Why was the phrase, "It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing" so popular in the 1930s?

Question

I've looked everywhere and I can't seem to find the answer.
Please list the source if you find the answer! Thanks in advance! :D

Answer 1

Duke Ellington's song, "It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing," can be read as a manifesto against the reigning intellectual culture of his time. There is an implication that the speaker meant to bring about a certain set of feelings. Whatever doesn't work its magic through the body doesn't count.

The following website give a plethora of info relating to the Swing Era: http://departments.risd.edu/faculty/dkeefer/web/swing.htm

Check it out :-)

Answer 2

Swing was a form of Big Band music...

It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing" was originally a saying of Bubber Miley - Duke Ellington's original plunger-muted trumpeter.

* Although this is the correct quote from the song of the same name, its meaning is often misinterpreted by those not familiar with it. It is first assumed to mean "the song is worthless without the swing," but it actually means "you don't need the swing to make the song."
* This meaning is better portrayed when the quote is accompanied by the next line, "It don't mean a thing, all you have to do is sing."

I can see how the title line can, out of context, be interpreted as "It don't mean a thing whether it has that swing" -- though then there shouldn't be a comma. And you could even say that the third line, "It makes no difference if it's sweet or hot" bolsters this interpretation; but that is clearly intended to modify the fourth line, "Just hit that rhythm, give it everything you got," which is an injunction to swing no matter what style of music you're playing. Admittedly this leaves the second line a bit unclear, but I think it can comfortably be interpreted as an injunction not to worry about the deep meaning of whatever song you're singing, but just to sing; in, of course, a swinging manner.

What good is melody?
What good is music?
If it ain't possessin' something sweet
It ain't the melody, it ain't the music

There's something else that makes the tune complete
It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing
It don't mean a thing all you got to do is sing

It makes no difference
If it's sweet or hot
Just give that rhythm
Everything you've got
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing.

~ written by Irving Mills - made famous by Duke Ellington

Answer 3

This was a song by Duke Ellington that was made in the 1930's. This started when he first made his jazz song and so to him it didn't mean a thing if it didn't have swing "as in jazz." Also this song was during the Jazz Age, when Jazz was created in New Orleans.

Answer 4

Wasn't that a Reynolds Wrap commericial in the 70's or 80's?

Answer 5

Jesus did. It's in the Bible. Here is the reference. Matthew 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. 22 Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You." 23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's." Jesus said this to Peter because he was giving Jesus bad councel that would have thwarted what He came to do. Satan is the adversary and seeks to thwart God's will. When people act or advise something that would thwart God's will, they are wittingly or unwittlingly doing Satan's bidding. So get behind me Satan. Don't thwart me from God's purpose.

Answer 6

It was a song written by Duke Ellington in 1932. Swing was popular in the 30s and 40s..............big band music

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Answer 7

It was a very popular song. The popularity of the phrase came from the song, rather than vice versa.