My last blog post left me feeling maternal and gushy (which doesn’t happen very often, just ask my kids!), so I’m feeling compelled to blog about the song which shares my daughter’s name (strictly coincidence, I tell you)…of course, that song would be Chloe.
The first thing I’ll mention is that the lyrics were not written by Bernie, but by Gary Osborne. And that’s ok, people, that’s ok.
I didn’t name my daughter after this song, although it is quite a perk! (She won’t admit it, but I’m pretty sure she thinks it’s cool to have her own EJ song). Anyway, I’ve always loved the name Chloe, so the song had an advantage from the get-go. What a beautiful name…and what a beautiful song!
How come you’re so understanding
When I tell you all my lies
And pretending to believe them
See through all my alibis
I remember thinking “How French” when I first saw the album cover…and hearing the song Chloe, Just Like Belgium and (later) Donner pour Donner, I think I was right. I am an unabashed francophile, so another reason to love this song!
How you handle what you live through
I can never hope to learn
Taking all the pain I give you
Loving blindly in return
And I need you more than ever
I will always be your friend
Chloe, Chloe
I also love the Carla/Etude and Fanfare intro to Chloe…I’ve always enjoyed and appreciated it when Elton does it up big with an orchestral arrangement or classical feeling. And his voice is big to match in this song. I really enjoy listening to all three pieces with my eyes closed (preferably when I’m not driving).
Chloe, what you gonna do about me
Chloe, what you gonna do
What you gonna do about me
Believe it or not, I saw the video for Chloe for the first time tonight on YouTube. If memory serves me well, I believe this was pre-MTV, so videos weren’t de rigueur. And now that I’ve seen it, the video, too, seems very French to me, with Elton all harlequin-esque.
While googling and Wikipedia-ing, I also found out that Elton recorded ten videos for all of the singles from The Fox – the collection is called Visions. Something I didn’t know! I’ve got to get my hands on that! Does anybody out there know where I can find a copy?
Chloe (The Fox – 1981)
And now, I’ll share a poem I wrote to my Chloe called Blessed…(apologies to Bernie for abducting his title…but I guess that’s one degree!)…
Blessed
Radiant
You peek around the corner at life
Starlit eyes
Dancing in the wonderment of it all
A spirit so pure it heals me
My angel on tiptoes
Irrepressible
That crinkled up nose
Those funny faces
Precocious laughter that intoxicates
Your words come so easily
Yet you leave me speechless
Blossoming
Every day a new petal unfolds
Every day you grow more beautiful
Every day you reach closer to the sun
Every day you prove your name
Inspiration
You illuminate my life
You give me hope
For what I am, for what I yearn to be
The ultimate gift
Role models in reverse
And so I watch you grow
I watch you bloom
And I try to express in words
The endless gratitude
Of a mother
Blessed with her beloved daughter
From Kim to Chloe
August 1997
The Captain and the Kim 