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.
Bei mir bist du schoen
Benny Goodman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Until I first met you, I was lonesome
And when you came in sight, dear, my heart grew light
And this old world seemed new to me
You're really swell, I have to admit you
Deserve expressions that really fit you
And so I've racked my brain, hoping to explain
Bei mir bist do schon, please let me explain
Bei mir bist do schon means you're grand
Bei mir bist do schon, again I'll explain
It means you're the fairest in the land
I could say "Bella, bella", even "sehr wunderbar"
Each language only helps me tell you how grand you are
I've tried to explain, bei mir bist do schon
So kiss me and say you understand
Bei mir bist do schon, you've heard it all before
but let me try to explain
Bei mir bist do schon means that you're grand
Bei mir bist do schon, it's such an old refrain
and yet I should explain
It means I am begging for your hand
I could say "Bella, bella", even "sehr wunderbar"
Each language only helps me tell you how grand you are
I could say "Bella, bella", even "sehr wunderbar"
Each language only helps me tell you how grand you are
I've tried to explain, bei mir bist do schon
So kiss me and say that you will understand
The song "Bei mir bist du schoen," originally written in Yiddish, was later translated into English and popularized by Benny Goodman's jazz band in the 1930s. The lyrics tell the story of a person who has felt lonely and unfulfilled until they meet someone who makes their world feel new and exciting. The singer praises the object of their affection, expressing that their beauty and charm are unmatched. The phrase "Bei mir bist du schoen" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the singer's admiration and love for this person.
The lyrics of "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen" capture the essence of infatuation, the feeling of seeing someone for the first time and being completely taken aback by their beauty and charm. The song is evocative of the 1930s and the spirit of dance and jazz that took over that time period. It's a love song at its core, but it's also a tale of two personalities coming together, which is what makes it so timeless.
Line by Line Meaning
Of all the boys I've known, and I've known some
Until I first met you, I was lonesome
And when you came in sight, dear, my heart grew light
And this old world seemed new to me
I have known many boys in my lifetime and felt lonely until I met you, my heart immediately felt lighter as soon as I saw you and it was like my world had become new.
You're really swell, I have to admit you
Deserve expressions that really fit you
And so I've racked my brain, hoping to explain
All the things that you do to me
You are truly great and deserve words that fully encapsulate how amazing you are. I have thought long and hard about how to explain what you mean to me.
Bei mir bist do schon, please let me explain
Bei mir bist do schon means you're grand
Bei mir bist do schon, again I'll explain
It means you're the fairest in the land
Let me explain the phrase 'Bei mir bist do schon', it means that you are grand and the fairest person in existence.
I could say 'Bella, bella', even 'sehr wunderbar'
Each language only helps me tell you how grand you are
I could use terms like 'bella, bella' or 'sehr wunderbar' in multiple languages, but they only scratch the surface of how wonderful you really are.
Bei mir bist do schon, you've heard it all before
but let me try to explain
Bei mir bist do schon means that you're grand
Bei mir bist do schon, it's such an old refrain
and yet I should explain
It means I am begging for your hand
I know you have heard the phrase 'Bei mir bist do schon' before, but let me try to explain it to you again. It means that you are grand and amazing. Even though it's an old saying, I must emphasize that I want to be with you and spend my life with you.
I've tried to explain, bei mir bist do schon
So kiss me and say that you will understand
I have done my best to clarify the phrase 'Bei mir bist do schon'. Please kiss me and acknowledge that you understand how I feel about you.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: JACOB JACOBS, SAMMY CAHN, SAUL CHAPLIN, SHALOM SECUNDA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Guru
Out of all the versions of this song out there, this might be the best one.
lrh1966
It is awesome. Thanks for listening.
Rob Benjamin
Ziggy Elman's Klezmer riff on this is even better than what he played at the end of "And the Angels Sing". Amazing performances all around.
pressrolls
1:58 that swings SO hard! The BEST version to me by far.
lrh1966
Thanks for listening and have a great day from Lloyd :)
monica bella
Check out Grammercy Records.
Jumplamp 007
I Converted into this music when I was 12! Now I'm 13 and still loving this music!
lrh1966
Thanks for checking it out and have an awesome week from Lloyd :)
Alvaro Garcia
Let me guess, your 14 now?
Z K
Alvaro Garcia no, he’s 15 now