Vonda Shepard was born in New York but her family relocated to California when she was fairly young. She played piano from an early age. Her father is Richmond Shepard, a mime and improv actor. Vonda has three sisters: Rosetta, Luana, and Brianna. Her mother left the family when Vonda was ten, and her father raised the four girls by himself.
After performing as a backing singer for many years she was eventually given her own recording contract. Shepard's first chart appearance was in 1987 when she recorded a duet with Dan Hill entitled 'Can't We Try'. She released her first self-titled album in 1989 with little fanfare. The album did yield one chart single, Don't Cry Ilene, a mid-tempo, piano-driven jazz-RnB flavored song dealing with the break-up of a relationship between a black woman and a white man, arising from adult peer pressure. The track is sung from the perspective of the woman's white female friend, who harbors a desire to have the man for herself, but keeps her distance out of respect for her friend. The song peaked at 17 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary chart and stayed on the charts for 12 weeks.
After her third album, Shepard was signed up to appear on Ally McBeal after being spotted by the show's creator David E Kelley. While on the show she recorded two full soundtrack albums and was featured on two other Ally McBeal compilations. The songs Shepard recorded for Ally McBeal soundtrack albums were mainly covers of old songs with lyrics that paralleled what was happening in the title character's life onscreen. Since appearing in the show, Shepard has released two more studio albums and a live album.
Shepard is married to music producer Mitchell Froom and they had their first child, Jack Froom, on 15 April 2006.
What Are You Doing New Year
Vonda Shepard Lyrics
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Ooh, but I thought I'd ask you just the same
What are you doing New Year's
New Year's eve?
Wonder whose arms will hold you good and tight
When it's exactly twelve o'clock that night
Welcoming in the New Year
Maybe I'm crazy to suppose
I'd ever be the one you chose
Out of the thousand invitations
You received
Oh, but in case I stand one little chance
Here comes the jackpot question in advance:
What are you doing New Year's
New Year's Eve?
Maybe I'm crazy to suppose
I'd ever be the one you chose
Out of the thousand invitations
You received
Oh, but in case I stand one little chance
Here comes the jackpot question in advance:
What are you doing New Year's
New Year's Eve?
The lyrics to Vonda Shepard's song "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" convey the singer's anxiety about the prospect of spending their New Year's Eve alone, while the object of their affection is coveted by a thousand invitations. The singer hesitantly asks the person what their plans for New Year's Eve are, though knows well that they might not be the one chosen to be with that night. The lyrics express the universal hope we all share for companionship and warmth during the holiday season, as well as the fear of not having anyone to share it with. The line "Maybe it's much too early in the game" connotes the nervousness of a love interest, while "welcoming in the New Year" sets a scene of celebration and excitement. The refrain repeats with an insistent urgency as the singer yearns for an answer, highlighting the sense of insecurity and suspense felt by anyone left alone over the holidays.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe it's much too early in the game
Perhaps it's too soon to be asking this question
Ooh, but I thought I'd ask you just the same
But I'm going to ask anyway
What are you doing New Year's New Year's eve?
What are your plans for New Year's Eve?
Wonder whose arms will hold you good and tight
I wonder who will you be embracing at midnight
When it's exactly twelve o'clock that night
At the stroke of midnight
Welcoming in the New Year New Year's eve
Celebrating the arrival of the new year on New Year's Eve
Maybe I'm crazy to suppose
I might be crazy to think this
I'd ever be the one you chose
That I could be the one you choose
Out of the thousand invitations you received
Out of all the invitations you've been getting
Oh, but in case I stand one little chance
But just in case there is even a small chance
Here comes the jackpot question in advance
I'm going to ask the big question now
What are you doing New Year's New Year's Eve?
What are your plans for New Year's Eve?
Maybe I'm crazy to suppose
I might be crazy to think this
I'd ever be the one you chose
That I could be the one you choose
Out of the thousand invitations you received
Out of all the invitations you've been getting
Oh, but in case I stand one little chance
But just in case there is even a small chance
Here comes the jackpot question in advance
I'm going to ask the big question now
What are you doing New Year's New Year's Eve?
What are your plans for New Year's Eve?
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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