Fred Astaire (1899-1987) was an American dancer and singer famous for his n… Read Full Bio ↴Fred Astaire (1899-1987) was an American dancer and singer famous for his numerous appearances in the 1920s and 1930s in Vaudeville, on Broadway and on the London stage with sister Adele Astaire; in musical films between the 1930s and 1960s; and on American TV in the 1950s and beyond. Although he teamed with many dancers, including Gene Kelly, his best known screen pairing was with Ginger Rogers, with whom he appeared in 10 films. He continued to act in non-dancing roles in films and TV in the 1960s through 1980s.

In part because of his expressive phrasing and graceful interpretation, Astaire was chosen to introduce many now-classic songs, including standards by Cole Porter (example, "Night and Day"), his friend Irving Berlin ("Let's Face the Music and Dance"), Jerome Kern ("The Way You Look Tonight"), Johnny Mercer ("One for My Baby") and George and Ira Gershwin ("They Can't Take That Away from Me").

Fred Astaire is interred at Oakwood Memorial Park, Chatsworth, California, USA, the same cemetery where Ginger Rogers, is located. (http://encyclopaediaoftrivia.blogspot.com/2011/09/fred-astaire.html)

Music Makes Me
Fred Astaire Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

In me you see a sinner
And dancing is my crime
It seems a sin I've gotta give in
To syncopated time

It makes me lose my dignity
It makes me lose my poise
And some folks call it music

But my folks call it noise

I like music, old or new
But music makes me do
The things I never should do

I like music, sweet or blue
But music makes me do
The things I never should do

My self-control
Was something to brag about
Now it's a gag about town
The things I do are never forgiven

For just when I'm livin' 'em down
I hear music, then I'm through
For music makes me do
The things I never should do

I like music old or new
But music makes me
I like music sweet or blue
But music makes me

My self-control was something
But now it's a gag about town
The things I do are never forgiven

But just when I'm livin' 'em down
I hear music then I'm through

For music makes me do
The things I never should do

Overall Meaning

The song "Music Makes Me" by Fred Astaire is a playful and lighthearted expression of the power that music holds over the singer. The opening lines, "In me you see a sinner / And dancing is my crime," immediately establish music as a transgressive force in the singer's life. What may seem like a harmless pastime to some is, to the singer, a potentially dangerous temptation that threatens to undermine their dignity and self-control.

The singer's admission that music makes them "lose [their] dignity" and "lose [their] poise" suggests that they feel vulnerable and out of control when they listen to music. The line "And some folks call it music / But my folks call it noise" highlights the subjective nature of our relationship to music: what one person finds beautiful and uplifting, another may find irritating or even offensive. In the singer's case, it seems that their own family may not understand or appreciate their love of music, adding to the sense of isolation and risk associated with indulging in their passion.

Line by Line Meaning

In me you see a sinner
I know that people judge me and view me as a bad person

And dancing is my crime
My passion for dancing is seen as a wrongdoing by society

It seems a sin I've gotta give in
Although it is perceived as a sinful act, I cannot resist the temptation to dance

To syncopated time
I am drawn to the rhythm of the music, no matter how unorthodox or unconventional it may be

It makes me lose my dignity
The fervor and excitement of dancing causes me to act in a way that goes against conventional social norms, causing me to appear undignified

It makes me lose my poise
Dancing causes me to become unbalanced and unstable, affecting my demeanor and composure

And some folks call it music
Not everyone understands my passion for dancing and the positive effects that music has on me

But my folks call it noise
Despite the beauty and significance of music to me, my family and loved ones view it as a disturbance or distraction

I like music, old or new
Regardless of the era or genre, I have an appreciation for all types of music

But music makes me do
However, the emotions and impulses that music evokes in me can sometimes lead to me making regrettable decisions

The things I never should do
I am aware that certain actions prompted by music can be seen as inappropriate or wrong in the eyes of others

My self-control
I was once able to maintain a level of willpower and discipline over my actions

Was something to brag about
I used to be proud of my ability to resist temptation and make rational decisions

Now it's a gag about town
However, my loss of self-control has become a subject of ridicule and mockery among those who know me

The things I do are never forgiven
The negative consequences of my actions, fueled by music, tend to follow me and impact my relationships even after they've ended

For just when I'm livin' 'em down
Just when I think I've moved on from the repercussions of past incidents, I hear music that brings it all back

I hear music, then I'm through
The sound of music has the power to overtake my mind and body, leading me to act without restraint

For music makes me do
I am not in control of my actions when music is present, as it triggers my impulses and emotions

Writer(s): KAHN GUS, ELISCU EDWARD, YOUMANS VINCENT

Contributed by Claire A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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