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).
Let's Call The Whole Thing Off
Harry Connick Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You say "neither" I say "neither"
"Either" "either", "neither" "neither"
Let's call the whole thing off
You say "potato" I say "patattah"
You say "tomato" I say "creole tomatah"
Let's call the whole thing off
Oh, if we call the whole thing off
Then we must part and
Oh, if we ever part
That would break my heart
I say "ursta" you say "oyster"
I'm not gonna stop eatin urstas
Just cause you say oysters,
Let's call the whole thing off
I say "pajamas" you say "pajamas"
Sugar, what's the problem?
For we know we need each other so
We'd better call the calling off off
Oh let's call it off, oh let's call it off
Oh let's call it off, baby let's call it off
Sugar why don't we call it off,
I'm talking baby why call it off
Let's call the whole thing off
The lyrics of this song has a lot to do with the differences that exist between two people, who despite loving each other, cannot seem to be in agreement about certain things. The first stanza emphasizes the differences in pronunciation; while one person pronounces "either" and "neither" one way, the other person says it differently. The second stanza shows a difference in the pronunciation of "potato" and "tomato." These differences seem small, but they add up, and the singer suggests that they call the whole thing off.
In the third verse, the singer mentions a disagreement about the pronunciation of "oysters." They might have different preferences when it comes to food, but the singer says they won't stop eating "urstas" just because the other person pronounces it differently. The fourth verse, which is probably the most humorous, highlights that despite the differences, they still need each other. So even if one person says "pajamas" and the other says "pajamas," there's no need to break up over it. It's better to call the calling off off.
The chorus repeats phrases like "let's call it off" and "baby let's call it off," but the implication is not that they'll break up. In fact, the singer says that if they call it off, they'll have to part, and that would break their heart. Instead, they should call it off symbolically - stop letting these small differences get in the way of their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
You say "either" and I say "either"
We pronounce 'either' differently
You say "neither" I say "neither"
We pronounce 'neither' differently
"Either" "either", "neither" "neither"
Our pronunciations are different and it's causing issues, let's end the relationship
Let's call the whole thing off
Let's end the relationship because our differences are too great
You say "potato" I say "patattah"
We pronounce 'potato' differently
You say "tomato" I say "creole tomatah"
We pronounce 'tomato' differently
Oh, if we call the whole thing off
If we end the relationship
Then we must part and
We will have to go our separate ways
Oh, if we ever part
If we ever break up
That would break my heart
It would be devastating for me
I say "ursta" you say "oyster"
We pronounce 'oyster' differently
I'm not gonna stop eatin urstas
I won't stop eating oysters just because you pronounce it differently
Just cause you say oysters,
I'm not going to change how I say 'oyster' just because you do
Let's call the whole thing off
Let's end the relationship because our differences are causing issues
I say "pajamas" you say "pajamas"
We pronounce 'pajamas' the same way
Sugar, what's the problem?
There's no issue with how we pronounce 'pajamas'
For we know we need each other so
We love each other and don't want to end the relationship
We'd better call the calling off off
We should cancel our decision to end the relationship
Oh let's call it off, oh let's call it off
Repeating the desire to end the relationship
Baby let's call it off
Suggesting to end the relationship one last time
Sugar why don't we call it off,
Asking why we don't end the relationship
I'm talking baby why call it off
Questioning why we would want to end the relationship
Let's call the whole thing off
Final decision to end the relationship
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IRA GERSHWIN, GEORGE GERSHWIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind