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.
April In Paris
Benny Goodman Lyrics
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I never met it face to face
I never knew my heart could sing
I never missed a warm embrace
Till April in Paris, chestnuts in blossom
Holiday tables under the trees
April in Paris, this is a feeling
I never knew the charm of spring
I never met it face to face
I never knew my heart could sing
I never missed a warm embrace
Till April in Paris
Whom can I run to
What have you done to my heart
The lyrics of Benny Goodman's song "April In Paris" express a deep sense of discovery and transformation. The singer begins by admitting to never having known or appreciated the beauty and allure of spring. They have never truly experienced the season's magic or felt its impact on their emotions. It is as if they have been living in a state of emotional indifference or obliviousness.
However, everything changes when April arrives in Paris. The mention of chestnuts in blossom and holiday tables under the trees paints a vivid picture of the city coming to life during springtime. The singer is overwhelmed by the enchanting atmosphere and the newfound feelings it evokes within them. They had never anticipated that their heart could sing or that they would long for a warm embrace until experiencing April in Paris.
The final lines express the singer's realization that something significant has occurred. They inquire whom they can turn to or rely on now, suggesting a vulnerability and a sense of having been deeply affected by the experience of April in Paris. It is a transformative moment that has left an indelible mark on their heart.
Overall, the lyrics of "April In Paris" capture the profound impact that the arrival of spring in Paris can have on one's emotions and perspective, revealing the power of beauty and the ability of a place to awaken dormant feelings within.
Line by Line Meaning
I never knew the charm of spring
I had no prior understanding of the enchantment and allure that comes with the arrival of spring
I never met it face to face
I had never experienced spring firsthand or had a personal encounter with its essence
I never knew my heart could sing
I had never realized that my heart had the capacity to exude joy and happiness
I never missed a warm embrace
I had never longed for the comforting and affectionate embrace of another person
Till April in Paris, chestnuts in blossom
But then, during the month of April in the enchanting city of Paris, witnessing the blooming of chestnut trees
Holiday tables under the trees
Observing festive gatherings and celebrations taking place beneath the sheltering trees
April in Paris, this is a feeling
April in Paris evokes an indescribable sensation, an emotion that is unique and incomparable
That no one can ever reprise
Such a feeling cannot be replicated or recreated by anyone else
Till April in Paris
My understanding and experience of these emotions only came about when I encountered April in Paris
Whom can I run to
In light of this newfound feeling, to whom can I turn for support and guidance
What have you done to my heart
The impact of this experience has completely transformed my heart, leaving me astounded by its effect
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Tratore, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: E. Y. Harburg, Vernon Duke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind