Bemsha Swing (song)

Bei-Mir-Bist-Du-Schon.jpg

"Bei Mir Bistu Shein" (בײַ מיר ביסטו שיין, "To Me You're Beautiful") is a popular Yiddish song composed by Jacob Jacobs (lyricist) and Sholom Secunda (composer) for a 1932 Yiddish comedy musical, I Would If I Could (in Yiddish, Men Ken Lebn Nor Men Lost Nisht, "You could live, but they won't let you"), which closed after one season. The score for the song transcribed the Yiddish title as "Bay mir bistu sheyn". The original Yiddish version of the song (in C minor) is a dialogue between two lovers who share lines of the song.

The fame
The song became famous with English lyrics but retaining the Yiddish title, "Bei Mir Bistu Shein". It also appeared with a Germanized title "Bei Mir Bist Du Schön". The pronunciation of the "Schein/Schön" in the title has occasionally been a source of controversy. The majority of performers, including native German speakers such as Max Raabe, have adopted the Yiddish pronunciation ʃeːn ("sheyn") rather than the standard German ʃøːn (approximately "shern", but without an "r" sound).

In 1937, Sammy Cahn heard a performance of the song, sung in Yiddish by African-American performers Johnnie and George at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York City. Grossinger's Catskill Resort Hotel proprietor Jenny Grossinger claimed to have taught the song to Johnnie and George while they were performing at the resort. On seeing the response, Cahn got his employer to buy the rights so he (together with Saul Chaplin) could rewrite the song with English language lyrics and rhythms more typical of swing music. Secunda sold the publishing rights to the song for a mere US$30 which later he split with Jacobs. Cahn then convinced the still unknown Andrews Sisters to perform the song (recorded November 24, 1937). It became their first major hit, earning them a gold record, the first ever to a female vocal group. It was also a worldwide hit.

Over time, the song grossed some $3 million, with Secunda and Jacobs missing significant royalties. In 1961, the copyright on the song expired, and the ownership reverted to Secunda and Jacobs, who signed a contract with Harms, Inc., securing proper royalties.

Other versions
There have been several songs with the tune in the Soviet Union. In particular, in 1943, a Russian-language song for the music was produced with satirical anti-Nazi lyrics titled "Baron von der Pshik" ("Барон фон дер Пшик") by Anatoli Fidrovsky, music arrangement by Orest Kandat. Initially it was recorded by the jazz orchestra (director Nikolay Minkh) of the Baltic Fleet Theatre; later it was included into the repertoire of Leonid Utyosov's jazz orchestra.

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

In the late Soviet period, a similar version came out under the name "In the Cape Town Port", lyrics to which was written by another Jewish national and a native of Leningrad, Pavel Gandelman. That Soviet song was performed by a Russian singers Larisa Dolina and Arkady Severny.

There is a Swedish version called "Bär ner mig till sjön", which means "Carry me down to the lake".

Towards the end of the Taxi (TV Series) episode "The Costume Party", Latka, Alex and Tony (dressed as The Andrews Sisters), they were singing a tune.

The song is performed by Renata Flores in the 1980 film The Last Metro and by Janis Siegel in the 1993 film Swing Kids.

Shasta (soft drink) Beverage Company adapted the song for a 1976 T.V. advertisement for Shasta Root Beer ("its root beer Mr. Shane ...").

In November 2011, Ilhama Gasimova released her single Bei Mir Bist Du Sheen featuring DJ OGB, a modern version of Yiddish song.

Recorded versions
In addition to the original (or modified/translated) lyrics, a number of songs are known which borrowed only the popular tune of Bei Mir..., with completely unrelated text.

A
 * Acker Bilk
 * Adrian Rollini & His Novelty Trio & Quintet
 * Al Bowlly
 * The Andrews Sisters
 * Arthur Murray Orchestra

B
 * The Barry Sisters
 * Belle Baker
 * Benny Goodman
 * Billy Cotton & His Band
 * Bob Wilber
 * Booker Ervin
 * Budapest Klezmer Band, a traditional style Yiddish version switching to English for the last 40 seconds.
 * Buddy Clark

C
 * Charlie and his Orchestra
 * The Clark Sisters
 * Cora Green (in the 1938 race film Swing!)
 * The Crew-Cuts

D
 * Dan Barrett
 * Dick Hyman
 * Dennis Bell (Ballabio)
 * Dukes of Dixieland

E
 * Ella Fitzgerald
 * Eydie Gormé & Steve Lawrence. Released on the LP Eydie and Steve Sing the Golden Hits by ABC-Paramount Records as catalog number ABC 311 in 1960

F
 * The Flying Neutrinos
 * Frida Boccara (as "Pour Lui Je Suis Belle")
 * Fiona Apple

G
 * Garland Wilson
 * Gevolt (on album AlefBase, 2011)
 * Giora Feidman
 * Glenn Miller
 * Gołda Tencer
 * Gordon Jenkins
 * Gordon Webster
 * Greta Keller
 * Guy Lombardo

H
 * Bettina Hermlin and Andrej Hermlin with his Swing Dance Orchestra

I
 * Ilhama Gasimova with DJ OGB, a 2009 pop recording based on the Andrews Sisters' English version at higher speed and without the introductory section.

J
 * Jack Teagarden
 * The Jackson Five (on the Carol Burnett Show, January 25, 1975)
 * Janis Siegel
 * Joss Stone (with Jools Holland)
 * Judy Garland
 * June Christy. Recorded on June 20, 1952. Released on a 78rpm record by Capitol Records as catalog number 2199

K
 * Tatiana Kabanova (as S Odesskogo Kichmana)
 * Klezmer Conservatory Band
 * Psoy Korolenko

L
 * Larisa Dolina (as V Keiptaunskom portu - In Cape Town port)
 * Lee Press-on and the Nails
 * The Leningrad Dixieland Jazz Band
 * The Lennon Sisters. Released on a single by Dot Records as catalog number 45-16423 in 1963
 * Leroy Jones
 * Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra
 * Listen Up!
 * Los Albertos
 * Louis Prima & Keely Smith. Released on the EP Louis & Keely by Dot Records as catalog number DEP-1093 in 1960

M
 * Martha Tilton
 * Max Raabe & das Palast Orchester
 * Mieczysław Fogg & Henryk Wars Orchestra (1938)
 * Moreno

N
 * Natasza Urbańska
 * New Orleans Jazz Vipers
 * Nina Hagen

P
 * The Puppini Sisters. Released on the CD Betcha Bottom Dollar by Universal Music as catalog number 06 0251 70622 7 6 in 2006

Q
 * Quadro Nuevo

R
 * Ramsey Lewis and His Gentlemen of Swing. Released on the LP Ramsey Lewis and His Gentlemen of Swing by Argo Records as catalog number LP 611 in 1958
 * Ray Anthony
 * The Red Elvises with the title "My Darling Lorraine"
 * Regina Carter. Released on the 2006 album "I’ll Be Seeing You: A Sentimental Journey"
 * The Reynettes, a Hong Kong English Pop act in the 1960s recorded a cover version for their album 'Kowloon Hong Kong'.
 * Robin McKelle. Released on the CD Introducing Robin McKelle by Cheap Lullaby Records as catalog number 37 6010 60712 4 96 in 2006
 * Ronn Metcalfe

S
 * Sammy Cahn
 * Severny, Arkasha (V Keiptaunskom portu 1972)
 * Shelly Manne
 * Slim Gaillard
 * A parody of this song, "The Bear Missed the Train", was written by the Smith Street Society Jazz Band in 1964 and became a favorite on Jean Shepherd's radio narratives.
 * it:Sorelle Marinetti
 * Swing Kids

T
 * Teddy Wilson
 * Teresa Brewer. Released on a single by Amsterdam Records as catalog number 85029 in 1973
 * Terry Gibbs
 * Tom Cunningham
 * Karsten Troyke

U
 * Utyosov, Leonid (Baron Fod Der Pshik and S Odesskogo Kichmana )

V
 * Vagabond Opera
 * The Village Stompers

W
 * Waldeck
 * Willie "The Lion" Smith

Z
 * Zarah Leander with Einar Groth's orchestra. Swedish lyrics: Tage Tall. Recorded on April 21, 1938. Released on a 78 rpm record by Odeon as catalog number D 2978, SA 255 956