She met Frank Wildhorn who immediately fell in love with her and her incredible voice. He set about writing the musical "Jekyll and Hyde" with her in mind for the role of Lucy. Although the show did rather poorly, Linda was a sensation. Her pure tone broke listeners' hearts with laments like "No One Knows Who I am" and "Sympathy, Tenderness" and her unleashed power in torch songs like "Good 'n' Evil" and "A New Life" sent her immediately into league with other Broadway leading ladies like Barbara Streisand and Bernadette Peters.
Her range stretches from a rich alto to an impressive array of ringing whistle tones. Her tone is pure, powerful, and full of emotion. Her voice and singing style have often been compared to that of Barbara Streisand, but Linda has always said that from childhood her biggest inspiration has been and continues to be Judy Garland. This veneration culminated in the making and release of her tribute album "By Myself: The Songs Of Judy Garland."
Linda Eder remains one of the most powerful and talented performers alive.
Recordings:
* 1989 Linda Eder
* 1994 And So Much More
* 1997 It's Time
* 1999 It's No Secret Anymore
* 2002 Gold
* 2003 Storybook
* 2003 Broadway, My Way
* 2005 By Myself: The Songs of Judy Garland
* 2006 Barbra Streisand and Linda Eder
* 2008 The Other Side of Me
Both Sides Now
Linda Eder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
I've looked at clouds that way
But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way
From up and down and still somehow
It's cloud's illusions I recall
I really don't know clouds at all
Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
The dizzy dancing way you feel
When every fairy tale comes real
I've looked at love that way
But now it's just another show
You leave 'em laughin' when you go
And if you care don't let them know
Don't give yourself away
I've looked at love from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It's love's illusions I recall
I really don't know love at all
Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say, "I love you" right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I've looked at life that way
But now old friends are acting strange
They shake their heads, they say I've changed
But something's lost, but something's gained
In living every day
I've looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life at all
In Linda Eder's song "Both Sides Now," the lyrics describe the idea of looking at things from different perspectives. The first verse speaks of innocent childhood memories of seeing the beauty in the clouds, imagining them to be made of angel hair, creating ice cream castles, and feather canyons. However, in the present, the clouds now seem like a hindrance that blocks the sun, and instead of being sources of happiness and inspiration, they bring rain and snow. Thus, the clouds became an obstacle to doing various things that the singer might have done if not for their current state of mind. The chorus line, "I've looked at clouds from both sides now," relates to the experience of examining things from different angles, both positive and negative, and still finding something to appreciate.
The second verse talks about love in a similar fashion. At first, the singer views love as a magical experience, where fairy tales come true, and life feels like a dizzying sensation similar to that on a Ferris wheel. However, this perception of love changes as relationships end up seeming like a performance devoid of genuine feelings. The chorus again chimes in with the line, "I've looked at love from both sides now," highlighting the experience of seeing love from different perspectives like winning and losing, but not being entirely sure what it means.
The third verse builds on the theme of seeing things differently by incorporating life experiences, such as tears, fears, and dreams. Looking back, the singer realizes that change has occurred, and old friends have started to see them differently. The last few lines indicate that "something's lost, but something's gained in living every day," suggesting that every experience, both good and bad, has the potential to reveal something about ourselves that we may have never known before.
Line by Line Meaning
Bows and flows of angel hair
Beautiful and delicate elements of life that seem to be perfect and untouchable.
And ice cream castles in the air
Dreams and aspirations that seem fantastical and impossible.
And feather canyons everywhere
The soft and gentle places in life that are full of wonder.
I’ve looked at clouds that way
I have seen the world through a lens of beauty and innocence.
But now they only block the sun
Real life has set in and the things that once seemed beautiful now create obstacles.
They rain and snow on everyone
The things that once seemed perfect can cause problems and difficulties for others.
So many things I would have done
There were so many opportunities in life that were missed due to obstacles and difficulties.
But clouds got in my way
Obstacles and difficulties prevented me from achieving my goals.
I've looked at clouds from both sides now
I have experienced both the beauty and the difficulties of life.
From up and down and still somehow
Despite changing perspectives, life remains a challenge.
It's cloud's illusions I recall
The beautiful illusions of life are what I remember most.
I really don't know clouds at all
Despite experiencing both sides of life, there is still much to be learned.
Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
Romantic and idyllic notions about life.
The dizzy dancing way you feel
The excitement and joy of life's possibilities.
When every fairy tale comes real
When dreams are realized and life seems perfect.
But now it's just another show
Romance and love seem less realistic, more superficial.
You leave 'em laughin' when you go
Relationships and love are not always taken seriously and can end in laughter.
And if you care don't let them know
It is important to hide one's true emotions and not let them show.
I've looked at love from both sides now
I have experienced both the positive and negative aspects of love.
From win and lose and still somehow
Love can bring both victories and defeats, yet it remains a mystery.
It's love's illusions I recall
The illusions of love are what I remember most.
I really don't know love at all
Despite experiencing both sides of love, there is still much to be learned.
Tears and fears and feeling proud
The emotional highs and lows of life that shape us as individuals.
To say, "I love you" right out loud
The courage to be vulnerable and express emotions openly.
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
The wild and unpredictable nature of life.
But now old friends are acting strange
As life progresses, relationships and people change.
They shake their heads, they say I've changed
The responses of loved ones to changes in one's personality and outlook.
But something's lost, but something's gained
Although change can bring loss, it can also bring new opportunities for growth.
In living every day
Through the ups and downs of life, there is always the opportunity to learn and grow.
I've looked at life from both sides now
I have experienced both the positive and negative aspects of life.
From win and lose and still somehow
Life is a constant battle between successes and failures, yet it remains a mystery.
It's life's illusions I recall
The illusions of life are what I remember most.
I really don't know life at all
Despite experiencing both sides of life, there is still much to be learned.
Lyrics © Crazy Crow Music / Siquomb Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Joni Mitchell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind