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.
Someone To Watch Over Me
Toots Thielemans Lyrics
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Still were often told, seek and ye shall find
So I'm going to seek a certain lad I've had in mind
Looking everywhere, haven't found him yet
Hes the big affair I cannot forget
Only man I ever think of with regret
I'd like to add his initial to my monogram
There's a somebody I'm longing to see
I hope that he turns out to be
Someone who'll watch over me
I'm a little lamb who's lost in the wood
I know I could always be good
Someone who'll watch over me
Although he may not be the man some
Girls think of as handsome
To my heart he carries the key
Won't you tell him please to put on some speed
Follow my lead, oh, how I need
Someone to watch over me
The song "Someone to Watch Over Me" by Toots Thielemans is a soulful expression of longing for love and companionship. The opening lines, "There's a saying old says that love is blind, still, were often told, seek and ye shall find," suggests a universal truth that while love may be unpredictable, it is vital to pursue it fearlessly. The singer expresses her quest for this love, describing a certain lad she cannot forget, someone she wants to add his initial to her monogram, and looking everywhere for him without success.
The chorus of the song reveals the vulnerability of the singer, a "little lamb who's lost in the wood" seeking someone to be her protector and watch over her. The lyrics are poignant, and the song's melody captures the essence of the melancholy feelings. The bridge of the song highlights the singer's desire for the man she seeks, regardless of whether other girls consider him handsome, he carries the key to her heart, someone she needs to watch over her.
In summary, "Someone to Watch Over Me" by Toots Thielemans portrays the universal need for human connection, companionship, and love, a desire that transcends age, race, or gender.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a saying old says that love is blind
Love is often irrational and inexplicable
Still were often told, seek and ye shall find
People are often advised to keep searching for love
So I'm going to seek a certain lad I've had in mind
I have someone in particular in mind that I want to find
Looking everywhere, haven't found him yet
I've been actively looking for him, but haven't had any luck
Hes the big affair I cannot forget
He's the one I can't stop thinking about
Only man I ever think of with regret
He's the only one I regret not being with
I'd like to add his initial to my monogram
I want to be associated with him in a big way
Tell me, where is the shepherd for this lost lamb?
I need someone to guide me to him
There's a somebody I'm longing to see
There's someone I deeply desire to be with
I hope that he turns out to be
I hope he is the one for me
Someone who'll watch over me
I need someone to protect and care for me
I'm a little lamb who's lost in the wood
I'm vulnerable and in need of guidance
I know I could always be good
I'm willing to be obedient and compliant
Someone who'll watch over me
I need someone to look out for me
Although he may not be the man some
He may not be seen as attractive to other women
Girls think of as handsome
But to me, he's everything I want
To my heart he carries the key
He has the ability to make me happy
Won't you tell him please to put on some speed
Please urge him to make a move quickly
Follow my lead, oh, how I need
I need him to follow me and be mine
Someone to watch over me
I need someone to care for me and guide me
Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Broma 16, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ira Gershwin, George Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind