Patty Andrews, Last Surviving Member of The Andrews Sisters, Dead at 94

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ^ | THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2013 | DAVID HINCKLEY

[UnwashedPeasant]

This is their first hit from 1937, and it is a treat:
Bei Mir Bist Du Schön (youtube)

From Wikipedia:
"In Nazi Germany it was also a hit until its Jewish origins were discovered, at which point it was promptly banned."

As I recall, the Krauts first thought it was some kind of Old German.

[the OlLine Rebel]

I would disagree. Just because the players weren’t black doesn’t make it untrue. I hate how “R&B” is really code for “black”.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Interesting, but it IS German; nothing odd old or Jewish about it. Literally it means By me are you pretty.

[Fiji Hill]

In 1973, another artist did a cover version of “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” which became a hit. As a result, the Andrews Sisters’ original version got some airplay.

[Fiji Hill]

On another Patty Andrews thread, I posted the Nazi version of "Bei Mir," in which the band leader, Karl "Charlie" Schwedler flays the Soviet Union.

Bei Mir, aka Nichevo (Russian for "nothing")--Charlie & His Orchestra, c. 1943

[Fiji Hill]

“Bei Mir” was originally written in Yiddish—a German dialect written in the Hebrew script. The English lyrics were written by Sammy Cahn and Saul Chaplin, both of whom were sons of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Check out the Wikipedia Article, it was originally titled, "Bei Mir Bistu Shein" (בײַ מיר ביסטו שיין) for a Yiddish Musical, titled Men Ken Lebn Nor Men Lost Nisht, ("You could live, but they won't let you"). Yiddish is a Jewish dialect of German, not related to Hebrew, though it borrows some Hebrew vocabulary, and is often written in Hebrew characters.

I knew it was a Yiddish song. The Original song was a duet (like "You're the Top"), with the lovers exchanging compliments. The English adaptation sung by the Andrews Sisters is obviously from the point of view of a female. The title was Germanized for the Andrews Sisters adaptation, as well, obviously. Still lovin' on the fact that it pissed off the Nazis. "Arayan" musical is as sterile and inane as "Arayan" physics.

[greene66]

I’ve always been more familiar with the Benny Goodman version of the tune. Martha Tilton on vocal. Didn’t even know the Andrews had their first hit with it until a few years back.

Saw Patty at an event about twenty years ago. It was weird when her ornery sister Maxine passed away a few years back, and the media gave it a ton of coverage, as if it were the end of an era, basically ignoring the fact that Patty was still very much around and very much kicking.

[the OlLine Rebel]

I was talking about the title in question only. Not surprising about it being Jewish authored, lots of Jewish songwriters. Interesting.

[UnwashedPeasant]

"Interesting, but it IS German; nothing odd old or Jewish about it. Literally it means By me are you pretty."

I may have written it wrong. There are many variations on the spelling. I think the real spelling is Yiddish and the variations might be similar languages, where people are writing what it sounds like to them.

[Revolting cat!]

NOT GUILTY, VERY NOT GUILTY, GUILTY!

[Lancey Howard]

I used to love their appearances in so many of the Saturday afternoon movies I watched on TV as a kid. I never forgot them.

[Shadowstrike]

I know alot of people in Heaven celebrating this news, but it makes me sad.

[Revolting cat!]

I know you won’t believe me because I’m a relatively young buck, but “what difference does it make!”, but I used to know all of Andrew’s sisters when they were little girls!

[a fool in paradise]

I used to know all of Andrew’s sisters when they were little girls!

(file photo)

[a fool in paradise]

I hate how “R&B” is really code for “black”.

It always has been .URBAN is the new code word for black music.

R&B was the name Jerry Wexler (Atlantic Records) came up with in attempt to change the chart designation from "race records" to something else.

White people were likewise slurred by the establishment media. Country Western used to be called "hillbilly" in the trade publications (like Variety and Billboard). That was the chart, "the hillbilly chart". ASCAP wouldn't publish country or R&B. BMI would. When the two dejected forms morphed into rock and roll, ASCAP no longer had the hits (they wouldn't publish R&R either) so they alleged "tricks" and "payola" as the reason they no longer owned the charts.

However, Elvis and other artists DID manage to get the #1 hit on the R&B, Country, and Pop charts all at the same time. Something that the industry doesn't want to see happen ever again. The industry doesn't like small labels (whether they are called Sun or Sub-Pop) coming up with the "next big thing". Too many outdated artists are under longterm contracts to let some new fad ruin their plans and release schedules.

[Revolting cat!]

Note the hot babe (sorry Laz, she’s croaked) pretending to play the conductor, who steals the show:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=fvwp&v=0yfe4dAQQyg