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\ Deeply influenced by jazz, singing came naturally for Kris. On those warm, sunny afternoons in Sacramento learning and singing in her parents' home, she studied the great jazz singers such as Anita O'Day, June Christy, Julie London, Peggy Lee, Rosemary Clooney, Ella Fitzgerald and Sheila Jordon, to name a few. These singers introduced her to ballads, swing, the great American songbook, cool jazz, bebop, and traditional jazz. Her musical style was also heavily influenced by bossa nova and samba, spending many hours studying and learning the styles of Antonio Carlos Jobim, Marcos K Valle, Lenny Andrade, Astrud Gilberto, Sergio Mendes, and Ellis Regina among others.
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\ Her love of composer Cole Porter and his music inspired Kris to choose his song "I Concentrate On You" as her debut CD. Her most recent appearances include KUNV 91.5 FM, Jazz Traditions with the Jazz Masters and KDWN 720AM Radio with Networking Experts, introducing her new CD in Las Vegas.
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\ Her past appearances in Las Vegas include The Plaza Hotel Jazz Brunch and Showroom, Just Jazz, The Mariposa, The Artisan, Steven David's, The Hurricane Jam Sessions, The Greek Isle Cast Party, The Bootlegger, The Sahara Hotel (As a Guest Singer). Kris has also performed for private events and political functions.
I Concentrate On You
Kris Russell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And trouble begins to brew,
Whenever the Winter winds become too strong,
I concentrate on you.
When fortune cries "Nay! Nay!" to me
And people declare "You're through!",
Whenever the blues become my only song,
I concentrate on you.
On your smile so sweet, so tender,
When at first your kiss I decline.
On the light in your eyes when I surrender,
And once again our arms intertwine
And so, when wise men say to me
That love's young dream never comes true,
To prove that even wise men can be wrong,
I concentrate on you.
Pub. Warner Chappell & Co.
In Kris Russell's song "I Concentrate on You," the lyrics first communicate the singer's sense of ambiguity in life. As he describes, whenever there is trouble brewing and gray skies ahead, he turns to the positive memories of his loved one. When the world seems to tell him "no" and things are going out of control, he focuses his attention on the thought of his loved one. For him, this meditation on his partner's presence is a way of combating feelings of hopelessness and uncertainty. It is clear that no matter what is going on, his partner is the one thing that can make him feel everything is going to be okay.
In the song's bridge, the first-person narrator offers rich details of the specific aspects of his partner’s personality and relationship that helps him find direction and reassurance. He initially declined the kiss, but then the light in his partner's eyes made him surrender, and they ended up embracing. This moment of passion seemed to restore his belief in love and the power of relationships. Overall, the song suggests that love can be a powerful antidote to the challenges of life, and that the person we love can offer us the strength, clarity, and sense of direction we need to overcome life's obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
Whenever skies look gray to me
When I feel sad or downhearted, surrounded by gloom and hopelessness.
And trouble begins to brew,
And problems start to arise, making my situation even worse.
Whenever the Winter winds become too strong,
Whenever the cold, harsh winds of winter start to blow too hard, making everything seem bleak and unwelcoming.
I concentrate on you.
I focus all my attention on you, thinking about your love and affection, and how it can lift me out of my current mood.
When fortune cries "Nay! Nay!" to me
When luck seems to be going against me, and everything I try ends in failure.
And people declare "You're through!",
And when others around me start to doubt my abilities and prospects, and tell me that I'm doomed to fail.
Whenever the blues become my only song,
Whenever I'm feeling depressed, and it seems like all I can do is wallow in sadness and despair.
I concentrate on you.
I turn my thoughts to you, and how your love and support can help me get through even the toughest times.
On your smile so sweet, so tender,
I think back to the warmth and tenderness in your smile and how it can chase away my sadness and uncertainty.
When at first your kiss I decline.
Even when I first hesitate to accept your affection, I know that your love is there waiting for me when I'm ready.
On the light in your eyes when I surrender,
When I finally give in to your love, I see the joy and happiness in your eyes, and know that I've made the right choice.
And once again our arms intertwine
We embrace each other closely, holding on tight, and feeling the warmth and love flowing between us once more.
And so, when wise men say to me
Even when others who are supposed to be wise and knowledgable tell me that love is foolish and a waste of time.
That love's young dream never comes true,
That the idea of true love and lifelong happiness is just a naive fantasy that can never really happen in the real world.
To prove that even wise men can be wrong,
I cling to the belief that love can conquer all, that it is worth fighting for and that even those who are supposed to know better can be proven wrong.
I concentrate on you.
Through all the ups and downs, I know that I can always rely on you and your love for me to see me through.