CHAPTER 5 SWING AND SWEET

“ Cheek to Cheek” Written by Irving Berlin Most popular song of 1930s Longer, more melodious Less syncopated

Written by Irving Berlin

Most popular song of 1930s

Longer, more melodious

Less syncopated

“ Dancing Cheek to Cheek” Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYHZh-xnqhE

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYHZh-xnqhE

“ Cheek to Cheek” Confirms integration of song and dance Demonstrated how socially acceptable dancing with close contact had become Instead of energy of Charleston – Elegance This type of music helped people dream, escape harsh reality of Depression

Confirms integration of song and dance

Demonstrated how socially acceptable dancing with close contact had become

Instead of energy of Charleston – Elegance

This type of music helped people dream, escape harsh reality of Depression

Fletcher Henderson (1897-1952) Born in GA – moved north – educated Responsible for shaping sound of Big Band Led one of the top bands in NYC Song plugger

Born in GA – moved north – educated

Responsible for shaping sound of Big Band

Led one of the top bands in NYC

Song plugger

Example: “Wrappin’ It Up” Fletcher Henderson Band

Fletcher Henderson Band

Swing – syncopation over a steady four-beat rhythm

Hallmark of Big Band Swing Creating a melody by repeating a riff, rather than developing it

Creating a melody by repeating a riff, rather than developing it

Two Styles of Popular Music: Swing and Sweet Swing as a noun = style of music Swing as a verb = way of playing Sweet – also a style and manner of playing

Swing as a noun = style of music

Swing as a verb = way of playing

Sweet – also a style and manner of playing

1930s – a wave of slow, romantic ballads Soothing voice Subdued style

Soothing voice

Subdued style

Main component of Sweet Melody Sweet flowed

Sweet flowed

Main component of Swing Rhythm Swing jumped

Swing jumped

Swing Era 1935 – 1945

Big Band swing w/o vocals was relatively small part of the market

Few instrumental Big Band hits More common were popular songs played in a swing style

Few instrumental Big Band hits

More common were popular songs played in a swing style

Glenn Miller (1904-1944) Led most popular band of the era Ability to shift between swing/sweet

Led most popular band of the era

Ability to shift

between swing/sweet

Example: “Chatanooga Choo Choo” From an obscure movie (Sun Valley Serenade) Sold over million copies Riff based tune – train sounds – walking bass http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIQq1j1-AQU

From an obscure movie (Sun Valley Serenade)

Sold over million copies

Riff based tune – train sounds – walking bass

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIQq1j1-AQU

Music in the opposite direction from Swing was Sweet Sweet = More conservative and comfortable style

Sweet = More conservative and comfortable style

Example: “Heart and Soul” – Hoagy Carmichael More than AABB form (this was most popular song form at the time) Similar to “Cheek to Cheek” – romantic ballad Despite use of pronouns ( I’m in heaven) – no clear sense of who these people are

More than AABB form (this was most popular song form at the time)

Similar to “Cheek to Cheek” – romantic ballad

Despite use of pronouns ( I’m in heaven) – no clear sense of who these people are

Faithful performances of these songs distance us from sense of identity because they emphasize the song over the singer. the song over the singer

Sweet connected to the past

Swing looked to the future

MAINSTREAMING THE BLUES

Pop singing focuses on the melody – impersonal

Blues singing focuses on the singer

Billie Holiday (1915-1959) Very difficult life Drugs, alcohol led to her death One of the great song interpreters

Very difficult life

Drugs, alcohol led to her death

One of the great song interpreters

Example: “All of Me” (1931) Standard written by Seymour Simons/Gerald Marks Holiday projects herself through the song We are less concerned with the words than how she delivers them http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PvRFGwreBI

Standard written by Seymour Simons/Gerald Marks

Holiday projects herself through the song

We are less concerned with the words than how she delivers them

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PvRFGwreBI

Jazz in the Swing Era Jazz not considered pop music Anti-popular attitudes by jazz musicians – musicians want to play for themselves This is at odds with those who ran pop music – they want $ Louis Armstrong transformed from jazz as art to pop – “Cheek to Cheek”

Jazz not considered pop music

Anti-popular attitudes by jazz musicians – musicians want to play for themselves

This is at odds with those who ran pop music – they want $

Louis Armstrong transformed from jazz as art to pop – “Cheek to Cheek”

Duke Ellington Considered jazz’ greatest composer – perhaps America’s greatest http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6ApogZRsag

Considered jazz’ greatest composer – perhaps America’s greatest

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6ApogZRsag

Example: “Ko-Ko” (1940) Big band style Uses creative/unconventional sound combinations Members of the band developed signature sounds Uses riffs – less predictable/more varied – high/low registers – more like art

Big band style

Uses creative/unconventional sound combinations

Members of the band developed signature sounds

Uses riffs – less predictable/more varied – high/low registers – more like art

Most standards appeared before 1945

Most memorable performances after 1945 Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday– put personal stamp on songs Use their own sound, inflection, phrasing Similar to blues – they share personal feelings/life experiences

Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday– put personal stamp on songs

Use their own sound, inflection, phrasing

Similar to blues – they share personal feelings/life experiences

Example: Tony Bennett “Taking a Chance on Love” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMStRERJNsM This is a video of Tony and Stevie Wonder singing “For Once in My Life.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMStRERJNsM

This is a video of Tony and Stevie Wonder singing “For Once in My Life.”