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.
Walking in the Air
Joseph McManners Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We're floating in the moonlit sky
The people far below are sleeping as we fly
I'm holding very tight
I'm riding in the midnight blue
I'm finding I can fly so high above with you
The villages go by like dreams
The rivers and the hills
The forests and the streams
Children gaze open mouthed
Taken by surprise
Nobody down below believes their eyes
We're surfing in the air
We are swimming in the frozen sky
We are drifting over icy mountains floating by
Suddenly swooping low
On an ocean deep
Rousing up a mighty monster from its sleep
We're walking in the air
we're dancing in the midnight sky
And everyone who sees us greets us as we fly
The song "Walking in the Air" by Joseph McManners is a beautiful and eerie tune that describes a dreamlike experience of floating and flying through the air. The lyrics use vivid imagery to illustrate the sensation of being suspended in the sky, looking down on the world below. The singer describes holding on tight and feeling like he can fly so high with his companion. They glide across the world, passing by villages and natural wonders like rivers, hills, forests, and streams. The children on the ground are amazed by the sight, but no one believes what they see.
The song builds momentum as the pair begins to surf and swim through the sky, even drifting over icy mountains. The lyrics become more intense as they suddenly swoop low over an ocean, stirring up a sleeping sea monster. The final verse repeats the earlier lines, with the added element of dancing and greeting people as they fly.
One interpretation of the song is that it represents a child's innermost desire to fly and explore the world without any limits or boundaries. The dream-like quality of the lyrics and the haunting melody also suggest a longing for escape from reality, perhaps a feeling of being trapped or limited in everyday life. The song's power lies in its evocative imagery and the way it captures a universal human fantasy of breaking free and soaring above worldly constraints.
Line by Line Meaning
We're walking in the air
We are experiencing a surreal and magical dreamlike state
We're floating in the moonlit sky
We are weightlessly gliding through the sky illuminated by the moon
The people far below are sleeping as we fly
The people who are grounded and unaware of our journey are sleeping soundly
I'm holding very tight
I am grasping on tightly and securely
I'm riding in the midnight blue
I am traveling through the dark blue atmosphere of the night sky
I'm finding I can fly so high above with you
With your company, I am able to explore greater heights and reach new heights of freedom
On across the world
We are traveling across vast distances
The villages go by like dreams
The rural communities flash by almost like a figment of one's imagination
The rivers and the hills, the forests and the streams
The natural landscape and scenery pass us by, with awe-inspiring beauty
Children gaze open mouthed
The young observers are astounded, unable to close their mouths with amazement
Taken by surprise
The observers are utterly shocked and bewildered by our unexpected presence
Nobody down below believes their eyes
The people on the ground are in complete disbelief of what they're witnessing
We're surfing in the air
We are carefree and riding the waves of the atmosphere
We are swimming in the frozen sky
We are floating weightlessly through the frozen and cold sky yet feel warmth and coziness
We are drifting over icy mountains floating by
We are gliding idly over the frigid mountaintops that slip by below
Suddenly swooping low
We rapidly and unexpectedly drop down towards the ground
On an ocean deep
We make our way over immeasurable and expansive bodies of water
Rousing up a mighty monster from its sleep
We stir up a colossal and fearsome creature from its slumber
We're walking in the air
We continue to explore this magical and surreal state
we're dancing in the midnight sky
We add new dimensions to our dreamlike journey, filled with playful expression and motion
And everyone who sees us greets us as we fly
All those who witness our flight, joyfully acknowledge and welcome our presence
Contributed by Alaina C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@charlietango5163
He has an incredibly beautiful voice and he is so cute. Well done!!
@sexynat50
He's adorable with an incredible voice.
@MTheChequeGuy
People are always quick to judge something by its cover. This lad is singing beautifully... and sharing something beautiful with everyone. Only if kids these days did that more often!
@littlecherubs
WOW!! He is fantastic... Definately 5 stars for this little dude!!
@dejagrace
he is a child... and a beautiful one at that......to all of you who judge him, when do we see YOUR video?
@AzoTeam
Awsome singing Tears in my eyes now ;) 5 Stars no excusing !! Keep the good work up and go.. your going to be a star ! :)
@haibu128
Best performer in Hot Fuzz.
@hinlee4610
He is very sweet so as his voice.
@ineke62
Tears in my eyes! Well done!
@akuto17
amazing!!! amazing!!! amazing!!! you have a voice like an angel!!!