Ms. Kole has been hailed by critics as a "musical marvel!" (Rex Reed, New York Observer. ) In reviewing Kole's performance in the New York Times, Stephen Holden wrote,"swinging...sultry....sexy with a sharp-edged hint of brass in her voice...Kole locates the desperation and impatience lurking in Cole Porter's besotted lyrics." And Robert Daniels from Daily Variety said "Kole is quite the prettiest young thrush on the club circuit...it's torch singing at its apex."
Ms. Kole began her professional career at the legendary Rainbow Room as the youngest singer ever to grace the stage. From there, she appeared in a sold-out run at the famed Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel, made her concert hall debut at Lincoln Center as part of the "American Songbook Series" with Jonathan Schwartz, and in June of 2007, appeared at Carnegie Hall during a Tribute to Oscar Peterson, and in January, 2008, at the Canadian Tribute to Dr. Peterson at Roy Thompson Hall alongside Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, and Nancy Wilson. Hilary has appeared as a headliner in New York City at Town Hall (Nightlife Awards), Birdland, The Blue Note, Iridium, the Jazz Standard, and at Carnegie Hall with Michael Feinstein. Apart from appearing throughout the country with her two shows, "Our Sinatra" and "Singing Astaire," Hilary is also a favorite at the Continental Airlines Arena, singing the National Anthem for sporting events,as well as been featured at the 92nd Street YMHA concert series "Lyrics and Lyricists" and "Jazz in July" with pianist Dick Hyman. In 2005, Hilary debuted in Perugia, Italy, at the famed Umbria Jazz Festival, as well as the Nairn Jazz Festival in Narin, Scotland, and throughout Spain.
In the past year, Hilary had the honor of recording with Jazz legands Oscar Peterson and Hank Jones, as well as master composer, Michel LeGrand. Ms. Kole has also appeared alongside Alan Broadbent, Lee Musiker, Dave Frishberg, Roger Kellaway, Tedd Firth, Houston Person, Harry Allen, Joel Frahm, Russell Malone, John Pizzarelli, Paul Meyers, Gene Bertoncini, Lewis Nash, Mark McLean, and Paul Gill among others.
Kole's television appearances include CNN's Showbiz Today, Fox's Good Day New York, PBS, NBC's Today in New York, as well as a half hour feature on CN8's 'One on One with Steve Adubato'.
Hilary began singing and playing the piano at age five. At twelve, she received a scholarship to attend the Walden School for music composition, where she spent her next 6 summers. Her compositions garndered three National Federation of Music Awards. She is also the recipient of the prestigious Delius Award for her work "Piano Trio No.1" which received its world premiere with the Jacksonville Symphony. Upon graduating high school, she was granted a scholarship by the Oakley Foundation to study composition at Manhattan School of Music. Hilary's compositions have been performed by the New England Brass Quintet, the Peabody Trio, and the Manhattan School of Music Jazz Vocal Ensemble, among others.
Hilary has entertained at some of Manhattan's most prestigious events, including a Democratic Fundraiser for President Bill Clinton; an Emmy party in honor of Oprah Winfrey's Lifetime Achievement Award; the Helen Hays Awards, and as the featured entertainer at the movie premier parties for Maid in Manhattan starring Jennifer Lopez, and Mona Lisa Smile and Stepmom starring Julia Roberts. Hilary also appeared at the 2004 Super Bowl at the Houston Astrodome.
I Didn't Know About You
Hilary Kole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have had a thrill or so,
But that goes back to yesterday,
A long time ago!
I ran around with my own little crowd,
The usual laughs, not often but loud,
And in the world that I knew
Chasing after the rain on the merry-go-round,
Just takin' my fun where it could be found,
And yet what else could I do?
I didn't know about you.
Darling, now I know I had the loneliest yesterday,
Every day in your arms I know for once in my life, I'm living.
Had a good time every time I went out,
Romance was a thing I kidded about,
How could I know about love?
I didn't know about you.
Darling, now I know I had the loneliest yesterday,
Every day in your arms I know for once in my life, I'm living.
Had a good time every time I went out,
Romance was a thing I kidded about,
How could I know about love?
How could I know it was true?
Until I opened my eyes,
I didn't know about you!
In Hilary Kole's song I Didn't Know About You, the singer reflects on her past experiences and how she never knew true love until she met her current partner. She begins by stating that if anyone were to ask, she would admit to having some thrills in the past, but that those memories are from a long time ago. She then muses on her former life, running around with a group of friends, enjoying the occasional laugh, but always remaining unaware of true love.
The singer further reflects on her carefree lifestyle, chasing after excitement, and not knowing any better. She confesses that she couldn't have imagined being in love because she didn't know it existed. However, now that she has found her true love, life has become increasingly meaningful, and every day feels like a new adventure.
The final verse of the song reiterates the singer's previous thoughts, emphasizing that before she met her partner, love was nothing more than a mere concept to her, something she had only joked about. Now that she has opened her eyes to the reality of love and found true companionship, she realizes how empty her life had been before, and how grateful she is to have found someone who makes her feel alive.
Line by Line Meaning
If they would ask me, I would say
If someone were to inquire, I would answer
I have had a thrill or so,
I have had some exciting experiences
But that goes back to yesterday,
However, those experiences were in the past
A long time ago!
Quite some time has passed since then
I ran around with my own little crowd,
I hung out with my own group of friends
The usual laughs, not often but loud,
We typically had boisterous laughs, though we didn't get together often
And in the world that I knew
In my limited view of the world
I didn't know about you.
I wasn't aware of your existence
Chasing after the rain on the merry-go-round,
I was seeking happiness wherever I could find it, yet it would always slip through my fingertips
Just takin' my fun where it could be found,
All I did was look for pleasure in any place it could be stumbled upon
And yet what else could I do?
I didn't know any better options
I didn't know about you.
I was completely oblivious to your presence
Darling, now I know I had the loneliest yesterday,
My past was full of loneliness, but now I understand
Every day in your arms I know for once in my life, I'm living.
Being with you every day fills me with joy and makes me feel truly alive
Had a good time every time I went out,
I had fun every time I went somewhere
Romance was a thing I kidded about,
I didn't take love seriously and often joked about it
How could I know about love?
It wasn't until I met you that I truly comprehended love
How could I know it was true?
In the past, I wasn't able to distinguish between what was real and fake
Until I opened my eyes,
It wasn't until I ventured out of my bubble
I didn't know about you!
That I saw you and everything that you brought into my life
Writer(s): Bob Russell, Duke Ellington
Contributed by Molly N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.