Coming to prominence in the 1920s as an inventive trumpet and cornet player, Armstrong was a foundational influence in jazz, shifting the focus of the music from collective improvisation to solo performance. With his instantly-recognizable gravelly voice, Armstrong was also an influential singer, demonstrating great dexterity as an improviser, bending the lyrics and melody of a song for expressive purposes. He was also skilled at scat singing (vocalizing using sounds and syllables instead of actual lyrics).
Renowned for his charismatic stage presence and voice almost as much as for his trumpet-playing, Armstrong's influence extends well beyond jazz music, and by the end of his career in the 1960s, he was widely regarded as a profound influence on popular music in general. Armstrong was one of the first truly popular African-American entertainers to "cross over", whose skin-color was secondary to his music in an America that was severely racially divided. He rarely publicly politicized his race, often to the dismay of fellow African-Americans, but took a well-publicized stand for desegregation during the Little Rock Crisis. His artistry and personality allowed him socially acceptable access to the upper echelons of American society that were highly restricted for a black man.
Armstrong was born and brought up in New Orleans, a culturally diverse town with a unique musical mix of creole, ragtime, marching bands, and blues. Although from an early age he was able to play music professionally, he didn't travel far from New Orleans until 1922, when he went to Chicago to join his mentor, King Oliver. Oliver's band played primitive jazz, a hotter style of ragtime, with looser rhythms and more improvisation, and Armstrong's role was mostly backing. Slow to promote himself, he was eventually persuaded by his wife Lil Hardin to leave Oliver, and In 1924 he went to New York to join the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra. At the time, there were a few other artists using the rhythmic innovations of the New Orleans style, but none did it with the energy and brilliance of Armstrong, and he quickly became a sensation among New York musicians. Back in Chicago in 1925, he made his first recordings with his own group, Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five, and these became not only popular hits but also models for the first generation of jazz musicians, trumpeters or otherwise.
Other hits followed through the twenties and thirties, as well as troubles: crooked managers, lip injuries, mob entanglements, failed big-band ventures. As jazz styles changed, though, musical purists never lost any respect for him -- although they were sometimes irritated by his hammy onstage persona. Around the late forties, with the help of a good manager, Armstrong's business affairs finally stablilized, and he began to be seen as an elder statesman of American popular entertainment, appearing in Hollywood films, touring Asia and Europe, and dislodging The Beatles from the number-one position with Hello Dolly". Today many people may know him as a singer (a good one), but as Miles Davis said: “You can’t play nothing on modern trumpet that doesn’t come from him."
The 62-year-old Armstrong became the oldest act to top the US charts when "Hello Dolly" reached #1 in 1964. Four years later Satchmo also became the oldest artist to record a UK #1, when "What a Wonderful World" hit the top spot.
Merry Christmas Baby
Louis Armstrong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, Merry Merry Christmas baby
Yes, you sure did treat me nice
Well, gave me a diamond ring for Christmas
Now, now I'm living in paradise
Welll, I'm feeling, feeling mighty fine, got good music on my radio
Yes, I'm feeling, feeling fine, got good music on my radio
Well, I want love to kiss you baby, while you're standing 'neath the mistletoe
Well, Santa Claus, Santa Claus
Won't, won't you please hear my plea
I said, Santa Claus, Santa Claus
Won't, won't, won't you hear my plea
All I want you to do
Lord knows, won't you bring my baby back to me
Louis Armstrong's "Merry Christmas Baby" is a classic holiday blues song that speaks of the joy and love shared between two people during the festive season. The singer opens by expressing his gratitude to his lover, thanking her for treating him nicely. He then states that she gave him a diamond ring for Christmas, and since then, he has been living in paradise. He continues to describe the bliss he feels, thanks to the beautiful music on his radio. He expresses his desire to kiss his lover under the mistletoe, cementing their love and affection during this special holiday.
In the second verse, the singer turns his attention to Santa Claus, pleading with him to bring back his lover. He expresses his wish to have his lover by his side again, so they can share the warmth and love of the season. The lyrics paint a picture of a man who is grateful for his lover's affection and who can't get enough of her. The song speaks to the essence of Christmas, which is love and sharing, and the singer's deep desire to be reunited with his lover.
"Merry Christmas Baby" was first recorded in 1947 by Johnny Moore's Three Blazers, and it became a classic almost overnight. Louis Armstrong recorded his own version in 1953 with the Commanders, which became very popular. The song has since been covered by multiple artists, including Otis Redding, Chuck Berry, and Elvis Presley. The song's enduring popularity stems from its blend of holiday cheer and blues, which speaks to people of all ages and backgrounds.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, Merry Christmas baby, you sure did treat me nice
I am grateful for the love and kindness that you have shown me this Christmas
Well, Merry Merry Christmas baby
Yes, you sure did treat me nice
Again, I express gratitude for how well you have treated me this Christmas
Well, gave me a diamond ring for Christmas
Now, now I'm living in paradise
You gave me an amazing gift for Christmas and it has greatly improved my life and put me in a state of bliss
Welll, I'm feeling, feeling mighty fine, got good music on my radio
Yes, I'm feeling, feeling fine, got good music on my radio
I am currently enjoying some good music on my radio and it is contributing to the great feeling I have inside of me.
Well, I want love to kiss you baby, while you're standing 'neath the mistletoe
I would very much like to express my affection for you under the mistletoe
Well, Santa Claus, Santa Claus
Won't, won't you please hear my plea
I said, Santa Claus, Santa Claus
Won't, won't, won't you hear my plea
I am making a request to Santa and hoping he will hear and grant it
All I want you to do
Lord knows, won't you bring my baby back to me
The only thing I want is for my lover to come back to me and I hope this wish will be granted
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johnny Dudley Moore, Lou Baxter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Francisco José Tamayo Collins
Así es como se debe celebrar la Navidad.
angelito bayug
vvvvery goooood!!!!!!!!!!!