonous routine of everyday life.
Charleston was once the rage, uh huh
The popular dance style of the Charleston used to be the trend, but it has now faded away with time.
History has turned that page, uh huh
As time has passed, the trends and fads of the past have been replaced by new ones, showing how change is an inevitable part of life.
The mini skirt's the current thing, uh huh
Currently, short skirts are in fashion and they are the trend that dominates popular culture.
Teenybopper is a newborn king, uh huh
Young people, particularly teenage girls, hold immense power in shaping pop culture trends and have a significant influence on what's popular.
And the beat goes on
The unchanging and repetitive rhythm of life keeps going, despite changes in trends and the passing of time.
The grocery store's a super mart, uh huh
Large supermarkets or 'super marts' are now the common shopping experience for most people, compared to local grocery stores that used to be the norm.
Little girls still break their hearts, uh huh
Despite cultural changes, young girls still face heartbreak and disappointment in their lives.
Oh, well, the men still keep on marching off to war
Despite the changes in popular culture, some things like war and conflict never change and people continue to fight.
Electrically they keep their baseball scores
Technology has evolved to keep things like keeping track of sports scores much easier and efficient than before.
Grandmas sit in chairs and reminisce
Older generations still sit and remember their past fondly, reminiscing about the good old days and the trends of their youth.
Boys still chasing girls to get a kiss
Despite society's changes, love and relationships remain unchanged with boys still chasing girls, hoping for a kiss.
Well, the cars keep going faster
Technology has advanced to make cars much faster than before, indicative of how fast-paced our lives have become.
And faster all the time
This fast-paced lifestyle is only increasing as time passes, with everything moving at an increasingly rapid pace.
A bum still cries
Despite changes in society, some people still live in poverty and face immense hardships, highlighting the fact that some things never change.
Hey buddy, have you got a dime
The image of a beggar asking for money shows how disparity still exists in society, despite advancements in other areas.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: Quincy Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind