A jazz standard by Toots Thielemans is "Bluesette," where he used whistling and guitar in unison. He worked both as a bandleader and as a sideman, including many projects with composer/arranger Quincy Jones. He performed on many film soundtracks, such as Midnight Cowboy, Cinderella Liberty, Jean de Florette, The Sugarland Express, The Yakuza, Turkish Delight, the 1972 version of The Getaway, French Kiss, Dunderklumpen!, and in various television programs, including Sesame Street, whose closing credits (which did not list him accordingly) featured his performance, on harmonica, of the show's theme, the Belgian television series Witse, and in the Netherlands, for the Baantjer series.
Thielemans started his career as a guitar player. In 1949 he joined a jam session in Paris with Sidney Bechet, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Max Roach and others. In 1951 he went on tour with Bobbejaan Schoepen.
He moved to the United States in 1952 where he was a member of Charlie Parker's All-Stars. He played and recorded with names like Ella Fitzgerald, The George Shearing Quintet, Quincy Jones, Bill Evans, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Astrud Gilberto, Elis Regina and others.
A jazz standard by Toots Thielemans is "Bluesette" where he used whistling and guitar in unison. Bluesette became a major 1962 world-wide hit for him and this still much beloved and requested piece has been re-recorded by him and commercially released on records/CDs many times over both in various studio versions and live on-stage performances performed in several different countries. His trademark harmonica playing can also be heard in movie scores such as Breakfast at Tiffany's (where his plaintive "Moon River" solo in the opening scene brilliantly establishes the film's mood of romance noir), Midnight Cowboy, Bagdad Café, French Kiss, and in various TV programs like Sesame Street, the Belgian TV series Witse and the Dutch TV series Baantjer. His professional whistling and harmonica playing can be heard on Old Spice radio and TV commercials that have been made over the years. In 1983 he contributed to Billy Joel's album An Innocent Man, and his trademark harmonica can be heard on "Leave a Tender Moment Alone."
In the 90s Thielemans embarked on theme projects that included world music. In 1998 he released the a French flavoured album titled "Chez Toots" that included the Les Moulins De Mon Coeur (The Windmills of My Heart) featuring guest singer Johnny Mathis. This CD continues to sell well.
Today Jean "Toots" Thielemans remains a strong favorite among jazz aficionados and professional critics alike. His music CDs continue to delight (many of which were recorded in the 2000s) and have introduced him to entire new generations of keen fans.
Apart from his popularity as an accomplished musician, he is well liked for his modesty and kind demeanor. In his native Belgium, he is also popular for describing himself as a Brussels "ket", which means "street kid" in old Brussels slang. He received a joint honorary doctorate from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and the Université Libre de Bruxelles (Belgium) and in 2001 Thielemans was ennobled a baron by King Albert II of Belgium.
In 2005 he was nominated for the title of De Grootste Belg (The Greatest Belgian). In the Flemish version he ended 20th place, in the Walloon version he ended 44th place.
Thielemans may have had a significant impact on The Beatles, (John Lennon in particular), during the group's pre-fame formative years. When performing in a 1959 Hamburg Germany with the pre-fame Beatles, John Lennon (sometimes with fellow Beatle George Harrison in tow) would often go over to the club where Toots was performing (at a noontime venue) as a member of The George Shearing Quintet. Lennon evidently was taken with Toot's harmonica playing and also for the guitar Toots was playing, an electric American made Rickenbacker with a short play neck. Based on the sound Lennon heard, he decided to purchase a natural alder wood "alderglo" colored three pickup Rickenbacker 1958 model 325 Capri guitar with a short scale as former Beatle and friend, George Harrison would recall to various interviewers many years later. (This iconic famous guitar often fondly referred to as the "Holy Grail" of all guitars, which was customized and tinkered with many times over the years by Lennon including being re-painted to jetglo black in September 1962, is the very same guitar that he played on The Beatles first and third appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show during February 1964).
Toots Thielemans died peacefully in his sleep on August 22, 2016 after being hospitalized for a fall a month earlier.
Love Is Just Around The Corner
Toots Thielemans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But can't you see, you've captured me.
Being so glamorous, can't you be amorous just with me?
Make it soon, take a look at the moon.
Love is just around the corner, any cozy little corner.
Love is just around the corner when I'm around you.
I'm a sentimental mourner, and I couldn't be forlorner,
Venus de Milo was noted for her charms,
But strictly between us, you're cuter than Venus,
And what's more you got arms.
So cuddle in a corner, any cozy corner,
Love is just around the corner and I'm around you.
The first verse of Toots Thielemans's "Love Is Just Around The Corner" is a lyrical expression of the feeling of being in love. The singer is so infatuated with their love interest that they are unable to contain their excitement and have to express it through a "lyrical rhapsody". The object of their affection is described as "glamorous" and they implore them to be "amorous" only with them. They are eager for their love interest to reciprocate their feelings and are hopeful that it will happen soon.
The chorus reinforces the theme of the song, which is that love is always just around the corner when the singer is with their love interest. They are a "sentimental mourner" and feel dejected when they are "kept in a corner" waiting for their love interest. The reference to Venus de Milo, a Greek statue renowned for its beauty, underscores the idea that the singer's love interest is even more attractive in their eyes. The line "cuddle in a corner, any cozy corner" is a reference to the intimacy that the singer craves with their love interest, and how they hope that love is indeed close at hand.
Overall, "Love is Just Around the Corner" is a joyful and optimistic song that celebrates the power of love and the hope that it brings. The imagery used throughout the lyrics is sweet and romantic, inviting the listener to imagine a cozy and affectionate relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Beautiful miracle, pardon my lyrical rhapsody,
Excuse my overly poetic expression, but I am in awe of your beauty.
But can't you see, you've captured me.
I am deeply attracted to you and feel like you have captured my heart.
Being so glamorous, can't you be amorous just with me?
With all of your beauty and charm, can't you love me in return?
Make it soon, take a look at the moon.
Please don't wait too long to show your affection, the moon is a reminder that time is passing.
Love is just around the corner, any cozy little corner.
Love is waiting for us in unexpected places, even the smallest corners can hold great significance.
Love is just around the corner when I'm around you.
I feel the possibility of love when I am in your presence.
I'm a sentimental mourner, and I couldn't be forlorner,
I am deeply emotional and melancholic, feeling hopeless without your love.
When you keep me in a corner just waiting for you.
When you leave me waiting for your affection, I feel isolated and alone.
Venus de Milo was noted for her charms,
The famous work of art known as Venus de Milo was renowned for its beauty and attractiveness.
But strictly between us, you're cuter than Venus,
Though Venus was considered beautiful by many, I think you are even more adorable.
And what's more you got arms.
It's a bonus that not only are you attractive, but you have the ability to hold and embrace.
So cuddle in a corner, any cozy corner,
Let's embrace in a comfortable and intimate setting, wherever we may find ourselves.
Love is just around the corner and I'm around you.
I believe that love can be found in the small moments spent with you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: IRWIN LEVINE, SANDY LINZER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind