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.
Pick Yourself Up
Benny Goodman Lyrics
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Nice teacher, teach me something.
I'm as awkward as a camel, that's not the worst,
My two feet haven't met yet,
But I'll be teacher's pet yet,
'Cause I'm gonna learn to dance or burst.
Nothing's impossible I have found,
I pick myself up,
Dust myself off,
Start All over again.
Don't lose your confidence if you slip,
Be grateful for a pleasant trip,
And pick yourself up,
Dust yourself off,
Start all over again.
Work like a soul inspired,
Till the battle of the day is won.
You may be sick and tired,
But you'll be a man, my son!
Will you remember the famous men,
Who had to fall to rise again?
So take a deep breath,
Pick yourself up,
Dust yourself off,
Start all over again.
I'll get some self assurance
If your endurance is great.
I'll learn by easy stages
If you're courageous and wait.
To feel the strength I want to,
I must hang on to your hand,
Maybe by the time I'm fifty
I'll get up and do a nifty.
Nothing's impossible I have found,
For when my chin is on the ground,
I pick myself up,
Dust myself off,
Start all over again.
Don't lose your confidence if you slip,
Be grateful for a pleasant trip,
And pick yourself up,
Dust yourself off,
Start all over again.
Work like a soul inspired,
Till the battle of the day is won.
You may be sick and tired,
But you'll be a man, my son!
Will you remember the famous men,
Who had to fall to rise again?
So take a deep breath,
Pick yourself up,
Dust yourself off,
Start all over again.
The lyrics of Benny Goodman's song "Pick Yourself Up" are an inspiring call to perseverance and resilience. The singer begins by addressing the teacher, asking to be taught something and expressing their own awkwardness. However, they are committed to learning to dance and becoming the teacher's pet, even if it means bursting from the effort. The singer acknowledges that nothing is impossible, and that when they fall down, they pick themselves up and start all over again.
The second verse is about not losing confidence after a slip and being grateful for the journey. The singer encourages the listener to work like a soul inspired until the battle of the day is won. They remind us that even famous men have had to fall to rise again, and that it is important to take a deep breath and start all over again.
The third verse is about relying on someone else's strength to gain our own. The singer seeks self-assurance and hopes to learn by easy stages. They express a desire to feel the strength they want to by holding on to someone else's hand, and even if it takes until they're fifty, they will get up and do a nifty.
Overall, the song is about the importance of resilience, determination, and optimism. No matter how many times we fall, we can always pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and start all over again.
Line by Line Meaning
Please teacher, teach me something,
As a student, I am eager to learn and grow. I am asking my teacher for guidance and knowledge.
Nice teacher, teach me something.
I am respectful towards my teacher and I am hoping that they will impart something valuable to me.
I'm as awkward as a camel, that's not the worst,
I may feel clumsy and uncomfortable, but I understand that there are worse things in life.
My two feet haven't met yet,
I have trouble finding my balance and footing when I dance.
But I'll be teacher's pet yet,
I am motivated to learn and become a high-achieving student.
'Cause I'm gonna learn to dance or burst.
I am determined to learn how to dance, even if it means pushing myself to my limits.
Nothing's impossible I have found,
I have learned that anything is achievable with hard work and perseverance.
For when my chin is on the ground,
When I feel defeated and down, I have learned to pick myself up and keep going.
I pick myself up,
I motivate and push myself to keep trying despite my challenges.
Dust myself off,
I shake off my failures and setbacks to move forward.
Start all over again.
I am willing to start anew and try again.
Don't lose your confidence if you slip,
If I make a mistake or fail, it's important to not let it affect my confidence and belief in myself.
Be grateful for a pleasant trip,
Even if things don't go as planned, it's important to find the positive aspects and be grateful for them.
And pick yourself up,
I am responsible for getting myself back on track and moving forward.
Dust yourself off,
I let go of my past mistakes and setbacks, leaving them behind me.
Start all over again.
I am willing to start anew and try again.
Work like a soul inspired,
I give my work and goals my all, with passion and inspiration.
Till the battle of the day is won.
I keep pushing until I achieve my goals and succeed in my endeavors.
You may be sick and tired,
Even if I am exhausted and worn out, I must keep pushing myself to succeed.
But you'll be a man, my son!
I am expected to be strong, resilient, and determined to succeed - to be a true adult.
Will you remember the famous men,
I am reminded of the great men in history who faced failure and defeat but still managed to rise again and succeed.
Who had to fall to rise again?
Failure and setbacks are part of life, and are often necessary in order to push oneself to greater heights.
So take a deep breath,
I take a moment to pause and collect myself before moving forward again.
Pick yourself up,
I am responsible for motivating myself to keep going.
Dust yourself off,
I let go of the burdens of my past to move forward unencumbered.
Start all over again.
I am willing to start anew and try again.
I'll get some self assurance
I am hoping to gain some confidence and self-assurance from my efforts.
If your endurance is great.
I am searching for someone with strength and resilience to help guide me.
I'll learn by easy stages
I understand that learning and growth come in small incremental steps.
If you're courageous and wait.
I am looking for someone who is strong and patient to help guide me in my journey.
To feel the strength I want to,
I am seeking to gain strength and resilience in my own life.
I must hang on to your hand,
I am looking for someone to guide me and help me along my journey.
Maybe by the time I'm fifty
I understand that growth and learning takes time.
I'll get up and do a nifty.
I look forward to being able to achieve my goals and to do so effortlessly and with grace.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Dorothy Fields, Jerome Kern
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind