| The Manhattan Transfer – Birdland Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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This song is a homage to Charlie Parker and the New York Jazz club Birdland. 5000 light years from Birdland refers to how much music has changed since the mid 40's. Specifically in it's electronic department. But miraculously, not much has changed as to the complex and communicative rhythmic phrasing that was present in the form of bebop, the music of Charlie Parker and his contemporaries. Long gone uptight years from Birdland. We are uptight about other things but certainly it is not expressed in the same way by society. Bird named it, Bird made it Bird heard it, then played it Well stated Birdland It happened down in Birdland This is a true homage to Charlie "Yardbird" Parker. He was certainly the genius of Jazz, even today his music is dated but in no way less creative and still very alive. The phrase "Bird heard it and played it" refers to Parkers own recollections of how bebop was created. He mentions how it was something he was hearing in his head before he actually got around to creating it on his horn. "Bird would cook, Max would look" refers to the late great drummer Max Roach. next Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Count Basie, Art Blakie and Julian "Cannonball" Adderley are mentioned. Then a bit of nostalgia over how great the music was at the time. And how people were so serious about honing their craft and becoming the absolute masters of their instruments through the freedom of rhythm and improvisational stringing together of well established riffs and melodies that were collected, traded and created. "There will never be nothin such as that". nostalgia for sure. But there is a ring of truth to it. As the music mirrored the age and the age is gone. But truth be told, there are still many great musicians carrying on the legacy who refuse to forget and are enjoying the quest to keep the music alive and fresh. "Down them stairs, lose them cares", although I never went, you probably did have to walk down the stairs to get into the club. And what excitement it must have been to know you were walking down to here some of the greatest jazz musicians on the planet. |
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