Born in Oakdale, New York on Long Island, Monheit began singing professionally while attending Connetquot High School. At 17, she began studying at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City under the tutelage of Peter Eldridge. At the age of 20, as a senior, she won the first runner-up prize at the 1998 Thelonious Monk Institute Vocal Competition. In 1999, she received her Bachelor's degree in music.
Monheit's voice has been compared to that of Ella Fitzgerald, whom she lists as one of her influences. Songs she has recorded range from jazz standards to MGM/RKO musicals of the 1930s-1950s and Brazilian rhythms such as "Começar de novo".
Monheit released her debut album, Never Never Land in October 2000 and it became an instant success. This was followed shortly by her second album, Come Dream With Me (May 2001) and her third, In The Sun (October 2002).
Her fourth album, Live at the Rainbow Room, was released in December 2003. A similarly-titled DVD was released to complement the CD.
Her fifth album, Taking a Chance on Love, was released in September 2004. It debuted at the #1 spot on Billboard's traditional jazz chart and entered Billboard's top 100 pop chart the first week it was released. The album included the song Over the Rainbow, which had been included in her previous release recorded at the Rainbow Room, and also in the soundtrack for the film, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.
The Taking a Chance on Love DVD was released in March 2005 and contains performances from the Brecon Jazz Festival in Wales, UK. Monheit released her sixth album, The Season, in October 2005. Her first holiday-themed album, it debuted in the top 10 on Billboard's jazz chart. Monheit told jazzreview.com that it was inspired by Ella Fitzgerald's holiday album, Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas.
The singer recently signed a recording contract with Concord Records. Her most recent album, Surrender, debuted at #1 on Billboard's jazz chart.
Começar de novo
Jane Monheit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Vai to be valid the penalty to have amanhecido
To have rebelled me, to have debated me
To have hurt me, to have survived
To have turned the table, to have known me
To have turned the boat, to have helped me
To start of new and counting on me
Without your always so safe claws
Without your ghost, your frame
Without your shorings, your domain
Without your spurs, your allure
To start of new and counting on me
Vai to be valid the penalty already to have forgotten you…
In "Começar De Novo," Jane Monheit sings about starting anew and taking responsibility for her life. She is determined to move forward and forget about a past relationship that was marked by dependency and control. The song has a spirit of liberation and self-discovery.
The opening lines suggest that the singer has gone through a lot of turmoil and pain, and now she is ready to start fresh. She feels empowered by the fact that she can count on herself and doesn't need anyone else to validate her existence. The repetition of "to have" emphasizes the range of experiences she has been through, including rebellion, self-reflection, and survival.
In the second stanza, the singer acknowledges that her past relationship was suffocating and restricted her freedom. She lists the things she is free from now that the relationship is over, such as her former partner's control, influence, and manipulation. The word "claws" suggests that her partner was possessive and controlling, while "ghost" and "frame" imply that she felt trapped in a relationship that wasn't really fulfilling. The singer is reclaiming her independence and realizing how much she has gained by leaving the relationship behind.
Overall, "Começar De Novo" celebrates the power of self-assertion and the possibilities that arise when we let go of unhealthy dynamics.
Line by Line Meaning
To embark on a new beginning and rely on myself
The consequences of having faced the morning will be worth it
To have rebelled against myself and fought my inner battles
To have felt pain, but still survived and overcome it
To have reversed my perspective of myself and gained self-awareness
To have changed direction in life and received help along the way
Starting anew and depending solely on myself
The consequences of facing the dawn without relying on you
Without your oppressive presence and dominance
Without the haunting memories and remnants of you
Without your restrictions and control over me
Without the influence of your seduction and charm
To begin again and the reward is in forgetting you...
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ivan Lins, Vitor Martins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jorgearzac
Beautiful arrangement on this piece by Ivan Lins. Great voice!
Marcio Alexandre Gouvea
Demais, demais. Very beautiful, wonderful.
Vinicius Melo
jeezz jane! ivan lins should see that.. im very impressed with the arrangement, the producer itself, and to your talent and light.. i became a fan of yours..
sandra5102
Bela vooooooooz.
Claitontesch Tesch
Gorgeous!!! Maravilhosa!!!!! Musa!!!!
John W ATL
The fabulous Tom Harrel brings it all together at the end. Jane is fabulous.
César Olavo
simply great. The question is: when are you coming to Brazil (and, if possible, Fortaleza ;-) ?