Velasquez grew up attending church and her parents were singers. Her mother has Mexican ancestry; From both sides of her family, Velasquez also has Spanish, French, Jewish, Scottish, and Arabic ancestry.[1] When she was ten years old, her parents sold their Houston home and dedicated themselves to touring the United States with their Christian music. It was while on the road that she was discovered by a representative of Myrrh Records.
In 1995, Velasquez sang at an Alvin, Texas church (ESMIRNA) where she met Mauricio Ruiz, a local immigration consultant, as well as his wife, Flora Ruiz. They made a large contribution in support of Velasquez and her parents. This helped her and her family to travel the United States and launch her singing career.
Velasquez released her first CD album in 1996, and five of the songs on that CD became #1 hits, the album was later certified Platinum. She has since released six English-language albums, two of which were certified Gold. She has produced 16 #1 Christian radio hits and six other top 10 singles. She has won 7 Dove awards including New Artist of the Year and 2 Female Vocalist of the Year nods. In 1998, she signed to Sony Latin and was introduced to Rudy Perez, who produced her 1st Spanish language crossover album Llegar a Ti. After that, Velasquez was able to achieve the crossover appeal she desired, building a fan base among Hispanics as well as other Americans. Her Latin music success includes 4 Spanish language releases, 3 #1 Latin Billboard Singles, 2 Platinum albums, a Premio Lo Nuestro Award for New Artist of the Year and 2 Billboard Latin Music Awards. Velasquez was given a chance in 2002 to act in her first Hollywood movie, Chasing Papi. As well as Velasquez, this movie featured Sofia Vergara, Puerto Rico's Roselyn Sanchez and Mexico's Eduardo Verastegui, as well as Nicole Scherzinger in a cameo role; it was released nationwide in the United States in April 2003. The movie reached as high as #11 at the box office and grossed $6 million in total. Velasquez has appeared in over 50 magazines and sang for President George W. Bush multiple times.
On August 16, 2003, Velasquez married Darren Potuck, band member of AutoVaughn, who is from Goshen, Indiana. They were married under two years when divorce papers were filed. Attempts to get the public records of the divorce have been unsuccessful.
Velasquez communicated with Christian radio, asking for prayers for emotional and spiritual healing rather than speaking about the divorce in vivid detail as some listeners had hoped.
Velasquez appeared in the December 2003 issue of Right On! magazine, where editor Cynthia Horner called her, among other things, a true role model to teens.
---DISCOGRAPHY, SINGLES AND VIDEOS---
CG= Christian Gospel Billboard Chart
HLT= Hot Latin Tracks Billboard Chart
TB2: The Billboard 200
TLA: Top Latin Albums Billboard Chart
HDCP: Hot Dance Music/Club Play
-Heavenly Place (1996) TB2=142 Platinum
*Un lugar celestial (a heavenly place).video.#1 CG
*On My kness .video. #1 CG
*If this world #1 CG
*We can make a difference #1 CG
*Flower in the rain. #1 CG
-Jaci Velasquez (1998) TB2=56 Gold
*God So Loved .video. #1 CG
*Look What Love Has Done #1 CG
*Show You Love #1 CG
*Speak For Me #1 CG
*You #1 CG
-Llegar A Ti (1999) TLA=4 Platinum
*Llegar a ti .video. #1 HLT
*De creer en ti .video. #18 HLT
*Sólo tú #4 HLT
*Un lugar celestial #10 HLT
*Love Will Find You (Llegar A Ti)#24 HDCP
-Crystal Clear (2000) TB2=29 Gold
*Adore .video. #1 GC
*Imagine me without you #1 CG
*Center Of Your Love #1 CG
*Everytime I fall #1 CG
*Just a prayer away #1 CG
-Mi Corazón (2001) TLA=7 Gold
*Como se cura una herida .video. #1 HLT
*Dejame quererte para siempre
-Christmas (2001) TB2=102
-Navidad (2001) TLA= 23
-Unspoken (2003) TB2=55
*You're My God
*Jesus Is
*Lost Without You
*Where I Belong
*Unspoken
-Milagro (2003) TLA=24
*No hace falta un hombre .video. #5 HLT
*Es amor
-Protagonistas de la música (special appearance)
*No Me Rendiré with Pablo Portillo #19 HTL
-Mi Historia Musical (2004)
-Beauty Has Grace (2005) TB2=195
*With all my soul
*I'm not looking down
*Lay it down
-On My Knees: The Best of Jaci Velasquez (2006)
I'll Be Home For Christmas
Jaci Velasquez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Even more than I usually do
And although I know, it's a long road back
I promise you
I'll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents under the tree
Where the love light leads
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
Oh, Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light leads
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
If only in my dreams...
In Jaci Velasquez's version of "I'll Be Home for Christmas," the singer expresses her deep longing to be home for Christmas. She dreams of the place she loves so much, even more than she usually does. She is aware that it's a long road back, but she promises that she will be home for Christmas. The singer tells her loved ones that they can count on her, and she wishes for snow, mistletoe, and presents under the tree. She sings about how Christmas Eve will find her where the love light leads, which alludes to the idea that she will follow her heart and the love that she has for her family to get back home. Then, the song ends with the singer admitting that she may only be able to be home for Christmas in her dreams.
Overall, the song conveys the emotion of homesickness and the desire to be reunited with loved ones during the holiday season. Despite the obstacles in the way, the singer promises to do everything in her power to be home for Christmas. The song is a beautiful reminder of the value of family and the importance of reconnecting with loved ones during the holidays.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm dreaming tonight of a place I love
I'm deeply thinking about a place I have high regards for
Even more than I usually do
My current feelings for that place is even stronger than it usually is
And although I know, it's a long road back
Despite the knowledge that the journey back to that place is lengthy
I promise you
I swear to you
I'll be home for Christmas
I will return to that place in time for Christmas
You can count on me
You can rely on me to fulfill that promise
Please have snow and mistletoe
I hope you have snow and mistletoe in that place
And presents under the tree
Also, gifts under the Christmas tree
Christmas Eve will find me
I will be there on Christmas Eve
Where the love light leads
Exactly where my love and passion for that place takes me
I'll be home for Christmas
I'll be back there for Christmas
If only in my dreams
Even if I can only imagine it in my mind
Oh, Christmas Eve will find me
On Christmas Eve I will be there
Where the love light leads
Taking the path that my passion leads me to
I'll be home for Christmas
I will definitely be there for Christmas
If only in my dreams
Even if it's only in my imagination
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Buck Ram, Walter Kent, Kim Gannon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind