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.
Whispering
Louis Armstrong Lyrics
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Whispering so no one can hear me
Each little whisper seems to cheer me
I know it's true dear... There's no one but you
I'm a singin?
Whispering why you'll never leave me
Whispering why you'll never grieve me
Whisper and say that you believe me
(Instrumental break)
Whispering while you cuddle near me
Whispering so no one can hear me
Each little whisper seems to cheer me
Just whispering that I love you
Louis Armstrong's song "Whispering" is a charming declaration of love. The song, written by John Schonberger, Richard Coburn, and Vincent Rose in 1920, follows the story of a couple who whispers sweet nothings to each other, making them feel loved and cherished. The lyrics describe the intimacy of the couple's relationship and how their whispered words make everything feel all right. They are whispering so no one can hear them, but the words seem to have a magical effect on the lovers. The song's melody is simple, and Armstrong's interpretation adds a touch of soulfulness.
The song's first verse sets up the background of the story, with a cheery tone. Through each whisper, the singer feels a sense of reassurance and comfort, making the relationship all the more real to them. The second verse explains how the singer feels about their relationship, with a sense of security that could only come from knowing that the other person truly loves them. The instrumental break following the second verse illustrates the mood, allowing the listener to get lost in the emotion of the music. The song's last verse reiterates the love that the singer feels, with the whispered words of devotion being what truly matters.
Overall, the song "Whispering" serves to remind us of the power of words, even when spoken in hushed tones. The intimacy and affection between the couple are palpable, and the melody conveys the bittersweet emotions of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Whispering while you cuddle near me
Softly sharing intimate words with each other while being close together
Whispering so no one can hear me
Speaking in hushed tones to maintain privacy
Each little whisper seems to cheer me
Every tiny secret shared brings joy and happiness
I know it's true dear... There's no one but you
Realizing and acknowledging that they are the only one for the singer
I'm a singin?
I am so deeply in love that I can't help but express it through song
Whispering why you'll never leave me
Asking for reassurance that their love will last forever and there will be no separation
Whispering why you'll never grieve me
Seeking confirmation that their love will never cause pain or sorrow
Whisper and say that you believe me
Expressing the need for trust in their relationship
Whispering that I love you
Continuing to share sweet nothings about their deep affection
(Instrumental break)
A musical interlude to give emphasis on the emotions expressed in the song
Whispering while you cuddle near me
Repeating the first verse to emphasize the intimacy of their moment
Whispering so no one can hear me
Repeating the second verse to emphasize the need for secrecy in sharing their love
Each little whisper seems to cheer me
Repeating the third verse to emphasize the impact their words have on their joy
Just whispering that I love you
Repeating the final line to emphasize the central message of the song
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Richard Coburn, Vincent Rose, John Schonberger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anonymous
on What A Wonderful World
What A Wonderful World - Casey Abrams - Lyrics
I see trees of green
Red roses too
I see them bloom
For me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
I see skies of blue
And clouds of white
The bright blessed day
The dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
The colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
Of people going by
I see friends shaking hands
Singing how do you do
They're really singing
I love you
I hear babies cry
I watch them grow
They'll learn much more
Than I'll ever know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Musical Interlude
The colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
Of people going by
I see friends shaking hands
Singing how do you do
They're really singing
I love you
I hear babies cry
I watch them grow
They goin’ learn much more
Than I'll ever know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
I think to myself
What a wonderful world