Joseph Harry Fowler Connick, Jr. (born September 11, 1967) is an American … Read Full Bio ↴Joseph Harry Fowler Connick, Jr. (born September 11, 1967) is an American singer, pianist, composer, actor, and humanitarian. Connick’s music encompasses jazz, some of it very much in the style of the crooners of the 1940s and early 1950s, funk and blues.

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).

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?
Harry Connick Jr. Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Maybe it's much too early in the game
Ah but I thought I'd ask you just the same
What are you doing New Year's
New Year's eve?

Wonder whose arms will hold you good and tight
When it's exactly twelve o'clock that night
Welcoming in the New Year

New Year's eve

Maybe I'm crazy to suppose
I'd ever be the one you chose
Out of a thousand invitations
You received

Ah but in case I stand one little chance
Here comes the jackpot question in advance
What are you doing New Year's
New Year's eve?

Maybe I'm crazy to suppose
I'd ever be the one you chose
Out of a thousand invitations
You received

Ah but in case I stand one little chance
Here comes the jackpot question in advance

What are you doing New Year's
New Year's eve?

Overall Meaning

Harry Connick Jr.'s song "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" is a romantic and hopeful tune that expresses the singer's desire to spend New Year's Eve with their beloved. The song starts off with the singer acknowledging that it may be too early to think about New Year's plans, but they still want to know what their romantic interest will be doing on that night. They ask the question twice, emphasizing their hopefulness and desire to spend the New Year's Eve with their beloved. The singer then wonders who will "hold you good and tight" at midnight, implying that they want to be that person.

The song becomes more emotional and vulnerable as the singer admits that they may be crazy to think that they have a chance with their beloved, considering the numerous invitations they may have received. Despite that, they still take a chance and ask the "jackpot question" in advance, hoping that they will have an opportunity to spend the New Year's Eve with their romantic interest. The repetition of the question at the end is the singer's last attempt to know whether their wish will be fulfilled or not.

Line by Line Meaning

Maybe it's much too early in the game
It's possible that I'm asking this question too early, but...

Ah but I thought I'd ask you just the same
...I'm asking anyway.

What are you doing New Year's
What are your plans for...

New Year's eve?
...New Year's Eve specifically?

Wonder whose arms will hold you good and tight
I'm curious about who will be holding you at the moment of midnight...

When it's exactly twelve o'clock that night
...when the new year officially begins.

Welcoming in the New Year
You'll be celebrating and welcoming in...

New Year's eve
...on New Year's Eve.

Maybe I'm crazy to suppose
I know it may be unlikely, but...

I'd ever be the one you chose
...I can't help but hope that you might choose me.

Out of a thousand invitations
I know you'll be receiving many invitations...