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.
Close As Pages In A Book
Benny Goodman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My love and I
So close, we can share a single look
Share every sigh
So close that before I hear your laugh
My laugh breaks through
And when a tear starts to appear
Our dreams won't come tumbling to the ground
We'll hold them fast
Darling as the strongest book is bound
We're bound to last
Your life is my life
And while life beats away in my heart
We'll be close as pages in a book
Never to part
Your life is my life
And while life beats away in my heart
We'll be close as pages in a book
Never to part
The lyrics of Benny Goodman's "Close As Pages in a Book" describe a relationship that is so close and full of love that the couple will never be separated. They will be "close as pages in a book," sharing every moment, thought, and emotion, and knowing each other inside and out. The lines "So close, we can share a single look" and "Your life is my life" capture the deep intimacy and interconnectedness of the relationship, as well as the idea that the two individuals have become one.
The song speaks to the enduring power of love and the idea that a strong and committed relationship can weather any storm, no matter how difficult the circumstances. The lines "Our dreams won't come tumbling to the ground / We'll hold them fast" suggest that, despite challenges or setbacks, the couple will always be able to support and encourage each other. The metaphor of a book - something durable, lasting, and full of wisdom - reinforces this message of resilience and strength in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
We'll be close as pages in a book
We will remain connected like the pages of a book - inseparable.
My love and I
We are two loving individuals bonded together.
So close, we can share a single look
We are so close that we understand each other just by exchanging glances.
Share every sigh
We feel everything together and understand the significance of every sigh.
So close that before I hear your laugh
Being so close, I know your laughter before it reaches my ears.
My laugh breaks through
Our bond is so strong that my laughter echoes through yours.
And when a tear starts to appear
Even before the tears appear, I sense the emotion on your face.
My eyes grow misty too
The emotions are mutual and I'm overwhelmed by the same feeling.
Our dreams won't come tumbling to the ground
Our aspirations will never be lost, but instead will be preserved by our connection.
We'll hold them fast
We will grip our dreams tightly, refusing to let them escape.
Darling as the strongest book is bound
Our bond is stronger than even the toughest binding of a book.
We're bound to last
We are partners for eternity and our love is not going anywhere.
Your life is my life
We are so interdependent, that our lives are intertwined.
And while life beats away in my heart
Our time together is always alive within me.
Never to part
We are inseparable and will never leave each other's side.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: DOROTHY FIELDS, SIGMUND ROMBERG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
The Cardinal Critique
Lovely! Really a great tune! Thank you for sharing!