In musician-songwriter Matthew Andrae's tender lyrics, a new father reflects on the sweet joy of his daughter's birth — and how his life will change.

Since Andrae posted a video on YouTube last December of himself singing "Sweet Celine" and accompanying himself on the guitalele (a cross between a classical guitar and a tenor ukulele), the song has racked up 574,365 hits and touched many listeners.

"I only wish my father would (express the same love), and the father of my children in the future," wrote one.

Within weeks of the posting, Andrae's recording of "Sweet Celine" became the No. 1 featured video on YouTube and recently won him a contract with a French music publishing company.

Andrae leaves for Paris on Monday for a concert and pre-production work on the recording.

The sudden success is a surprise. Andrae has been performing in Santa Fe for 15 years, mainly at the Inn at Loretto. "I always thought if I had a kid, my career would go bye-bye," he said. Instead, the birth of his daughter and now the popularity of "Sweet Celine" have produced "the most eventful year I've ever had."

Andrae, 41, was born at Santa Fe Indian Hospital. His mother is Jicarilla Apache. He never knew his father while growing up. At age 1 1/2, he was adopted by a Los Alamos family.

The birth of his daughter prompted him to ponder his own origins. "It made me think of all the things I would like to have had (in my own childhood) that I'd like to give my kid. It's not rocket science. It's trying to be there as much as possible," he said.

"Sweet Celine" is one of 11 music videos Andrae has made in his home studio and posted on his YouTube site. "You sit in front of a Web cam and play your stuff. It's no great art," he said. But he's gotten a combined 710,000 hits, e-mails from all over the world and many offers to manage his career. "To feel like I've been seen is really important to me," he said.

The offer that appealed to him most was from Les Editions Raoul Breton, an elite music company owned by French tenor Charles Aznavour (known as the Frank Sinatra of France) and Gerard Davoust. Two of its artists have sold more than 100 million records, Andrae said, and the company was "really into what I was doing."

Under the three-year recording agreement, the company will budget $100,000 to make a record.

In France, Andrae hopes to select about a dozen of 30-some tunes to record. Bassist Steve Rodby has agreed to play with him. And Helik Hadar, engineer for Herbie Hancock's Grammy-winning Album of the Year for 2008, River: The Joni Letters, will help with the recording. "It's an honor to play with these people," Andrae said.

After the birth of Celine, the local group Many Mothers, which helps families with newborns, visited Andrae and his wife, Amy Anderson. On May 10, Andrae will return the favor with a benefit concert for the organization. A silent auction starts at 6:30 p.m. with the performance at 7:30 p.m. Call 983-5984 for more information.

Contact Anne Constable at 986-3022 or aconstable@sfnewmexican.com.

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SWEET CELINE

The very second I could see you

I knew what I would have to do.

I'd have to leave my cozy island

have to leave my solitude.

So I set out on the water

past the safety of my land

past my closely guarded borders

reaching out to touch your hand.

Now we walk this road together

hoping nothing dare comes between

and I pray we stay forever

Matthew James and Sweet Celine.

Now it seems a distant feeling

how I get to be alone,

how I laugh in pure amazement,

how you came to lead me home.

Now I know you love your mommy

and you know I love her too

and without her we ain't nothing

but I wrote this song for you.



Matthew Andrae