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.
Star Eyes
Charlie Parker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That to me is what your eyes are,
Soft as stars in April skies are,
Tell me some day you'll fulfill
Their promise of a thrill.
Star eyes,
Flashing eyes in which my hopes rise,
Let me show you where my heart lies.
Let me prove that it adores
That loveliness of yours.
All my life I've felt
Content to stargaze at the skies.
Now I only want to to melt
The stardust in your eyes.
Star eyes,
When if ever, will my lips know
If it's me for whom those eyes glow?
Makes no diff'rence where you are,
Your eyes still hold my wishing star,
Oh, star eyes, how lovely you are.
The Charlie Parker song "Star Eyes" is a love song that uses the metaphor of stars to describe the beauty of the person being addressed. The chorus begins by comparing the addressee's eyes to stars in April skies, and expressing a desire that the promise of a thrill that those eyes seemingly hold would be fulfilled someday. There is a sense of longing and anticipation in the lines "Flashing eyes in which my hopes rise/Let me show you where my heart lies," which indicate a desire to prove the depth of feeling that the singer has for the person being addressed.
The verses of the song continue this theme of longing and desire, with lines like "All my life I've felt/Content to stargaze at the skies/Now I only want to melt/The stardust in your eyes" expressing a sense of transformation and a willingness to abandon previous contentment in order to pursue this love. Finally, the chorus ends with a note of uncertainty, wondering when or if the singer will ever know if they are the one for whom those star eyes glow. The song is characterized by its evocative imagery and the sense of yearning that imbues every line, making it a classic example of the romantic ballad.
Line by Line Meaning
Star eyes,
Referring to the beauty and glamour of someone's eyes.
That to me is what your eyes are,
The singer is drawn to the beauty and charm of the person's eyes, which stand out for their sparkling quality like stars.
Soft as stars in April skies are,
The eyes are compared to the softness and charm of the stars that appear in the sky during the month of April.
Tell me some day you'll fulfill
The artist yearns for a promise that one day the beauty of the person's eyes will be realized in a romantic way.
Their promise of a thrill.
The artist believes that the person's beauty is so captivating that only the promise of a thrilling romance can fulfill it.
Flashing eyes in which my hopes rise,
The singer sees the person's sparkling eyes as a symbol of hope and desire that lifts his spirits and fills him with anticipation.
Let me show you where my heart lies.
The singer wants to express his feelings for the person and show her where his true affections lie.
Let me prove that it adores
The artist wants to prove that he is deeply in love with the person's charm and beauty.
That loveliness of yours.
The artist is enchanted with the person's overall beauty and can't resist expressing his admiration.
All my life I've felt
The artist reflects on his life and recalls how he has always been drawn to the beauty of the stars and the skies.
Content to stargaze at the skies.
The singer has been content to gaze at the natural beauty of the stars and the night sky, but now he has found someone whose beauty draws him in even more.
Now I only want to to melt
The artist is so captivated by the person's beauty that he only wants to be with her and bask in her radiance.
The stardust in your eyes.
The singer wants to become one with the person's beauty and become part of the magic that her eyes exude.
When if ever, will my lips know
The singer wonders when he will be able to express his love to the person and receive a warm response in return.
If it's me for whom those eyes glow?
The singer wonders if he is the reason for the person's eyes sparkling with admiration and attraction.
Makes no diff'rence where you are,
Regardless of where the person may be or what she may be doing, her beauty still captivates the artist's heart and mind.
Your eyes still hold my wishing star,
The artist still yearns for the person's love and hopes that the magic of her sparkling eyes will grant him his wish someday.
Oh, star eyes, how lovely you are.
The singer declares once again his undying admiration and respect for the person's beauty and charm.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Gene De Paul, Don Raye
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind