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.
Full moon
Benny Goodman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been sleeping with a cloud above my bed
I've been lonely for so long
Trapped in the past, I just can't seem to move on
I've been hiding all my hopes and dreams away
Just in case I ever need 'em again some day
I've been setting aside time
All I want to do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love, oh oh oh
I've been watching but the stars refuse to shine
I've been searching but I just don't see the signs
I know that it's out there
There's got to be something for my soul, somewhere
The song "Full Moon" by Benny Goodman and Peggy Lee is a heartfelt reflection on the struggles of moving on from past relationships and finding love again. The first verse creates a somber tone as the singer reveals that they have been living with a shadow and sleeping with a cloud above their head, indicating the presence of a lingering sadness. The line "trapped in the past, I just can't seem to move on" highlights the central conflict of the song: the singer is struggling to let go of their past and make a new start.
The second verse reveals that the singer has been hiding their hopes and dreams away, reflecting a fear of getting hurt again. Nevertheless, they are still trying to carve out some space in their mind to make room for new possibilities. The chorus is a plea to find a way back into love, underscoring the singer's desperation for a fresh start. The repetition of "oh oh oh" emphasizes the emotional weight of this desire.
In the final verse, the singer acknowledges that they have been searching for signs of hope, but having a difficult time finding it. They declare that there must be something out there for their soul, indicating a sense of longing and the belief that they will eventually find what they are looking for.
Overall, "Full Moon" is a poignant reflection on the struggles of letting go of the past and finding hope for the future.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been living with a shadow overhead
I have been living with a feeling of gloom and darkness looming over my life
I've been sleeping with a cloud above my bed
I have been going to bed every night with feelings of sadness and despair
I've been lonely for so long
I have been feeling isolated and without any meaningful connections with others for a prolonged time
Trapped in the past, I just can't seem to move on
I am unable to let go of past experiences and they continue to hold me back from moving forward
I've been hiding all my hopes and dreams away
I feel afraid to share my aspirations with others and keep them guarded for fear of being disappointed
Just in case I ever need 'em again some day
I keep my aspirations available to me for the future in case I want to rekindle my motivation and determination
I've been setting aside time
I am taking an active effort to dedicate time specifically for a certain purpose
To clear a little space in the corners of my mind
I am making room in my thoughts for new ideas and opportunities
All I want to do is find a way back into love
My primary goal is to reestablish a romantic relationship with someone I care for deeply
I can't make it through without a way back into love, oh oh oh
I feel as though I cannot continue living my life without the presence of love in it
I've been watching but the stars refuse to shine
I have been searching for hope or guidance, but have not been able to find any
I've been searching but I just don't see the signs
I have been actively seeking any indication of hope, but have not found any
I know that it's out there
I have a strong belief that there is hope, love, and happiness somewhere in the world
There's got to be something for my soul, somewhere
I am confident that there is something out there that will invigorate my spirit and make me feel complete
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHICK COREA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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