"Begin the Beguine".

OK, girls and boys, back to the 30s: It was 1935 in the middle of The Great Depression. Cole Porter was in the South Pacific aboard the R.M.S. Franconia when he composed what would become one of the most popular tunes of the Swing Era. "When the singer hears the music to the dance, it brings back memories". It was introduced by June Knight as part of "Jubilee", a Broadway musical comedy. Recorded by Xavier Cougat to a tepid reception. In 1938 Artie Shaw was a struggling clarinetist and band leader, as were most musicians in the dire economy of the day. An RCA Victor subsidiary gave him a chance to record an instrumental swing version as a B-side with his orchestra featuring Shaw on clarinet. It sold millions of copies, more than any other instrumental to that date. Memorable cover versions by Sinatra and Fitzgerald. By far, my favorite version is Mario Lanza's impassioned rendition. Part of the "Yellow Submarine" and "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" soundtracks; parodied by R.E.M. Song? Answer: "Begin the Beguine". The word "beguine" translates loosely to "white female" in the patois Creole of Guadeloupe and Martinique, where the dance was created and popularized in the 30s. Quite similar to a slow rhumba. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCYGyg1H56s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26XdlmGWYTg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChO0HzO0og8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxzyQNzlkH0

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Surf City" by Jan and Dean.

OK, (two) girls and (one) boys (hint, hint!), back to the 60s: Brian Wilson penned this surf classic in '60 as "Goody Connie Won't You Come Back Home". He "gave" it to Jan Berry and Dean Torrence who altered it and gave it its well-known name. Their '63 recording topped the pop charts for 2 weeks and peaked at #3 on the R&B charts (!). First surf song ever to hit #1 on Billboard. Through Dean's efforts, Huntington Beach, CA has been nicknamed after this song and at least 65 of its businesses incorporate the title in their names. Covered by The Ramones and by The Go-Go's. Answer: "Surf City" by Jan and Dean. As Belinda Carlisle would have it, "Two boys for every girl!"! We had the privilege of seeing Jan & Dean live in '79 opening for McGuinn, Clark & Hillman at the Valley Forge Music Fair - what a thrill it was! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERrwjR4ZlfI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP5pjan45ZA https://w
Read more

"In The Summertime" by Mungo Jerry.

OK, girls and boys, with the summer (hint, hint!) quickly aprroaching, more 70s one-hit wonders: Lead singer and guitarist Ray Dorset wrote this 1970 seasonal classic for his British pop-blues band - their first and only U.S. hit (#3). It sold over 16 million copies worldwide. One of the highest selling singles of all time and the world's top-selling summer song. Band? Song? Answer: "In The Summertime" by Mungo Jerry. Has anyone else ever noticed that the instrumental break in this song is interchangeable with the one from Canned Heat's "Going Up the Country"? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvUQcnfwUUM
Read more

Jamaica Farewell by Harry Belafonte.

OK, girls and boys, back to the 50s: This lovely calypso was written by Lord Burgess and first released on the '56 album "Calypso". It speaks of the beauty of the islands and of love left behind. Peaked at #14 on Billboard. The album was the 1st LP to sell one million copies.  #4 on Billboard's Top 100 Albums, spent 31 weeks at #1, 58 weeks on Top 10 and 99 weeks on the charts! Covered by Jimmy  Buffett , Sam Cooke, Carly Simon and Sting. Artist? Song? Yesterday's answer: "Jamaica Farewell" by Harry  Belafonte . Sadly, he left us on April 25th of this year at the ripe old age of 96.  Many believe that the song is called "Kingston Town". Irving  Burgie  ("Lord Burgess") was a  Brooklynite  - his mother was from Barbados and his father from Virginia.  Very fond memories of playing "Jamaica Farewell" on guitar with my dear friend Dr. Richard M. de Andino during Phi Chi's Wednesday night parties in med school.  http://www.yo
Read more