Constance Foore "Connee" Boswe… Read Full Bio ↴From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Constance Foore "Connee" Boswell (December 3, 1907 - October 11, 1976) was an American female vocalist born in Kansas City, Missouri but raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. With her sisters, Martha and Helvetia "Vet" Boswell, she performed in the 1930s as The Boswell Sisters and became a highly influential singing group during this period via recordings and radio. Connee herself is widely considered one of the greatest jazz female vocalists and was a major influence on Ella Fitzgerald who said, "My mother brought home one of her records, and I fell in love with it....I tried so hard to sound just like her."[1]
In 1936, Connee's sisters retired and Connee continued on as a solo artist (having also recorded solos during her years with the group).
The Boswells came to be well known locally while still in their early teens, making appearances in New Orleans theaters and radio. They made their first recordings for Victor Records in 1925, which included "Cryin' Blues" where Connee is featured singing in the style of her early influence, the African American singer Mamie Smith. The Boswell Sisters became stage professionals that year when they were tapped to fill in for an act at New Orleans' Orpheum Theatre. They received an invitation to come to Chicago and perform in 1928 and honed their act on the Western Vaudeville Circuit. When their tour ended they traveled to San Francisco. The hotel that had been recommended had a less than savory reputation, and the man at the desk suggested that these three young ladies might be better off in another hotel. That man, Harry Leedy, would later become their manager on a handshake and become a permanent part of Connee's life.
The Boswell Sisters travelled to Los Angeles where they performed on local radio and "side-miked" for the soundies, including the 1930 production "Under Montana Skies." did not attain national attention, however, until they moved to New York City in 1930 and started making national radio broadcasts. After a few recordings with Okeh Records, they made numerous recordings for Brunswick Records from 1931-1935. In 1935, the sisters had a #1 hit with "The Object of My Affection", the biggest of twenty top 20 records they would enjoy.
In 1936, the group signed to Decca Records and after just three releases called it quits (the last recording was February 12, 1936). Connee Boswell continued to have a successful solo career as a singer for Decca.
All through her career with The Boswell Sisters, and well into the 1940s, her name was spelt "Connie". She later changed the spelling to Connee, reputedly because it made it easier to sign autographs.
Connee Boswell was also an arranger (the legendary Boswell Sisters harmony arrangements are hers) and a composer.
Connee sang from a wheelchair - or seated position - during her entire career, due to either a childhood bout with polio or a childhood accident (sources differ). The general public was not aware of her condition although Boswell herself did not keep this secret. During World War II, she tried to get involved with the U.S.O. tours but was not given permission to travel overseas. The "powers that be" apparently thought it might not be a morale-booster to have a "cripple" perform for the troops.
Connee Boswell was a favorite duet partner of Bing Crosby and they frequently sang together on radio as well as recording several hit records as a duo in the 1930s and 1940's. Boswell, Crosby, and Eddie Cantor recorded a version of Alexander's Ragtime Band that was a #1 hit in 1938.In 1939, Crosby and Boswell had three hit duet records that each climbed into the top 12 on Billboard; "An Apple For The Teacher" climbed all the way to #2.
Connee Boswell also had several dozen solo hits, including "Moonlight Moon" in 1942. Boswell's career slackened in the 1950s but she still recorded occasionally and would be featured on a number of television broadcasts including a regular stint on the 1959 series "Pete Kelly's Blues".
Connee Boswell died at age 68 in 1976. A number of her recordings are now available on CD, both as a soloist and part of the Boswell Sisters.
Exactly Like You
Connee Boswell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not a real one, just a dream
A wonderful vision of us as a team
Can you imagine how I feel now
Love is real now, it's ideal
You're just what I wanted
And now it's nice to live
Paradise to live
I know why I've waited
Know why I've been blue
Prayed each night for someone
Exactly like you
Why should we spend money
On a show or two
No one does those love scenes
Exactly like you
You make me feel so grand
I want to hand the world to you
I hope you'll understand
Each foolish little scheme I'm schemin'
And dream I'm dreamin'
Now I know why mother
Taught me to be true
She meant me for someone
Exactly like you
In Connee Boswell's song "Exactly Like You," she starts by acknowledging that she once had a perfect sweetheart, but it was more of a dream than a reality. However, now that she has found real love, she feels ideal and is grateful to be living in paradise. She then explains that she knows why she had to wait and why she had been feeling blue - she was waiting and praying for someone exactly like her current partner.
The lyrics also touch on the idea that no show or movie can truly replicate the love between two people because each love story is unique. Connee expresses how her partner makes her feel grand and that she wants to hand the world to them. She hopes that they will understand and accept all her little schemes and dreams. The song ends with Connee realizing that her mother had taught her to be truthful and that she was meant to be with someone exactly like her partner.
The lyrics of the song are simple, yet beautiful, conveying the joy and happiness of finding true love. It is an ode to that one special person who fits perfectly with us, fulfilling all our dreams and desires.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to have a perfect sweetheart
I had a wonderful, perfect lover in my dreams, although they were never real.
Not a real one, just a dream
My ideal lover only existed in my imagination, and not in reality.
A wonderful vision of us as a team
I had an enchanting image of us being together as a perfect couple, united in a collective goal.
Can you imagine how I feel now
Can you picture how ecstatic I am at this moment.
Love is real now, it's ideal
My dream has become a reality, and it's perfect.
You're just what I wanted
You are precisely the kind of person I've always longed for.
And now it's nice to live
Life is enjoyable now that you're here; you've made it pleasant.
Paradise to live
It feels like we're living in paradise now.
I know why I've waited
I understand why I was willing to wait for someone like you; you're worth it.
Know why I've been blue
I realize what made me sad; it's because I had no one like you in my life.
Prayed each night for someone
Every night, I would pray asking for someone who is ideal like you.
Exactly like you
I asked for someone precisely like you.
Why should we spend money
There's no need for us to expend money when our feelings towards each other are genuine and pure.
On a show or two
There's no point in going to a theatre to experience a romantic scene when it's easier to have the same level of love with you.
No one does those love scenes
There's no more need for fake love scenarios since we're an ideal couple and can create our own love story.
Exactly like you
No other couple is like us since we're matchless and unique.
You make me feel so grand
You make me feel wonderful and impressive; I can't express how much I appreciate it.
I want to hand the world to you
I want you to have everything the world has to offer since you deserve it.
I hope you'll understand
I aspire that you come to terms with my naive plans and fantasies; I understand they may be foolish.
Each foolish little scheme I'm schemin'
Every silly trick or plan I come up with to make you happy.
And dream I'm dreamin'
Every surreal dream I'm having about you and our relationship that makes me enjoy each moment.
Now I know why mother
I finally comprehend why my mother taught me to be genuine and authentic in my expressions.
Taught me to be true
She wanted me to find someone like you, who is pure and honest in her conduct and behavior.
She meant me for someone
According to my mother, I was destined to be with someone like you.
Exactly like you
Someone who is a perfect match for me, and is precisely like you.
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, MEMORY LANE MUSIC GROUP, SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: FIELDS DOROTHY, JIMMY MCHUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
W. Vos
Just discovered the Boswell Sisters. They were great! Connees solo recordings bring back memories. I love it!
timefortea
Connie had such a lovely voice!