User:Trevortnidesserped/Symphony (1945 song)

"Symphony" is a 1945 song written by Alex Alstone, André Tabet and Roger Bernstein. Originally performed by Johnny Desmond, the song is also notable for having topped Billboard's sales, jukebox, radio, and Honor Roll of Hits charts in 1946. With five renditions having entered the top ten of the Best Sellers list in a very short span of time, as well as all five having appeared on Billboard's first official year-end chart, their rapid explosions in popularity in between the two years marked an unusual phenomenon for the time.

Background, composition and lyrical content

Billboard wrote in its November 24, 1945 issue that "Symphony" originated in the French Riviera as "C'est Fini" and went #1 across the entire country of France following the end of World War II. Time magazine further backs this claim in a 1945 article, claiming that the "nostalgic ballad," was "lazily fingered from a crudely cleffed manuscript," by a pianist, who told the story to G.I.'s in the audience, about how the song's writer, a friend of his, was hunted down by the Gestapo for being Jewish.

The song's popularity grew gradually, as it was requested to be heard "in every bar in Southern France." The song was re-written in English, and Chappell Music released the first copies of the song in Manhattan as "Symphony," testing it out for different vocalists and big band arrangements.

According to Time, the lyrics of the original song, when translated into English, are about how the narrator is reminded of the voice of his significant other, (whom he has presumably not seen in some time) which he longs very much to hear once again, comparing it to that of a symphony. For the releases of the American versions, Jack Lawrence was ordered to write a more condensed, less emotional interpolation, in which the narrator describes the music he hears as his lover walks into a room and makes physical contact with him.

Time further compared the original "C'est Fini" to "Lili Marleen" and 1939's "I'll Never Smile Again"

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To the Americans, C’est Fini sounded like a combination of Lili Marlene and I’ll Never Smile Again. When they began to ask for it in every bar in southern France, the words were translated to English, the title was changed to Symphonic. By last week it was the No. 1 song hit of France. At Maxim’s in Cannes, Yolande, the French Hildegarde, sang it. So did lesser entertainers from Monte Carlo to Marseilles.

Last week the song’s author was happily aware that everything was not fini. Sallow-faced, balding Composer Alstone (né Siegfried Alfred Stein), singing his hit, was the star of his own troupe at the Riviera G.I. rest center.

In Manhattan, Chappell Music Co. got set to publish C’est Fini as Symphony; song pluggers tried it out for name-band leaders. Husky-throated Marlene Dietrich recorded the French version for Decca. In translation, the French lyrics she sang were

But U.S. listeners will get none of this pathos in the American version which Bing Crosby recorded last week. Chappell got Tin Pan Alley’s Jack (That’s Win Darkies Were Born, Sleepy Lagoon) Lawrence to write these syrupy syllables:

Renditions

"Symphony"
Single by Freddy Martin and His Orchestra featuring Clyde Rogers
B-side	"In the Middle of May"
Released	October 1945
Genre	Traditional pop easy listening
Length	3:16
Label	Victor
Freddy Martin singles chronology
"Lily Belle" (1945) "Symphony" (1945) "White Christmas" (1945)

Freddy Martin recording

The first of the five recordings to be released was by Freddy Martin in October 1945, who invited Clyde Rogers to perform vocal refrain. Heavy on saxophone and string sounds, Martin's version of the song is played at 62 beats per minute, in the key of D major, switching to C major as soon as Rogers' vocals begin.

November 24, 1945, A Billboard writer wrote of the Martin & Rogers rendition, "While it doesn't hold the interest of a Tchaikovsky piece, the spinning is interesting enough to make it count. The Strad section, Steinway and saxes set forth the mood melody at a bright tempo, with Rogers registering for the lyrical story in song. For those hankering another creation in the Martin manner, 'Symphony' will make the phono grade in spite of its unfamiliar melody and uninviting title," going on to highlight the chosen B-side, "In the Middle of May," as a "breezy and toe-tapping rhythm ditty, with lyrics for the merry song carried by the harmonizing Martian Men quartet.

Benny Goodman & Liza Morrow recording

November 1945 (released) Of Benny Goodman's version, a writer for Billboard praised his "thoroughly commercial treatment to the haunting melody," and "[application of] a righteous rhythmic base for his own exciting clarineting [that] makes the blues strain really rock in whimsical fashion", as well as Liza Morrow's "thrushing," "torch tonsiling," and "lyrical rhapsodizing," calling her overall "a real acquisition for this aggregation." Billboard Magazine page 27 for issue December 1, 1945 (the one with the Santas) but keep looking through that issue for more info about the song and other covers

Chart performance

At least six variations of the song had reached the Billboard Hot 100, with five having reached the top ten. Throughout late 1945 and 1946, Freddy Martin and Jo Stafford's covers landed at No. 1 and No. 4 respectively. Later in 1946, Benny Goodman, Bing Crosby and Guy Lombardo released their covers, which charted at numbers 2, 3 and 10 respectively. Four of these versions also reached the year-end top singles of 1946 list, with Martin, Crosby, Goodman and Stafford placing 17, 20, 27 and 32 respectively. In 1959, Sammy Turner released a cover, which peaked at number 82.

Jo Stafford recording

November 1945 (released) With Paul Weston's band weaving a beautiful background pattern, Jo Stafford projects herself lyrically with rousing results for both of these loved ballads. Singing from way deep down gives a most sympathetic interpretation of "Symphony," as well as bringing out all the melodic and lyrical richness in the "Day By Day" hit potential. - December 29, 1945 billboard

For the first time this French tune is handled as it should have been from the start. "Symphony" is on the way up in The Billboard popularity charting -and this should kick it right upstairs. It's okay for nickel droppers and crew -cut home mooners. - Jo Stafford December 15, 1945

Bing Crosby

Falling easily on the lobes like balsam, Bing Crosby approximates downright purring with his dreamy and relaxed word slinging for both of these nostalgic melodies. With Victor Young accenting the soft strings and celeste tinkles in his accompanying orchestra, Crosby chants Symphony at a moderately slow tempo. It's free spinning for the singing of the once familiar Beautiful Love, the lovely waltz melody belonging to Wayne King and Victor Young. - January 19, 1945

In the issue dated November 24, 1945, Billboard claims Symphony "originally caught on in France," going #1 there, and explains a bit more context behind the song.

United States Billboard Hot 100 chart data

	FM	JS	BG	BC	GL	UK
November 10, 1945						8
November 17, 1945						8
November 24, 1945						6
December 1, 1945						5
December 8, 1945						9
December 15, 1945	5		9			12
December 22, 1945	5					13
December 29, 1945	2					17
January 5, 1946	1					17
January 12, 1946	1	10		8		14
January 19, 1946	2	4	7	5		12

Covers (from January 12, 1946 onwards):

Phil Moore & the Phil Moore Four

Jack Lawrence

Harry Cool & His Orchestra

Beverly Whitney

Allan Jones

James H Martin

Erroll Garner