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.
That Old Black Magic
Toots Thielemans Lyrics
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Old black magic that you weave so well
Those icy fingers up and down my spine
The same old witch craft when your eyes meet mine
Same old tingle that I feel inside
Then the elevator starts it ride
Down and down I go
Like a leaf caught in a tide
I should stay away but what can I do
I hear your name and I'm a flame
Flame, flame of desire
Only your kiss can put out the fire
Oh you're the lover I have waiting for
Your the mate that fate had me created for
And every time your lips meet mine
Down and down I go
Round and round I go
In a spin, lovin' the spin I'm in
Under the old black magic called love
In a spin lovin' the spin I'm in
Under the old black magic called love
In a spin lovin' the spin I'm in
Under the old black magic called love
I should stay away but what can I do
I hear your name and I'm a flame
Flame, flame of desire
Only your kiss can put out the fire
Oh you are the lover I have waited for
Your the mate that fate had me created for
And every time your lips meet mine
Down and down I go
Round and round I go
In a spin, lovin' the spin I'm in
Under the old black magic called love
The lyrics of Toots Thielemans's song "That Old Black Magic" describe the feeling of being under the spell of someone's love. The old black magic refers to the overwhelming power of love that can make one lose control and surrender to its pull. The singer describes how this magic is weaved so well by his lover that it sends shivers up and down his spine. The same old witchcraft refers to the irresistible allure of his lover's eyes that he finds hard to resist. The feeling of being caught in a tide or in a spin expresses the loss of control and the complete surrender to the power of love.
Despite knowing that he should stay away, the singer acknowledges that he cannot help being drawn towards his lover. He describes his lover as the flame of desire that only her kiss can put out. The references to fate and destiny highlight the idea that the singer feels destined to be with his lover. He concludes by saying that every time their lips meet, he is caught in a whirlwind of emotions, spinning in the old black magic called love.
Overall, the lyrics of "That Old Black Magic" express the sentiment of being under the spell of love, with all its twists and turns, and the inability to resist its pull.
Line by Line Meaning
Old black magic has me in its spell
The enchantment of your love is controlling and bewitching me
Old black magic that you weave so well
You are a master at crafting this irresistible spell over me
Those icy fingers up and down my spine
The electric sensation of passion is pulsing through my body
The same old witch craft when your eyes meet mine
The bewitching connection between us is familiar and intense
Same old tingle that I feel inside
The sensation of your touch still excites me the same way it always has
Then the elevator starts it ride
Our passion has begun to escalate and there's no going back
Down and down I go
I'm getting lost in my love for you, spiraling out of control
Round and round I go
My emotions towards you are like a never-ending cycle, always coming back to you
Like a leaf caught in a tide
I feel helpless to your magical love, like I'm at the mercy of its power
I should stay away but what can I do
I know that getting involved with you is dangerous, but I can't resist you
I hear your name and I'm a flame
Just the thought of you ignites a fire inside me, I can't control my desire
Flame, flame of desire
My passion for you burns bright and intense
Only your kiss can put out the fire
Only you have the power to calm my burning love for you
Oh you're the lover I have waiting for
You are the one I've been searching for, my perfect match
Your the mate that fate had me created for
Our love was meant to be, written in the stars by destiny
In a spin, lovin' the spin I'm in
I'm so caught up in my love for you that I'm dizzy with happiness
Under the old black magic called love
Our love is so powerful and overwhelming, it feels like it's casting a spell over us both
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind