In 1943, Torme made his movie debut in Frank Sinatra's first film, the musical "Higher and Higher." He went on to sing and act in a number of films and television episodes throughout his career, even hosting his own television show in 1951-52. His appearance in the 1947 film musical "Good News" made him a teen idol for a few years. In the last years of his career he toured and sang with the wonderful George Shearing Quartet, often sitting in at drums, for a number or two in a set. To hear two such accomplished jazz artists was an evening not to be forgotten.
In that year he also formed the vocal quintet "Mel Torme and His Mel-Tones," modeled after Frank Sinatra and the Pied Pipers. The Mel-Tones, which included Les Baxter and Ginny O'Connor, had several hits fronting Artie Shaw's band and on their own, including Cole Porter's "What is This Thing Called Love?" The Mel-Tones were among the first jazz-influenced vocal groups, blazing a path later followed by The Hi-Los, The Four Freshmen, and The Manhattan Transfer.
In 1947, Torme went solo. His singing at New York's Copacabana led a local DJ, Fred Robbins, to give him the nickname "The Velvet Fog", thinking to honor his high tenor and smooth vocal style, but Torme detested the nickname. As a solo singer, he recorded a number of romantic hits for Decca (1945), and with the Artie Shaw Orchestra on the Musicraft label (1946-48). In 1949, he moved to Capitol Records, where his first record, "Careless Hands," became his only number one hit. His versions of "Again" and "Blue Moon" became signature tunes. His composition "California Suite," prompted by the Gordon Jenkins's "Manhattan Tower," became Capitol's first 12 inch LP. Around this time, he helped pioneer cool jazz.
From 1955 to 1957, Torme recorded 7 jazz vocal albums with Red Clyde's Bethlehem Records, all with groups led by Marty Paich, most notably "Mel Torme with the Marty Paich Dektette." These recordings proved a creative peak for Torme and for Paich, a leading figure in the West coast jazz of the time.
When rock & roll music (which Torme called "three chord manure") came on the scene in the 1950s, commercial success became elusive. During the next two decades, Torme often recorded mediocre arrangements of the pop tunes of the day, never staying long with any particular label. He was sometimes forced to make his living by singing in obscure clubs. He had two minor hits, his 1956 recording of "Mountain Greenery," and his 1962 R&B song "Comin' Home, Baby," arranged by Claus Ogerman. The latter recording led the jazz and gospel singer Ethel Waters to say that "Torme is the only white man who sings with the soul of a black man." It was later covered instrumentally by Quincy Jones and Kai Winding.
In 1963–64, Torme wrote songs and musical arrangements for the The Judy Garland Show, and made two guest appearances on the show itself. A few years later, after Garland's death, his time with her show became the subject of his first book, "The Other Side of the Rainbow." Although the book was praised, it led to an unsuccessful lawsuit by Garland's family.
Torme continued to play jazz drums as an adult, and befriended drummer Buddy Rich, who became the subject of his book "Traps-The Drum Wonder-The Life of Buddy Rich." Torme also owned and played a drumset that renowned drummer Gene Krupa had used for many years.
Although a jazz and popular musician, Torme also respected classical music, especially that of Frederick Delius and Percy Grainger.
The resurgence of vocal jazz in the 1970s resulted in another artistically fertile period for Torme, whose live performances during the 1960s and 70s fueled a growing reputation as a jazz singer. He found himself performing as often as 200 times a year around the globe. In 1976, he won an Edison Award (the Dutch equivalent of the Grammy) for best male singer, and a Downbeat award for best male jazz singer. For a number of years around this time, his September appearances at Michael's Pub, on the Upper East Side would unofficially open New York's fall cabaret season.
Tormé viewed his 1977 Carnegie Hall concert with George Shearing and Gerry Mulligan as a turning point. Shearing later said:
"It is impossible to imagine a more compatible musical partner… I humbly put forth that Mel and I had the best musical marriage in many a year. We literally breathed together during our countless performances. As Mel put it, we were two bodies of one musical mind."
Starting in 1982, Torme recorded a number of albums with Concord Records, including:
* Five albums with pianist George Shearing;
* His big band work with Rob McConnell and his Boss Brass orchestra (see Mel Torme, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass);
* A reunion with Marty Paich, resulting in a live recording in Tokyo (In Concert Tokyo) and a studio album (Reunion).
In the 1980s, he often performed with pianist John Colianni. In the last years of his career he toured and sang with the wonderful George Shearing Quartet, often sitting in at drums, for a number or two in a set. To hear two such accomplished jazz artists was an evening not to be forgotten.
Torme made 9 guest appearances as himself on the 1980s sitcom Night Court whose main character, Judge Harry Stone (played by Harry Anderson), was depicted as an unabashed Tormé fan. In the mid-90s, Torme gained a following among Generation Xers by appearing in a series of Mountain Dew commercials and on an episode of the sitcom Seinfeld, in which he dedicates a song to the character Kramer (played by Michael Richards). Torme also recorded a version of Nat King Cole's "Straighten up and Fly Right" with his son, alternative/adult contemporary/jazz singer Steve March Torme.
In February 1999, Tormé was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. On August 8, 1996, a stroke abruptly ended his 65-year singing career; another stroke in 1999 ended his life. In his eulogistic essay, John Andrews wrote about Tormé: "Tormé's style shared much with that of his idol, Ella Fitzgerald. Both were firmly rooted in the foundation of the swing era, but both seemed able to incorporate bebop innovations to keep their performances sounding fresh and contemporary. Like Sinatra, they sang with perfect diction and brought out the emotional content of the lyrics through subtle alterations of phrasing and harmony. Ballads were characterized by paraphrasing of the original melody which always seemed tasteful, appropriate and respectful to the vision of the songwriter. Unlike Sinatra, both Fitzgerald and Tormé were likely to cut loose during a swinging up-tempo number with several scat choruses, using their voices without words to improvise a solo like a brass or reed instrument."
Tormé wrote more than 250 songs, a number of which became jazz standards. He also often wrote the arrangements for the songs he sang. He often collaborated with Bob Wells, and the best known Tormé-Wells song is "The Christmas Song", often referred to by its opening line "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire." First recorded by Nat King Cole in 1946, it has been a holiday favorite ever since. Tormé said that he wrote the music to the song in only 40 minutes, and that it was not one of his personal favorites.
Dancing In The Dark
Mel Tormé Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I ain't got nothing to say
I come home in the morning
I go to bed feeling the same way
I ain't nothing but tired
Man I'm just tired and bored with myself
Hey there baby, I could use just a little help
You can't start a fire without a spark
This gun's for hire
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Message keeps getting clearer
Radio's on and I'm moving 'round the place
I check my look in the mirror
I wanna change my clothes, my hair, my face
Man I ain't getting nowhere
I'm just living in a dump like this
There's something happening somewhere
Baby I just know that there is
You can't start a fire
You can't start a fire without a spark
This gun's for hire
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
You sit around getting older
There's a joke here somewhere and it's on me
I'll shake this world off my shoulders
Come on baby this laugh's on me
Stay on the streets of this town
And they'll be carving you up alright
They say you gotta stay hungry
Hey baby I'm just about starving tonight
I'm dying for some action
I'm sick of sitting 'round here trying to write this book
I need a love reaction
Come on now baby gimme just one look
You can't start a fire sitting 'round crying over a broken heart
This gun's for hire
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
You can't start a fire worrying about your little world falling apart
This gun's for hire
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Hey baby
The lyrics to Mel Tormé's song "Dancing In The Dark" depict a restless and directionless individual who is seeking change and excitement in their life. The singer describes feeling tired and bored with themselves, wanting to change everything about their appearance and situation. The song's chorus repeats the message that you need a spark to start a fire, and encourages the listener to take action and not sit around waiting for things to happen. The line "this gun's for hire" suggests that the singer is willing to take risks and seek out opportunities for excitement and adventure.
The song's verses and chorus are characterized by a sense of urgency and restlessness, with the singer feeling trapped in their current situation and seeking a way out. The second verse plays with the idea of the passage of time, with the singer feeling like they are getting older and running out of time to make a change. The song ends with a message of empowerment and a call to action, encouraging the listener to take risks and pursue their desires.
Line by Line Meaning
I get up in the evening
I wake up in the evening and I have nothing to say
And I ain't got nothing to say
I don't have anything to say or much going on in my life
I come home in the morning
I come back home in the morning after being out all night
I go to bed feeling the same way
I go to bed feeling as empty and unfulfilled as when I woke up
I ain't nothing but tired
I am exhausted on every level, body and spirit
Man I'm just tired and bored with myself
I am tired of feeling bored with my own life, feeling stuck in a rut
Hey there baby, I could use just a little help
I could use some company or a friend to help me out of this funk I'm in
You can't start a fire
You cannot ignite or create anything meaningful without a spark of inspiration
You can't start a fire without a spark
Without that initial spark of inspiration, it is impossible to create anything worthwhile
This gun's for hire
I am ready for something to happen, looking for opportunities to take action
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Even if we are just doing something without a clear plan or vision, it's better than doing nothing at all
Message keeps getting clearer
As the song goes on, my message becomes more and more evident
Radio's on and I'm moving 'round the place
I am trying to get motivated and inspired by listening to music and moving around
I check my look in the mirror
I am critical of my appearance and want to change it to match my internal dissatisfaction
I wanna change my clothes, my hair, my face
I want to change my external appearance to match my internal dissatisfaction
Man I ain't getting nowhere
I feel like I am stagnating and not making any progress in my life
I'm just living in a dump like this
I feel like I am living in a less than ideal situation or environment
There's something happening somewhere
I have a sense that there are opportunities or events happening elsewhere that I am missing out on
Baby I just know that there is
I have a feeling that there are better things out there waiting for me
You sit around getting older
If you do nothing, time passes and you grow older without getting any closer to your goals
There's a joke here somewhere and it's on me
I am aware that I am not taking action and feel foolish for not doing so
I'll shake this world off my shoulders
I am determined to let go of my past and start fresh, despite feeling burdened by my current situation
Come on baby this laugh's on me
I want to make the best of my current situation and not take myself too seriously
Stay on the streets of this town
If you remain in the same place, you will be subjected to the negative aspects of that environment
And they'll be carving you up alright
Others will judge and criticize you if you remain stagnant or complacent
They say you gotta stay hungry
In order to achieve success or better one's life, one must stay motivated and ambitious
Hey baby I'm just about starving tonight
I am feeling especially desperate for a change or action to take place
I'm dying for some action
I am desperately seeking any kind of opportunity for change or stimulation
I'm sick of sitting 'round here trying to write this book
I am frustrated with my current situation and am ready to move on to something else, but am unsure what that is exactly
I need a love reaction
I am searching for something to give meaning or positivity to my life, a sense of inspiration or motivation
Come on now baby gimme just one look
I am hoping for some kind of sign or inspiration to point me in the right direction
You can't start a fire sitting 'round crying over a broken heart
You cannot move on with your life and make something of yourself if you are stuck in the past, dwelling on negative experiences
You can't start a fire worrying about your little world falling apart
If you are constantly anxious or worried about every little thing in your life, you will not be able to create anything meaningful
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Despite not having a clear plan or vision for the future, it is important to keep moving forward and taking action in order to make progress
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Even if our actions are not perfect or not leading to immediate success, it is important to keep trying and moving forward
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Even if we are not completely sure what our goals or direction are, it is important to take action and try something new
Hey baby
Addressing an unknown person (possibly a partner or friend) to provide comfort, support, and motivation
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bruce Springsteen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind