Page 30 - Jewish News_October-2020

30 October 2020 JEWISH INTEREST

Something uplifting: “Bei Mir Bist Du Shein” Jewish-themed Crossword Puzzle

By Arlene Stolnitz
ith all the difficult news late- for research, and to work I went. As is out that this song was beloved by the recordings of “Bei Mir,” the comments Your monthly crossword puzzle
ly, we need something up- typically the case, I discovered a story Nazi party in the ’30s! of listeners are quite amusing. Here are
Wlifting, and the swing music I was unaware of. “Bei Mir” had a lively existence some “mondegreens” for “Bei Mir:” is generously brought to you by
of an earlier era does create that ”feel The recording was released in after its initial premiere in 1932. Af- “My dear Mr. Shane,” “A Beer Mr.
good” sensation. To my mind, there is 1942. The A-side of the record was a ter a rather complicated start, which Shane” and “My Mere Bits of Shame”
nothing quite like the swing music of Gershwin song, “Nice Work if You involved many composers and musi- are just a few that I ran across.
the ’40s. Can Get It,” while the B-side was an cians trying to get rights to the song, “Bei Mir” is accessible on You-
Recently, my unknown Yiddish love song called “ the original “Bay Mir Bist Du Sheyn” Tube with renditions by many well-
50-something Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen,” translated as in Yiddish, became “Bei Mir Bist Du known musicians such as the Andrews
daughter sent me “To Me, You Are Beautiful.” Shoen” in German, and was made Sisters, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Good-
a video she had The song was written in the ’30s popular by the Andrews Sisters’ ren- man and the Barry Sisters. The record-
seen on the inter- by Shalom Secunda (composer) and dition. By 1938, the song, in German, ing I like the most is found under the
net. It sounded to Jacob Jacobs (lyricist) for the 1932 had become a smash hit of the Nazis. title “Bei Mir Bist Du Schejn” and
me like she had Yiddish comedy musical I Would if I German sympathizers in the U.S. even is known as the “original” Yiddish
never heard of Could (Men Ken Lebn Nor Men Lost sang the tune in ale houses, not know- version as recorded by the Budapest
this group before. Nisht), which closed after a one-season ing the song was composed by a Jew. Klezmer Band. The vocalist is Natalie
But she was ex- run in Brooklyn’s Parkway Theater. It It was picked up during the WWII era Dessay, a French singer and actress
Arlene Stolnitz cited to hear “Bei has been reported that Secunda, a Rus- by a German swing group called Char- known for her former career as a col-
Mir Bist Du Shein” sung in Yiddish by sian born cantor who had emigrated to lie and His Orchestra, which did Nazi oratura soprano. The video is complete
the Andrews Sisters. Who in this group the U.S. in 1906, was paid a mere $30 propaganda parodies aimed at British with images from yesteryear.
of readers does not remember this for the song, and that he bypassed the and American Allied Forces. The band Comments from listeners on You-
song? Anyone alive during the ’40s upcoming George Gershwin in favor of played jazz standards but with modi- Tube show how beloved the song has
knows how popular it was! Jacobs as his lyricist. fied lyrics meant to demoralize the en- been throughout the years. Many lis-
Of course, for me, that was cause Even more amazing was finding emy by spreading Nazi ideology. teners remember a parent or grandpar-
Eventually, this music and all other ent singing “Bei Mir “ to them when
“jazz” music was banned by the Nazis
they were young.
L’Dor SERVING THE JEWISH as “degenerate” music. Arlene Stolnitz, founder of the Sara-
COMMUNITY SINCE 1978
I had never heard the term “mon-
sota Jewish Chorale, is a member of
Charter Members of Temple Sinai
degreens” before researching this song.
the Jewish Congregation of Venice. A
V’Dor Selling Real Estate Turns out it refers to misheard lyrics. retired educator from Rochester, New
York, she has sung in choral groups
Not to be confused with “parody,”
for over 25 years and also sings in
which is an intentional rephrasing of
to Every Generation
lyrics, a mondegreen occurs when peo-
ple misunderstand the lyrics in a song The Venice Chorale. Her interest in
the preservation of Jewish music of all
Selling the “Sarasota Lifestyle”... and substitute new words giving it a kinds has led to this series of articles
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on Jewish Folk Music in the Diaspora.
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