William “Count” Basie (see Count Basie) (1904 - 1984) was a jazz pianist, o… Read Full Bio ↴William “Count” Basie (see Count Basie) (1904 - 1984) was a jazz pianist, organist, composer, and bandleader. He created a swing band in the early 1930s that was a favorite of many dancers and of vocalists including Billie Holiday.

The Count Basie Orchestra is a 16 to 18 piece big band, one of the most prominent jazz performing groups of the swing era. The band survived the late-forties decline in big band popularity and went on to produce notable collaborations with singers such as Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald in the fifties and sixties. The group continued to perform and record as a ‘ghost band’ after Count Basie’s death, and are currently under the leadership of Bill Hughes.

See also http://www.last.fm/music/+noredirect/Count+Basie+and+His+Orchestra

Shiny Stockings
Count Basie & His Orchestra Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Those silk shiny stockings
That I wear when I'm with you
I wear 'cause you told me
That you dig that crazy hue

Do we feel the romance
When we go to the dance
Oh no, you take a glance

At those shiny stockings

Then came along some chick
With great big stockings, too
When you changed your mind about me
Why, I never knew

I guess I'll have to find
A new, a new kind
A guy who digs my shiny stockings, too

Then came along some chick
With great big stockings, too
When you changed your mind about me
Why, I never knew

I guess I'll have to find
A new, a new kind

A guy who digs my shiny stockings, too
A new guy who digs my shiny stockings, too

Overall Meaning

Count Basie's song "Shiny Stockings" is a classic jazz tune that speaks of a woman who wears silk stockings for her man. The song is set in the context of a couple who are going out dancing, but the lyrics suggest that the man is more interested in the woman's stockings than in the romance of the dance. The singer explains that she wears the "crazy hue" stockings because her man likes them, but she also seems to feel that he is distracted by them.

Later in the song, a new woman comes along with "great big stockings," causing the man to lose interest in the silk stockings of the original singer. The song ends with the realization that the singer must find another man who appreciates her shiny stockings. The song is a commentary on the superficiality of some relationships and the power dynamics that can exist between men and women.

Overall, "Shiny Stockings" is a playful and witty song that showcases Count Basie's talent as a jazz pianist and bandleader. The lyrics are clever and the music is upbeat, making it a crowd-pleaser in live performances.

Line by Line Meaning

Those silk shiny stockings
Refers to a piece of clothing. The word 'shiny' implies that the stockings have a bright glow

That I wear when I'm with you
Indicates that the stockings are special and are only worn on certain occasions

I wear 'cause you told me
The person wears the stockings because someone else requested or suggested it

That you dig that crazy hue
The person likes the bright color of the stockings

Do we feel the romance
Asking if the feeling of love is present

When we go to the dance
Implies that the person wears the stockings to dance

Oh no, you take a glance
Someone else notices the stockings

At those shiny stockings
The person's stockings are catching the attention of others

Then came along some chick
A woman comes into the picture

With great big stockings, too
The other woman is also wearing stockings, but they are different from the person's stockings

When you changed your mind about me
The other person's attitude towards the person has changed

Why, I never knew
The person is confused about why the other person's attitude has changed

I guess I'll have to find
The person has to find something else

A new, a new kind
The person will look for something different from the stockings

A guy who digs my shiny stockings, too
The person will find someone who appreciates the same type of stockings