Desmond was bor… Read Full Bio ↴Paul Desmond (1924-1977) was a U.S jazz saxophonist.
Desmond was born Paul Emil Breitenfeld in San Francisco, California on 25th November 1924. He came to prominence with the Dave Brubeck Quartet, which lasted from 1951 until 1967. Desmond wrote their biggest hit, "Take Five".
Desmond's alto saxophone tone and technique owed nothing to the great alto player of the time, Charlie Parker; instead his was a clear, light, floating sound and highly melodic playing style. Much of the success of the classic Brubeck quartet was due to the superposition of his fragile, airy sound over Brubeck's sometimes relatively heavy, polytonal piano work.
Desmond died on 30th May 1977.
Paul Desmond is widely recognized for his genius as a melodic improviser and as the benchmark of cool jazz sax players. His warm, elegant tone was one that he admittedly tried to make sound like a dry martini. He and Art Pepper were virtually the only alto players of their generation not directly influenced by Charlie Parker. Desmond was influenced by Lester Young, but took it further, into melodic and harmonic worlds never before traveled by reedmen -- especially in the upper registers. Desmond is best known for his years with the Dave Brubeck Quartet (1959-1967) and his infamous composition "Take Five." He met Brubeck in the late '40s and played with his Octet. The Quartet formed toward the end of 1950 and took final shape with Eugene Wright and Joe Morello a few years later. Jazz at Oberlin and Take Five were considered essential purchases by college students of the era, but Jazz Impressions of Japan was its most innovative recording. Desmond played his loping, slow, ordered, and intricate solos in direct contrast to the pianist's obsession with large chords, creating a myriad of textures for melodic and rhythmic counterpoint unlike any heard in jazz. His witty quotations from musicals, classical pieces, and folk songs were also a watermark of his artistry. When the Quartet split in 1967, Desmond began an intermittent yet satisfying recording career. It included dates with Gerry Mulligan for Verve, various sessions with Jim Hall, and a concert with the the Modern Jazz Quartet. He played his last gigs with the Brubeck Quartet at reunions before dying of lung cancer. Desmond's recordings for RCA have gotten box-set treatment and Mosaic issued one of the complete sessions with Hall. There are also reissues from A&M and CTI, though recordings on Artist House and Finesse remain regrettably out of print. ~ Thom Jurek, Rovi
I've Got You Under My Skin
Paul Desmond Lyrics
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I've got you deep in the heart of me.
So deep in my heart that you're really a part of me.
I've got you under my skin.
I'd tried so not to give in.
I said to myself, this affair never will go so well.
But why should I try to resist when, baby, I know down well
I've got you under my skin?
I'd sacrifice anything come what might
For the sake of havin' you near
In spite of a warnin' voice that comes in the night
And repeats, repeats in my ear,
Don't you know, you fool, you never can win?
Use your mentality, wake up to reality.
But each time that I do just the thought of you
Makes me stop before I begin
Cause I've got you under my skin.
I would sacrifice anything come what might
For the sake of havin' you near
In spite of the warning voice that comes in the night
And repeats, how it yells in my ear,
Don't you know, you fool, ain't no chance to win
Why not use your mentality, get up, wake up to reality?
And each time I do just the thought of you
Makes me stop just before I begin
Cause I've got you under my skin.
And I like you under my skin.
The lyrics of Paul Desmond's "I've Got You Under My Skin" describe the intense emotions of a person who is deeply in love with someone else. The person is so deeply in love that the object of their affection is essentially a part of them. They initially tried to resist these feelings; however, they could not control the intense love that they felt for this person. The lyrics also discuss the sacrifices that the singer would make to be with their love interest, even though they are aware of the warnings of those around them. Despite the warnings, the singer cannot help but feel the love that they have for their partner.
The lyrics have a melancholic and romantic tone. This is because they give an insight into the struggles of falling deeply in love with someone. The singer understands the difficulties that might come with the relationship, but they are willing to take the risk. The lyrics also suggest that the singer is deeply devoted to their love interest and that they do not regret their feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got you under my skin.
You constantly occupy my thoughts and emotions.
I've got you deep in the heart of me.
Your presence and influence on me is intense and profound.
So deep in my heart that you're really a part of me.
You have become so integral to who I am that I feel incomplete without you.
I'd tried so not to give in.
I attempted to resist my attraction to you.
I said to myself, this affair never will go so well.
I acknowledged the potential difficulties and complications of pursuing a relationship with you.
But why should I try to resist when, baby, I know down well
I've got you under my skin?
I realized that my feelings for you are too strong to ignore, and that trying to resist them would be pointless.
I'd sacrifice anything come what might
For the sake of havin' you near
I am willing to give up anything and face any challenge in order to be close to you.
In spite of a warnin' voice that comes in the night
And repeats, repeats in my ear,
Don't you know, you fool, you never can win?
Despite my doubts and fears, I cannot help but desire you.
Use your mentality, wake up to reality.
The rational part of me recognizes the risks of our relationship and urges me to be more realistic.
But each time that I do just the thought of you
Makes me stop before I begin
Cause I've got you under my skin.
However, whenever I try to distance myself from you, I return to thinking about you and become unable to let go of my affection for you.
And I like you under my skin.
Despite the potential pain and complications, I enjoy the intensity and passion that comes with my feelings for you.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
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