Parker is commonly considered the greatest bebop jazz musician. In terms of influence and impact, his contribution to jazz was so great that Charles Mingus commented that if Bird were alive today, he would think he was living in a hall of mirrors. Bird's talent is compared almost without argument to such legendary musicians as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, and his reputation and legend as one of the best saxophonists is such that some critics say he was unsurpassed.
A founding figure of bebop, Parker's innovative approach to melody, rhythm and harmony have exerted an incalculable influence on jazz.. Several of Parker's songs have become standards of the repertoire, and innumerable musicians have studied Parker's music and absorbed elements of his style.
Parker became an icon for the Beat generation, and was a pivotal figure in the evolving conception of the jazz musician as an uncompromising artist and intellectual, rather than just a popular entertainer. At various times, Parker fused jazz with other musical styles, from classical (seeking to study with Edgard Varese and Stefan Wolpe) to Latin music (recordings with Machito), blazing paths followed later by others.
Parker was known for often showing up to performances without an instrument and borrowing someone else's at the last moment. At more than one venue he played on a plastic Grafton saxophone; later, saxophonist Ornette Coleman used this brand of plastic sax in his early career. On one particular occasion before a concert in Toronto, Canada, he had sold his saxophone to buy drugs, and at the last minute, he, Dizzy Gillespie and other members of Charlie's entourage went running around Toronto trying to find a saxophone. After scouring all the downtown pawnshops open at the time, they were only able to find a Grafton, which Parker proceeded to use at the concert that night. This concert is documented on the album Jazz at Massey Hall. The album is considered one of the greatest live recordings in Jazz history.
Parker's battles with alcoholism and heroin addiction ranged from his teenage years until his death from pneumonia and a bleeding ulcer at thirty-four. The toll that the drug had taken on his relatively young body was quite profound - a doctor examining Parker's body estimated him to be around sixty years old.
During his lifetime, tribute was paid to Parker when a new nightclub in New York was named Birdland in his honour in 1949.Three years later, George Shearing wrote "Lullaby of Birdland", which was named for both Parker and the nightclub.
Other phenomena also occurred in the United States after the death of Parker, particularly the use of the term "Bird lives" in graffiti throughout New York hours after his death, and later as the title of a contemporary art piece of the same name, created by sculptor Robert Graham in 1999. Despite its widespread use, Ted Joans is usually credited with its inception.
Cool Blues
Charlie Parker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(새근새근꿈을 꾸는 니모습 조근조근 내 애기를 듣는) 니눈빛
이상하게 니가 좋아져 다시널 따라가고 있잖아
널 만나보니 난 이상하게 계속 널 만나게되잖니
그런던 어느 날 회사 동료가 돼어버렸어!!
나는 우리엄마께 데려가서 인사드리게하고 널 사랑 한다면 고백했지 >.<
하지만 너는 다른 사람을 사랑한다고 하였지...
너는 그 때 부모님 양가하고 있었어.
그래 goodby 그래goodby goodby
하지만 너는 그 사람을 버리고 나와 사랑을 빠져 버렸지...
그래서 우리는 결혼식을 하였지.
그 때 넌 너무 기뻣어
이유를 물어보니 너와 결혼해서 기쁘고 어머니도 재혼해서 좋다고.
The lyrics of Charlie Parker's song Cool Blues are not related to the provided text which appears to be in Korean. Therefore, a proper interpretation of the lyrics is not possible. However, it is worth mentioning that Charlie Parker is widely recognized as one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century. His virtuosity on the alto saxophone and his innovative approach to improvisation revolutionized the jazz genre and influenced countless musicians.
Line by Line Meaning
널 처음 만났던 그때를 기억해
Remembering the moment when I first met you
난 한눈에 알수있었지
I knew right away
내 마음이 전부 네게 뺏긴거란 걸
My heart was stolen by you
아무말 없이 멍한 눈으로 조심스럽게 인사하던너
You greeted me silently with cautious eyes
독특한 그 표정에 내 맘 열였지
Your unique expression opened my heart
늘 어디로 될지몰라 맘줄이는 너의 행동들
I'm always nervous about where your actions will lead
너와 함께 있으면 종일 긴장하게 돼
I get tense all day when I'm with you
오늘도 또 어떤 이벤트로 갑자기 날 놀래킬거야
Today you'll surprise me again with some unexpected event
그래도 니가 종은날 눈치챘니
But did you notice that I'm always alert when you're around?
(새근새근꿈을 꾸는 니모습 조근조근 내 애기를 듣는) 니눈빛
(Your eyes that are dreaming and listening intently to your baby's movements)
이상하게 니가 좋아져 다시널 따라가고 있잖아
Strangely, I started liking you again and I'm following you once more
널 만나보니 난 이상하게 계속 널 만나게되잖니
Ever since I met you, I keep meeting you in a strange way
그런던 어느 날 회사 동료가 돼어버렸어!!
One day, we became colleagues at work!
나는 우리엄마께 데려가서 인사드리게하고 널 사랑 한다면 고백했지 >.<
I said to our mother that I would confess my love to you if you came home with me
하지만 너는 다른 사람을 사랑한다고 하였지...
But you said you loved someone else...
나는 그래서 울어 버리며 동료들에게 조용히 했지...
So I cried and quietly told my colleagues...
너는 그 때 부모님 양가하고 있었어.
At that time, you were living with your parents.
그래 goodby 그래goodby goodby
Okay, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
하지만 너는 그 사람을 버리고 나와 사랑을 빠져 버렸지...
But you left that person and fell deeply in love with me...
그래서 우리는 결혼식을 하였지.
So we got married.
그 때 넌 너무 기뻣어
At that time, you were so happy
이유를 물어보니 너와 결혼해서 기쁘고 어머니도 재혼해서 좋다고.
When I asked why, you said you were happy to be married to me, and that your mother was happy to remarry as well.
Writer(s): Charles C.Parker Jr
Contributed by Samuel Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.