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.
In the Still of the Night
Benny Goodman Lyrics
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As I gaze out of my window
At the moon in it's flight
My thoughts all stray, stray to you
In the still of the night
While the world lies in slumber
Oh the times without number
Do you love me
Just like I love you
Are you my life to be
That dream come true
Or will this dream of mine
Will it fade way out of sight
Just like that moon growing dim
Way out on the rim of the hill
In the still of the night
Benny Goodman's song "In the Still of the Night" is a romantic and contemplative love song that explores the musings of a person as they look out of their window at night. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of someone staring at the moon in its flight, feeling lost in thought and longing for a special someone. The repetition of the phrase "In the still of the night" serves as a reminder of the quiet and peaceful atmosphere of the night and how it can often be the perfect backdrop for introspection and self-reflection.
The verses of the song express the singer's thoughts and feelings in a clear and straightforward way, highlighting their desire for love and connection with another person. The chorus, however, is where the emotions of the song truly come to the surface. The singer asks their love interest if they feel the same way, if they too are longing for a deep and meaningful connection. They wonder if their dream of love will fade away, just like the moon growing dim on the rim of a hill. Overall, Goodman's song captures the essence of a person's deepest feelings, fears, and desires when it comes to love and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
In the still of the night
During the quiet hours of the night
As I gaze out of my window
Looking out my window and taking in the view
At the moon in it's flight
Watching the moon as it moves through the sky
My thoughts all stray, stray to you
My mind can't help but think of you
While the world lies in slumber
While everyone else is sleeping
Oh the times without number
There have been countless occasions
When I say to you
When I ask you a question
Do you love me
Do you have feelings of love for me?
Just like I love you
The way I feel about you
Are you my life to be
Are you the one I will spend my life with?
That dream come true
The desire that I have
Or will this dream of mine
The question I need answered
Will it fade way out of sight
Will this hope disappear?
Just like that moon growing dim
Similar to how the light from the moon slowly fades away
Way out on the rim of the hill
In the distance at the edge of the horizon
In the still of the night
During the quiet hours of the night
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Cloud9, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind