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.
Amapola
Benny Goodman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Written by Albert Gamse - Jose Maria La Calle
Instrumental Intro
Amapola, my pretty little poppy
You're like that lovely flower so sweet and heavenly,
Since I found you, my heart is wrapped around you
Amapola, the pretty little poppy
Must copy it's endearing charms from you.
Amapola, Amapola, how I long to hear you say "I love you."
Instrumental to End
The song Amapola speaks of the beauty and charm of a woman, who is compared to the delicate and sweet poppy flower. The singer declares his love for her, expressing that since he found her, his heart beats with a rhapsody. He longs to hear her say "I love you." The words are simple, yet they convey a deep allure and adoration for the person being sung about.
The melody of the song further enhances its romantic and tender mood. The instrumental intro is soothing and serene, setting the tone for the lyrics to be sung. As the vocals begin, the music swells and ebbs, creating an immersive experience for the listener. The song crescendos towards the end, with the singer repeating the name of the flower, as if to emphasize the beauty of the woman he loves.
Line by Line Meaning
Amapola, my pretty little poppy
Addressing the person (or flower) being talked about.
You're like that lovely flower so sweet and heavenly,
Comparing the person (or flower) to a beautiful and perfect flower.
Since I found you, my heart is wrapped around you
Expressing love and attachment towards the person (or flower).
And loving you, it seems to beat a rhapsody.
Suggesting that love is transforming and uplifting, like a symphony.
Amapola, the pretty little poppy
Repeating the address and comparison from the first line.
Must copy it's endearing charms from you.
Imagining that the flower's beauty and sweetness originated from the person being addressed.
Amapola, Amapola, how I long to hear you say "I love you."
Expressing intense desire for the person to reciprocate the singer's love.
Contributed by Caden E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@yanausp
Amapola
My pretty little poppy
You're like that lovely flower only so sweet and heavenly
Since I found you
My heart is wrapped around you
And loving you it seems to beat a rhapsody
Amapola
The pretty little poppy
Must copy its endearing charm from you Amapola, Amapola
How I long to hear you say, "I love you."
Read more: Gene Autry - Amapola Lyrics | MetroLyrics
@maureen1938
The era of the Big Bands was FANTASTIC....Thanks for the shares.
@user-ug7sb9tn3b
Люблю. Старый классический джаз в стиле. Свинга. Благодарю. За. Возможность. Слушать. Его
@marketawittig9697
Diese Klarinette! Ich liebe Benny Goodman!🌹
@leonardkaluza
Wow! I really like to play this with my Big Band
@richardgornalle4536
I have loved this song when a child long ago. Still do.
@bennyjazzful
What a brilliant sound,which is so good & probably will never be surpassed. AMAZING
@richardbuck538
Great song, beautiful singer, lots of memories back in the 1940s and 1940s.
@dawndeago1296
Priceless beyond words.Always keep's the beautiful image of my Grandfather close to heart.
@marthalieja7417
Qué recuerdos y que gusto poder tenerlos!!!!!!
@lesterwyoung
No-one played the melody of a tune quite as well as Benny!