Her albums, recorded with musicians including her brother, bassist David Seidel, have been nominated for prizes such as the ARIA Music Awards. Her album Moon of Manakoora won the Bell Award for Best Australian Jazz Vocal Album in 2006.
Seidel was described as a "virtual institution" in her country. She was a music teacher at Sydney Girls High School.
She died on 8 August 2017 after a battle against cancer.
Discography
1994 Little Jazz Bird
1994 Winter Moon
1995 Doodlin
1997 The Art of Lounge
1998 The Way You Wear Your Hat
1999 The Art of Lounge Volume 2
2000 Love Letters
2001 Doris & Me
2002 Dont Smoke in Bed
2003 Comme Ci, Comme Ça
2003 The Art of Lounge Volume 3
2004 Dear Blossom
2004 Hooray for Christmas
2005 Moon of Manakoora
2005 Delovely
2007 We Get Requests
2007 Charade – Henry Mancini Song Book
2011 Janet Seidel – Live in Taipai (DVD)
Spanish Harlem
Janet Seidel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A red rose up in Spanish Harlem
It is a special one, it's never seen the sun
It only comes out when the moon is on the run
And all the stars are gleaming
It's growing in the street right up through the concrete
But soft and sweet and dreaming
A red rose up in Spanish Harlem
With eyes as black as coal that look down in my soul
And starts a fire there and then I lose control
I have to beg your pardon
I'm going to pick that rose
And watch her as she grows in my garden
I'm going to pick that rose
And watch her as she grows in my garden
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la-la
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la-la
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
The song "Spanish Harlem" talks about a rose that grows in the streets of Spanish Harlem, which is a neighborhood in upper Manhattan, New York City. The lyrics describe a red rose, which is an unusual sight in such a concrete environment. The singer talks about how the rose only blooms at night when the moon and stars are shining. There is a sense of magic and mystery to this rose as it defies the odds by growing through the concrete.
As the song progresses, the singer talks about how the rose has eyes as black as coal that look down into her soul and start a fire within her. The rose has a powerful effect on the singer, causing her to lose control. She feels compelled to pick the rose and watch it grow in her garden. This represents the desire to possess something beautiful and unique that defies the odds.
The song is a tribute to the neighborhood of Spanish Harlem and the vibrancy of the community. The rose represents the resilience and beauty of the people who live there despite the challenges they face. The lyrics also evoke a sense of longing and desire, as the singer yearns to possess something that is special and unique.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a rose in Spanish Harlem
In the neighborhood of Spanish Harlem, there is a rose plant.
A red rose up in Spanish Harlem
This rose plant has red-colored petals.
It is a special one, it's never seen the sun
This rose plant grows in a place where it does not get direct exposure to sunlight.
It only comes out when the moon is on the run
The plant blooms only during night-time when the moon is visible.
And all the stars are gleaming
The plant has an ethereal beauty that is further enhanced when the stars are shining bright.
It's growing in the street right up through the concrete
The plant is growing on the street despite the unfavorable conditions like the hard concrete beneath it.
But soft and sweet and dreaming
However, the plant is still characterized by its gentleness, sweetness, and imagination.
With eyes as black as coal that look down in my soul
The rose plant has petals that have a deep, dark color- resembling coal- and seem to have a profound insight into the artist's soul.
And starts a fire there and then I lose control
The plant's beauty and depth somehow ignite passion and emotions in the artist, which makes them feel like they are losing control.
I have to beg your pardon
The artist apologizes for being overwhelmed by the emotions they are feeling.
I'm going to pick that rose
The singer decides to take the rose with them.
And watch her as she grows in my garden
The artist plans to carefully cultivate and tend to the rose plant, to watch the plant bloom in their own garden.
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
The song ends with the repetition of the opening line, emphasizing the beauty of the rose plant in Spanish Harlem.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jerry Leiber, Phil Spector
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind