Doing what she loves most, making beautiful music, Kate Ceberano found she shared a musical connection with Mark Isham. After performing together recently in the US and forming a great musical bond, our Australian singer, songwriter, actor and multiple ARIA award winner and Grammy Award winner Mark Isham were joined on a quest based on their mutual love for “bitter-sweet, brokenhearted love song” from the 30's, 40's and 50's.
Both Mark and Kate set about listing their favourite songs from the era and found that they had many in common. One month later they recorded a beautiful album with Alan Pasqua, Tom Warrington, and Peter Erskine filling out the band on piano, bass and drums respectively.
A whirlwind adventure in the studio resulted in 15 spectacular tracks, all recorded live, and full of love and longing. An album that could only be aptly titled, ?Bittersweet', joining the already long list of Kate Ceberano's achievements. With five Platinum albums, four Gold albums and over 1 million albums sold in Australia alone, Kate's bittersweet musical journey is set to continue.
2008 saw the release of Kate Ceberano's 17th album So Much Beauty, the summation of everything that has made this Australian singer exceptional in the past and makes her exceptional still. This is where she's come to, thanks in part to where she's been. In 2007, Kate saluted the 80's with her album Nine Lime Avenue, a tribute to a decade that she holds close to her heart. In fact, the album was named after her childhood street. Nine Lime Avenue was recorded in an unbelievable three weeks, whilst Kate was also tearing up the stage on season six of Channel 7's Dancing With The Stars, of which she was crowned champion. The show was the third highest rated TV program of 2007, beaten only by the AFL and NRL Grand Finals.
“The songs are recorded in Melbourne and are nostalgic. I hope they inspire others to
reminisce in time as well.” Says Kate Ceberano.
Inspire they did, as we saw the album shoot to #5 in the ARIA charts, and achieve Platinum sales. Kate followed this success by embarking on her national Nine Lime Avenue theatre tour along with Dancing With The Stars partner John-Paul Collins, which was a sell-out.
These albums follow a string of award winning accomplishments. Ceberano has released 17 albums and has six Platinum and four Gold records under her belt. She has performed countless sell-out tours, starred in acclaimed feature films and hosted her own television show Kate & Friends.
Kate first found fame with her funk band I'm Talking, a group that was managed by Ken West, who went on to found the Big Day Out with partner Vivien Lees. The group's album produced three top ten singles, went Platinum and won Best New Talent (1984) at the Countdown Awards. Kate won Best Female Vocalist (1985) at the Countdown Awards as well as Best Female Singer (1985) at the Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA) Awards. However after just one album, the group broke up and Kate went solo, and it was in the late 80s that she started to gain reputed success for her soul, jazz and pop repertoire.
“I get so frustrated with how I see people give up too soon in this industry,” says Ceberano who has been nominated for ARIA awards seven times, a figure matched only by Kylie Minogue. “You can be dissuaded from wanting to continue in the music business, but you have got to weather out the hard knocks. My mother gave me the greatest compliment of my life when she said; the thing with Kate is that she recovers fast. And that is how you have to be. You just can't give up; everyone is going to have an opinion about you. Everyone is going to love and hate you. You just have to soldier on.”
Kate's first solo album was the live set Kate Ceberano and Her Septet (1987). Her following album You've Always Got The Blues (1988) earned her an ARIA Award for Best Female Artist (1988). One year later, she won another ARIA for Best Female Artist (1989), as well as one for Highest Selling Single (1989) for Bedroom Eyes from her triple platinum album, Brave. At the end of 1990, she received three prestigious MO Awards for Jazz Performer, Female Rock Performer and Contemporary Concert Performer of the Year.
IIn 1992, Kate performed the role of Mary in Jesus Christ Superstar. The show (which also featured John Farnham) toured nationally, and the album was the biggest hit of the year – going an incredible 4 x Platinum. Kate followed this with her own late-night cabaret-style show on ABC TV called Kate Ceberano And Friends (1993-1994). In 1996 Kate released her next solo album Blue Box, which went Gold and saw her nominated for another Best Female Arist ARIA. In 1997 Kate wrote and released what has become an Australian classic – Pash. It went Gold and established Kate as one of our leading female songwriters.
Many fabulous and widely acclaimed albums were to follow, including 19 Days In New York, an album of jazz favourites recorded whilst living in New York, and 2005's LIVE with the West Australian Sympony Orchestra, which Kate considers to be one of the highlights of her career.
Like many high-profile musicians, Kate Ceberano is known to use her celebrity to support and bring awareness to causes close to her heart; recently being appointed the Victorian Ambassador for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Her role sees her help raise funds and awareness about an illness that affects many lives. “I like to be as involved as I possibly can in causes I feel strongly about,” says Ceberano of her appointment. “Yes I am a musician, but if I can do more to help others then I will.” As a female artist that has been in the Australian music industry for over twenty-five years, Kate Ceberano has defied all the odds and continues to find success in all that she does.
“I know I am privileged to be where I am at in my career. I don't take anything for granted,” she says. “I am very thrilled to have this opportunity to follow my love of music, but I work hard to be where I am.”
Courage
Kate Ceberano Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ceberano - Courage Kate
*************************
Ceberano / Mark Goldenberg Sometimes
I drown in my own moods If
I feel wrong or just confused You
never desert me And
Ive mistaken your intention You
know I didn't mean to When
I get dark and overcome You
humour me through till the clouds have gone I
never embarrass you Your
ways are sneaking up on me You
give me truth that I can see Youve
got some courage to love me At
times I am my worst enemy Instead
of making me wrong you hold me in your arms You
make the bed and you lie me down You
tell me stories until I am calm You
don't patronise me Your
ways are sneaking up on me You
give me truth that I can see Youve
got some courage to love me Love
me ohhhoooo aahh
hhaaa Your
ways are sneaking up on me You
give me truth that I can see Youve
got some courage to love me x 5
The song "Courage" by Kate Ceberano is a beautiful ode to a partner who stands by and supports the singer through thick and thin. The opening lines of the song highlight the singer's vulnerability and how they depend on their partner's unwavering presence in their life. The lyrics go on to express how the singer's partner doesn't judge or abandon them, even if they make mistakes or go through difficult times. The song is essentially an emotional acknowledgment of the depth of love and courage that it takes to stand by someone even when they're not at their best.
The singer also talks about how her partner's support and love have helped her overcome her own demons, making her feel valued and appreciated. The lyrics also speak to the intimacy of the relationship, describing how her partner makes her feel safe and loved by sharing stories and calming her down whenever she gets anxious. The chorus is a repeating affirmation of the partner's love and courage in standing by and loving the singer through all their flaws and imperfections.
Overall, the song is a beautiful expression of gratitude and love for a supportive partner who has remained steadfast through difficult times, providing the courage and love necessary to come out on the other side.
Line by Line Meaning
I drown in my own moods
I struggle with my emotions and can get lost in them
If I feel wrong or just confused
When I don't feel like myself or don't know what to think or feel
You never desert me
You always support me and never abandon me
And if I make the wrong impression
If I give off the wrong idea or message
If I've mistaken your intention
If I misunderstood your purpose or motive
You know I didn't mean to
You understand that my actions were not intentional
When I get dark and overcome
When I become overwhelmed with negative thoughts and feelings
You humour me through till the clouds have gone
You make me feel better by making me laugh until my mood improves
I never embarrass you
I don't do things that would make you feel ashamed or uncomfortable
Your ways are sneaking up on me
Your actions and love are slowly winning me over
You give me truth that I can see
You share your honest thoughts and feelings with me
You've got some courage to love me
You are strong and brave to love someone who struggles with their emotions and self-worth
At times I am my worst enemy
I can be self-destructive and harmful to myself
Instead of making me wrong you hold me in your arms
You comfort and support me instead of criticizing me for my flaws
You make the bed and you lie me down
You take care of me and help me relax
You tell me stories until I am calm
You distract me from my worries and help me feel at peace
You don't patronise me
You treat me as an equal and don't talk down to me
Love me ohhhoooo aahh hhaaa
Expressing desire for the listener to love her
Your ways are sneaking up on me
Your actions and love are slowly winning me over
You give me truth that I can see
You share your honest thoughts and feelings with me
You've got some courage to love me
You are strong and brave to love someone who struggles with their emotions and self-worth
Contributed by Sarah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Lucy Burke
Lovely @kateceberano xx