Irving Berlin- America's Music Master
Irving Berlin embodies the essential spirit of America-its optimism and its belief that America is a land of opportunity for those willing to try regardless of the odds. Coming from Russia as a young immigrant, he became a self-educated composer writing both music and lyrics for an untold number of songs. He made it a habit to write a complete song with both music and lyrics every single day and he lived for more than a hundred years. His versatility was unmatched writing for the musical theatre, Hollywood films and a great many individual songs not associated with any stage or film production.
Two songs in particular reflect his ability to capture such diametrically opposed moods. The first is " Shaking The Blues Away" . It is an infectious toe tapping number that suggests you can get rid of the blues by just shaking or dancing them away. Only an America, steeped in the every day life of its people, could have written a song with such energy, verve and clever colloquial language.
It is performed by Doris Day from the movie " Love Me or Leave Me" a performer who herself is the embodiment of wholesome Midwestern virtues and a much underrated singer as Andre Previn has remarked.
Performance Link: YouTube.com---Shaking The Blues Away Doris Day
http://youtu.be/W5lWaGqz8s4
Suppertime
In stark contrast to the unrestrained exuberence of " Shaking The Blues Away" " Suppertime" is the tragic lament of a mother whose husband has been the victimof a lynch mob. In the original stage production of " As Thousands Cheer" the mother sits mournfully in her kitchen while behind her is a mounted silhouette figure of a body dangling from a tree. Performed, as it was in the original production by Ethel Waters , the great singer and actress, it is a heart rending portrayal of a women who must tell her children at suppertime why " Her man ain't coming home no more." Ethel Waters performance is spell binding in its ability to depict the agony and despair of a family victimized by such an unprovoked act that is another aspect of American life so opposite from the optimistic spirit of " Shaking The Blues Away" It is further evidence of Berlin's ability to capture so many facets of the American experience and to do often in just 32 bars of words and music.
Performance Link: YouTube.com--- Suppertime Ethel Waters
http://youtu.be/Y5Zvjjbc-Hk
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