Madeleine Peyroux is a jazz singer who was born in 1974 in Athens, Georgia,… Read Full Bio ↴Madeleine Peyroux is a jazz singer who was born in 1974 in Athens, Georgia, USA, and raised in New York City and Paris, France. She is noted for her vocal style, which is highly reminiscent of Billie Holiday. Madeleine also has qualities similar to Ella Fitzgerald. Though Peyroux may remind some listeners of Holiday, there are differences, and she has her own sense of phrasing and interpretation.
Peyroux started singing at the age of fifteen, when she discovered street musicians in the Latin Quarter in Paris. She joined a group called the Riverboat Shufflers, first passing round the hat, and then singing. At sixteen she joined the The Lost Wandering Blues and Jazz Band, spending two years touring Europe performing songs by the likes of Fats Waller, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and others, which provided the basis for her first album, Dreamland.
Dreamland was released in 1996, and gained widespread attention. Time called it "the most exciting, involving vocal performance by a new singer this year". Dreamland, is a brilliant recording, as Peyroux's distinctive voice is not hindered by overly intricate arrangements. Most of the accompaniment on the record is light and sparse, the way it should be for a singer with such a unique voice. Peyroux soon found herself opening for Sarah McLachlan and Cesária Évora, and made appearances at jazz festivals and on the Lilith Fair tour.
In May 2002 she joined multi-instrumentalist William Galison, and together they appeared at such venues as the Bottom Line, Joe's Pub, and the Tin Angel. In 2003 the duo released a seven-song EP entitled Got You on My Mind, which they sold at shows and online. Got You on My Mind was re-released by William Galison in August 2004; the original EP was expanded by the addition of four tracks by Gallison.
Peyroux released her own sophomore effort, Careless Love, in September 2004. The album received generally positive reviews.
Her new album, Half the Perfect World, was released on September 12, 2006. She collaborated with several artists, including Jesse Harris, Walter Becker, Larry Klein (who also produced the album), and K.d. lang, with whom Peyroux duets on a cover of the Joni Mitchell song, "River".
On July 12, 2007, she was awarded Best International Jazz Artist at the BBC Jazz Awards.
Peyroux started singing at the age of fifteen, when she discovered street musicians in the Latin Quarter in Paris. She joined a group called the Riverboat Shufflers, first passing round the hat, and then singing. At sixteen she joined the The Lost Wandering Blues and Jazz Band, spending two years touring Europe performing songs by the likes of Fats Waller, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and others, which provided the basis for her first album, Dreamland.
Dreamland was released in 1996, and gained widespread attention. Time called it "the most exciting, involving vocal performance by a new singer this year". Dreamland, is a brilliant recording, as Peyroux's distinctive voice is not hindered by overly intricate arrangements. Most of the accompaniment on the record is light and sparse, the way it should be for a singer with such a unique voice. Peyroux soon found herself opening for Sarah McLachlan and Cesária Évora, and made appearances at jazz festivals and on the Lilith Fair tour.
In May 2002 she joined multi-instrumentalist William Galison, and together they appeared at such venues as the Bottom Line, Joe's Pub, and the Tin Angel. In 2003 the duo released a seven-song EP entitled Got You on My Mind, which they sold at shows and online. Got You on My Mind was re-released by William Galison in August 2004; the original EP was expanded by the addition of four tracks by Gallison.
Peyroux released her own sophomore effort, Careless Love, in September 2004. The album received generally positive reviews.
Her new album, Half the Perfect World, was released on September 12, 2006. She collaborated with several artists, including Jesse Harris, Walter Becker, Larry Klein (who also produced the album), and K.d. lang, with whom Peyroux duets on a cover of the Joni Mitchell song, "River".
On July 12, 2007, she was awarded Best International Jazz Artist at the BBC Jazz Awards.
We Might As Well Dance
Madeleine Peyroux Lyrics
It's easy to see the things going wrong now
It's easy to wallow in a sad song
It's easy to cry over all that is gone now
But I believe that we must carry on
I hear you saying that our best days are past us
I've seen you walking through the rubble and stone
Yes I know there's list of disasters
But time is gonna soothe the soul
So we might as well dance
In the light of the moon
We might as well dance
We'll be leaving here soon
Might as well dance
While the river is high
We might as well dance
Before you kiss me goodbye
The times are changing and tensions are rising
But fear can never be our guiding light
I'm not a fool, I know what hate is disguising
And only love can bring the will to fight
So we might as well dance
In the light of the moon
We might as well dance
We'll be leaving here soon
We might as well dance
While the river is high
Might as well dance
Before you kiss me goodbye
Yeah we might as well dance
In the light of the moon
We might as well dance
We'll be leaving here soon
We might as well dance
While the river is high
We might as well dance
Before you kiss me goodbye
Might as well dance
In the light of the moon
Might as well dance
We'll be leaving here soon
Might as well dance
While the river is high
Might as well dance
Before you kiss me goodbye
It's easy to wallow in a sad song
It's easy to cry over all that is gone now
But I believe that we must carry on
I hear you saying that our best days are past us
I've seen you walking through the rubble and stone
Yes I know there's list of disasters
But time is gonna soothe the soul
In the light of the moon
We might as well dance
We'll be leaving here soon
Might as well dance
While the river is high
We might as well dance
Before you kiss me goodbye
The times are changing and tensions are rising
But fear can never be our guiding light
I'm not a fool, I know what hate is disguising
And only love can bring the will to fight
So we might as well dance
In the light of the moon
We might as well dance
We'll be leaving here soon
We might as well dance
While the river is high
Might as well dance
Before you kiss me goodbye
Yeah we might as well dance
In the light of the moon
We might as well dance
We'll be leaving here soon
We might as well dance
While the river is high
We might as well dance
Before you kiss me goodbye
Might as well dance
In the light of the moon
Might as well dance
We'll be leaving here soon
Might as well dance
While the river is high
Might as well dance
Before you kiss me goodbye
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: David Francis Baerwald, Larry Klein, Madeleine Peyroux, Patrick Warren
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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tanyuu
This song is so amazing, up there in my all time favourites. I relate to it so much. I'm surprised it isn't better known!
Charley Silverman
This song came on for the final meditation part of a yoga class. I had just experienced a difficult goodbye with a much adored lover. Had to ask what it was and have been playing it nonstop ever since. Instant classic.
Raegan Vaughn
Kathleen brought me here. And I'm oh so glad she did. Really helping me in this headspace I get stuck in sometimes. What a beautiful song.
Wenda Bonazza
🙋
Jenny Stead
She brought me here too - her recent anxiety upload?
Kyle Meyer
An exceptional, emotional piece — desperately needed in these times. Thank you for sharing it with the world ❤️
Life Goes on
Thank you so much, Madeline ! , Immensely helpful. The song helps me to forgive myself
Hans Stevanus Santoso
You have such a great voice, it is so unique. It is hard to follow it, your voice has its own vibe. Love it, such a good creation.
clubby chng
your songs heal my wound, thank you so much!
Resham George
Listening to this during Covid 19 shutdown in India. This song is perfect for this time!