As a pianist, he had a distinctive and influential style (the song title "Splanky" is an onomatopoetic reference to the sound of his playing), equally at home in the barrelhouse and the concert hall. Willie "The Lion" Smith, James P. Johnson, and Fats Waller were among his influences.
As a bandleader, he created an organization (built upon the remains of Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra) that was a favorite both of dancers and of vocalists such as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and, of course, Billie Holiday. Equally important, it kept many musicians employed through lean years. Many jazz musicians of note built their chops and earned their bread and butter in Basie's organization.
In addition to Basie, the swinging "All American Rhythm Section" of his orchestra included greats such as Walter Page (bass), Jo Jones (drums), and Freddie Green (guitar). It was the greatest, most swinging rhythm sections in the history of jazz. Chief among its vocalists were, first, Jimmy Rushing and, later, Joe Williams. Over the years it boasted sidemen and soloists like Herschel Evans (tenor sax), Lester Young (tenor sax), Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (tenor sax), Buddy Tate (tenor sax), Illinois Jacquet (tenor sax), Earle Warren (alto sax), Jack Washington (alto & baritone sax), Harry "Sweets" Edison (trumpet), Buck Clayton (trumpet), Thad Jones (trumpet), Snooky Young (trumpet), Benny Morton (trombone), Benny Powell (trombone), and Dicky Wells (trombone).
Basie also collaborated with artists such as Zoot Sims and Oscar Peterson, and recorded with ensembles large and small, including the Count Basie Trio, the Count Basie Sextet, and the Kansas City Seven. Notable arrangers included Eddie Durham (who helped shape the Basie Orchestra's sound) and Neal Hefti.
Sometimes I'm Happy
Count Basie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometimes I'm blue
My disposition
Depends on you
I never mind
The rain from the sky
If I can find
Sometimes I love you
Sometimes I hate you
But when I hate you
It's 'cause I love you
That's how I am
So what can I do?
I'm happy when I'm with you
Sometimes I love you
Sometimes I hate you
But when I hate you
It's 'cause I love you
That's how I am
So what can I do?
I'm happy when I'm with you
I'm happy when I'm with you
Count Basie's song "Sometimes I'm Happy" is a love song that reflects the ups and downs of a romantic relationship. The singer expresses that his disposition depends on the person he is with. He goes from being happy to being blue, from loving to hating, but it's all because of the intensity of his feelings towards them. He finds joy in the little things like rain, as long as he can see the sun in his lover's eyes. Despite the emotional rollercoaster, he acknowledges that he is happy when he is with them.
The lyrics of the song serve as a reminder of the complexities of love and how we can experience a range of emotions towards someone. The singer's true feelings are revealed through the contrast between his sometimes happy and sometimes blue stanzas. He implies that love can be fickle or uncertain, but when it's real, it can make us feel happy as long as we are with the person we love.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes I'm happy
My mood can be elated at times
Sometimes I'm blue
My mood can be sad at times
My disposition
My overall mood and outlook
Depends on you
Is influenced by the presence and actions of the person addressed in the song
I never mind
I am not bothered by
The rain from the sky
The natural occurrence of rain
If I can find
As long as I can discover
The sun in your eyes
The positive energy and joy reflected in the eyes of the person addressed in the song
Sometimes I love you
My feelings towards you can be loving at times
Sometimes I hate you
My feelings towards you can be negative at times
But when I hate you
However, when I feel negatively towards you
It's 'cause I love you
It is because I have strong emotions towards you, even if they are negative in the moment
That's how I am
This is my personality and emotional demeanor
So what can I do?
There is nothing I can change about my emotions and reactions
I'm happy when I'm with you
Being in the presence of the person addressed in the song brings me joy and elation
I'm happy when I'm with you
Being in the presence of the person addressed in the song brings me joy and elation
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Cloud9, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Clifford Grey, Irving Caesar, Vincent Youmans
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
billboulware1
We'll never ever hear another piano player like Oscar.
Stephen Hawthorne
How can you NOT love Oscar Peterson? Just pure mastery! I've had this CD with this version of this piece for about 10 years now. And EVERY time I hear it, it makes me happy.
Odin Limaye
One of the greatest jazz performances of all time!
amtrakatsfnyc
This is from the "Somethig Warm" album that was recorded live at The London House in Chicago. Oscar, backed by Ray Brown and Ed Thigpen, is in true "swing form" as he presents music at a level that is perhaps without any equal. "I Remember Clifford " is a track on this album that shows how this trio could change tempo and mood with smooth transition. Thank you for the posting.
t4fnut
I have the vinyl LP....and about 30 other OP albums.
Ed Shocolat
Outro pianista jazz igual a esse só daqui 500 anos e olhe lá se será igual, melhor nunca. É uma aula a cada música que escuto.
airy3que
I can't tell you how long I've hoped someone would post this version of this song. Peterson and company are impeccable. Thank you so very much for sharing this.
Nathan Perrin
Out of the thousand hours of jazz I've listened to.. this is and remains the best of all.
Stuart Lumpreiks
nice
Andreas Delleske
Try Mirage of Peterson.. :)