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.
Josephine
Benny Goodman Lyrics
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She's a flirt, she's a scamp, she's the vampiest vamp I've ever seen
It seems to me she's always flirting with the fellows passing by
But when I say she winks, then she tells me she thinks
There's a cinder in her eye
I believe it would be better if I'd leave her and forget
Everybody says it would be wise
But each time that I go out to dance with somebody else
For there's nobody quite so nice who can be quite so mean
As my gal, what a gal, Josephine
There never was a gal I could love, like I love my Josephine
She's a flirt, she's a scamp, she's the vampiest vamp I've ever seen
It seems to me she's always flirting with the fellows passing by
But when I say she winks, then she tells me she thinks
There's a cinder in her eye
I believe it would be better if I'd leave her and forget
Everybody says it would be wise
But each time that I go out to dance with somebody else
I find myself dancing with tears in my eyes
For there's nobody quite so nice who can be quite so mean
As my gal, what a gal, Josephine
The lyrics to Benny Goodman's song "Josephine" reveal the complicated and conflicted emotions of the singer towards his love interest, Josephine. The song suggests that the singer is deeply in love with Josephine, despite her flirtatious and vampish behavior with other men. He acknowledges that she is always flirting with passing fellows, but when he confronts her about it, she tells him that there's a cinder in her eye. The singer is torn between his love for Josephine and the advice of others to forget about her, as they say it would be wise.
Despite being a romantic song, "Josephine" shows the darker side of love and the complicated feelings that can arise when one is deeply enamored with another. The singer is caught in a tug-of-war between his heart and his head, as he struggles to determine whether he should stay with Josephine or leave her. The lyrics indicate that Josephine can be both nice and mean at the same time, which adds to the complexity of their relationship.
Overall, "Josephine" is a relatable song for anyone who has experienced the ups and downs of a passionate love affair. The lyrics convey the pain and joy that come with loving someone who is both alluring and frustrating at the same time.
Line by Line Meaning
There never was a gal I could love, like I love my Josephine
No other woman can compare to the love I have for Josephine.
She's a flirt, she's a scamp, she's the vampiest vamp I've ever seen
Josephine is charming, mischievous, and the most seductive woman I've ever encountered.
It seems to me she's always flirting with the fellows passing by
It appears to me that Josephine is constantly flirting with other men as they pass by.
But when I say she winks, then she tells me she thinks There's a cinder in her eye
Whenever I accuse Josephine of flirting, she makes excuses such as the false claim that there is something in her eye.
I believe it would be better if I'd leave her and forget Everybody says it would be wise
Many people tell me that it would be better to break up with Josephine and move on with my life.
But each time that I go out to dance with somebody else I find myself dancing with tears in my eyes
Every time I try to dance with another woman, I cannot help but feel sad and cry because I still love Josephine.
For there's nobody quite so nice who can be quite so mean As my gal, what a gal, Josephine
Josephine may be kind and lovable at times, but she also has a mean streak that no one else can match. Despite this, I still love her very much.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PINA KOLLARS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind