More Against the Days

[Paul Mackin]

On Oct 20, 2006, at 8:19 AM, ruudsaurins at aol.com wrote:

> Pynchon the Jazzer...
>     ....might be a fan of the Artie Shaw tune, but I had always  
> suspected that "Frenesi" was intended as a homonym for "free 'n  
> easy", and that "Gates" was being similarly employed for the german  
> "geht es" (abbreviated "geht's", roughly translated as "it goes").   
> This name then rather accurately describes several females with  
> whom I enjoy (or have enjoyed; conjugating verbs, here) an  
> acquaintance.

This sounds entirely plausible to me.

and to continue the conjugation:

had enjoyed

am about to enjoy

might enjoy

if only could enjoy

will enjoy

will have enjoyed

will have had enjoyed

P..

>                                                                        
>  truly,
>                                                                        
>  ruud
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: paul.mackin at verizon.net
> To: pynchon-l at waste.org
> Sent: Fri, 20 Oct 2006 3:27 AM
> Subject: Re: More Against the Days
>
> On Oct 19, 2006, at 8:03 PM, David Casseres wrote:
>
> > Again iTunes is a useful research tool. It lists many recordings of
> > "Frenesí," most of which are this song. Most are straight swing
> > renditions, like the very nice one by Anita O'Day (the girl with no
> > uvula!) and the instrumentals by Artie Shaw, Duke Ellington, etc.  
> But
> > then you find the versions by Chet Baker, and Gerry Mulligan, and
> > Benny Carter with Oscar Peterson; the tune has legs as a jazz
> > standard.
>
> My recollection is that Frenesi "belonged" to a Artie Shaw. His was  
> the definitive version. Isn't there some
> story of his bringing the tune and Latin beat back from Mexica, on  
> his return from that famous escape. Without his recording would  
> there even have
> been all those "vocal" renditions? Would the silly English lyrics  
> even have been written or ever heard of? These are questions, not  
> statements.
> Not really certain at this point in history.
>
> Another thing. What reason is there to think either Pynchon or the  
> Gateses had the English lyrics in mind in naming the daughter?
> It was the NAME of the song in all its exoticness that would have  
> been on their minds. If the Gateses were even mildly "hip" they  
> would know and love Shaw's version. It would have been no contest.  
> The only possible reason, among the sophisticated, for not  
> worshipping at his alter would be if you liked Benny Goodman's  
> playing better. (that old question--Shaw actually considered  
> Goodman the better clarinetist but himself the better musician)
>
> >
> > On 10/19/06, Paul Mackin <paul.mackin at verizon.net> wrote:
> >>
> >> On Oct 19, 2006, at 4:32 PM, Chris Broderick wrote:
> >>
> >> > I always thought that Pynchon was referring to the Artie Shaw
> >> > version, which was one of his bigger hits (not as big as Begin  
> the
> >> > Beguine, but certainly very popular). I wouldn't call it treacly,
> >> > but it's pretty standard big band swing stuff from Shaw.
> >>
> >> It was recorded when he was using that huge string section. Sounded
> >> impressive enough but he must not have had too much confidence  
> in the
> >> tune itself because, unlike say with Stardust and Begin the
> >> Beguine, he only put one version of it on his 5-CD Self Portrait
> >> release.
> >>
> >> >
> >> > It was adapted from a Spanish tune by Alberto Dominguez with new
> >> > English lyrics (by Ray Charles [I don't think it's the same one]
> >> > and S.K. Russell). Here's the lyrics to it, and to the  
> original >> tune.
> >>
> >> Shaw would have nothing to do with these lyrics--disliked vocalists
> >> anyway.
> >>
> >> With some notable exceptions
> >>
> >>
> >> >
> >> > http://ntl.matrix.com.br/pfilho/html/lyrics/f/frenesi.txt
> >> >
> >> > As for theories, I keep fixating on the line in the English >>  
> version:
> >> > "I knew that frenesí meant "Please love me""
> >> >
> >> > The literal translation of frenesi is "frenzy", or "madness". Hub
> >> > & Sasha sure burdened their daughter with one hell of a name...
> >> >
> >> > -Chris
> >> >
> >> > Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2006 14:13:10 -0400 (EDT)
> >> > From: kelber at mindspring.com
> >> > Subject: Re: Re: More Against the Days
> >> > Anyone ever listened to the song Frenesi? Or have any theories as
> >> > to why Pynchon used the song to name his VL character? I've only
> >> > found an Edie Gorme rendition. I think Artie Shaw has an
> >> > instrumental version. Pretty treacly stuff.
> >> > Laura
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
>
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