Bei Mir Bistu Shein

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Yiddish song Bei Mir Bistu Shein (using the Hebrew alphabet: בייַ מיר ביסטו שיין‎), which became famous with English lyrics but using the German title "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen" (Anglicised spelling of correct German Bei mir bist Du schön), is a popular song from a Yiddish musical. The title was later also spelled "Bay Mir Bistu Sheyn" and means "to me you're beautiful".

It was originally composed by Jacob Jacobs (lyricist) and Sholom Secunda (composer) for a Yiddish musical, I Would if I Could, (in Yiddish, Men Ken Lebn Nor Men Lost Nisht) in 1932 that opened and closed after only one season. Secunda sold the publishing rights to the song for a mere US$30.

In 1937, Sammy Cahn heard a performance of the song, sung in Yiddish by African American performers Johnnie and George at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, and on seeing the response, got his employer to buy the rights so he (together with Saul Chaplin) could rewrite the song with English language lyrics. He then convinced The Andrews Sisters to perform the song (recorded November 24, 1937) , and it became a major hit.

[edit] Recorded versions

• The Andrews Sisters
• Ray Anthony
• Balalaika
• Belle Baker
• The Barry Sisters
• Dan Barrett
• Acker Bilk
• Al Bowlly
• Teresa Brewer
• Joe Burton
• Sammy Cahn
• Charles Bridge Swing Band
• June Christy
• The Clark Sisters
• Buddy Clark
• Columbia Ballroom Orchestra
• Billy Cotton & His Band
• Tom Cunningham
• Dukes of Dixieland
• Booker Ervin
• Giora Feidman
• Felix and his Crazy Cats
• Balazs Fellegi
• Ella Fitzgerald
• The Flying Neutrinos
• Slim Gaillard
• Judy Garland
• Terry Gibbs
• Benny Goodman
• Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra
• Judy Handler
• Hava Nagila
• Ray Herrera
• Dick Hyman
• Gordon Jenkins
• Leroy Jones
• The Jug Addicts
• Greta Keller
• Warren Kime
• Klezmer Conservatory Band
• Koleet
• Steve Lawrence
• Zarah Leander
• Ramsey Lewis
• Listen Up !
• Guy Lombardo
• Ingrid Lucia
• Shelly Manne
• Leo Marjane
• Nilo Menendez
• Glenn Miller
• Moreno
• Arthur Murray Orchestra
• New Orleans Jazz Band
• Poker Dots
• Louis Prima
• Eddie Reed
• Adrian Rollini & His Novelty Trio & Quintet
• Janis Siegel
• Benedict Silverman
• Willie "The Lion" Smith
• Southern Backtones
• Urs Steiger
• Jack Teagarden
• Martha Tilton
• Mikesh Van Grummer
• The Village Stompers
• Bob Wilber
• Garland Wilson
• Teddy Wilson
• Quadro Nuevo
• The Puppini Sisters
• The Red Elvises have recorded a version called "My Darling Lorraine"
• Robin McKelle
• Western Special
• The Beloved Invaders

[edit] External links

• Original title page
• Page on the song at Yiddish Radio Project site
• Sholom Secunda - The Story of Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen
• Song lyric
• Original lyrics in Yiddish