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.
Yours Is My Heart Alone
Benny Goodman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And without you, life holds no charm
Yours every thought I own,
Our love the theme of every dream
All that makes life seem worthwhile
Dwells in your eyes and the spell of your smile
There is no song half so sweet to me
As your voice whispering I love you dear
The lyrics of "Yours Is My Heart Alone," performed by Benny Goodman and Helen Forrest, speak of a deep and powerful love between two people. The first line establishes the idea that the singer's heart belongs to their loved one alone, and that life is bleak and empty without them. The second line continues this sentiment, emphasizing that every thought and feeling that the singer has is tied up in their loved one. Our love is the theme of every dream, indeed, it consumes the entire emotional landscape of the singer's life.
The third and fourth lines take this idea further, describing the sense of joy and wonder that their loved one brings to their life. All that makes life worth living, the very things that bring meaning and pleasure, are all wrapped up in their lover's presence. Their eyes and smile have a magical quality that enchants and captivates the singer. Finally, the last line brings the song full circle, embracing the simplicity and beauty of a whispered declaration of love. There is nothing sweeter or more meaningful than hearing your loved one tell you that they love you.
Line by Line Meaning
Yours is my heart alone
My heart belongs only to you
And without you, life holds no charm
Life is dull and unexciting without you
Yours every thought I own
I have possession of your every thought
Our love the theme of every dream
Our love is the focus of every dream I have
All that makes life seem worthwhile
Everything that gives life meaning and value
Dwells in your eyes and the spell of your smile
Exists in the captivating beauty of your eyes and the magic of your smile
There is no song half so sweet to me
No other music is as sweet to me
As your voice whispering I love you dear
As hearing you whisper sweet words of love to me, my dear
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, MUSIC.INFO FINLAND OY, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HARRY B. SMITH, FRANZ LEHAR, LUDWIG HERZER, FRITZ LOEHNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MrJimmienoone
You can only fully appreciate this if you play clarinet. The way he models each single note, variating the vibrato, the dynamics, the sound, even the pitch, bending the rhythm, this is nothing short of ingenuous. Believe me, clarinet is not an easy instrument to play. But it sounds so natural when HE plays it. Such musicians are born only every several hundred years.
nipstertunes
Love that "big band" sound, Heather...as I do Ms. Forrest's wonderful voice. Thank you so much for posting it! Wishing you a wonderful week!
Jim
TheSorrowfulFlower
I love it, too, Jim! Sure gets the toes tapping, doesn't it? I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for watching and for your wonderful comments! Wishing you a wonderful week as well :))
David Hess
Spectacular!
Alfredo Correia
1940... A segunda grande Orquestra onde Helen atuou até 1941. À partir de 1942 com a terceira e derradeira Banda, Harry James.
Dariusz Wójcik - Teatr Otwarty
fajne klmaty...lubię
BytomGirl
Ja tez...
Blanka Jestrabova
THANK YOU :-)
TheSorrowfulFlower
You're welcome! :))