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.
Mean to Me
Charlie Parker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why must you be mean to me?
Gee, honey, it seems to me
You love to see me cryin'
I don't know why
I stay home each night
When you say you phone
You don't and I'm left alone.
Sing the blues and sighin'
You treat me coldly each day in the year
You always scold me
Whenever somebody is near, dear
I must be great fun to be mean to me
You shouldn't, for can't you see
What you mean to me
In Charlie Parker's song "Mean to Me", the singer is expressing their hurt towards a partner who is consistently cruel and inconsiderate. The opening line of the song, "You're mean to me, why must you be mean to me?" sets the tone for the rest of the lyrics. The singer wonders why their partner enjoys seeing them upset and crying. They express confusion as to why they continue to stay home each night, waiting for a phone call that never comes. The singer feels neglected, alone, and sad.
The song continues with the singer stating that they are treated coldly every day in the year. Their partner scolds them, belittling them in front of others. Despite this, the singer knows that they must be "great fun to be mean to." The final line, "You shouldn't, for can't you see what you mean to me" reveals the singer's true feelings towards their partner. Despite the cruelty, they still have a deep love for their partner and hope that they will begin treating them with kindness and respect.
Line by Line Meaning
You're mean to me
You treat me harshly and unkindly
Why must you be mean to me?
I don't understand why you choose to treat me this way
Gee, honey, it seems to me
I have a suspicion that
You love to see me cryin'
You take pleasure in seeing me upset
I don't know why
I can't fathom the reason why
I stay home each night
I choose to remain at home every evening
When you say you phone
After you claim to call me
You don't and I'm left alone.
You don't actually call me, and I'm left feeling abandoned
Sing the blues and sighin'
I express my sorrow and distress vocally
You treat me coldly each day in the year
You display aloof and uncaring behavior towards me on a daily basis
You always scold me
You continuously criticize and reprimand me
Whenever somebody is near, dear
You are especially hard on me when other people are around
I must be great fun to be mean to me
You seem to take enjoyment in treating me cruelly
You shouldn't, for can't you see
It's not necessary or beneficial for you to do this, and I wish you'd understand
What you mean to me
How much I care for you, despite your unkind actions
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@LaurentJames
Cela signifie tout pour moi puisque cela swingue.
@HairBilly
c finale piano
@TedSilar
I"m viewing!