In addition to her many album releases, Vikki Carr has played concerts for fans around the world, as well as appeared on stage, and television. She has starred in productions of South Pacific, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, and I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road. In 2002 she starred in the Reprise production of Steven Sondheim's beloved musical Follies in Los Angeles, garnering glowing reviews from the LA Times, Hollywood Reporter, and Variety. Two years later, Los Angeles PBS affiliate, KCET, filmed a special Vikki Carr: Memories, Memorias: a salute to the English-language hits of the 1940s and 1950s originally composed by Latinos, and featuring guest appearances by Jack Jones, Pepe Aguilar and Arturo Sandoval. PBS again tapped Vikki to host and star in a production celebrating the music of Mexico, Fiesta Mexicana, which was featured on all PBS stations for their June 2008 pledge drive.
Born in El Paso, Texas, and raised in the San Gabriel Valley of California, Vikki Carr, the eldest of seven children, began performing at the tender age of four singing "Adeste Fidelis" in Latin at a Christmas program. She was signed to a contract with Liberty Records in 1961. She recorded "He's a Rebel", which first became a hit in Australia. That title was soon followed by the unforgettable release, It Must Be Him, which charged up the charts in England. A year later, the single was released in the United States and earned Carr three Grammy Award nominations. The international hit emerged again when she and the song were featured in the storyline of the Academy Award winning movie Moonstruck. After "It Must Be Him" came a string of hits, including With Pen in Hand, for which she received her fourth Grammy Award nomination, The Lesson, Can't Take My Eyes Off You, and For Once in My Life.
Her international appeal was so great that she was invited to perform at a Royal Command Performance for Queen Elizabeth II, followed by sold-out shows throughout Europe. In the States, Carr became a darling of the White House, performing regularly at State Dinners and at President Richard Nixon's 1973 Inaugural celebration. President Gerald Ford called her his "favorite Mexican dish". She also performed for Presidents Ronald Reagan, George Bush, and at the 1992 Presidential Summit hosted by President Bill Clinton.
A frequent musical guest on major network variety shows of celebrities like Dean Martin, Ed Sullivan, Perry Como, and Carol Burnett, Carr also taped six specials for London Weekend TV. As an actor, she appeared on the Bing Crosby Show, Mod Squad, Fantasy Island, and co-hosted the Mrs. America and Mrs. World of the World pageants. She was the first woman to regularly guest host for Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show. She was also a visitor and guest host on Michael Jackson's ABC radio show.
The diversity of her rich voice is impressive. She can belt out the blues or touch the heart with a soft romantic ballad. Frank Sinatra once said, "She possesses my kind of voice", Dean Martin called her "the best girl singer in the business", and Bing Crosby and Ella Fitzgerald named her among their three favorite female singers of all time. Elvis Presley was also very fond of her and even remarked on stage in Las Vegas many times that Vikki Carr was one of his favorite singers and that he liked her because "she sang from the gut" and introduced her at many of his personal appearances in which she attended.
Vikki Carr has received numerous prestigious awards, including:
- Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (2008)
- National Hispanic Media Coalition Impact Lifetime Achievement Award (2005)
- Latino Spirit Award (2003)
- Tito Guizar Award (2003)
- Trefoil Award (2002)
- Inductee of the Latino Legends Hall of Fame (2000)
- Imagen Foundation "Humanitarian Award (1998)
- Hispanic Heritage Award (1996)
- Nosotros Golden Eagle Award (1988)
- Hispanic Woman of the Year (1984)
- Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (1981)
- Doctorate in Law from San Diego University (1974)
- Doctorate in Fine Arts from St. Edwards University (1974)
- American Guild of Variety Artists' "Entertainer of the Year" (1972), and
- The Los Angeles Times' highly respected "Woman of the Year" (1970)
She has also earned the career achievement award of the Association of Hispanic Critics, Chicago's Ovation Award, the YWCA Silver Achievement Award, and was honored in 1990 by the City of Hope with the Founder of Hope Award. In 1991, she was presented the Girl Scouts of America Award.
Respected both as an artist and a humanitarian, Carr devotes time to many charities including The United Way, The American Lung Association, Cancer Therapy and Research Center, The Muscular Dystrophy Association, and St Jude's Hospital. For 22 years she held benefit concerts to support Holy Cross High School in San Antonio. In 1971 she established the Vikki Carr Scholarship Foundation, dedicated to offering college scholarships to Latino students in California and Texas. To date, the Foundation has awarded more than 280 scholarships totaling over a quarter of a million dollars.
"My voice is a gift and a gift is nothing unless you can share it. The Foundation is one of the ways that I am able to share my gift", said Carr. "The Foundation seeks to help young Mexican-American students achieve their goals through a college education, something I myself was never able to do."
Official website: http://www.vikkicarr.com/
Nowhere Man
Vikki Carr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sitting in his nowhere land
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody
Doesn't have a point of view
Knows not where he's going to
Isn't he a bit like you and me?
Nowhere man please listen
You don't know what you're missing
He's as blind as he can be
Just sees what he wants to see
Nowhere man, can you see me at all
Nowhere man don't worry
Take your time, don't hurry
Leave it all till somebody else
Lends you a hand
Ah, la, la, la, la
Doesn't have a point of view
Knows not where he's going to
Isn't he a bit like you and me?
Nowhere man please listen
You don't know what you're missing
Nowhere man, The world is at your command
Ah, la, la, la, la
He's a real nowhere man
Sitting in his nowhere land
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody
The song "Nowhere Man" by Vikki Carr is a reflection on the complexities of the human existence. It speaks about a man who is lost, aimless and directionless, living in his "nowhere land" and making plans that are relevant to no one. He is the kind of person who does not have a point of view, does not know where he is going, and this is what makes him relatable to the listener.
The lyrics of the song challenge the listener to question the purpose of their own existence. It suggests that we should take the time to reflect on our lives and see how we can make a difference in the world. It encourages the listener to take action and not to let the opportunity pass them by. The message is clear that the world is at your command, but it is entirely up to you to make something of it.
Line by Line Meaning
He's a real nowhere man
He is a person with no direction or purpose in life.
Sitting in his nowhere land
He is living in a place with no goals, no purpose, and no ambition in life.
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody
He has plans for his future, but never takes action on them, only for himself.
Doesn't have a point of view
He is neutral about everything and does not have his own opinion or any passion.
Knows not where he's going to
He is lost and confused about where he should be in life.
Isn't he a bit like you and me?
The song raises the question of similarity between listeners and the Nowhere Man's life.
Nowhere man please listen
The song is a plea asking the Nowhere Man to pay attention and find the motivation for life.
You don't know what you're missing
There are new opportunities he is missing by not having a life purpose.
Nowhere man, The world is at your command
The world is his oyster and anything can be accomplished with a sense of direction and purpose.
He's as blind as he can be
He is deliberately not acknowledging the need for a life purpose.
Just sees what he wants to see
He has tunnel vision that will not allow him to improve or see the world in a positive way.
Nowhere man, can you see me at all
It is a call to attention for the Nowhere Man to look outside himself and see new opportunities.
Nowhere man don't worry
Stress and anxiety are taken away if he finds a sense of purpose.
Take your time, don't hurry
He should be patient and take the time needed to find a sense of purpose.
Leave it all till somebody else lends you hand
He should not expect others to find meaning for him. He should seek help if needed.
Ah, la, la, la, la
This is the chorus line sung throughout the song, and does not have a specific meaning.
Doesn't have a point of view
This line is repeated to emphasize the Nowhere Man's lack of personal opinions or passions.
Knows not where he's going to
The line is repeated for emphasis.
Isn't he a bit like you and me?
The line is repeated for emphasis.
Nowhere man please listen
This line is repeated to establish the plea for the Nowhere Man to listen.
You don't know what you're missing
This line is repeated to emphasize the regret of missing opportunities and give motivation to the Nowhere Man.
Nowhere man, The world is at your command
This line is repeated to emphasize the limitless possibilities life can offer with a sense of purpose.
Ah, la, la, la, la
This is the chorus line sung throughout the song, and does not have a specific meaning.
He's a real nowhere man
This line is repeated to emphasize the Nowhere Man's lack of direction and purpose.
Sitting in his nowhere land
This line is repeated to emphasize the Nowhere Man's lack of direction and purpose.
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody
This line is repeated to emphasize the Nowhere Man's lack of direction and purpose for himself or others.
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody
This line is repeated to emphasize the Nowhere Man's lack of direction and purpose for himself or others.
Writer(s): John Lennon, Paul Mccartney
Contributed by Madison Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.