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.
Somebody Nobody Loves
Benny Goodman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh me, oh my, my, my
I'm somebody nobody loves,
I wonder why, why, why
Although I know it's most alarmin'
I've prayed on bended knee
For that certain gay prince charmin'
I've got to find me a somebody soon
Or else I'll die, die, die,
I'd take the man in the moon
If he'd give me a try
I'm just a lonesome Cinderella
That romance passes by
I'm somebody nobody loves, oh me oh my.
The lyrics to Benny Goodman feat. Peggy Lee's song “Somebody Nobody Loves” convey a sense of loneliness and longing for love. Peggy Lee sings about being someone that nobody loves and wonders why. She has prayed for her prince charming, but he has yet to arrive. She is desperately searching for someone to love and fears that if she doesn't find someone soon, she will die. She even goes so far as to say she would take the man in the moon if he would just give her a chance. Peggy Lee characterizes herself as a lonely Cinderella, who romance seems to pass by.
The song's message speaks to a universal experience of wanting to be loved and accepted. It highlights the human desire for companionship and shows one's ability to hold onto hope despite feeling unloved. The lyrics are relatable to anyone who has ever felt left out or alone.
One interesting fact about "Somebody Nobody Loves" is that it was written by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh, who were a successful songwriting team in the 1950s and 1960s. Cy Coleman is best known for writing the music for Broadway productions like "City of Angels," "Sweet Charity," and "Barnum."
Another interesting fact about this song is that Peggy Lee was not Benny Goodman's original choice to sing it. Goodman initially approached his regular vocalist Martha Tilton to record the song, but she turned it down, and Peggy Lee was brought in to replace her.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm somebody nobody loves
I am a person who is not loved by anyone
Oh me, oh my, my, my
Expressing surprise or dismay in response to the previous line
I'm somebody nobody loves,
Reiteration of the initial line to emphasize the feeling of being unloved
I wonder why, why, why
Asking oneself why they are unloved
Although I know it's most alarmin'
Despite the fact that this situation is causing anxiety
I've prayed on bended knee
I have earnestly prayed for a solution to my problem
For that certain gay prince charmin'
For the perfect romantic partner
Who was meant for me
Someone who is destined to be with me
I've got to find me a somebody soon
Expressing urgency to find a romantic partner
Or else I'll die, die, die,
Hyperbolic expression of despair if a partner is not found
I'd take the man in the moon
Expressing a willingness to settle for anything or anyone
If he'd give me a try
Asking for a chance to find love
I'm just a lonesome Cinderella
Comparing oneself to the fairy tale character who was also looking for love
That romance passes by
Expressing sadness that love seems to be unattainable
I'm somebody nobody loves, oh me oh my.
Final reiteration of the main point of the song, emphasizing the feeling of being unloved
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind