From a musical family, his father was a big band musician. Gino Vannelli played drums at a young age and after finishing high school studied musical theory at McGill University.
In the late 60s, he signed to RCA Canada under the name Van Elli. He eventually went to Los Angeles, California where he signed with Herb Alpert's A&M Records after chasing Alpert down in the parking lot of A&M Studios. He released his first album with that record label in 1973. Gino's brother, Joe, served as arranger and keyboardist for most of his recording career. At a time when polyphonic synthesizers were non-existent, Joe overdubbed multiple parts to create a texture of sound that was largely progressive for the early 1970s. Gino's 1978 song, "I Just Wanna Stop," written by his brother Joe, earned him an American Grammy Award nomination and reached #4 on the Billboard charts and #1 in Canada. He won Canada's Juno Award for Best Male Artist in 1976 and 1979. Also, Gino and Joe Vannelli shared the Juno Award for Recording Engineer of the Year three times: in 1986 for "Black Cars," in 1987 for "Wild Horses"/"Young Lover," and in 1991 for "The Time of Day"/"Sunset on L.A.". Gino is also noted for being the first Caucasian singer to appear on Soul Train in 1974.
Vannelli's other hits include "Living Inside Myself" (1980) and "Wild Horses" (1987).
In 1990 Gino recorded the album 'Inconsolable man' and toured extensively for the first time in well over a decade. His 'Live in Montreal' album was released in 1991.
In 1993, Québécoise singer Martine St. Clair recorded "Wheels of Life" as a duet with Vanelli as well as a French-language version called "L'Amour Est Loi".
It was some 4 years since his last 'Live' album before Gino released one of his best albums ever, the heavily jazz influenced album 'Yonder Tree'. Issued in 1995 the album received rave reviews from critics and fans alike.
Never one to stand still in terms of style, Gino subsequently released his 'Slow Love' album in 1998. A collection of beautifully crafted romantic songs, slightly more MOR than his previous album.
We had to wait until 2003 for the release of Gino's 'Canto' album. A collection of classical and operatic songs which exemplified his compositional skills as well as his incredible voice. With a symphonic Orchestra he sings in English, Spanish, Italian and French. This album reflected an artist freed from the shackles of commerciality and one able to concentrate on just the music. The result was acclaimed around the world and proved particularly successful in Europe. From the album, Parole Per Mio Padre" (Words For My Father), was so loved by Pope John Paul II that Gino performed the song live at the Vatican in a televised event.
In 2006 Gino released a best of album but again not one to follow the norm, this album entitled 'These are the Days' contained many of his previously best known songs together with 7 completely new pop songs.
He has since released four more albums, the latest of which was released in 2019.
Gino now lives in Oregon with his family where he actively teaches music. He continues to perform across the country today.
Gino Vannelli's official website
Wikipedia entry on Gino Vannelli
Moment to Moment
Gino Vannelli Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Too many echoes in my head
Too many fires left burning
In this bed
Too many thoughts of desperation
So much pain deep down below
So mych a slave to my senses
I can't let go
From moment to moment
I live and I die
This can't go on anymore
Another day, another lie
From moment to moment
I stand and I fall
This can't go on anymore
Unless we both give it all
I ask you how can a man keep his distance
How can he reason with his heart
How can you hold me so near
Yet keep me so far
From moment to moment
I live and I die
This can't go on anymore
Another day, another lie
From moment to moment
I stand and I fall
This can't go on anymore
Unless we both give it all
Sometimes I'd like to break you down
To see if there's a trace of woman in you that could be found
But I just keep prayin' you'll come around
And live from moment to moment
I live from moment to moment
I live from moment to moment
So much a slave to my senses
I can't let go
From moment to moment
I live and I die
This can't go on anymore
Another day, another lie
From moment to moment
I stand and I fall
This can't go on anymore
Unless we both give it all
You know I want to give it all
I live from moment to moment
Everyday of my life
I live from moment to moment
The lyrics of Gino Vannelli's song 'Moment to Moment' describe a man who is struggling with isolation and his own thoughts. He is haunted by echoes in his head and the fires that burn in his bed, which could be interpreted as his past mistakes or regrets. The man is heavily tied to his senses, as he cannot let go of his pain and despair. He is living from moment to moment, unable to escape the pain of his past and the lies he tells himself to cope.
Throughout the song, the man questions how he can keep his distance, how he can reason with his heart, and how the woman in his life can hold him so close yet keep him so far away. He desires to break down the walls between them and live in the moment with her. He prays that she will come around and give it all so that they can live freely and authentically. The song finishes with the man confessing that he wants to give it his all and live from moment to moment every day of his life.
Line by Line Meaning
Too many nights of isolation
Spending several nights alone without anyone else around to talk to makes me feel lonely.
Too many echoes in my head
There are too many voices from the past that repeatedly remind me of my mistakes and insecurities.
Too many fires left burning in this bed
The spark between my lover and me is gone, but we both continue to pretend that everything is alright and remain in this unhealthy and passionless relationship.
Too many thoughts of desperation
My mind is cluttered with negative thoughts that are making me feel hopeless and dejected.
So much pain deep down below
I'm hurting really bad inside, and it's causing me to feel very low and down in the dumps.
So much a slave to my senses, I can't let go
I'm so attached to my bodily desires and pleasures that I find it hard to resist them or let them go, even when they're not good for me.
From moment to moment, I live and I die
My emotions fluctuate rapidly from one moment to the next, and it feels like a part of me is dying every time I feel negative.
This can't go on anymore, Another day, another lie
I can no longer tolerate living a life that's full of lies and pretending that everything is okay when it's not.
From moment to moment, I stand and I fall
My moods are so erratic that I can sometimes feel like I'm on top of the world one moment, and the next, I'm crashing down.
Unless we both give it all
In order for our relationship to work, both of us need to be honest, vulnerable, and willing to put in the effort required.
How can a man keep his distance, how can he reason with his heart
It's difficult for a man to keep his emotions at bay or to think critically when he's overcome by feelings.
How can you hold me so near, yet keep me so far
It's frustrating to feel like I'm in a relationship with someone, but they're emotionally unavailable and distant.
Sometimes I'd like to break you down, to see if there's a trace of woman in you that could be found
There are moments where I wish I could break down my partner's emotional walls and find some hint of vulnerability within them.
But I just keep prayin' you'll come around
Despite the challenges we face, I still hold onto hope that things will improve and that my partner will reciprocate my feelings.
You know I want to give it all, I live from moment to moment, everyday of my life
I'm fully committed to making this relationship work and am willing to put in the work necessary to make it happen.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: GINO VANNELLI, ROY FREELAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
wittggestein
Si indagas un poco mas sobre Gino Vannelli te darás cuenta que el permanecer semidesconocido o semiolvidado fue una decisión propia al darse cuenta del vacio que la fama le inspiraba en su alma.
lesatz4
¡Preciosa canción! y por supuesto la voz de Gino es inconfundible y única.
Leandro Marques
Sensacional, pura classe
61guitbox
a very emotional album from Gino ... one of my fav Canadian singers 👍🏻☮️😊🇨🇦
Hyperion
Gracias. La verdad es que en España, que yo sepa, no es muy conocido este excelente cantante.
Claudia Rodari
No tforgeotten, yes out of commercial areas.. A GREAT singer, a great composer and arranger... A MAGNIFICENT musician in the widest sense of it.. Has better songs that this, but he is FANTASTIC!!! MAGIC... I saw him Nov 18th and it was before and after in my life. I JUST LOVE GINO.....
Veronica Veronica Fortes
Após este álbum, ele ficou quieto, esperando acabar o contrato com a gravadora, por quatro longos anos. Por não concordar em ser colocado como símbolo sexual. E não poder gravar, suas próprias composições.
Mas o que é bom, permanece.
Incrível Gino Vannelli 🎙
Um artista sem igual. Continua firme com sua carreira, suas composições, e inovações geniais. Um fenômeno de bom gosto!🎶
24/10/21
Eva Thyssen
Me enorgullece que esta música tan buena sea de mi año =) Que vivan los 80s y 90s :D
Joe hagan
THIS GUY HAS SO MANY HIDDEN GEMS .....JUST BEAUTIFUL
BK Lulu
I haven't heard this pretty much since April 1991 when I first heard it. Still beautiful.