Helen O'Connell joined the Jimmy Dorsey band in 1939 and achieved her best selling records in the early forties with "Green Eyes", "Amapola", and "Tangerine". In each of these Latin-influenced numbers, Bob Eberly crooned the song which Helen then reprised in an up-tempo arrangement. Helen won the 1940 Metronome magazine poll for best female vocalist. She was one of the first "girls" on NBC's The Today Show, and at one point had her own television show.
Helen retired from show business upon her first marriage in 1943. Helen had four daughters and eight grandchildren. When the first marriage failed, she embarked on a solo career in 1951, achieving some chart success and becoming a regular television performer. Helen has married a total of four times.
She co-hosted the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants with Bob Barker from 1972 to 1980.
In her last marriage, she was married to arranger/conductor/composer Frank De Vol when she died in San Diego, California from a battle with hepatitis C resulting in primary liver cancer (hepatoma).
Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga
Helen O'connell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You do the Rumba and the new La Conga
Six lessons in Madame's cabana
And you will imagine you're down in Havana
Her four Latin daughters will help you to start
While finding the rhythm you might lose your heart
And you'll develop your hip and your knee
And say, by the way, if you're sure it's okay
If Madame likes you, the lessons are free
Rosita gives you lesson one,
Chiquita gives you lesson two
Madame gives you all the rest
And her methods are the best
The Madame shows you how to walk
The Madame marks it with her chalk
When the Madame starts to squawk
That's her Cuban double talk
Six lessons from Madame La Zonga
And you'll develop your hip and your knee
And say, by the way, if your sure it's OK
If Madame likes you, the lessons are free
If Madame likes you, the lessons are free!
The lyrics of Helen O'connell's song Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga are all about learning how to dance the rumba and the new La Conga. The singer talks about Madame La Zonga, who will give you six lessons in her cabana with the help of her four Latin daughters. The lessons will help you to find the rhythm and develop your hip and your knee, and you will imagine you're down in Havana. Madame La Zonga will show you how to walk, while marking it with her chalk. Her Cuban double talk might also confuse you, but her methods are the best.
The entire song is about the singer learning how to dance the rumba and La Conga from Madame La Zonga. The song takes on a fun and lighthearted tone, with the singer being enthusiastic about learning how to dance. She describes how the daughters of Madame La Zonga, Rosita, and Chiquita, will teach you the first two lessons, while Madame La Zonga herself will teach you the other four. The singer also mentions the perk of the lessons being free if Madame La Zonga likes you. This song is a classic 1940s swing tune that is sure to put a smile on your face and make you want to dance.
Line by Line Meaning
Six lessons from Madame La Zonga
Madame La Zonga will teach you six lessons for dancing the Rumba and La Conga.
You do the Rumba and the new La Conga
Madame La Zonga will teach you how to dance both the Rumba and the new La Conga.
Six lessons in Madame's cabana
Madame La Zonga will teach you these dances in her cabana.
And you will imagine you're down in Havana
You will feel like you are in Havana while learning to dance with Madame La Zonga.
Her four Latin daughters will help you to start
Madame La Zonga's four daughters will assist you in getting started with the lessons.
While finding the rhythm you might lose your heart
You may become so entranced with the music and rhythm that you could lose your heart to the dance.
And you'll develop your hip and your knee
You will improve your hip and knee movements through these dance lessons.
And say, by the way, if you're sure it's okay
You may ask if it's okay to mention that the lessons are free if Madame La Zonga likes you.
If Madame likes you, the lessons are free
Madame La Zonga will not charge you for the dance lessons if she likes you.
Rosita gives you lesson one,
Madame La Zonga's daughter Rosita will teach you the first lesson.
Chiquita gives you lesson two
Madame La Zonga's daughter Chiquita will teach you the second lesson.
Madame gives you all the rest
Madame La Zonga will teach you the remaining lessons.
And her methods are the best
Madame La Zonga's teaching methods are superior.
The Madame shows you how to walk
Madame La Zonga will demonstrate how to walk while dancing.
The Madame marks it with her chalk
Madame La Zonga will use chalk to mark dance steps for you.
When the Madame starts to squawk
When Madame La Zonga begins to speak rapidly in Cuban double-talk...
That's her Cuban double talk
...it's just her Cuban double-talk, don't worry!
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHARLES NEWMAN, JAMES V. MONACO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Corlyss_Drinkard
Her vocal range couldn't be more perfect. Ideally a singer's range should sound more like heightened conversation, not strained or screechy. My fave singers from this world are Jo Stafford, Ella Fitz, Helen O'Connell, Frank Sinatra, Vic Damone, Nat King Cole, and Billy Eckstein. I think all of them have that quality of sounding like their singing was "just" heightened speech.
Colin Bryan
Couldn’t agree more, a pretty complete list. I would add Linda Ronstadt, Patti Loveless and Rhonda Vincent. But then I’m into Bluegrass also!
Gordon Bisset
Helen Forrest.
J Stoller
There's a lot of great music from this band that preceded their 'duets'.
Patrick Bush
The most amazing time of music wow how fantastic. I'm know that I'm not the only one that wish they were a time traveler
Hugh Earl
Splendid,whatever happened to this type of singers whose diction was perfect. Now we have so-called stars that can only scream.
Jeremy Vernon
so sad, but true!
Edward Glod
I agree
bigbandrenaissance
Helen O’Connell / Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga (1940) / w/The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra
Helen O’Connell and the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra would turn the room on its head with this number. Taking the trends in dance of the time, La Conga, and turning it back on the audience in a funny way. The band has interesting and humorous swinging riffs throughout as a counterpoint to one of Helen O’Connell’s most infectious vocals.
john e Lawler
even by todays standard she was gorgeous