Carter was born Lillie Mae Jones on 16th May 1929 in Flint, Michigan and grew up in Detroit, where her father led a church choir. She studied piano at the Detroit Conservatory. She won a talent contest and became a regular on the local club circuit, singing and playing piano. When she was sixteen, she sang with Charlie Parker. She later performed with Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis and toured with Lionel Hampton (from whom she received the nickname "Betty Bebop"), when she perfected her scat singing of bebop.
Her career was eclipsed somewhat during the 1960s and 1970s, though a series of duets with Ray Charles in 1961, including the R&B-chart-topping "Baby, It's Cold Outside", brought her a measure of popular recognition. She recorded for various labels during this period, including Peacock, ABC-Paramount, and Atco, but was rarely satisfied with the resulting product. An episode in which a record company A&R man tried to abscond with a set of her master recordings led her to establish her own record label, Bet-Car, in 1970. Some of her most outstanding recordings were first issued on Bet-Car, including the double album The Audience with Betty Carter (1980). She was well-received at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1977 and 1978. In 1987 Carter signed with Verve Records. She won a Grammy in 1988 for her album Look What I Got! and sang in a guest appearance on The Cosby Show in that year.
She died on 26th September 1998.
Who What Why Where When
Betty Carter Lyrics
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What can I say about his face,
Except his features are replaced
He doesn't even look in trim
Why him, why him?
There's nothing bulging in his arms
I'm bewildered by his charm
Why him?
Why do I dress for him?
All the pain of eating less for him
Why do I itch for him?
Have an eyelid with a twitch for him?
But
When I see him coming near me
My head begins to swim
I keep thinking as I nod
My God, why him?
Oh, why?
Why?
Why do I primp for him?
Exercise until I limp for him
Read all those books for him
What to do about my looks for him
Is he a knight in shining armor
Or is my vision getting dim
I know I prayed I'd find a man somewhere
Who would hear my prayer
But oh Lord be fair
Why him? (x7)
Where or When?
It seems we stood and talked like this before
We looked at each other the same way then
Still I can't remember where or when
The clothes you're wearing
Are the clothes you wore
The smile you are smiling
You were smiling then
Still I can't remember where or when
The things that happened for the first time
Seem to be happening again
And so it seems that we have met before
We laughed, we loved before
But who knows where or when
The things that happened for the first time
Seem to be happening again
And so it seems that we have met before
We laughed before, we loved before
But who knows where or when
Who knows where or when
Who knows what, where, or when
What's New?
What's new?
How is the world treating you?
You haven't changed a bit
You are wonderful, I must admit
What's new?
How did that romance come through?
We haven't met since then
Gee, but it's nice to see you again
What's new?
Probably I am boring you
But seeing you is grand
And you were swell to offer your hand
Adieu
Pardon my asking, what's new?
Of course you didn't know
How much I love you
How did that romance come through?
What's new?
We haven't met since then
Gee, it's nice to see you
To see you, to see you again
The song "Why Him?" by jazz legends Betty Carter and Carmen McRae is a lament by a woman who is questioning why she is attracted to a man who she considers not physically and mentally up to her expectations. She muses about why she puts in all the effort to look good, lose weight, and be attractive to him. She also wonders if he is truly a knight in shining armor or if she is just not seeing things clearly. Despite her reservations, she acknowledges that when she sees him, she is swept away by his charm and allure. The lyrics are reflective and contemplative, with a hint of both humor and frustration.
The song "Where or When?" is about the feeling of déjà vu that comes from meeting someone new, yet feeling like you have known them for ages. The lyrics explore the idea of timelessness and the possibility of experiencing the same emotions and events in different timelines. The song talks about remembering the clothes and the smile of a person from a previous encounter but struggling to remember the actual event. The song is romantic and nostalgic in nature, with a sense of longing and wonder.
The song "What's New?" is a simple and sweet conversation between two people who haven't seen each other in a while. The song starts with small talk about how the world is treating the other person and ends with the line "how much I love you." The song explores themes of friendship, love, and reconnecting after a long time.
Overall, the three songs are different in their themes and emotions, but all explore universal ideas of love, attraction, nostalgia, and friendship. The songs showcase the vocal prowess of Betty Carter and Carmen McRae, whose voices blend seamlessly in the harmonies.
Line by Line Meaning
Why Him?
Questioning the reasons for her attraction to a certain man
What can I say about his face,
Wondering how to describe the physical features of the man
Except his features are replaced
Feeling like the man’s facial features are interchangeable with others'
He doesn't even look in trim
Noticing that the man is not in good physical shape
Why him, why him?
Expressing confusion about being attracted to the man
There's nothing bulging in his arms
Observing that the man has no muscular arms
I'm bewildered by his charm
Feeling puzzled by the man’s ability to charm her
When I'm alone at night I groan
Expressing frustration about her attraction to the man
Why him?
Questioning her own desire for the man
Why do I dress for him?
Wondering why she prepares for the man's presence
All the pain of eating less for him
Sacrificing her diet for the man's attention
Why do I itch for him?
Feeling a literal or figurative irritation for the man
Have an eyelid with a twitch for him?
Experiencing involuntary eye spasms due to her attraction to the man
But
Transitioning to a conflicting thought
When I see him coming near me
Reacting to the man's approach
My head begins to swim
Feeling dizzy or disoriented because of the man
I keep thinking as I nod
Thinking while reacting positively to the man's presence
My God, why him?
Questioning her attraction to the man despite feeling overwhelmed by it
Oh, why?
Continuing to question her feelings
The clothes you're wearing
Remarking on the person's outfit
Are the clothes you wore
Noticing that the person is wearing the same clothes as before
The smile you are smiling
Observing the person's smile
You were smiling then
Recalling a similar moment in the past
Still I can't remember where or when
Feeling uncertain about the exact past moment being referenced
The things that happened for the first time
Noting that past events are happening again
Seem to be happening again
Experiencing déjà vu
And so it seems that we have met before
Feeling like the current situation has happened in the past
We laughed, we loved before
Recalling a previous romantic relationship
But who knows where or when
Unsure about the specifics of the past relationship
Adieu
Saying goodbye
Pardon my asking, what's new?
Asking for an update on the person's life
Of course you didn't know
Acknowledging the person's lack of knowledge about her feelings
How much I love you
Expressing her love for the person
What's new?
Returning to the previous question
Probably I am boring you
Feeling self-conscious about the conversation
But seeing you is grand
Expressing delight in seeing the person again
And you were swell to offer your hand
Appreciating the person's kindness
We haven't met since then
Noticing that it has been a while since they last met
Gee, but it's nice to see you again
Expressing happiness in seeing the person again
How is the world treating you?
Asking how the person is doing
You haven't changed a bit
Noticing that the person looks the same
You are wonderful, I must admit
Complimenting the person
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, Johnny Burke, Burton Lane, Bob Haggart, Alan Jay Lerner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mikerophone235
Ive never, ever seen someone who can sing a song and transform it the way Betty Carter can. Genius
@jameswise6110
Why am I, at the age of eighty-four, just now learning about this fabulous voice ???
@absentmindstate
Better late than never ! Thanks to the internet I have found her at 21 years old
@ThePublicHealthHeaux
🎉❤ great question!!! She and sooo many of there should be better known!!!
But at any rate WELCOME!!!
@GarthAstrology
Long Live Betty Carter and John Hicks!
@carlossander6576
I remember seeing Betty Carter sing at my favorite speakeasy Steve Paul's The Scene in N.Y.C. in 1969
@carlossander6576
She was fantastic!
@Cosmic_Messenger
WOW!!!!
@davidholiday4494
one of the most magnificent singers that ever lived
@dynasticlight1073
YES for surety is ...