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.
Blue Skies
Benny Goodman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ev'ry day was a cloudy day for me
Then good luck came a-knocking at my door
Skies were gray but they're not gray anymore
Blue skies
Smiling at me
Nothing but blue skies
Bluebirds
Singing a song
Nothing but bluebirds
All day long
Never saw the sun shining so bright
Never saw things going so right
Noticing the days hurrying by
When you're in love, my how they fly
Blue days
All of them gone
Nothing but blue skies
From now on
I should care if the wind blows east or west
I should fret if the worst looks like the best
I should mind if they say it can't be true
I should smile, that's exactly what I do
The song "Blue Skies" by Benny Goodman is an upbeat and optimistic song that expresses a feeling of joy and gratitude for good things that have happened. The opening lyrics set the stage for a melancholy mood, with the singer feeling blue every day. However, the tone changes when the singer experiences a stroke of good luck, which lifts their spirits and changes their outlook on life. The rest of the song is an expression of the newfound joy that the singer experiences, with references to blue skies and bluebirds, symbols of happiness and good fortune.
The lyrics speak to the transformative power of positivity and gratitude. The singer's gratitude for the good things in life brings them joy and allows them to focus on the positive, even in the face of uncertainty and difficulty. This message is particularly resonant in challenging times, reminding us that we can find happiness and hope even when things seem bleak.
Overall, "Blue Skies" is a song that celebrates the power of optimism, joy, and gratitude. Its catchy melody and upbeat lyrics have made it a classic tune that has stood the test of time.
Line by Line Meaning
I was blue, just as blue as I could be
I was extremely sad and depressed.
Ev'ry day was a cloudy day for me
Each day felt miserable and gloomy.
Then good luck came a-knocking at my door
Fortune visited me unexpectedly.
Skies were gray but they're not gray anymore
Even though it seemed hopeless, things got better.
Blue skies
The clear blue skies symbolize happiness and joyousness.
Smiling at me
The skies appear to be happy and welcoming.
Nothing but blue skies
The singer can only see and feel positivity around them.
Do I see
The artist's focus is solely on the good things in their life.
Bluebirds
The bluebirds represent the artist's happiness.
Singing a song
The bluebirds' constant singing is a celebration of the artist's good fortune.
Nothing but bluebirds
The absence of any other birds or noises suggests that the singer is only experiencing joy.
All day long
The happiness and contentment the artist is experiencing have lasted for a long time.
Never saw the sun shining so bright
The brightness of the sun is a metaphor for how the singer's life has improved so much that they have never experienced this level of contentment before.
Never saw things going so right
The singer's life is going particularly well.
Noticing the days hurrying by
The singer is able to appreciate the passage of time more now that they are not constantly miserable.
When you're in love, my how they fly
Time seems to go quickly when someone is in a joyful place emotionally.
Blue days
The artist's previous periods of sadness and depression.
All of them gone
The singer's sadness has vanished.
Nothing but blue skies
The singer is surrounded by positivity and happiness.
From now on
The artist's focus will remain on the present and the good things in their life.
I should care if the wind blows east or west
The artist should naturally be concerned about changing circumstances, but they aren't.
I should fret if the worst looks like the best
The artist shouldn't worry if something good happens, and they know it should be cause for concern.
I should mind if they say it can't be true
The singer knows they shouldn't believe naysayers who doubt their good fortune.
I should smile, that's exactly what I do
The artist is genuinely happy and makes no effort to hide it.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Irving Berlin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheBennysmacks
Well its damn shame no ones given a comment. Great music, great artists, long live swing!
@oldngood190
I agree .....four years later !
@cometcourtneysparrow794
Amen!!!!
@amma.bhen.pe.aajaunga
i agree 8 years later
@markhall5656
Thanks dad miss you great track
@iqvoice
Deserves more views.
@irakatz2388
You can read the back story about Benny Goodman in a fantastic book, There was a fire by Ben Sidran. Wow, what a great read. This song, in 1934 was a turning point in jazz
@jorgewsanabria
Masterpiece!!!
@Harrisoo
Arranged by Fletcher Henderson, I believe!
@everyonedies9654
weed and dabs brought me here .