Goodman was regarded by some as a demanding taskmaster, by others an arrogant and eccentric martinet. Many musicians spoke of The Ray, Goodman's trademark glare that he bestowed on a musician who failed to perform to his demanding standards. Anita O'Day and Helen Forrest spoke bitterly of their experiences singing with Goodman. "The twenty or so months I spent with Benny felt like twenty years," said Forrest. "When I look back, they seem like a life sentence." He could also be incredibly self-absorbed; it is reported that when eating an egg onto which a ketchup bottle cap had fallen, Goodman simply ate around it. At the same time, there are reports that he privately funded several college educations and was sometimes very generous, though always secretly. When a friend asked him why one time, he reportedly said, "Well, if they knew about it, everyone would come to me with their hand out."
Some suggest that Elvis Presley had the same success with rock and roll that Goodman achieved with jazz and swing. Without Goodman there would not have been a swing era. It is true that many of Goodman's arrangements had been played for years before by Fletcher Henderson's orchestra. While Goodman publicly acknowledged his debt to Henderson, many young white swing fans had never heard Henderson's band. While most consider Goodman a jazz innovator, others maintain his main strength was his perfectionism and drive. Goodman was a non - pariel virtuoso clarinetist and -along with only Artie Shaw, amongst the most technically proficient jazz clarinetists of all time.
Goodman is also responsible for a significant step in racial integration in America. In the early 1930s, black and white jazz musicians could not play together in most clubs or concerts. In the Southern states, racial segregation was enforced by the Jim Crow laws. Benny Goodman broke with tradition by hiring Teddy Wilson to play with him ] in the Autumn of 1936. He then added Lionel Hampton on vibes in December, 1936, and in the early Summer of 1939 he augmented the famous "quartette" with pioneering jazz guitarist Charlie Christian to his band and small ensembles, who played with him until his untimely death from tuberculosis less than three years later. To give an understanding of American history at this time, Goodman's integration of popular music happened ten years before Jackie Robinson entered Major League Baseball. "[Goodman's] popularity was such that he could remain financially viable without touring the South, where he would have been subject to arrest for violating Jim Crow laws." By the mid- Summer of 1941, Benny had hired the incomparably rhythmic and show-man drummer, legendary "Big Sid" Catlett, the (later) famous John Simmons on bass, and still possessed the incomparable Charlie Christian on electric guitar -plus Cootie Williams was in the middle of his one-year contract... This amounted to virtually one-quarter of the orchestra of black heritage, but of course -following Jimmy Munday and Fletcher Henderson (who also joined the band as pianist for 6 months in July, 1939) it was really an orchestrated white extension of black big band jazz -only, curiously -better.
A Fine Romance
Benny Goodman Lyrics
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A fine romance, my friend this is
We should be like a couple of hot tomatoes
But you're as cold as yesterday's mashed potatoes
A fine romance, you won't nestle
A fine romance, you won't wrestle
I might as well play bridge
With my old maid aunt
This is a fine romance
A fine romance, my good fellow
You take romance, I'll take jello
You're calmer than the seals
In the arctic ocean
At least they flap their fins
To express emotion
A fine romance with no quarrels
With no insults and all morals
I've never mussed the crease
In your blue serge pants
I never get the chance
This is a fine romance
The lyrics to Benny Goodman's "A Fine Romance" talk about a romance that is not quite what it should be. The singer describes a relationship that lacks passion and physical affection, and in which they feel rejected and cold. The opening line sets the tone for the song: "A fine romance, with no kisses." The singer acknowledges that they have tried to make things more passionate, but their efforts have been met with apathy by their partner: "We should be like a couple of hot tomatoes, but you're as cold as yesterday's mashed potatoes."
In the second verse, the singer compares their partner's lack of emotion to the calmness of seals in the Arctic ocean. The lack of quarrels and insults is not necessarily a good thing, as it indicates that there is no emotional investment or connection. The final lines of the song, "I've never mussed the crease in your blue serge pants, I never get the chance," drive home the idea that this romance is lacking in physical intimacy and passion.
Overall, "A Fine Romance" is a song that explores the frustrations and disappointments of a relationship that is not living up to expectations. The lyrics paint a picture of a couple who are not on the same wavelength when it comes to love and romance, and who are struggling to find a way to connect.
Line by Line Meaning
A fine romance, with no kisses
Our romance is lacking the affectionate intimacy that I desire
A fine romance, my friend this is
Despite the lack of physical closeness, I still value this relationship
We should be like a couple of hot tomatoes
We ought to be passionate and excited about one another
But you're as cold as yesterday's mashed potatoes
Despite my desires, you are distant and unresponsive
A fine romance, you won't nestle
You refuse to cuddle, which is another sign of emotional distance
A fine romance, you won't wrestle
You also won't engage in playful physical contact, further emphasizing your lack of interest
I might as well play bridge
Our interactions are just as cold and impersonal as a card game
With my old maid aunt
In fact, I might even have more fun playing cards with a family member who has never experienced a romantic relationship
I haven't got a chance
It seems unlikely that our relationship will ever grow into something more affectionate
This is a fine romance
Our relationship is characterized by emotional distance and a lack of intimacy
A fine romance, my good fellow
I address you in a friendly manner despite my romantic frustrations
You take romance, I'll take jello
You seem uninterested in romantic love, and would rather have something sweet and fun like jello
You're calmer than the seals
You are emotionally detached and undisturbed, like the seals in the arctic ocean
In the arctic ocean
This comparison emphasizes the extreme emotional distance between us
At least they flap their fins
Even the seals show some form of emotional expression, which is more than I can say for you
To express emotion
The flapping fins are a way for the seals to display emotion, whereas you show none
A fine romance with no quarrels
Our relationship is devoid of arguments or fights, but that doesn't mean it's healthy
With no insults and all morals
We are not rude or disrespectful to one another, but we also lack the passion and excitement of a true romance
I've never mussed the crease
I have never been intimate enough with you to mess up the crease in your pants
In your blue serge pants
This detail emphasizes the lack of physical intimacy in our relationship
I never get the chance
Overall, our relationship lacks the spark and passion necessary for true romance
This is a fine romance
Once again, I emphasize the fact that our relationship is boring and devoid of the passion that makes romance truly 'fine'
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: Jerome Kern, Dorothy Fields
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind