El… Read Full Bio ↴Kurt Elling (born November 2, 1967) is an American jazz vocalist.
Elling graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota in 1989. He then enrolled in The University of Chicago's Divinity School and remained a student there until January 1992, when he left school one credit short of graduation.
In the last decade, Elling has released seven albums for the Blue Note label. He has also performed and recorded with many musicians, including David Amram, Bob Belden, Joanne Brackeen, Oscar Brown, Jr., Billy Corgan, Orbert Davis, George Freeman, Buddy Guy, Jon Hendricks, Charlie Hunter and Rex Richardson.
As of late 2005, Elling's current band includes Rob Amster on bass, Laurence Hobgood on piano, and Kobe Watkins on drums. He is regularly featured at the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge at 4802 N. Broadway in Chicago.
Elling has won the Down Beat and JazzTimes critics’ polls three years in a row in the Best Male Singer category. He is also Vice Chair of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the 17,000-member service organization that produces the annual Grammy Awards.
On Broadway
Kurt Elling Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They say there's always magic in the air
But when you're walkin' down that street
And you ain't had enough to eat
The glitter rubs right off and you're nowhere
They say the women treat you fine on Broadway
But lookin' at them just gives me the blues
When all you got is one thin dime
one thin dime won't even shine
your shoes
They say that I won't last too long on Broadway
I'll catch a Greyhound bus for home they all say
But they're did wrong, I know they are
'cause i have earned all on my Scars
And I won't quit till I'm a star
On Broadway
They say that I won't last too long on Broadway
I'll catch a Greyhound bus for home they all say
But they're did wrong, I know they are
'cause i have earned so many Scars
And I won't quit till I'm a star
And I won't quit till I'm a star
Kurt Elling's "On Broadway" is a song that presents a slightly different view of Broadway from the typical portrayal of it as a place where dreams come true. The singer of the song starts off by acknowledging that "they" say the neon lights are bright and there is always magic in the air. However, as he walks down the street hungry and unable to afford a decent meal, he feels that the glitter fades away and he is left with nothing. The women on Broadway may treat him fine, he admits, but he has no money and doesn't know how to make time with them. He only has one thin dime, which can't even make his shoes shine.
Despite the hardships, the singer remains determined to succeed on Broadway. He has earned scars, both literal and figurative, and he isn't going to give up until he becomes a star. The song seems to be a commentary on the harsh realities of show business and the challenges faced by those who aspire to make it big. It is a reminder that success often comes at a steep price, and that the glamour and glitz of Broadway can be deceiving.
Overall, "On Broadway" is a poignant and introspective song that offers a nuanced perspective on an iconic cultural landmark. It is a powerful reminder that behind the bright lights and flashy performances, there are real people struggling to make their way in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway
People say that the bright lights on Broadway shine brightly
They say there's always magic in the air
It is said that there is always a magical feeling on the streets of Broadway
But when you're walkin' down that street And you ain't had enough to eat The glitter rubs right off and you're nowhere
However, when you walk down the street and you are hungry and poor, the brightness of the lights fades away and you feel lost
They say the women treat you fine on Broadway But lookin' at them just gives me the blues 'cause how ya gonna make some time When all you got is one thin dime one thin dime won't even shine your shoes
They say that the women treat you well on Broadway but one can't do much with only a little bit of money. One thin dime won't even buy you new shoes.
They say that I won't last too long on Broadway I'll catch a Greyhound bus for home they all say But they're did wrong, I know they are 'cause i have earned all on my Scars And I won't quit till I'm a star On Broadway
People say that I will not last long on Broadway and that I will soon take the bus back home. However, they are wrong because my struggles and hardships have made me stronger and more determined. I will keep working until I become a star on Broadway.
And I won't quit till I'm a star And I won't quit till I'm a star
I am determined to keep working until my dream of becoming a Broadway star becomes a reality.
Writer(s): Curtis Fitzgerald Williams, Teddy Mc Rae, Claydes Smith, George Brown, Billy Byrd, Henri Woode, James Taylor, Ronald Nathan Bell, Robert Bell
Contributed by Nolan S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@demetrikuriakedes2193
Only one word to describe Kurt Elling, and that is.............
AaaaooowhH!!👀🗯️😵
@Apolyion
Yeah man. Tight, different, cool. Fusion version, well thought. Fripp would dig this. Drummer is on it. ;)
@kurttoy5035
Kurt Elling out does himself! Dynamite rendition.
@PabloVestory
Brilliant arrangement and performance!!
@joelweisberg
Great rendition, GREAT!
@johnpaley8857
What an arrangement! 🙌
@kleinequietboykleinequietb7126
new arrangements, tunes we know, great inventive vocals, edgy, but not so out we don't know WHERE THE FUCK WE ARE IN THE FORM.
@enniotesori829
Grande cantante ottima orchestra
@MilenaLainovic
Awesome band! Love this version
@effunk
I love this rendition! Actually, it's more than a rendition. This brings back the magic that George Benson originally poured into this song. Thank you, Kurt 5:-)