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
What Kind Of Fool Am I
Linda Eder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What kind of fool am I
Who never fell in love?
It seems that I'm the only one
That I've been thinking of
What kind of man is this?
An empty cell
An empty heart must dwell What kind of clown am I?
What do I know of life?
Why can't I cast away the mask of clay
And live my life?
Why can't I fall in love
'Til I don't give a damn?!
And maybe then I'll know
What kind of fool I am!!!
Linda Eder's What Kind of Fool Am I is a heartbreaking ballad about a man who has never fallen in love and reflects on his lonely existence. The opening lines, "What kind of fool am I Who never fell in love?" set the tone for the melancholic theme of the song. The singer is wondering if he is the only person in the world who has not experienced the joys and pains of love. He feels isolated and lonely in his thoughts, unable to connect emotionally with anyone.
The singer then reflects on himself, asking, "What kind of man is this? An empty shell, a lonely cell in which an empty heart must dwell." He sees himself as an incomplete person, with nothing to offer anyone else, and believes his heart is hollow. The musical arrangement adds to the despair felt in the lyrics, as the slow and plodding piano and the melancholic tone of Eder's voice help to emphasize the sadness.
The singer then questions his own existence, asking himself, "What kind of clown am I? What do I know of life? Why can't I cast away the mask of clay and live my life?" He sees himself as a joke, a pretender who wears a mask, and is unable to live life fully or authentically. He is unsure of his place in the world.
In the final verses, the singer expresses the hope that, one day, he will be able to fall in love, regardless of the outcome. He sings, "Why can't I fall in love 'til I don't give a damn?! And maybe then, I'll know what kind of fool I am!!!" He acknowledges that he does not know what kind of person he is, but the possibility of love gives him hope.
Line by Line Meaning
What kind of fool am I
What type of person lacking good sense and judgment am I?
Who never fell in love?
I have never experienced romantic love or attachment.
It seems that I'm the only one
I cannot think of anyone other than myself.
That I've been thinking of
My thoughts are solely focused on myself, with no regard for anyone else.
What kind of man is this?
What sort of person without purpose or direction am I?
An empty cell
A place of confinement with nothing inside, just like my heart.
A lonely cell in which
A place of confinement, isolated and lacking companionship.
An empty heart must dwell
My heart is also empty, and lives in the same isolation and confinement as the rest of me.
What kind of clown am I?
How absurd and ridiculous I must appear to others.
What do I know of life?
I am clueless about the nature of existence and how to make meaning out of it.
Why can't I cast away the mask of clay
I don't know how to remove the artificial facade that I wear to hide my true self.
And live my life?
To experience true fulfillment and joy by embracing my authentic self.
Why can't I fall in love
My inability to form an intimate connection with others, despite my yearning for it.
'Til I don't give a damn?!
Until I reach the point that I no longer care about anything else.
And maybe then I'll know
Only then will I understand the true nature of my own foolishness.
What kind of fool I am!!!
What a ridiculous, foolish person I truly am!
Contributed by Hunter S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.