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.
This Year
Benny Goodman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I looked around for somebody new
Since my romance, I've kissed one or two
But I'm afraid their kisses won't do
This year's crop of kisses
Don't seem as sweet to me
This year's crop just misses
What kisses used to be
Doesn't seem to have a chance
Even helped by Mister Moon above
This year's crop of kisses
Is not for me
For I'm still wearing last year's love
The lyrics to Benny Goodman and His Orchestra's song "This Year's Kisses" describe a person who is no longer able to enjoy the romantic experiences they once did. The singer explains that they have tried to move on from a past romance by finding new partners, but they are unable to find someone who can compare to their former lover. The titular line, "This year's crop of kisses," refers to the people the singer has been involved with since their previous relationship. The singer notes that these new experiences are lacking in comparison to their previous romantic encounters.
Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of melancholy and longing for a past romance that the singer is unable to replicate. They are searching for something that they believe is no longer attainable, and this sense of disappointment is evident throughout the song. Additionally, the line "Even helped by Mister Moon above" suggests that the singer believes that there is a mystical element to finding true love.
Line by Line Meaning
I didn't cry when romance was through
I didn't shed any tears when my previous romance ended
I looked around for somebody new
I searched for a new lover
Since my romance, I've kissed one or two
Since my previous relationship, I've kissed a few different people
But I'm afraid their kisses won't do
But I fear that their kisses won't live up to my expectations
This year's crop of kisses
The new batch of kisses I've experienced
Don't seem as sweet to me
Don't hold the same level of sweetness or tenderness to me
This year's crop just misses
This year's kisses fall short of what they used to be
What kisses used to be
They do not have the same depth of feeling or passion as they once did
This year's new romance
This year's potential for a new romantic relationship
Doesn't seem to have a chance
Doesn't look to be promising for me
Even helped by Mister Moon above
Even with the stars seemingly aligned in my favor
This year's crop of kisses
The latest selection of smooches
Is not for me
Are not fitting for what I am looking for in a kiss or romance
For I'm still wearing last year's love
Because I am still carrying the emotions of my past relationship, I am not open to or ready for a new one
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IRVING BERLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind