… Read Full Bio ↴Blossom Dearie (1924-2009) was an American jazz singer and pianist.
Born on 28th April 1924 in East Durham, New York, of mixed Scottish and Norwegian ancestry, Dearie began her career in vocal groups in New York. In the early 1950s she moved to Paris, forming her own vocal group, The Blue Stars, later to become the Swingle Singers.
After signing to Verve, Dearie returned to the U.S. where, despite developing a successful career and achieving international fame, by 1974 the lack of interest from major labels led her to start her own label, Daffodil Records. She continued performing into her eighties.
Blossom Dearie died on 7th February 2009, at her apartment in Greenwich Village, New York City
The Continental
Blossom Dearie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dangerous rhythm
It's something daring, The Continental,
A way of dancing that's really 'entre nous'.
It's very subtle, The Continental,
Because it does what you want it to do.
It has a passion, The Continental,
An invitation to moonlight and romance.
Because you tell of your love while you dance.
Your lips whisper so tenderly.
Her eyes answer your song.
Two bodies swaying, The Continental,
And you are saying just what you're dreaming of.
So keep on dancing, The Continental,
For it's a song of romance and of love.
You kiss while you're dancing.
Not a bad idea.
The Continental, hmmmmm. It's continental.
You sing while you're dancing.
Your voice is gentle and sentimental.
You stroll together arm in arm.
You nonchalantly glide along with grace and charm.
You will find while you're dancing
That there's a rhythm in your heart and soul,
A certain rhythm that you can't control,
And you will do
The Continental all the time.
The lyrics of Blossom Dearie's song The Continental describe a way of dancing that is both daring and subtle, delivering an invitation to moonlight and romance. The Continental dance is explained to be a personal and intimately romantic experience that allows dancers to express their love with each movement. The lyrics describe how the dancers' passion is shown through the connection between their lips and eyes, while their bodies sway in rhythm to the music. The Continental dance is seen as the perfect way to tell someone you love them, and the song encourages the listener to keep on dancing, as it is a song of romance and love.
Line by Line Meaning
Beautiful music
The music is melodious and pleasing to the ears
Dangerous rhythm
The rhythm is enticing and hard to resist
It's something daring, The Continental,
The dance style called The Continental is quite adventurous
A way of dancing that's really 'entre nous'.
This is a style danced intimately between close partners
It's very subtle, The Continental,
The dance style has nuances that require attention to detail
Because it does what you want it to do.
You have control over the dance steps and the style allows for personal interpretation
It has a passion, The Continental,
The style has a romantic and emotional quality to it
An invitation to moonlight and romance.
The dance style brings an opportunity for love to blossom
It's quite the fashion, The Continental,
The style is currently trendy and fashionable
Because you tell of your love while you dance.
The dance allows for the expression of deep affection
Your lips whisper so tenderly.
Your words and expressions of love are soft and full of feeling
Her eyes answer your song.
Your partner responds to your words with a knowing expression, as if she can read your mind
Two bodies swaying, The Continental,
The dance style involves close intimate contact and movements that require two people in unison
And you are saying just what you're dreaming of.
Your dance communicates your desires and fantasies
So keep on dancing, The Continental,
Continue moving to the rhythm of the dance
For it's a song of romance and of love.
The Continental is an expression of the deepest feelings of the heart
You kiss while you're dancing.
The dance heightens the intimacy and passion between you and your partner
Not a bad idea.
An acknowledgement of the attractiveness of the dance style
The Continental, hmmmmm. It's continental.
The dance style is classy and has a certain elegance to it
You sing while you're dancing.
The dance can include verbal expression through song or lyrics
Your voice is gentle and sentimental.
The words and sounds conveyed through the dance are soft and emotional
You stroll together arm in arm.
The dance moves include walking together closely with locked arms
You nonchalantly glide along with grace and charm.
The movement and flow of the dance is smooth and effortless, reflecting style and elegance
You will find while you're dancing
As you dance you become aware of certain feelings and emotions
That there's a rhythm in your heart and soul,
The dance style touches something personal and emotional inside of you
A certain rhythm that you can't control,
The dance has a pull on you that is difficult to resist
And you will do
You will continue to engage in the Continental dance
The Continental all the time.
You will find yourself always drawn to this dance style
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CON CONRAD, HERBERT MAGIDSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Heather Collins
on Comment Allez Vous
(Parlez-vous Français?)
Mais oui, allons-y
(Parlez-vous chère madame?)
Comment allez vous? Fancy bumping into you
Comment allez vous? Tell me everything that's new
Are you happy are you sad?
Feeling good or feeling bad?
(and is there anything you're craving?)
(do you feel like misbehaving?)
Comment allez vous? Gee, it's nice to see you here
Comment allez vous? You look better every year
I was really on my way, but I had to stop and say:
Comment allez vous?
(Comment allez vous petit chou?)
Say it, it has 'savoir faire'
(Comment allez vous mon minou?)
Has a continental air
(once she heard it in the land, from a chinese laundry man)
Cloaks and suitors, by the oodles, say it to their cute french poodles
Comment allez vous?
Spaniards say it, so do Greeks
Comment allez vous?
In the desert, so do Sheiks
(show they know a thing or two)
(it's so easy, why can't you say?)
Comment?
Comment?
Comment allez vous?