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.
Nice Work If You Can Get It
Benny Goodman Lyrics
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Lives a life that isn't necessarily sunny
Likewise the man who works for fame
There's no guarantee that time won't erase his name
The fact is, the only work that really brings enjoyment
Is the kind that is for girl and boy meant
Fall in love and you won't regret it
Holding hands at midnight
'Neath a starry sky
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you try
Strolling with the one girl
Sighing sigh after sigh
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you try
Just imagine someone
Waiting at the cottage door
Where two hearts become one
Who could ask for anything more?
Loving one who loves you
And then taking that vow
It's nice work if you can get it
And if you get it, won't you tell me how?"
Just imagine someone
Waiting at the cottage door
Where two hearts become one
Who could ask for anything more?
Loving one who loves you
And then taking that vow
Nice work if you can get it
And if you get it, won't you tell me how?"
The lyrics to Benny Goodman's "Nice Work If You Can Get It" speak of the pursuit of happiness and the things in life that truly matter. The song points out that working for money or fame may not necessarily lead to a happy life, as these things can be fleeting and uncertain. Instead, the lyrics suggest that the only work that brings real enjoyment is that which is meant for love and companionship.
The song speaks to falling in love and the joy it brings, with the image of holding hands at midnight under a starry sky. The lyrics paint a romantic picture of strolling with a loved one and sighing contentedly. The line, "Just imagine someone waiting at the cottage door where two hearts become one," shows the desire for a committed, loving relationship.
Ultimately, the song posits that finding love and taking the vow of commitment is the best kind of work anyone can aspire to. It comes with joys that are difficult to replicate in any other pursuit.
Line by Line Meaning
The man who only lives for making money
A person who prioritizes earning money above everything else
Lives a life that isn't necessarily sunny
Such people may not experience true happiness in life
Likewise the man who works for fame
The same is true for someone who strives only for fame
There's no guarantee that time won't erase his name
There's no assurance that fame will last forever
The fact is, the only work that really brings enjoyment
The truth is, only the work that is meant for the pleasure of both genders truly satisfies
Is the kind that is for girl and boy meant
It is the work exclusively done for love and companionship that brings true joy
Fall in love and you won't regret it
If you fall in love, you will not regret it
That's the best work of all, if you can get it
This is the most fulfilling job of all, if you can obtain it
Holding hands at midnight
When it's dark outside, holding someone's hand can be comforting and romantic
'Neath a starry sky
Under a sky full of stars, it can be quite romantic
Nice work if you can get it
It's great if you can achieve it
And you can get it if you try
You might be able to achieve it if you try
Strolling with the one girl
Going on a relaxed walk with the person you love
Sighing sigh after sigh
Breathing heavily as you romantically enjoy the moment
Just imagine someone
Picture someone in your mind
Waiting at the cottage door
Someone waiting for you to come home at the doorway of your country home
Where two hearts become one
Where two people, deeply in love, come together to form an unbreakable bond
Who could ask for anything more?
What more could anyone desire?
Loving one who loves you
Loving and being loved in return by someone special
And then taking that vow
Taking the commitment that symbolizes a lifelong relationship with the person you adore
And if you get it, won't you tell me how?
If you achieve it, please share the secret with me
Lyrics © RALEIGH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
SELMER B.Action
The genius of Teddy Wilson
Dewane Van Leuven
His leads and fills are so pretty.