Chicago
Reinhardt Django & Grappelli Stephane Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Chicago, Chicago, that toddlin' town
Chicago, Chicago, I will show you around
I love it
Bet your bottom dollar you'll lose the blues
In Chicago, Chicago
The town that Billy Sunday couldn't shut down
On State Street that great street I just want to say
They do things they don't do on Broadway

They have a time, the time of their life
I saw a man, he danced with his wife
In Chicago, Chicago my hometown
Chicago, Chicago, that toddlin' town
Chicago, Chicago, I'll show you around
I love it
Bet your bottom dollar you'll lose the blues
In Chicago, Chicago
The town that Billy Sunday couldn't shut down
On State Street that great street I just want to say
They do things that they don't do on Broadway
They have the time the time of their life
I saw a man and he danced with his wife
In Chicago

Chicago
Chicago, that's my hometown

Overall Meaning

The song "Chicago" by Reinhardt Django & Grappelli Stephane is a tribute to the city of Chicago in the United States of America. The lyrics provide a vivid and affectionate description of the city and its lively atmosphere. The repeated chorus of "Chicago, Chicago, that toddlin' town" reinforces the idea of a city with a distinctive character and rhythm.

The song speaks about the vibrant social life in Chicago, where people can forget their worries and have the "time of their life." The reference to Billy Sunday, a famous evangelist who preached against the city's vices, suggests that Chicago was a place of temptation and free-spiritedness. The description of State Street as a "great street" highlights its significance in the city's landscape and culture, and the suggestion that things happen there that don't happen on Broadway, a famous street in New York, emphasizes Chicago's unique character.

The reference to the man dancing with his wife adds a personal touch to the song and suggests that Chicago is a place where people can enjoy simple pleasures and have fun with their loved ones. Overall, "Chicago" celebrates the spirit and vitality of a city that has captured the imaginations of many over the years.

Line by Line Meaning

Chicago, Chicago, that toddlin' town
Chicago, Chicago, the bustling city

Chicago, Chicago, I will show you around
Chicago, Chicago, let me be your guide

I love it
I love Chicago, my city

Bet your bottom dollar you'll lose the blues
You'll forget your worries in Chicago

In Chicago, Chicago, the town that Billy Sunday couldn't shut down
Billy Sunday couldn't stop Chicago from being lively

On State Street that great street I just want to say
State Street, the street where I want to be

They do things they don't do on Broadway
Chicago does unique things compared to Broadway

They have a time, the time of their life
Everyone has a great time in Chicago

I saw a man, he danced with his wife
I witnessed a man having fun with his partner in Chicago

In Chicago, Chicago my hometown
Chicago, Chicago is my beloved home

Chicago, Chicago, that toddlin' town
Chicago, Chicago, the bustling city

Chicago, Chicago, I'll show you around
Chicago, Chicago, let me be your guide

I love it
I love Chicago, my city

Bet your bottom dollar you'll lose the blues
You'll forget your worries in Chicago

In Chicago, Chicago, the town that Billy Sunday couldn't shut down
Billy Sunday couldn't stop Chicago from being lively

On State Street that great street I just want to say
State Street, the street where I want to be

They do things that they don't do on Broadway
Chicago does unique things compared to Broadway

They have the time the time of their life
Everyone has a great time in Chicago

I saw a man and he danced with his wife
I witnessed a man having fun with his partner in Chicago

In Chicago
Chicago, the city of my heart

Chicago
Chicago, my beloved city

Chicago, that's my hometown
Chicago is where I come from

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHE SMITH, MARC D. SHEMER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS

No Related Genres

More Genres

No Artists Found

More Artists Load All

No Albums Found

No Tracks Found

04You're Driving Me Crazy (1937)

05Limehouse Blues (1936)

06Minor Swing (1937)

07Chicago

Reinhardt Django & Grappelli Stephane

Genre not found

Artist not found

Album not found

Search results not found

Song not found

Comments from YouTube:

@jackmorris4821

4y↑1.9K

Have been loving this song and group for 84 years..am now 94 still loving it!

@D45VR

3y↑58

This music keeps one young.

@benpietrzykowski9216

3y↑89

Props for knowing how to comment and work YouTube

@stevengalliou3475

3y↑63

i hope that at 104, yours ears shall be able to listen it again...^^

@jackmorris4821

3y↑44

@@stevengalliou3475 thanks Steven !

@davidferrara1105

3y↑22

Welcome Jack, many happy years to you

86 More Replies...

@sathvikparthasarathy382

7y↑2.3K

I listened to this piece, picked up my guitar , played it perfectly note by note with just 2 fingers , kept the guitar back, then I woke up

@OziMarika

7y↑105

Must have been a great sweet dream.

@alexdb9129

5y↑9

Never sleep

@Whitman1819

5y↑17

You forgot to use your thumb... hehe

@sidneymays

5y↑4

sathvik parthasarathy Lol

@RUNkeeprunning-cw6kx

5y↑1

Lol

24 More Replies...

@traildoggy

7y↑882

That 2 finger fretting is sort of supernatural to watch...

I had the honor of meeting Stephane Grapelli in th late 1970s. He was amazingly gracious to an awe struck fan. I asked him to sign my copy of I Remember Django and when he saw the cover pic his eyes just sort of left the room for a moment...

@andrecote5456

5y↑32

Saw him 81.... Man he could still play....a legend ...

@nathaliegro9085

5y↑6

Wow

@jharris6990

5y↑11

Saw him play at the Bottom Line sometime in the early 90s. Still playing his ass off.

@taxisteve929

4y↑4

J Harris I don't know if this link will work but if you Google him and bottom line you get a really deep and well written Rolling Stone article he gave an interview for while he was at the bottom line.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/improvising-with-jazz-violinist-stephane-grappelli-64288/

@taxisteve929

4y↑4

J Harris The link works! LOL thanks for saying he played there because I never knew that and it gave me a chance to read this really good article

7 More Replies...

@victorwaddell6530

7y↑683

Stephan sounds like he's going to float away into the clouds , then Django grabs us back down to earth . Together they create the music that combines our spiritual nature and earthly nature to form a whole human being .

@birth0fserpents

6y↑21

victor was smokin when he wrote this, see

@simonwhite8474

5y↑5

Only human? More maybe

@staninjapan07

5y↑6

That is a very, very cool way of seeing them. I like that!

@SemperFi5150

5y↑3

This is one of the most (unintentionally?) Catholic things I've ever read. I like it.

@footcandy

4y↑1

Really nicely put.

10 More Replies...

@JoeRivermanSongwriter

3y↑321

2:52 probably the greatest moment in music ever captured on film.

@sirstashalot7441

2y↑32

I'll never understand how he did that

@przybyla420

2y↑19

It’s a chromatic run, a long, very fast one like that is pretty darn difficult. But slower ones done on only one string are fairly approachable if you have already got the up-down picking technique down...

@sirstashalot7441

2y↑22

@@przybyla420 yeah. For me its not even about the notes or the technicality of it... It's the personal flare he puts on it, if that makes sense...?

@emilio556

2y↑14

@@sirstashalot7441 I wish he got to live longer, can you imagine if the recordings were more frequent at the time? I would love to see Django in more videos but very few exist quite like this one

@tallen1628

2y↑7

@@emilio556 there are lots and lots of recordings of Django from this era. Sadly very little video footage

26 More Replies...

@dannydoc1969

7y↑373

His lyrical licks, imagination, rhythms, lightening fast runs, NO ONE was like Django and he did it first and invented a whole new genre of Jazz. He stands alone.

@zorbanongreco

7y↑14

Danny Doc -like another guitar avatar -
Jimi HENDRIX did for rock 30 years later.

@temuulenaltangerel5773

7y↑9

dannydoc1969 he invented and inspired many many other genres too, rock metal etc

@big_fat_hen

6y↑6

Oh my, that's music to the ear and the soul.

@austinhaynes6420

6y↑10

he also did it with just 2 fingers lol

@jazzjames

6y↑29

Actually he just played music...everyone behind him started copying it and created a style called “gypsy Jazz” which is just trying to play like Django.

15 More Replies...

@gulfcoastbeemer

6y↑281

Breathtaking. Two fingers and a thumb on a disfigured and paralyzed left hand is all he had use of. Every guitarists who has followed him since, has looked upon Django as an inspiration and in a class all unto himself. A unique talent and a testament to the will of the human spirit.

@DeathBringer769

4y↑12

0:13 He did have partial use of injured ring and pinky fingers for chord work. But yes, all of his "shredding" was done with his two good fingers. He's an inspiration and legend ;)

@garrettlempia6539

4y↑18

Black Sabbath would have never been if it wasn't for Django he inspired Tony Lommi to keep playing after he lost his finger tips and they practically invented metal music so one could argue that Django is the father of metal or at very least the grandfather if you wanna give the latter to Tony

@kevinloyola9221

3y↑1

Well said.

@ivanojdl

4y↑135

The famed jazz saxaphonist Coleman Hawkins was once asked who he thought was the best guitar player. His response was that he couldn't say who was the best, but that out of the Top 5, Django Reinhardt was 4 of them!

@gordonames1892

2y↑2

Eddie Lang was one of them. In fact, Eddie Lang was an inspiration for Django to play jazz@!

@tombstoneharrystudios584

2y↑2

He wasn’t wrong!

@lindascanlan6317

48w

Perfect answer

@scottheaton8469

4y↑173

Reinhardt gets all the glory, but Grapelli was his equal. What an incredible musician.

@bradxwx

2y↑8

Yeah Django gets all the glory simply because guitar is a more popular instrument. But yeah they are both amazing musicians

@FreeBrunoPowroznik

2y↑6

@@bradxwx Nah, Django on guitar was an innovator and pioneer. Grapelli may have been an innovator but not a pioneer.

@przybyla420

2y↑4

I don’t think they were equals at all. Lots of people could play Grapelli’s parts exactly as he played them, only a very few could occasionally come CLOSE to doing what Django did, and his hand was badly crippled.

@hagegesamuel

2y↑11

Nah, don't be dissing at my man Grapelli. The dude is incredible and has a feel no one can replicate. Both were giants. Respect.

@timj4909

2y↑2

@@przybyla420 They could not! Maybe the same if they were transcribed on paper, but not with that effortless musicality. He was a true virtuoso.

12 More Replies...

@spaceboojum

15w↑3

We are so lucky to have these recordings

@DEFKAST90s

1y↑34

Who said that you don’t bend notes when playing jazz guitar? Whoever coined it can swivel, Django was phenomenal!

@jpcafe

5y↑124

Django styling on everyone with just 2 fingers, what a legend.

@selmerlane943

5y↑1

Yeah if only the young generation was into this style instead of gangs and hip hop trap stuff

@DeathBringer769

4y↑2

0:13 You see the chord right here? He clearly had at least some partial use of his ring and pinky finger for chord work, even though of course most of his shredding was basically just his 2 healthier index and middle fingers. He's still a legendarily awesome player who overcame a severe injury, but I'm just saying. He could technically use them for a chord work a little bit ;)

@linusp9316

4y↑4

@@selmerlane943 Wouldn't be a classic music video on youtube without ignorant old people, would it? Guess I'd better go join a 'gang' haha

@innercityprepper

@@selmerlane943 give them time. there's nothing wrong with loving both

@PaulHighlandChannel

7y↑290

Django was the best when he had his four fingers, but lost the use of two in a fire, and had to spend a tremendous amount of time relearning how to play with only two. Imagine overcoming the muscle memory he already had with four fingers. Genius!!!

@darkdan3549

4y↑27

Yeah, a lesser man would have given up with that point. Not Django though.

@user-kw5lk7kg2o

4y↑3

Do you know if he retuned his guitar? I play a tenor it has 4 strings. Would have been easier for him.

@robbyddurham1624

4y↑12

A friend of toni iomi told Tony about him after Tony lost the tips of two or three fingers.

@MrSqilz

4y↑5

He was still the best if not better with 2 fingers

@55flier

4y↑2

Have you heard any recordings of him playing before his accident? He was quite young when it happened - 18 or so - but he had made a couple of recordings by then, I've just never heard any.

5 More Replies...

@U2WB

7y↑112

Listening to Django inspired Tony Iommi not to give up playing guitar after losing several fingers in an industrial accident. Django was AMAZING.

@clausappel8086

3y↑25

So one can say that Django indirectly helped to invent heavy metal, and that 16 years after his passing ...

@pauljordan4452

3y↑4

Two fingertips in a factory accident. He used metal caps thereafter.

@shotty2164

3y↑9

@@pauljordan4452 it was plastic caps melted out of a plastic soap container and then cut pieces of leather from an old leather jacket to put on top to give him more grip (from his book)

@INDLIS

@@shotty2164 But in order for the makeshift fingertips to work, he had to replace the regular guitar strings with banjo strings (since they were light weight)

@isorokudono

5y↑53

This is probably the best thing ever recorded on video and audio. Period.

@Kelly14UK

5y↑3

Agreed

@ShotOfSelf

6y↑36

The beginning improv is my favorite part. One of the finest moments in music history when Django drops the lead and Stephane picks it up.

@Discrimination_is_not_a_right

7y↑58

I truly believe that greatness goes hand-in-hand with the words "in spite of".

@happyhellday3

7y↑385

2:53 Oh my god, look at that control.

@BFG-hv2ml

6y↑18

Necrophagist1999 hey metallica brother!! 🙂 it’s nice to see us both appreciate this great piece of music

@almason253

5y↑33

Shredding in 1939? WTF

@combatRidders

5y↑8

truly incredible

@KumongaStrikes

5y↑4

With only using two fingers on top of that.

@BrobleYT

4y↑8

It actually doesn't seem possible, leaves me awestruck every time I see it.

3 More Replies...

@PiotrBarcz

32w↑8

I love how rhythmic the three guitars are! Rhythm guitar players hold the band together!

@Deathlobster137

2y↑3

I’m 22 years old and think Django is one of my favorite artists to listen to. This shit’s timeless.

@imranchaudhary3776

right there with u bro, started listening to django at 17, im 22 now. its truly timeless and such a rare sound. Always a breathe of fresh air when listenin to them, it never gets old. Stephan and Django were born to play music together…along with all the other gentlemen there.

@oldoddjobs

Thanks for telling us your age

@anonymouspotato3453

3y↑3

‘Django Reinhardt’ is an appropriately awesome name for that man.

@billyboxter

7y↑570

thank God for cameras!

@clowntrooper61

6y↑22

Shame we didn't have them earlier

@mycatlovestowatchtv5065

6y↑5

billyboxter lol . true ...

@YouLoveBeef

6y↑15

They had them earlier, most of the film was just lost due to decay and mismanagement of archives.

@danielcliment8251

6y↑2

True!!

@guillermoespino2141

6y↑14

Thanks science?

26 More Replies...

@danielvanackere7364

1y↑8

Genius. Speaks through his guitar as easily as we do with vocal cords.

@josephnania2693

1y↑4

It is JANUARY 23 2023 - and the 113th anniversary of DJANGO REINHARDT - and this sound then and now never sounded better , Joe Nania

@ShotOfSelf

7y↑168

Django is Legend.

@ssyynntax

7y↑10

Hey Jesus, say hi to Django for me please.

@bastelkleber6665

7y↑5

Django unchained

@DogbiteW

7y↑10

Django unsurpassed.

@DEMANU217

7y↑1

The best.

@BERTRAMCAT

7y↑1

Django est notre père à tous.

@lolacheng.

2y↑7

This is the most perfect thing my eyes have ever seen and ears have ever heard; exquisite, flawless and timeless. I wish I could convey what these guys do to my heart and soul with this song... I can't stop listening to it.

@gregnormal55.

Hello!! How are you doing today, please pardon me for intruding into your privacy but I just wanted to know if you’re a fan ? Have a great day… Stay Safe

@Memale2009

6y↑23

Ce titre était un grand tube en France pendant l'occupation allemande: il interprétait les sentiments des Francaises qui attendaient le retour de leurs partenaires qui étaient involvés par le service militaire. J'aime ce titre parce qu'il illustre la force de l'amour et de l'espoir.

@davidvincent380

La musique manouche n'était pas interdite par les Allemands ?

@genzalarboa3110

2y↑1

@@davidvincent380 le jazz était théoriquement interdit mais en pratique, il était trop populaire pour qu'on l'interdise, ils ont simplement franciser les noms des morceau américains par exemple saint louis blues est devenu la tristesse de saint louis (le roi). Radio Paris sous contrôle allemand a même permis à Django Reinhardt de faire un récital en direct .

@davidvincent380

@@genzalarboa3110 Merci. Django et sa famille n'ont jamais été inquiétés pendant l'Occupation ?

@genzalarboa3110

@@davidvincent380 non pas vraiment c'était une des grandes stars de la musique grâce à Nuages donc les allemands ont "oublié" qu'il était manouche. Même après sa tentative de fuite en Suisse en 1943 (il a été refoulé par les douaniers suisses), il a pu retourner à Paris et continuer à jouer dans son propre club

@blacksabbath8245

7y↑90

Without Django there would be no heavy metal believe it or not. God bless Django and Toni Iommi

@DavidPerez-wk4xm

5y↑3

I second that!!!

@cegalo3634

5y↑3

That’s absolutely true!

@ediwijanarko6460

there would be no shredder guitarist

@The123carrera

5y↑1

\m/

@bobbygoesbig

4y↑5

Both of whom had significant fretting hand injuries.

2 More Replies...

@Rory99M

5y↑35

I absolutely adore this, yet at the same time, I feel like I cant even appreciate just how extraordinarily talented these guys are

@linusp9316

4y↑5

The more you play, the more you appreciate the experts!

@lindascanlan6317

48w

None of us can ...the beauty is in the trying...I

@hollywoodjoe123

6w↑1

Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli were a miracle brought to human life - And in all of music nobody can touch the soul of these 5 men as they sweetly stop through the chord changes - - song after song - slow - fast or off the charts speed ! Listen to some of their other recordings too !

@bachicg207

7y↑136

When i was kid playing Mafia 1 i first heard django's music i was wondering if it's possible to play on guitar some day , so here i am now almost 8 years playing on guitar :D

@brwi1

7y↑3

Bachi Todadze fell in love with Django from that game!

@gecobrarrett4532

6y↑1

My man!!

@janchiodo-wilhelm9055

Django was an inspiration to Frampton...learned this in an interview with him in ninety! Great person,still loves his fans for their support of Comes Alive.....we all know the past can reflect in the future....C,Mon let's do it again!!!!!l. Peace on....Jan chiodo Wilhelm

@paulgibby6932

Better than video games!

@bradxwx

2y↑1

Mafia was how I found this group too!

@rogerdodger8415

7y↑458

Gypsy jazz. My God does it get any better than this?

@OziMarika

7y↑3

Yes Sir. Hungarian Roma-s playing Magyar Songs aka Hungarian Folk songs. Greatest they are.

@codymontana99

5y↑4

No. Done

@demyoorgle9200

5y↑1

Does exist more than one of "best thing ever". This song it's one of them. 😄👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

@AksenowtCc

I really love the sound of gypsy jazz. ever heard the gypsy tracks in fallout 3 soundtrack?

@jujuanimal1995

4y↑1

No :) or yes Jimi Hendrix, but yeah, magnifique chose que la France à su porter 🤘

15 More Replies...

@Francesco_Marras

7y↑8

il chitarrista più impressionante della storia!! assolutamente inarrivabile!!

@djfrankie7586

2y↑2

iam a gypsy roma .. i can hear both musicians django and stephen have that beautiful eastern european flavors in them they must of been listening to those music allot that gypsies play .. a gypsy and a jew created something very special 🙏 ❤ .. both race produces legandery musicans to this day 🙏

@adolpholiverbush2

7y↑50

Using what you have, and not letting anything stop you.
Thank you, Django.

@01warmus

5y↑13

Despite their improvisational freedom they always somehow stayed true to the melody... Django was a special talent, I have not heard a guitar player this good since. To me they represent the platonic form of musical improvisation, it just cannot get better.

@przybyla420

Reminds me of something Jerry Garcia said in an interview. In a solo, when he’s playing his best he is “dancing around the melody.”

@Velocipeden

7y↑27

This is the best clip on Youtube, Period! Django and Grapelli are the Dark Lords of romantic moods.

@joshmuz9018

Mestertyf ease up turbo

@dannydesiderio5921

52w↑1

I'm 28 years old and I've never felt so connected to any kind of music quite like this

@nacienlos70

3y↑5

His grace is just otherwordly. man it brings tears to my eyes seeing him play. How is it possible for one person with the limited resources of that era to lay the fundation a whole style of playing.

@Blomhert

7y↑27

Grapelly and Django a golden couple!

@ptose

7y↑11

Baro Ferret (the second guitarist) deserves certainly a lot more recognition. Great guitarist and his compositions were ahead of the time.

@mariopouliot1716

10w

WoW juste wow en plus il joue avec deux doigts les deux petits droits son coler une brûlure à la main ✋ un très grand guitariste aux monde 🌍 merci 🙏 a toi que dieux te bénir XX Merci 🙏 pour la vidéo Québec libres

@joerghabermann8707

7y↑22

Django is pure magic

@Quaidesbrumes06

7y↑8

Un génie et un monstre de violon !!
Duo de légende !!

@godzilla964

31w↑2

I don't get jazz, but I do enjoy the duo of Django and Stefan. They were truely masters of their instruments.

@ianblakesley3349

7y↑3

No-one has or will ever better Django. Stephane was as superb on the piano as well. Two geniuses!

@rumpelstilskenmimisiku7263

Ian Blakesley how long have you been into jazz. Gypsy jazz in particular

@exapnomapcase

Yep, saw Stéphane live several times, was amazing on piano also. The last time they had him on stage in a wheelchair & still just unbelievable...

@OziMarika

Oh, my § Django Reinhardt is Wonderful.I do sincerely wish there were more such incredible talents as this Gentleman was.His style of music lights up my heart and I sure can dance to his music.Thank you for having sharing his music.From a Hungarian Lady from Australia and to not forget, I adore listening to New Orleans style music also.

@jademonolith

26w↑1

This makes me relive memories of my life in he 1930s that I never had

@billdee2201

7y↑239

Stephan Grapelli is no slouch either

@Littlewing4201

7y↑6

I heard an interview Stephane Grapelli did on NPR.. what a Soul!! Amazing insight and beauty OXOX

@zenobardot

7y↑6

Stéphane Grappelli was wonderful. His he continued to refine his playing, and probably peaked (on records, anyway) in the 1970s and 1980s.

@liammalone9263

6y↑3

I'd bet that they've all likely mastered their instruments

@malcommobo32

5y↑4

Stephan and Django were perfectly matched.

@davidwhyberd7612

4y↑3

Stephan was a brilliant jazz pianist as well. There is a posting on You Tube.

2 More Replies...

@lelov1392

4y↑3

Before SRV, there was Jimi, and before Jimi, there was this guy, Django! My holy trinity of guitar haven!

@mp-no9yv

3y↑6

Timeless music that never ages. Sounds just a captivating now as it did then.

@swingitjack

3y↑1

God only let one Django clip exist so that every guitarist after him wouldn't quit. Django is the GOAT!

@nachinder4180

4y↑29

2:33 me when I hit a right chord

@JMilton2k12

7y↑6

Hands and fingers, eyes and ears ; soul and heart beating together!

@JeremyPalochko-ds6xx

38w↑1

My great grandfather played this style back in Scranton pa as a jazz violinist. Love this stuff

@rodneysmart9774

7y↑11

I can taste the music it has so much flavor.

@michaelfoley3777

4y↑1

No doubt,if one ever wished to learn guitar, this man is a must!!! Totally unique &ALWAYS at one with His brilliant craft!!!!
No doubt,the greatest in history!!! Erick Clapton, Ted Nugent Les Paul,Willie Nelson ,etc: there are a great deal, Chuck Berry: All have that intimate relationships with Their guitar.However, Django Reinhardt with His lifestyles &His image, style, "is at if the guitar & his whole existence are one!!! Himself & His guitar are like it is a third hand?
I think it was a thing that He was brought into this world to teach & bring a completely different understanding to the meaning of total born genius! !!!!!
Truly,WE WILL NEVER SEE HIS LIKE AGAIN!! A TRULY ONE OFF INDIVIDUAL!!! AN ENIGMA! !!!
Thank you ! Basically for passing our way: Although our life is short, this great man,who brought so much joy, in His short life, left us, the joy of great music!!!
God rest His soul!!!!
Sincerely Michael Foley Esq:

@mgconlan

3y↑2

I've loved Django's music for years but I've never seen him play before. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

@geraldjaramillo1793

4y↑5

This is pure magic. I wish there was more videos of them playing.

@davidwalker5054

I have worshiped django for 40 years all that time i refused to believe he only used 2 fingers but you tube has proved me wrong. His right hand more than makes up for his useless fingers its still unrivalled to this day

@ryebread7224

7y↑10

Absolutely beautiful.

@nathanielschwartz425

6y↑13

1:00 I love how they just play off each other like that. They don't even plan to play a song together, the violinist (I forgot his name) just hears Django playing something doesn't even need to ask what key or anything and just plays with him creating this beautiful flowing melodic melody. Pure musical genius! :)

@manouche123

5y↑3

Nathaniel Schwartz they played Every night together, in bars, hotels stages... so they can play blind any song. Even swap instruments.

@vilstef6988

4y↑2

I like it in the narrated part when the bass player taps Joseph when Stephane begins playing. He has an expression of such delight. There's a fan in the band!

@petguy1805

5y↑2

This was Willie Nelson's favorite artist, and you can see how Willie took this into country music. Brilliant

@alexiaromieu8873

Merci pour mon pepe 98 ans et on est tous a fond ils a la classe
Costume a pointe et chapeau notre référence ns ls voyageurs

@geraldjaramillo1793

5y↑3

This is one of the most inspiring videos out there on the web! I wish they had more of where this came from.

@jcheney2473

7y↑30

you know you grow up thinking that there are "rules" to playing the guitar and you have to play the way everyone else plays the instrument..and then you see Mr. Reinhardt play the guitar and you realize that there aren't no rules...you just play the instrument the best way you can and play the best you can with what you got to play with.

@zenobardot

7y↑3

Ironically, in light of what you just said, the Gyspy jazz community has codified Django's playing (as well as that of his rhythm guitarists), and there are entire books on how to replicate his right-hand picking technique and how to play "omm-pah" backup guitar with exactly the feel of Barot Ferret and his other backup musicians. :) So Django wrote a sort of "new set of rules" just by being the genius he was, and they work well for lots of guitarists who want to play this kind of music. To be clear, much of his picking technique was not unique, and came out of Gypsy / eastern European guitar and mandolin traditions.

@davidwalker5054

Well said. You can only play like you can. Your never going to be as good as django but you can be the best at playing like you

@Adibarum

7y↑56

this is amazing footage..... it is so rare to see live footage of the Hot Club from the days When it was still "cool" to smoke cigarettes

@tomhart6962

7y↑3

Adibarum

Now when you sell an instrument you have to say it was kept in a smoke free environment.

@tomhart6962

Adibarum

Now when you sell an instrument you have to say it was kept in a smoke free environment.

@EVEROSFP1

6y↑1

It s still cool man !

@TGpolaroid

I like to think it’s reefer lmao

@thinkpad20

5y↑1

It may have been cool, but Django died very young. :( I assume cigarettes (and general musician lifestyle) made up a big part of that...

1 More Replies...

@ananyaraj8951

47w↑3

Fantástica, maravillosa interpretación de esta gran Canción histórica.

@kamelboudra5631

Magnifique !..la connexion violon/guitare classique est vraiment incroyable @en écoutant toujours les mêmes morceaux musicaux depuis plus de 35ans je découvre toujours quelque chose de nouveaux@et je ne me suis pas trompé en écoutant REINHARDT et un autre musicien instrumentiste qui a changé aussi ma façon de penser décédé à 27ans@jimi Hendrix aussi doué techniquement que l était Reinhardt @2 supers musiciens instrumentistes @

@danieldubois4622

7y↑1

un vrai régal,émotions souvenirs de ma jeunesse tout est là........un grand merçi..................

@rebeccawinkler1254

Gjango Reinhardt verkörpert eine Lebensart in seiner Musik, die beispiellos ein Triumph von siegreicher Gelassenheit ist

@rebeccawinkler1254

Django Reinhardt (Korrektur)

@djamelbouzarea7684

7y↑19

merci pour ce partage tres touchant, super .........16.02.2017

@estoy1001

7y↑3

...and he's so serene when he plays.

@formerrocker

7y↑1

I don't think you could ask for any more talent and feeling. I was lucky enough to see Stephan in the 1980's - was probably the most amazing instrumentalist I ever saw live.

@cytwc

Every so often I return to Django, the music is pure bliss and timeless.

@florent31

3y↑2

Ses deux doigts glissent sur le manche de la guitare comme les patins d'un patineur sur la glace. C'est magnifique à voir.

@pauljordan4452

Il était incroyable.

@jsizemo

Everything about this clip is perfect, including the narrator and the cinematography!

@jeffdawson2786

Wine, cigarettes, and pre-WW2 European jazz. Paradise. 🇫🇷

@omtribe5693

7y↑28

the undisputed GUITAR GOD

@Rayo_Rob_No.17

278 people dislike this? Are you freaking kidding me?? Who couldn't like this, if not love it!

Beautiful, soulful and endearing music...the Hot Club of France was pure magic.

@alexiaromieu8873

Un génie +!me fait rêver !!!mes grand parents voyages en caravane depuis toujours et tout ns a aconpagnier tout ce temps, on fait tous de la musique et tes toujours notre élément central......a

@alexiaromieu8873

Merci

@rewired1108

2y↑1

Magical!!! How time has not dented the touching brilliance. The sound they made is just as fresh today.

@pietpadda593

2y↑2

How I wish there were more videos of Django playing.

@CassandraRidenhour

4y↑3

I love this so much. Makes me miss my dad something awful.

@markomatic-ge2pj

7y↑15

I think this dude was an alien from another planet and man I want to go there

@sylviam.942

I’m in love with Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grapelli for decades. Coup de foudre ❤️

@xxbstpagexx

This video is a treasure, thank you for posting it. I have been a fan of Django and have listened to his music for many years. The 1982 book "Django Reinhardt" by Charles Deluaney is a fascinating account of Django's short but brilliant life.

@mariano3760

Fior fiore di musicisti....
Che stile....che fascino!

@bradxwx

I've been obsessed with these guys for years. I can't think of very many duos like Stephane and Django. The way they play off each other. The way Django backed Stephane up as he played violin. Django was a master at solo and back up.

I always felt like they wouldn't have been so popular had they never met. The edge that their music has is seemingly derived from them trying to out play each other

@brianmiller5869

4y↑5

3:24. That note from Mr. Grappelli. 😳😍

@josevillanueva9705

4y↑5

What an elegant duo Django and Stephane. Stephane sounds so heavenly accompanied with Django in the beginning. It just takes my breathe away i’ve replayed this about 20x

@thetriumphofthethrill2457

The beauty of Grappelli's violin and Reinhardt's guitar virtuosity was a match made in heaven. And it's great this clip survives, truly a marvel.

@suprchickn7745

4y↑2

Love me some Django!

@Patrick96322

6y↑3

Before the ''electric revoution'', was the first real Guitar Hero... a Legend by the name of Django Reinhardt ! God Bless !!!

@makingmusicmusicando685

Django: Oh my Gosh! You were an outpost to show us how we could enjoy music from another point of view. And you turned jazz music into a high music. God bless you!

@ianpogan

7y↑1

Thanks a lot, for share this masterpiece with us. Greetings from the Brazil.

@juanjoseescrivasegui2185

3y↑3

Fantástica, maravillosa interpretación de esta gran canción histórica.

@Delfidash

28w

My God, what a joy it is to hear this musical masterpiece. This music gives hope...❤🌹Love !

@ALVAofficial

4y↑1

Love it!! 🙏 Anyone here who still had the chance to see him live??

@olimpiofailache7590

7y↑5

Reinhardt talvez o maior de todos Jazz Swingers guitaristes de todos os tempos . Uma preciosidade. Esse cara deveria ter uma estátua em plena praça de Luxemburgo em Bruxelas

Load More Comments...

More Comments

just now