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.
Just Friend
Charlie Parker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just friends, but not like before
To think of what we've been and not to kiss again
Seems like pretending it isn't the ending
Two friends drifting apart
Two friends, but one broken heart
We loved, we laughed, we cried, and suddenly love died
The lyrics of Charlie Parker's song "Just Friends" seem to tell a story of two people who were once lovers but have since decided to part ways and remain just friends. The line "Just friends, but not like before" implies that they still have a closeness, but not the same level of intimacy they once had. The lyric "To think of what we've been and not to kiss again, seems like pretending it isn't the ending" conveys the idea that the two are trying to move on but are struggling to let go of what they once had.
The phrase "Two friends, but one broken heart" seems to suggest that one person may have wanted to maintain the romantic relationship, while the other did not feel the same way. The last line of the chorus "We loved, we laughed, we cried, and suddenly love died" expresses the idea that the relationship was once full of passion and emotion, but that it ended suddenly and tragically.
Overall, the lyrics of "Just Friends" highlight the complex emotions that can come with the end of a romantic relationship and the desire to stay connected with someone who was once your lover.
Line by Line Meaning
Just friends, lovers no more
We have transitioned from being romantically involved to just being friends.
Just friends, but not like before
We are still friends, but our relationship has changed and is not the same as it used to be.
To think of what we've been and not to kiss again
It's difficult to think about our past romantic relationship and not be tempted to kiss again.
Seems like pretending it isn't the ending
It feels like we are pretending that our romantic relationship is not really over.
Two friends drifting apart
We are slowly growing apart as friends.
Two friends, but one broken heart
We are both still friends, but one of us is still hurting from the end of our romantic relationship.
We loved, we laughed, we cried, and suddenly love died
We experienced a full range of emotions together in our romantic relationship, but it ended suddenly and abruptly.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOHN KLENNER, SAM M. LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tispro
Rick Beato's interview of the great George Benson brought me here.
@KLSPX
Same here. Lol
@chunsik79
Haha same here too
@chunsik79
Yep, me too.
@ArtHoward
Me, too! I'm trying to imagine even being able to scat this!
@joelvalkila
Haha, here too ! :D
@caprise-music6722
Thank you George Benson for recommending this song to me! Pure art ❤
@urtoman
Thank you very much, George!
@louishamilton9648
How can anybody NOT like this.
@AbrahamPalmer-wj5cb
Pure narcissistic psychopaths will hate this