Harry Connick, Jr. was born in New Orleans to Anita and Harry Connick, Sr. His mother was Jewish and his father was Irish Catholic. Connick's musical talent was evident from a young age and he studied at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts under Ellis Marsalis and James Booker. He went on to attend Hunter College and the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, where he was signed by Columbia Records.
In 1989, Connick provided the soundtrack for the romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally..., winning his first Grammy for Best Jazz Male Vocal Performance. He also made his screen debut in Memphis Belle and released two albums: Lofty's Roach Souffle and We Are in Love, which earned him his second consecutive Grammy. In 1991, he was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for his contribution to the Godfather III soundtrack and released his third consecutive multi-platinum album, Blue Light, Red Light.
In 1992, Connick was arrested for having a gun at JFK International Airport but avoided charges by making a public-service television commercial. He continued to release successful albums, including 25 and When My Heart Finds Christmas, which was the best-selling Christmas album of 1993.
Harry Connick Jr. started his career as a jazz pianist and singer. In 1994, he released an album of New Orleans funk called She and took it on a tour of the United Kingdom and People's Republic of China. In 1996, he appeared in the successful movie Independence Day. By 1997, he returned to jazz music with his album To See You and played at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo. He continued his film career, starred in Hope Floats and released his album Come By Me in 1999. Connick wrote the score for the Broadway musical Thou Shalt Not, in 2000, and starred in South Pacific and his twelfth movie Mickey. He won a Grammy Award for his album Songs I Heard, released two albums in 2001, and appeared on NBC sitcom Will & Grace from 2002 to 2006. He continued releasing albums, appeared in films such as Basic, and won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction for Harry Connick Jr. — "Only You" in Concert. In 2005, he composed and produced The Happy Elf, an animated holiday special.
[edit] Personal life
On April 16, 1994, Connick, Jr. married model Jill Goodacre, originally from Texas, at the St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans, Louisiana. They have three daughters: Georgia Tatom (born April 17, 1996), Sarah Kate (September 12, 1997), and Charlotte (born June 26, 2002). The family currently resides in Connecticut.
He is a founder of the Krewe of Orpheus, a music-based New Orleans krewe, taking its name from Orpheus of classical mythology. The Krewe of Orpheus parades on St. Charles Avenue and Canal Street in New Orleans on Lundi Gras (Fat Monday) — the day before Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday).
Blue Christmas
Harry Connick Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll be so blue just thinking about you
Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree
They won't mean a think, if you're not here with me
I'll have a blue Christmas that's certain
And when that blue heartache starts hurtin'
You'll be doin' all right, with your Christmas of white
You'll be doin' all right, with your Christmas of white
But I'll have a blue, blue blue blue Christmas
But I'll have a blue, blue blue blue Christmas
But I'll have a blue, blue blue blue Christmas
The song "Blue Christmas" by Harry Connick Jr. is a heart-wrenching ballad about the emptiness and loneliness felt during the holiday season without a loved one. The lyrics convey a sense of longing and sorrow, as the singer expresses how much he misses his beloved and how the holiday season will be ruined without them. The use of the color blue in the lyrics evokes a sense of sadness and melancholy, which is reiterated through the repetition of the word "blue." The contrast between the festive decorations and the singer's melancholic mood highlights the extent of his emotional pain. The line "You'll be doin' alright, with your Christmas of white" suggests that the person the singer is missing has moved on, but he is still struggling to come to terms with their absence.
The melancholic and bittersweet nature of the song has made it a holiday classic since its release in 1993 by Harry Connick Jr. However, it was originally written by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson in the early 1940s and was first made famous by Elvis Presley in 1957. Many other artists have also covered the song since, including Celine Dion, Kelly Clarkson, and Michael Bublé. The song's enduring popularity is a testament to its ability to resonate with anyone who has experienced loss or separation during the holiday season.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll have a blue Christmas without you
I will be sad and lonely during the Christmas season without you by my side.
I'll be so blue just thinking about you
Even just the thought of you not being around during the holidays makes me feel sad and down.
Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree
The traditional Christmas decorations of red and green lose their meaning without your presence to share them with.
They won't mean a thing, if you're not here with me
The holiday decorations and festivities lose all significance without you to share them with me.
I'll have a blue Christmas that's certain
My Christmas will be melancholy and somber without you present.
And when that blue heartache starts hurtin'
When the sadness becomes too much to bear, and my heart aches with loneliness and longing...
You'll be doin' all right, with your Christmas of white
While you may be enjoying a peaceful and happy holiday season, my experience will be the opposite.
But I'll have a blue, blue blue blue Christmas
I will continue to feel sad and lonely, with a heart that is blue, no matter what the holiday joy may bring to others.
But I'll have a blue, blue blue blue Christmas
Despite my efforts to find joy in the holiday season, my sadness and loneliness will continue to color my experience a deep shade of blue.
But I'll have a blue, blue blue blue Christmas
No matter how many times the chorus repeats, the sentiment will remain the same: my Christmas will be blue without you.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Billy Hayes, Jay Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind