Loren’s debut release of eleven original songs and one cover (Joni Mitchell's "River"), Full Circle, was released in 2006.
Her sophomore album, They Oughta Write a Song (2008), brought to light her life-long love of jazz standards, and subsequently won a national independent music award for best vocal jazz album, and soon after received distribution in Asia by JVC/Victor Entertainment and in North America by Justin Time Records.
Her holiday album with pianist Matt Treder, Many Times, Many Ways: a Holiday Collection, also recorded in 2008, was first released in limited edition, then followed with worldwide distribution in 2011.
Her fourth CD, the live album Stages (2010), was met with critical praise, including being named as an Editor’s Pick at CD Baby and “best live album of the year” at Wildy’s World.
After Dark followed in 2010, with the Loren original Thirsty winning the Independent Music Awards’ Vox Pop poll for best jazz song of the year.
The concoction of jazz standards, re-imagined pop classics, and originals that made up 2012’s Heart First was honored by Japan’s Jazz Critique magazine as the "best vocal jazz album of 2011". Fly Me to the Moon, a bonus track, spent three weeks at No. 1 on the iTunes Japan jazz chart. It was among the top 10 jazz CDs in Hot New Releases at Amazon in the U.S. and Canada, and reached No. 1 on the iTunes Canada jazz albums chart.
For the past three years she has traveled the world with the members of her original band, including Canada, across the U.S., Japan, Italy, China, Hong Kong, and South Korea, and include big band/symphonic performances with the Jazz Orchestra of Sicily, the Corvallis-OSU Symphony Orchestra in Oregon, and the Monroe Symphony in Louisiana.
The year 2013 brought Halie Loren’s Simply Love, with three new originals and ten re-imagined classics from contrasting eras of the American songbook. It rose to the top of the Japan charts in pop and jazz even before its June release date, and claimed No. 1 in its first week and by its third week, climbed to No. 1 spot on Billboard Jazz / Japan. Singles included the string-infused original Cuando Bailamos, Carole King’s 1974 B-side hit I Feel the Earth Move, and the title track, which Loren co-wrote with Benita Hill.
Simply Love was released in the U.S. and Canada by Justin Time Records on Sept. 10, 2013, entering iTunes Canada as #1 jazz album. She and her band are touring the US and other parts of the world in support of the album.
Lucky
Halie Loren Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
©2005
Written by Halie Loren
Jammin' Salmon Music
I have a bowl of fruit
A sink that rarely leaks
When I breathe I fill my lungs with air that's sweet
A closet full of clothes
When I step outside it's on soil where grass can grow
And I have, I have, I have, I have…
Enough
And I need, I need, I need, I need…
Nothing else much, I'm
Lucky—this a lucky life
I see it more and more how
Lucky is a relative state of mind
And as long as I concede
That I've got all that I need
To be satisfied, I'll feel lucky
All my life
I have a friend to call
A sister to worry about me
When I fall, I know someone will help me get back on my feet
And I have, I have, I have, I have, I have…
More than I know
And I need, I need, I need, I need, I need…
Nothing else to show I'm
Lucky—this is a lucky life
I see it more and more how
Lucky is a relative state of mind
And as long as I concede that I've got all that I need to be satisfied
I'll feel lucky all my life.
Sometimes when times when get hard it's hard to believe
Life's not a dry well
But seeing what fades, what lasts, gives me reason to remind myself…
Lucky is a state of mind
My friend, I'm so
Lucky—this is a lucky life
I see it more and more how
Lucky is a relative state of mind
And as long as I concede
That I've got all that I need
To be satisfied, I'll feel lucky
All my life.
I have a bowl of fruit…
The lyrics to Halie Loren's song "Lucky" are a reminder that sometimes the innumerable blessings in our lives are often overlooked or taken for granted. The song opens with the artist listing simple things she enjoys in her life like a bowl of fruit, a sink that rarely leaks, clean air to breathe, a soft bed to sleep in, and a wardrobe full of clothes to wear. Each simple pleasure she lists is a reminder that she is lucky to have all these little things in her life that many people might take for granted.
As the song progresses, Loren deepens the theme of luck by extending it to her relationships. She sings of having friends to count on, a sister who cares for her, and the genuine support of people she loves. Her relationships bring her joy and a sense of safety that not everyone experiences. She realizes that having supportive people in her life is another stroke of good luck.
The chorus of "Lucky" encourages the listener to realize that luck is not measured by material possessions or money in the bank. It is a realization of having enough of everything you need to be happy, safe, and fulfilled. It is a mindset that comes from gratitude and an appreciation for the abundance that already exists in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
I have a bowl of fruit
I have a simple abundance of sustenance in my life
A sink that rarely leaks
I have a functional home environment without constant repairs or maintenance
When I breathe I fill my lungs with air that's sweet
I have access to fresh air and a healthy environment
I have a soft bed
I have a comfortable place to sleep and rest
A closet full of clothes
I have an ample wardrobe of clothing options
When I step outside it's on soil where grass can grow
I have the privilege of living in a natural environment where plants thrive
And I have, I have, I have, I have… Enough
I have all that I need and I am content with what I have
And I need, I need, I need, I need… Nothing else much, I'm
I don't require more than what I already have in order to be happy
I see it more and more how
I increasingly recognize the positive aspects of my life
Lucky is a relative state of mind
The concept of luck is subjective and depends on one's perspective
And as long as I concede
As long as I acknowledge and accept
That I've got all that I need
That I have everything I require to be content
To be satisfied, I'll feel lucky
I will experience a sense of happiness and fortune
All my life
Throughout my entire lifetime
I have a friend to call
I have a supportive companion who I can rely on in times of need
A sister to worry about me
I have a family member who cares about my well-being
When I fall, I know someone will help me get back on my feet
I have a safety net of support to help me during difficult times
More than I know
I have an abundance that exceeds my immediate awareness
Nothing else to show I'm
I don't require material possessions to prove my happiness
Sometimes when times get hard it's hard to believe
During challenging situations, it can be difficult to maintain a positive outlook
Life's not a dry well
Life is not devoid of hope or opportunities
But seeing what fades, what lasts, gives me reason to remind myself
Reflecting on what is temporary versus what is enduring helps me keep a positive perspective
My friend, I'm so
My friend, I feel
Contributed by Zoe B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.