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.
I've Got Rhythm
Charlie Parker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got you deep in the heart of me.
So deep in my heart that you're really a part of me.
I've got you under my skin.
I'd tried so not to give in.
I said to myself, this affair never will go so well.
But why should I try to resist when, baby, I know down well
I've got you under my skin?
I'd sacrifice anything come what might
For the sake of havin' you near
In spite of a warnin' voice that comes in the night
And repeats, repeats in my ear,
Don't you know, you fool, you never can win?
Use your mentality, wake up to reality.
But each time that I do just the thought of you
Makes me stop before I begin
Cause I've got you under my skin.
I would sacrifice anything come what might
For the sake of havin' you near
In spite of the warning voice that comes in the night
And repeats, how it yells in my ear,
Don't you know, you fool, ain't no chance to win
Why not use your mentality, get up, wake up to reality?
And each time I do just the thought of you
Makes me stop just before I begin
Cause I've got you under my skin.
And I like you under my skin.
Charlie Parker's rendition of "I've Got You Under My Skin" is an emotionally charged piece about the deep and irresistible attachment the singer has for their lover. The first two lines of the song set the primary motif for the composition, with the lyrics "I've got you under my skin, I've got you deep in the heart of me." The song suggests the singer not only feels affection from afar for their lover, but that it is also deep within their core as something innate and uncontrollable.
Despite the singer's determination to resist the hypnotic effect of their lover's pull, they eventually succumb to the attraction. The line "I'd tried so not to give in" indicates that they made several attempts to maintain distance from their lover, but to no avail. The singer's internal struggle is evident when they realize that regardless of how hard they tried to deny their love, they could not resist the passion that they felt: "But why should I try to resist when, baby, I know down well I've got you under my skin?"
Towards the end of the song, the singer openly declares that they would do anything to have their lover near them, even if it means going against all odds. They understand that the ever-present warning voice that repeats in their ear and tries to steer them away from their lover is right, but still, they cannot help themselves, and the feeling of obsession remains just as strong: "Don't you know, you fool, ain't no chance to win, Why not use your mentality, get up, wake up to reality? And each time I do just the thought of you makes me stop just before I begin, Cause I've got you under my skin."
Overall, the song's lyrics address the deeply conflicted feeling of wanting someone, even though it might not be in their best interest. The song describes passion, jealousy, and obsession with a very poignant and expressive language, which is why it has remained one of the best songs in the American songbook.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got you under my skin.
I am deeply infatuated with you.
I've got you deep in the heart of me.
You are a significant part of me and my emotions.
So deep in my heart that you're really a part of me.
You have become an integral part of my emotional makeup.
I've got you under my skin.
I cannot stop thinking about you and my feelings for you.
I'd tried so not to give in.
I tried to resist my feelings for you.
I said to myself, this affair never will go so well.
I am aware of the potential complications of pursuing a relationship with you.
But why should I try to resist when, baby, I know down well I've got you under my skin?
My feelings for you are too strong to resist, even if I know it may end badly.
I'd sacrifice anything come what might for the sake of havin' you near
I am willing to risk anything to be close to you.
In spite of a warnin' voice that comes in the night
Despite the inner voice warning me of the potential consequences.
And repeats, repeats in my ear, Don't you know, you fool, you never can win?
I am reminded of the futility of pursuing a relationship with you.
Use your mentality, wake up to reality.
I know that I should be practical and rational in my decision.
But each time that I do just the thought of you makes me stop before I begin
Every time I try to be rational about my feelings, I am overwhelmed by my emotional attachment to you.
Cause I've got you under my skin.
My feelings for you are too deep to ignore or control.
And I like you under my skin.
Despite the potential problems, I enjoy the intensity of my feelings for you.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Dihyyy
it's actually good to hear that some young people still listen to this music.
@babyjesuslovesme1219
I’m 40… hope that’s considered young haha
@guritevzadze314
@@babyjesuslovesme1219 after thirty youre grown men.
@ThePaolaherrera
I'm 23, 8 years later... I love this jazz, and I hear charlie parker since 2015
@saltybananas5763
I'm 16
@erniebuck7986
No need to say actually or still. It's good period. Christ, this was, always will be deadly music.
@ronnieharper879
As a fellow saxophonist, I have to admit listening to these incredibly talented musicians makes me want to give up music altogether because I know that I'll never ever be able to play as good as these guys. Makes me want to cry because I love music so much.
@lawrencemuller8972
As long as it gives you pleasure, play music ! To give you an idea, Herbie Hancock once said he was not a genius as Miles Davis, but he would continue making music in his own way.
@BucketheadsBucket
You can get there man. Put in the time and effort that these guys did and you'll be just as good.
@firetopman
Never compare. Just enjoy your music.