Idina was born on Long Island, New York, to a Jewish family. Her mother, Helene, is a therapist, and her father, Stuart Mentzel, worked as a pajama salesman. She was raised in Syosset, New York, with her younger sister Cara, and later changed the spelling of her last name (Mentzel) because of constant mispronunciation.
When Menzel was 15 years old, her parents divorced and she began working as a wedding and bar mitzvah singer. A job she continued throughout her time at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. She earned a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Drama at NYU.
In 1995, Menzel auditioned for Rent, which became her first professional theater job and her Broadway debut. Rent opened off-Broadway at the New York Theatre Workshop on January 26, 1996. The show moved to Broadway's Nederlander Theatre due to its popularity. For her performance as Maureen Johnson in the original cast, Menzel received a Tony nomination as Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Her final performance in the musical was on July 1, 1997.
Following the success of Rent, Menzel released her first solo album entitled "Still I Can't Be Still" on "Hollywood Records," Menzel also originated the role of Dorothy in Summer of ’42 at Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut, starred as Sheila in the New York City Center Encores! production of Hair, and appeared on Broadway as Amneris in Aida. Menzel earned a Drama Desk Award nomination for her performance as Kate in the Manhattan Theatre Club's 2000 off-Broadway production of Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party. Her other off-Broadway credits include the pre-Broadway run of Rent and The Vagina Monologues.
In 2003, Menzel starred with actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth on Broadway in Wicked, a musical by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman loosely based upon the popular 1995 Gregory Maguire novel. Menzel received the 2004 Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. On her third-to-last performance of Wicked on January 8, 2005, she fell through a trap door and cracked a lower rib. The injury prevented her from performing in the January 9 show. Menzel did, however, make a special out-of-costume appearance at that performance, performed her final song, and received a 5 minute long standing ovation. Menzel was replaced by Elphaba standby Shoshana Bean.
Following Wicked, Menzel appeared off-Broadway in the Public Theater's production of See What I Wanna See, a Michael John LaChiusa-penned musical whose run ended in December 2005, for which she received Drama Desk Award and Drama League Award nominations. She reprised her Tony Award-winning role as Elphaba in the West End production of Wicked when it opened at London's Apollo Victoria Theater on September 7, 2006. During the run, she joined the ranks of highest paid female performer in the West End at $30,000 per week. Menzel finished her West End run on December 30, 2006. She was succeeded by Elphaba standby Kerry Ellis.
Menzel played the role of Florence in the 21st Anniversary concert of Chess at the Royal Albert Hall, London from May 12–13, 2008, alongside Kerry Ellis, Adam Pascal and Josh Groban.
In 2008, Menzel headlined the Powerhouse Theatre's reading of Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik's musical Nero from July 1–11. She performed the role of Nero’s mistress Poppea.
Menzel's film roles include appearances in Just a Kiss, Kissing Jessica Stein, Tollbooth, Water, Ask the Dust, Enchanted, and Rent, in which she and five other original cast members reprised their stage roles. As a singer Menzel is known for her wide vocal range, and her use of the 'belt' technique.
Menzel performed at the 1998 Lilith Fair summer concert festival and continues to write and perform original music. She has toured extensively and frequently performs in various venues throughout New York City. She produced and released her debut album, Still I Can’t Be Still, for Hollywood Records in 1998. One single from the album, "Minuet," made the Radio & Records CHR/Pop Tracks chart at #48 in October 1998.
Her second album, Here, was released independently by Zel Records in 2004. Menzel has contributed to soundtracks, including those for the film The Other Sister and the ABC television dramedy Desperate Housewives. In 2007, she appeared on the Beowulf soundtrack singing the end credits song, "A Hero Comes Home." Also in 2007, Menzel's powerful singing voice lead her to be asked to accompany the baritone British X-Factor runner-up Rhydian Roberts on his debut album, duetting on the song "What If."
Her third solo album, I Stand, was released on January 29, 2008. The CD includes many new songs, including the lead single, "Brave," the title track "I Stand," and a song released on EP, "Gorgeous." The album debuted at #58 in the Billboard 200 making it the first solo album by Menzel to make the charts. There are five versions of this album: the original version, the special limited edition, the iTunes version, the Barnes & Noble edition, and the Borders edition.
On April 1, 2008, Menzel kicked off her "I Stand" tour in support of her new album.
On November 11, 2008, Menzel released a new single in conjunction with Major League Baseball. The single is entitled "Hope" and all proceeds go to Stand Up 2 Cancer.
On November 27, 2008, Menzel performed "I Stand" on the M&M Candies float as part of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
On December 10, 2009, it was confirmed that Menzel was in negotiations to have a recurring role on Glee. In Spring 2010, Menzel began playing the role of Shelby Corcoran, the coach of the opposing Glee club, Vocal Adrenaline. She was also revealed as Rachel Berry's biological mother.
When asked about 'Defying Gravity' being sung on Glee, Idina was asked about her musical future. She said that the long-rumored movie version of 'Wicked' would probably not be green-lit until there's a dip in its Broadway grosses.
Idina also said that she had met with Andrew Lloyd Webber about taking the role of Betty Schaefer in his much delayed Sunset Boulevard film adaptation. As of February 2010, it is widely believed that Idina is no longer part of Sunset Boulevard as she wanted the role enlarged, to the refusal of Lloyd-Webber.
Menzel married actor Taye Diggs, her co-star from the original Broadway production of Rent, on January 11, 2003 after 7 years of dating. They have a Yorkshire Terrier named Sammy Davis Jr. and two cats named Ella and Coltrane, whom they call their "Jazz Cats" because they were named after famous jazz performers. On December 6, 2004, it was reported by the New York Post that Menzel and Diggs were threatened with harm in a series of letters because of their interracial marriage. Their son, Walker Nathaniel Diggs, was born on September 2, 2009.
Menzel was an Honorary Chair of the Imperial Court of New York's Annual Charity Coronation Ball, Night of A Thousand Gowns on March 21, 2009. Other Honorary Chairs for the evening's charity event included Sir Elton John CBE, Patti LuPone, John Cameron Mitchell, Joan Rivers and Dame Robin Strasser.
Brave
Idina Menzel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And tomorrow, it's a little overwhelming
And the air is cold
And I'm not the same anymore
I've been running in your direction
For to long now
I've lost my own reflection
And I can't look down
[Chorus]
If this is the moment I stand here on my own
If this is my rite of passage that somehow leads me home
I might be afraid
But it's my turn to be brave
If this is the last chance before we say goodbye
At least it's the first day of the rest of my life
I can't be afraid
Cause it's my turn to be brave
All along all I ever wanted, was to be the light
When your life was daunting
But I can't see mine
When I feel as though you're pushing me away
Well who's to blame, are we making the right choices
Cause we can't be sure if we're hearing our own voices
As we close the door even though we are so desperate to stay
[Chorus]
And I might still cry
And I might still bleed
These thorns in my side
This heart on my sleeve
And lightening may strike
This ground at my feet
And I might still crash
But I still believe
This is the moment I stand here all alone
With everything I have inside, everything I own
I might be afraid
But it's my turn to be brave
If this is the last time before we say goodbye
At least it's the first day of the rest of my life
I can't be afraid
Cause it's my turn to be brave
The lyrics to Idina Menzel's song "Brave" delve into the theme of stepping out of one's comfort zone and taking risks, despite feelings of fear and uncertainty. The opening lines express a sense of confusion and being lost, both physically and emotionally. The daunting task of facing an unknown future seems overwhelming, and the singer is aware that she has changed.
She then reveals that she has been following someone else's lead for too long and has lost sight of her identity. The idea of falling, both metaphorically and literally, without the support of the person she has been following is a significant concern for her. However, the chorus represents a shift in her mindset, as she acknowledges that it's time for her to take control of her life. She sees this moment as an opportunity to step out on her own and embrace the unknown. The use of the phrase "my turn to be brave" emphasizes the idea of taking ownership of one's life.
The second verse highlights the desire to be a source of strength for someone else, but the singer is struggling to find her own way. The implication is that both individuals may be uncertain of the choices they are making, and the situation seems dire. However, the chorus reaffirms the singer's decision to be brave, as she faces this moment of transition.
The final lines of the song bring the full circle, returning to the opening lines but with a newfound sense of strength and determination. The singer has accepted the possibility of failure and understands that it's not a guarantee of success. However, she refuses to give up and is ready to face whatever may come her way.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't know just where I'm going
I feel lost and confused about what lies ahead.
And tomorrow, it's a little overwhelming
The thought of the future is daunting and scary.
And the air is cold
The environment doesn't feel as warm and comforting as before.
And I'm not the same anymore
I no longer feel the way I used to in the past.
I've been running in your direction
I've been doing everything in my power to keep us together.
For too long now
I've been putting in a lot of effort for an extended period to make it work, and I feel burnt out.
I've lost my own reflection
I feel like I've lost myself in trying to chase after what I thought was right for us.
And I can't look down
I can't look back at how things used to be and feel okay with it.
If you're not there to catch me when I fall
If you're not here to support me and make me feel secure, then falling apart is inevitable.
If this is the moment I stand here on my own
If this is the time when I have to rely on just myself.
If this is my rite of passage that somehow leads me home
If this is a phase I need to go through which would eventually take me back to where I'm supposed to be.
I might be afraid
I'm scared.
But it's my turn to be brave
It's time for me to gather my courage and do what needs to be done.
If this is the last chance before we say goodbye
If this is our final opportunity to make it work.
At least it's the first day of the rest of my life
If things don't work out, it's a chance for a new beginning.
I can't be afraid
I can't let fear overcome me.
Cause it's my turn to be brave
I need to stand up for myself now.
All along all I ever wanted, was to be the light
All I ever wanted was to brighten up your life.
When your life was daunting
When things got too hard for you to manage.
But I can't see mine
Unfortunately, I can't see my own life clearly anymore.
When I feel as though you're pushing me away
When I feel like you're rejecting me and my efforts.
Well who's to blame, are we making the right choices
I'm not sure whose fault it is or if we're doing the right thing.
Cause we can't be sure if we're hearing our own voices
We are unsure if we are listening to our own thoughts and not just the ones we think others want us to have.
As we close the door even though we are so desperate to stay
Despite wanting to hold on, we might have to accept that it's time to let go.
And I might still cry
I know I will be emotional.
And I might still bleed
I know it will still hurt.
These thorns in my side
These obstacles I face.
This heart on my sleeve
My emotions exposed and vulnerable.
And lightening may strike
Something terrible might happen.
This ground at my feet
This stability I thought I had.
And I might still crash
I know I might fail.
But I still believe
I still have faith in myself.
This is the moment I stand here all alone
This is the moment where I stand by myself and face the future head-on.
With everything I have inside, everything I own
With everything I possess, including my courage and determination.
I might be afraid
I still feel scared.
But it's my turn to be brave
I have to be courageous and remain strong.
If this is the last time before we say goodbye
If this is our last opportunity to make it work before we have to walk away.
At least it's the first day of the rest of my life
At least I have a chance to begin anew and embark on a new journey.
I can't be afraid
I can't allow fear to take over.
Cause it's my turn to be brave
It's my time to be brave and confident in myself.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: GLEN BALLARD, IDINA MENZEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@idinamenzel
Check out my new video 'Move': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIJ_Xg5v-NU
@bkeels002
Just goes to show her vocal talent. She can play a character like Elsa and give her her own unique voice thats noticeably different than her natural singing voice, but still just as good. That's a pretty rare ability for a singer.
@LivvieLockefan
I have seen some comments on Idina videos complaining about people knowing her from only Frozen and I just wanted to say that in my case Frozen is what introduced me to Idina and than on to her other projects. I can't believe I didn't know who this amazing woman was until I saw Frozen. I looked up who sang Let It Go because I was so impressed by the vocals and I started watching Idina interviews and while here it is over two years later and I have bought both the DVD and soundtrack for Rent and have listened to and watched it over a dozen of times. I also bought all of Idina's cds (I stand etc) I have also bought the soundtrack to Wicked and If/Then and bought the DVD Enchanted too. Idina is an amazingly talented woman and an amazing person. So yes I do know her because of Frozen but she is so much more now than just Elsa, Maureen, Elphaba, Elizabeth, Nancy etc, she is Idina Menzel and that's the best personality of all. So I am glad to have seen Frozen and gotten to know who Idina is. And yes I do got to say Frozen is a pretty good movie:)
@darbymcneill7795
Preach🙌🏽
@spencerwinters
it comes to a point where if you want that person to succeed, it doesn't matter how a fan gets to know of her. All it takes it one little thing for a person to want to find out all about her career and look up all her works, isn't it? And isn't that a good thing? I'd say that's a good thing :)
@briannaobrien-young5576
I was introduced to her by Frozen as well! but I definitely don't just see her as Elsa. like you I see her as the amazing person she is! I've watched Rent, Enchanted, If/Then, Wicked, Aida, Hair, Glee, Frozen, Nero, her part in Hercules, The Wild Party clips, See What I Wanna See clips, Summer of 42 audios, Water, and The Tollbooth a million times along with interviews, music videos, home videos she's made and everything else! My friends think I'm obsessed haha. I am so proud to be a Fanzel and my love for this incredible person grows so much deeper then the roots of Frozen! I love the movie but I know that she's more then that! just because someone is introduced to her through it doesn't mean they love her any less it just means that's one more fan to support her and make her even more successful! IM ❤
@amyrose754
actually, i wasn't got introduced to her by frozen, i got introduced by glee
@dragonfire2205
check out some of her stuff from her stuff in wicked the musical
@honperryhill1687
Why doesn't this beautiful song have more views?
@scottmattis2650
Love this anthem , why we don't hear song more !