It was while studying to be a nurse that singer/songwriter Roxanna witnessed first hand the healing power of music. Sitting bedside with a patient suffering from dementia, she sang gently to the elderly woman, who was no longer swallowing. “She looked into my eyes and for the first time, I saw her smile. And she began to eat, “Roxanna says. “The doctors were amazed.” In fact, she speaks from experience, after spending her youth surrounded by strife. Roxanna was born in war-torn Iran. She turned to music for balance and calm as a child, phonetically mimicking the English-language hits of Olivia Newton-John—who, with Iglesias, is her muse. By the late 1980s, she settled in Toronto.
“I believe “Close Your Eyes” can relate to many people who have lost loved ones or losing their hope. When people are listening to the lyrics I’d like them to know they are not alone. I wish to heal them with this song.” – RoXanna
Roxanna – Close Your Eyes
“Close Your Eyes” takes you on a personal journey of an empathetic story, with her accompanied music video. Featuring a minimal backdrop, the direction perfectly fits with the dramatic storyline and emotional lyrics. Proving that this single can already be a classic ballad, Roxanna’s heartfelt message is strongly emphasized by the elegance of her beautiful vocals. Just from the first few bars of music, you’ll be mystified by the music inviting you to continue to listen to this story she is singing to you.
Roxanna – Close Your Eyes (Performance from Exotica Live at Vibiana)
Among highlights of “Exotica,” “Close Your Eyes,” co-written by Portmann and Lindy Robbins (Celine Dion, Backstreet Boys, Nick Lachey), is a consummate nurturing love song offering a sky-scraping vocal tour de force as Roxanna sings, “Close your eyes, I’ll be here til the sunrise, and your dreams come to carry you far from sorrow.” She notes, “This song is such a parallel for what I saw as an RN, when people endure tough times and you want to offer them hope. I sang two takes of the lyric and we knew it possessed everything I felt in my heart.
Roxanna – Close Your Eyes Lyrics:
You say how your world is closing in
Feels as if the sun will never come this way again
And all these days
You’ve been running like a river that is rushing to the edge and
You’re falling in too deep
Close your eyes
I’ll be here keeping guard by your side
Till your worries are melting away
And your dreams come to carry you
Far from sorrow
Close your eyes
I’ll be here till the sunrise
I wish I could make them go away
All those shadows chasing you,
But please don’t be afraid
You’ll break through,
But all you need to do for now is rest
Here for awhile until tomorrow comes for you
Close your eyes
I’ll be here keeping guard by your side
Till your worries are melting away
And your dreams come to carry you
Far from sorrow
Close your eyes
I’ll be here till the sunrise
I wish I could make them go away
All those shadows chasing you,
But please don’t be afraid
You’ll break through,
But all you need to do for now is rest
Here for awhile until tomorrow comes for you
In time you’ll find you’re stronger then you ever knew you were
You can let go
Close your eyes
I’ll be here keeping guard by your side
Till your worries are melting away
And your dreams come to carry you
Far from sorrow
Close your eyes
I’ll be here till the sunrise
I wish I could make them go away
All those shadows chasing you,
But please don’t be afraid
You’ll break through,
But all you need to do for now is rest
Here for awhile until tomorrow comes for you
