Renée Fleming, one of the best-loved and versatile sopranos of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, has been described as "the people's diva," and perhaps comes closer than any other singer of her time to being an old-fashioned operatic superstar. Her wise repertoire decisions have allowed her to embrace a wide variety of works throughout her career, including Baroque opera, Mozart, the Italian bel canto repertoire, Verdi, Massenet, Puccini, Richard Strauss, a number of contemporary operas, and songs from all eras. Her voice is notable for its fullness, warmth, its creamy tone quality, and her ability to spin out long velvety legato lines. She is known for the intensity and integrity of her dramatic portrayals and her engaging stage presence.
Fleming's parents were high school vocal music teachers. In 1981, she graduated from the State University of New York at Potsdam with a degree in music education and continued her musical studies at the Eastman School of Music, which she credits with giving her a strong academic and theoretical background. From 1983 to 1987, she was enrolled in the American Opera Center at Juilliard, where she met Beverley Johnston, the voice teacher with whom she would continue to study throughout her career. Fleming also recalls with admiration the year she spent studying lieder with Arleen Augér, on a Fulbright Scholarship. In 1988, she won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and the George London Prize (in the same week), and the Eleanor McCollum Competition in Houston.
Fleming sang the Countess in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro at the Houston Grand Opera in 1988, made her New York City Opera debut in 1989 as Mimi in La bohème, and her Covent Garden debut as Glauce in Cherubini's Medea later that year. In 1991, she made her acclaimed Met debut, stepping in for an indisposed Felicity Lott as the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro. The Countess was her debut role in San Francisco (1991), Vienna State Opera (1993), and Glyndebourne (1994). In 1993, she made her debut at La Scala as Donna Elvira, and she sang Eva at the 1996 Bayreuth Festival. Since that time, she has continued performances at the world's leading opera houses and concert halls and has continued to expand her repertoire. Among the roles for which she has won acclaim are Handel's Alcina and Rodelinda; Rossini's Armida, Violetta, Manon, Thaïs, Tatyana, and Rusalka; and numerous roles in Strauss operas, including the Marschallin, Daphne, Arabella, and the Countess in Capriccio. She created the role of Rosina in Corigliano's The Ghosts of Versailles in 1991, Madame Tourvel in Conrad Susa's Dangerous Liaisons in 1994, and Blanche DuBois in André Previn's A Streetcar Named Desire in 1998.
She has garnered praise for her many recordings, both on CD and DVD, and has been nominated for 12 Grammy Awards and has won three, in 1996, 1999, and 2010. In addition to her work in the classical repertoire, Fleming has recorded contemporary pop songs, jazz, and film soundtracks. She has hosted a number of television and radio broadcasts, including The Metropolitan Opera's Live in HD series, and Live from Lincoln Center for PBS. Her honors include Sweden’s Polar Prize (2008), the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur from the French government (2005), Honorary Membership in the Royal Academy of Music (2003), and a 2003 Honorary Doctorate from the Juilliard School.
Oxygen
Renée Fleming Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So you can breathe when you′re drowning and weak in the knees
I wanna speak louder than Ritalin
For all the children who think that they've got a disease
I wanna be cooler than TV
For all the kids that are wondering what they′re going to be
We can be stronger than bombs
We can be richer than industry
As long as we know that there's things that we don′t really need
We can speak louder than ignorance
′Cause we speak in silence every time our eyes meet
On and on and on it goes
The world, it just keeps spinning
Until I'm dizzy, time to breathe
So close my eyes and start again anew
I wanna see through all the lies of society
To the reality, happiness is at stake
I wanna hold up my head with dignity
Proud of a life where to give means more than to take
I wanna live beyond the modern mentality
Where paper is all that you′re really taught to create
Do you remember the forgotten America?
Justice, equality, freedom to every race
Just need to get past all the lies and hypocrisy
Makeup and hair to the truth behind every face
Then look around to all the people you see
How many of them are happy and free?
I know it sounds like a dream
But it's the only thing that can get me to sleep at night
I know it′s hard to believe
But it's easy to see that something here isn′t right
I know the future looks dark
But it's there that the kids of today must carry the light
On and on and on it goes
The world, it just keeps spinning
Until I'm dizzy, time to breathe
So close my eyes and start again anew
If I′m afraid to catch a dream
Weave your baskets and I′ll float
Them down the river stream
Each one I weave with words I speak
To carry love to your relief
I wanna be better than oxygen
So you can breathe when you're drowning and weak in the knees
I wanna speak louder than Ritalin
For all the children who think that they′ve got a disease
I wanna be cooler than TV
For all the kids that are wondering what they're going to be
We can be stronger than bombs
If you′re singing along and you know that you really believe
We can be richer than industry
As long as we know that there's things that we don′t really need
We can speak louder than ignorance
'Cause we speak in silence every time our eyes meet
The lyrics of Renée Fleming's song "Oxygen" are powerful and thought-provoking, touching on themes of resilience, societal expectations, and the pursuit of genuine happiness. The opening verses express a desire to be a source of strength and inspiration for those in need. The singer expresses a wish to be more essential than oxygen, symbolizing the importance of their presence in someone's life, particularly during difficult times. This imagery of being able to provide breath when one is drowning and weak in the knees encapsulates a deep desire to be a beacon of hope and support for others.
The mention of speaking louder than Ritalin, a medication commonly used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), highlights the challenges faced by children who may feel misunderstood or stigmatized due to perceived differences. By aspiring to be a louder voice for these individuals, the singer emphasizes the importance of understanding and empathy. The desire to be cooler than TV suggests a longing to offer more substantial guidance and influence to young people who are searching for their identities and aspirations in a world saturated with superficial influences.
The following verses delve into the potential for collective strength and unity in the face of adversity. The comparison to bombs underscores the destructive power of conflict and division, while the idea of being richer than industry speaks to the notion that true wealth lies not in material possessions but in meaningful connections and shared values. The lyrics emphasize the importance of speaking out against ignorance and fostering understanding through nonverbal communication, symbolized by the unspoken language of eye contact.
The recurring theme of perseverance and renewal is reflected in the cyclic nature of the song's structure. The world is portrayed as constantly in motion, spinning relentlessly, yet there is a call for introspection and a pause for reflection. The acknowledgment of challenges and uncertainties is met with a resolve to start anew, with closed eyes symbolizing a moment of introspection and recentering. The call to action for the younger generation to carry the torch of hope and positivity into the future underscores a message of resilience and responsibility in the face of an uncertain world.
Line by Line Meaning
I wanna be better than oxygen
I strive to be the lifeline that sustains you in your darkest moments.
So you can breathe when you're drowning and weak in the knees
Providing support and strength when you feel overwhelmed and vulnerable.
I wanna speak louder than Ritalin
I aim to be a source of attention and guidance for those struggling with self-worth.
For all the children who think that they've got a disease
Especially for the youth who feel misunderstood or marginalized.
I wanna be cooler than TV
To be a more influential and positive presence in the lives of the curious young minds.
For all the kids that are wondering what they're going to be
Inspiring hope and direction in those grappling with their future.
We can be stronger than bombs
Through unity and harmony, we can overpower destructive forces.
If you're singing along and you know that you really believe
When we stand together with unwavering faith and conviction.
We can be richer than industry
True wealth lies in recognizing our genuine needs and desires.
As long as we know that there's things that we don't really need
Understanding the difference between necessity and excess.
We can speak louder than ignorance
Educating and enlightening others through our actions and choices.
'Cause we speak in silence every time our eyes meet
Communicating volumes through unspoken connections and understanding.
On and on and on it goes
The never-ending cycle of life and its challenges.
The world, it just keeps spinning
Constantly evolving and shifting, regardless of our individual struggles.
Until I'm dizzy, time to breathe
Amidst the chaos, finding a moment to pause and regain composure.
So close my eyes and start again anew
Embracing the opportunity for a fresh beginning and perspective.
Writer(s): Georgia Mason, Daniel Neil Mcdougall
Contributed by Colton C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@wishingonthemoon1
I love this! It's so catchy and her voice sounds cool! ;D
@CallasAfrica
After not listening to this album for years I found it playing in my head and unlike some on this thread... I think this was one of her best recordings... Going against what you'd expect an opera singer to sing if she ventured out of opera and she choose songs really unfamiliar and gave them her own stamp which makes them ring in one's mind even years after....
@hpwolf123
I like both her pop voice and her opera voice. :D I think she is extremely talented in many areas, and I applaud her for leaving her comfort zone by making this album.
@dandubeau3377
She can sing to me in annnyyy waaayyy sheeee waaaants! :)
@liricobarroco
like Dido! :D
@OuranLoverFabio
Renee Flemming doesn't need to do she doesn't want to to keep money rolling in she has as much as she needs
@SsteinwayS
I love this album so much, surprisingly! And she IS better than oxygen and cooler than T.V.! :)
@JoannaWagnerClaireSangre
I love this record! If you know the originals you will appreciate just how inovative the arraingments and vocals are. I thought Katherine Jenkins did the best cover of Halleluja I'd ever heard. Now I'm not so sure. Renee's darker voice conveys the songs meaning better than Jenkin's classical voice. Oxygen? I was bouncing along with it None of these songs are considered pop. They come from folk and rock genres. If you want classical voice rock see Tarja Turunen. This music is fun..
@theoneandonly2503
She should do Celine Dion, or Mariah carey, or Whitney Houston kind of pop music if she really wants to show off her pop abilities (if she is able to sing that kind of song of course, not quite sure she can being operatically trained )
@jackcox7945
She absolutely can do it. I don’t believe there there’s a song that she cannot sing stunningly well.