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.
Sleep
Benny Goodman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How we love to sleep
At the close of day
When the joys of the day fade away and the memories sweet
Of the day repeat
In our dreams they creep
While we sleep, sleep, sleep
It seems that daytime was just made for laughter and song
Night time brings rest to the weary
Sooths all the hearts that are dreary
Leaves us alone with our day dreams
Brings back sweet golden love dreams while we sleep, sleep, sleep
How we love to sleep
At the close of day
When the joys of the day fade away and the memories sweet
Of the day repeat
In our dreams they creep
The lyrics of Benny Goodman's song Sleep mainly focus on the love and joy that comes with sleep. The song starts with a repetition of the word 'sleep' and how much we love the act of sleeping. The first verse emphasises on how the end of the day brings a sense of calm and solace for people, as they go to bed and all the sweet memories of the day run through their mind as they sleep. The second verse describes that the daytime is for laughter and song, while evening brings love and romance for couples. The night, on the other hand, sets the weary to rest, and provides a chance for people to be alone with their daydreams and also to experience sweet, golden love dreams while they sleep.
The song conveys the importance of sleep in daily life, and highlights the concept of how people go to bed, often with a lot of thoughts running through their mind, and how sleep helps them to sort out those thoughts and feelings. The lyrics also express comfort and peace that sleep brings and how it is essential for a peaceful and healthy life.
Line by Line Meaning
Sleep, sleep, sleep
An invitation to sleep and enjoy its benefits
How we love to sleep
A statement on how enjoyable and important sleep is
At the close of day
Refers to nighttime, a time for winding down and rest
When the joys of the day fade away and the memories sweet
Explains how sleep is a continuation of the pleasant experiences from the day
Of the day repeat
Reminiscing about the memories from the day
In our dreams they creep
Memories of the day infiltrate our dreams
While we sleep, sleep, sleep
Reiterates the importance of sleep
It seems that daytime was just made for laughter and song
Daytime is associated with joy and lightheartedness
Evening brings romance to lovers as they stroll along
Evening is a time for love and romance
Night time brings rest to the weary
Nighttime is for relaxation and rejuvenation
Sooths all the hearts that are dreary
Sleep provides comfort to anyone who is feeling down
Leaves us alone with our day dreams
Sleep allows us to revisit and contemplate our aspirations and goals
Brings back sweet golden love dreams while we sleep, sleep, sleep
Dreams of love and romance are common during sleep
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEPHEN FRETWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind