McManners decided to become a singer after he heard the song My Heart Will Go On whilst watching the film Titanic at the age of 8. He plays the violin and the piano and is learning to play the guitar.
McManners auditioned for the lead role in the BBC's operatic version of "The Little Prince" directed by Francesca Zambello and was chosen from 25000 others to play the part.[citation needed] During filming for "The Little Prince", he was spotted by executives from Sony BMG which led to a UK£2 million 4-album record deal.
McManners went to Prague together with his producer Nick Patrick in 2005 to record the music for his first album In Dreams. Most of the music was performed by the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, and Joseph's brother plays violin on "Where is Love The album was released on 5 December 2005.
His debut album release reached number five in the classical charts within a few daysThe album was nominated for "Album of the Year" at the 2006 Classical BRIT Awards and the release of "Bright Eyes" from the same album debuted at number one in Asian airplay.
In December 2006 it was reported that McManners had left Sony BMG over artistic differences. In the same year, Joseph was a guest singer at Liam Lawton's live concert held at the Dublin docklands, an event attended by almost 5,000 people. The orchestral arrangements were done by composer and arranger Nick Ingham.
Joseph's second album is currently being recorded and will be released some time next year.
In 2004, McManners starred as Oliver Twist in a local production of the play at Canterbury's Marlowe Theatre opposite Ron Moody who played Fagin in the 1968 film adaptation of the famous novel. He reprised his role as Oliver Twist two years later in the BBC's "Celebrate 'Oliver!'" presented by Shane Ritchie on 26 December 2005, and he appeared in an episode of BBC's The Sound of Musicals on 4 February 2006 (filmed in 2005).
McManners made his feature film acting debut in Hot Fuzz. He played the part of Gabriel who is described as being an 'angelic schoolboy'. The back-story and sub-plot surrounding his character was cut from the final version and can be found in the bonus material of the DVD. One reporter noted shortly after the film's release in early 2007 that because of Joseph's age, he was unable to legally view the film until his 15th birthday later that year.
It was also reported that McManners had turned down an earlier offer in 2005 to star as the young Hannibal Lecter in the Hollywood film about the serial killer's childhood called Hannibal Rising due to school and other commitments.
In the summer of 2007 Joseph attended an audition for the role of Eustace Scrubb, a character in the film, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, which is scheduled for release in 2009. However, the part went to British actor Will Poulter.
Pie Jesu
Joseph McManners Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
dona eis requiem
Requiem eternam
dona eis, Domine
dona eis, Domine
dona eis, Domine
dona eis, Domine
Pie Jesu, Domine
dona eis requiem
dona eis, Domine
dona eis, Domine
Requiem eternam
dona eis, Domine
dona eis, Domine
dona eis requiem
Pie Jesu, Domine
dona eis requiem
sempiternam requiem
sempiternam requiem
sempiternam requiem
dona eis, Domine
dona eis, Domine
dona eis, Domine
dona eis, Domine
sempiternam requiem
Pie Jesu, Domine
dona eis requiem
sempiternam requiem
The lyrics of Joseph McManners's song "Pie Jesu" are a prayer to God for the dead to find eternal rest. The opening lines "Pie Jesu, Domine" can be translated to "Merciful Jesus, Lord." The next line "dona eis requiem" means "grant them rest." The repeated phrase "dona eis, Domine" further emphasizes the plea for rest for the departed. The phrase "Requiem eternam" which means "Eternal rest" brings attention to the hope that the dead will not just find temporary rest, but a permanent one.
As the song progresses, the message is even stronger. The words "sempiternam requiem" is repeated three times, meaning "everlasting rest." The emphasis is now on the hope that the dead will not just find rest, but it will be permanent and eternal.
The emotion of the song is enhanced by the music, with the melody being very slow and seemingly heartbreaking. The use of Latin and the repetition of phrases makes "Pie Jesu" a deeply moving and powerful prayer for the dead.
Line by Line Meaning
Pie Jesu, Domine
Oh, merciful Jesus, Lord
dona eis requiem
grant them eternal rest
Requiem eternam
eternal rest
dona eis, Domine
give them, Lord
dona eis, Domine
give them, Lord
dona eis, Domine
give them, Lord
dona eis requiem
grant them eternal rest
Pie Jesu, Domine
Oh, merciful Jesus, Lord
Requiem eternam
eternal rest
dona eis, Domine
give them, Lord
dona eis, Domine
give them, Lord
dona eis requiem
grant them eternal rest
Pie Jesu, Domine
Oh, merciful Jesus, Lord
sempiternam requiem
eternal rest forever
sempiternam requiem
eternal rest forever
sempiternam requiem
eternal rest forever
dona eis, Domine
give them, Lord
dona eis, Domine
give them, Lord
dona eis, Domine
give them, Lord
sempiternam requiem
eternal rest forever
Pie Jesu, Domine
Oh, merciful Jesus, Lord
dona eis requiem
grant them eternal rest
sempiternam requiem
eternal rest forever
Contributed by Luke W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Robin Rice
nice voice Joseph McManners has, but the tempo is just TOO fast. it greatly takes away from the beauty of the song. I will still give you a like (the very first lie) just on your voice...