A jazz standard by Toots Thielemans is "Bluesette," where he used whistling and guitar in unison. He worked both as a bandleader and as a sideman, including many projects with composer/arranger Quincy Jones. He performed on many film soundtracks, such as Midnight Cowboy, Cinderella Liberty, Jean de Florette, The Sugarland Express, The Yakuza, Turkish Delight, the 1972 version of The Getaway, French Kiss, Dunderklumpen!, and in various television programs, including Sesame Street, whose closing credits (which did not list him accordingly) featured his performance, on harmonica, of the show's theme, the Belgian television series Witse, and in the Netherlands, for the Baantjer series.
Thielemans started his career as a guitar player. In 1949 he joined a jam session in Paris with Sidney Bechet, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Max Roach and others. In 1951 he went on tour with Bobbejaan Schoepen.
He moved to the United States in 1952 where he was a member of Charlie Parker's All-Stars. He played and recorded with names like Ella Fitzgerald, The George Shearing Quintet, Quincy Jones, Bill Evans, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Astrud Gilberto, Elis Regina and others.
A jazz standard by Toots Thielemans is "Bluesette" where he used whistling and guitar in unison. Bluesette became a major 1962 world-wide hit for him and this still much beloved and requested piece has been re-recorded by him and commercially released on records/CDs many times over both in various studio versions and live on-stage performances performed in several different countries. His trademark harmonica playing can also be heard in movie scores such as Breakfast at Tiffany's (where his plaintive "Moon River" solo in the opening scene brilliantly establishes the film's mood of romance noir), Midnight Cowboy, Bagdad Café, French Kiss, and in various TV programs like Sesame Street, the Belgian TV series Witse and the Dutch TV series Baantjer. His professional whistling and harmonica playing can be heard on Old Spice radio and TV commercials that have been made over the years. In 1983 he contributed to Billy Joel's album An Innocent Man, and his trademark harmonica can be heard on "Leave a Tender Moment Alone."
In the 90s Thielemans embarked on theme projects that included world music. In 1998 he released the a French flavoured album titled "Chez Toots" that included the Les Moulins De Mon Coeur (The Windmills of My Heart) featuring guest singer Johnny Mathis. This CD continues to sell well.
Today Jean "Toots" Thielemans remains a strong favorite among jazz aficionados and professional critics alike. His music CDs continue to delight (many of which were recorded in the 2000s) and have introduced him to entire new generations of keen fans.
Apart from his popularity as an accomplished musician, he is well liked for his modesty and kind demeanor. In his native Belgium, he is also popular for describing himself as a Brussels "ket", which means "street kid" in old Brussels slang. He received a joint honorary doctorate from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and the Université Libre de Bruxelles (Belgium) and in 2001 Thielemans was ennobled a baron by King Albert II of Belgium.
In 2005 he was nominated for the title of De Grootste Belg (The Greatest Belgian). In the Flemish version he ended 20th place, in the Walloon version he ended 44th place.
Thielemans may have had a significant impact on The Beatles, (John Lennon in particular), during the group's pre-fame formative years. When performing in a 1959 Hamburg Germany with the pre-fame Beatles, John Lennon (sometimes with fellow Beatle George Harrison in tow) would often go over to the club where Toots was performing (at a noontime venue) as a member of The George Shearing Quintet. Lennon evidently was taken with Toot's harmonica playing and also for the guitar Toots was playing, an electric American made Rickenbacker with a short play neck. Based on the sound Lennon heard, he decided to purchase a natural alder wood "alderglo" colored three pickup Rickenbacker 1958 model 325 Capri guitar with a short scale as former Beatle and friend, George Harrison would recall to various interviewers many years later. (This iconic famous guitar often fondly referred to as the "Holy Grail" of all guitars, which was customized and tinkered with many times over the years by Lennon including being re-painted to jetglo black in September 1962, is the very same guitar that he played on The Beatles first and third appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show during February 1964).
Toots Thielemans died peacefully in his sleep on August 22, 2016 after being hospitalized for a fall a month earlier.
Velas
Toots Thielemans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What would I give to make this loneliness end?
If I could bring you back, back to where this love once lived?
What would I give?
Everything
What would I do for one more precious moment with you?
What would it take to make your heart hear the truth?
What would I do?
Anything
Are you doing all right?
Have you found a life apart from me?
As it [unverified] you happiness
I don't want to know about it
'Cause night after night, I try to fight the emptiness
In this quiet room
Life goes on without you
Where would I go if only you would ask me to?
No road is too long if it would lead me back to you?
Somehow I found a way, if you called to say that you need me there?
Where would I go?
Anywhere
Are you doing all right?
Have you found a life apart from me?
For now I must confess
That I don't want to talk about it
'Cause night after night I try to fight the emptiness
In this silent room
There's no peace without you
What would I give to hear you say, you love me again?
What would it take to make this loneliness end?
If I could bring you back, back to where this love once lived?
What would I give?
Everything
What would I do?
Anything
What would I give?
Oh, everything
These lyrics to Toots Thielemans and His American Band’s song, Velas, depict a lamentation of a lost love. The singer questions what they would give to hold their love once again and make their loneliness disappear. The singer also contemplates what they would do for one more precious moment with their lost love and to make their heart hear the truth. They express remorse for the pain they caused and for the time lost with their love. The lyrics also reveal a yearning for their love as they express a willingness to go anywhere and do anything to be with them again. Despite this longing, they make it clear that they do not want to know about their love’s life apart from them and continue to struggle with the emptiness left behind.
The lyrics to Velas express a common theme of love and loss that is relatable to many. The singer’s reflection on the past and the resulting pain is something that many have experienced at one point or another. The use of rhetorical questions in the lyrics adds an element of introspection and self-doubt which further expresses the impact that this lost love has had on the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
What would I give to hold you once again?
I miss you and long for the chance to hold you again.
What would I give to make this loneliness end?
I'm feeling alone and wish for your return to end this feeling.
If I could bring you back, back to where this love once lived?
If I could go back in time, where we were together and happy.
What would I give?
I'd do anything to have you by my side again.
Everything
I'd give up all that I have to make things right with you.
What would I do for one more precious moment with you?
I'd do anything to have that precious moment again.
What would it take to make your heart hear the truth?
How can I make you understand how I feel and make things right?
To ease our pain I caused, make up for the time I lost with you?
I regret causing us any pain and want to make up for the time I wasn't there.
Anything
I'm willing to do whatever it takes to earn your forgiveness and love again.
Are you doing all right?
I wonder how you're doing without me since we parted ways.
Have you found a life apart from me?
Are you content without me in your life?
As it [unverified] you happiness
(Unclear meaning as the lyrics may be incorrect or incomplete.)
I don't want to know about it
I don't want to hear anything about your life without me, as it hurts too much.
'Cause night after night, I try to fight the emptiness
I'm struggling with the pain of your absence every night.
In this quiet room
I'm alone and facing the emptiness in my silent surroundings.
Life goes on without you
Despite my grief, the world keeps moving on in your absence.
Where would I go if only you would ask me to?
I'm ready and willing to go anywhere if it means being with you again.
No road is too long if it would lead me back to you?
I'm willing to take any journey, no matter how difficult, if it means being reunited with you.
Somehow I found a way, if you called to say that you need me there?
I'm ready to come back to you if you need me and want me back.
Anywhere
I'll go anywhere, just to have you by my side again.
For now I must confess
I must admit, I don't want to hear about your life without me right now.
What would I give to hear you say, you love me again?
I'm longing to hear you say that you love me again.
Oh, everything
I'd sacrifice everything to hear those words from you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: VITOR MARTINS, IVAN LINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marilia Coelho
Sempre gostei de Ivan Lins. Um músico inigualável assim como Quincy Jones! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
J Pisces
The ending always gets me teary-eyed. Makes me think of the sun setting by the ocean and reminiscing of a loved one that passed away. Very beautiful song.
Víctor Perez
Just like you, I've got tears in my eyes right now. Peace and love from Argentina.
James Fox
God bless you!💔😢😢😢😢
Timothy Thomas
laid back watching the sun set on a beautiful day chilling!
Roger Mills
There is a clip Jaco Pastorious and Toots performing Jaco's Three Views Of a Secret that will get to you. Look it up. This man was the best harmonica player I have ever heard.
Decky Sri
The best song
In 80's ..ohh toots
Ary Brandao Pereira Filho
Um salve e uma reverência ao Ivan Lins, compositor de VELAS, ser gravado por dois dos maiores artistas do mundo, uma honra para os amantes da boa MPB
Hernan Barski
Heard this song 1000s of times in the last 30+ years and just don't get tired of it. Wow.... such talent, amazing arrangements....
Roy Strong
This song brings a deep emotional tear to my eyes as it allows me to reminisce on life with loved ones past and present I will miss Toots now and forever