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.
Something to Live For
Jane Monheit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cars and houses to light my fire
But there's something missing
Something isn't there
It seems I never kissing the one that I could care for
I want something to live for
Someone to make my life an adventurous dream
Someone who'd take my life and make it seem
Gay as they say it ought to be
Why can't I have love like that brought to me?
My eye is watching the noon crowds
Searching the promenades seeking a clue
To the one who will someday be my
Something to live for
Something to live for
Something to live for
The lyrics of Jane Monheit's song "Something to Live For" deal with the theme of wealth not being able to buy true happiness. She acknowledges that she has everything that a person could want, such as cars and houses, but there is still something missing in her life. This missing factor is having someone special in her life, someone who can make her life an "adventurous dream" and bring joy to her existence.
The lyrics reflect a sense of longing and an overwhelming desire to find that one special person who will complete their life. They're searching for that someone who will turn their life into something magical, fulfilling, and exciting. The singer is wandering through the streets, gazing out into the crowd, attempting to locate that elusive someone.
The song is really about realizing that wealth and material possessions can only bring superficial happiness, whilst true happiness can only be found in genuine human relationships. The lyrics are optimistic in spirit, conveying hope for the future and a belief that one day the right person will come along.
Line by Line Meaning
I have almost everything a human could desire
I have almost all the material possessions one could desire
Cars and houses to light my fire
I have fancy cars and luxurious houses to fulfill my needs and desires
But there's something missing
But despite having all these material possessions, I still feel empty inside
Something isn't there
There is a void that cannot be filled by material things
It seems I never kissing the one that I could care for
It feels like I have not found the right person to love and care for
I want something to live for
I want someone or something that would make my life more meaningful
Someone to make my life an adventurous dream
I want a person who can make my life exciting and full of adventures
Oh, what wouldn't I give for
I am willing to do anything to find that special someone
Someone who'd take my life and make it seem
I want a person who can transform my life into something special and worth living for
Gay as they say it ought to be
I want my life to be filled with happiness and joy, just as it should be
Why can't I have love like that brought to me?
I wonder why I have not found love that can bring meaning and happiness to my life
My eye is watching the noon crowds
I am keeping an eye out for potential partners as I watch the crowds during the day
Searching the promenades seeking a clue
I am searching the streets and promenades for hints to lead me to my perfect match
To the one who will someday be my
To the one who will someday become my partner and make my life complete
Something to live for
Someone or something that would give my life meaning and purpose
Something to live for
Someone or something that would give my life meaning and purpose
Something to live for
Someone or something that would give my life meaning and purpose
Contributed by Lucas Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.