Posted by babka at 170.215.212.99 on November 29, 2002 at 00:56:12:
In Reply to: Gloomy Monday posted by B. Buster on November 28, 2002 at 22:40:16:
No, (although I love Stormy Monday....Tuesday's just as bad...): this is
the song I was thinking of:
gloomy sunday
lyrics:
rezsô seress
lászló jávor
sam m. lewis
diamanda galás
serge gainsbourg
articles:
overture to death
the gloomiest nation
t h e s u i c i d e s o n g
Gloomy Sunday - the notorious 'suicide song' - was written in 1933. Its
melody and original lyrics were created by Rezsô Seress, a self-taught
pianist and composer born in Hungary in 1899.
The crushing hopelessness and bitter despair which characterised the two
stanza penned by Seress were superseded by the more mournful, melancholic
verses of Hungarian poet László Jávor.
When the song came to public attention it soon earned a reputation as the
'suicide song'. Several reports from Hungary alleged individuals had taken
their lives after listening to the haunting melody or that the lyrics had
been left with their last letters.
A third stanza with a dreamy twist was added in an attempt to alleviate the
pessemistic tone. The suicide reputation remained.
The three stanza were translated into English by Sam M. Lewis. It was his
version of the song which was to become the most widely recorded.
As the popularity of the song grew, courtesy of releases by Artie Shaw
(1940) and Billie Holiday (1941), so grew concerns about its effect. The
song was banned from the playlists of major radio broadcasters around the
world. The B.B.C. deemed it too depressing for the airwaves.
Despite the bans, Gloomy Sunday continued to be recorded and sold.
People continued to buy the recordings; some committed suicide.
Rezsô Seress jumped to his death from his flat in 1968.
I sure hope it isn't irresponsible of me to post this info!
***
: : Gloomy Monday
: I suspect you meant "Stormy Monday," the classic blues song (not to be
confused with "Stormy Weather," one of the greatest songs of all time).
: