William Penn Life, 2017 (52. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2017-04-01 / 4. szám
Tibor s Take Some believe that Jávor Pál sold the music to an American promoter in an unauthorized manner during one of his many musical tours to the various American-Magyar communities. In 1936, Ray M. Lewis translated the lyrics into English, and the Hal Kemp Orchestra recorded what is believed to be the first English version of the song. That was followed by recordings made by Paul Robeson, Billie Eckstein and Luis Russell. Perhaps the best known English version was sung by Billie Holiday: Sunday is gloomy / My hours are slumberless. Dearest, the shadows/I live with are numberless. Little white flowers /Will never awaken you. Not where the black coach / Of sorrow has taken you. Angels have no thought/Of ever returning you. Would they be angry/If I thought of joining you? Gloomy Sunday Gloomy is Sunday /With shadows I spend it all. My heart and I, have / Decided to end it all. Soon there'll be candles /And prayers that are said, I know. Let them not weep / Let them know that I'm glad to go. Death is no dream/For in death I'm caressing you. With the last breath of my soul/I'll be Hessin' you. Gloomy Sunday Dreaming, I was only dreaming/1 wake and I find you asleep In the deep of my heart, dear. Darling, I hope that/My dream never haunted you. My heart is telling you /How much I wanted you. Gloomy Sunday The song became popular in England at the same time a rash of suicides occurred on both sides of the Atlantic as the song grew in prominence. The BBC banned public airing of sung versions of "Gloomy Sunday" believing it detrimental to wartime morale, although it did allow instrumental versions to be aired. The ban lasted until 2002, and many radio stations here in the United States did the same type of censoring. Seress loved his simple life in Budapest and did not benefit from royalties generated outside of the borders of Hungary. He could have made a small fortune from the many recordings that were made here in America, but he chose to remain in Hungary instead of pursuing his compensation through the U.S. court system. Unfortunately, Seress was forced to spend several years in a concentration camp during WWII. It is said that he survived those horrible times by utilizing his notoriety as an entertainer and the author of "Gloomy Sunday," which was quite popular in pre-WWII Germany. He became a useful commodity for the Nazis, performing in a style similar to that depicted in screenplays such as the Emmy award-winning movie "Playing for Time." Once the war was over, he returned to Budapest with his wife and became the house musician at a small establishment named the Kispipa Vendéglő on 38 Akácfa utca, which until recently remained open for business. Seress became a member of the Hungarian Communist Party and composed a popular propaganda song entitled "Újra a Lánchídon" ("On the Chain Bridge Again"), as well as a few other compositions that attained minor acclaim, "Waiter Bring Me the Bill" and "I Love Being Drunk." More recently recorded versions of "The Hungarian Suicide Song" have been done by such notables as Ray Charles, Sarah Vaughan, Elvis Costello and Sinead O'Connor. In the late 1950s, Ricky Nelson made a recording of the Seress tune, but it is said that his father Ozzie prohibited him from issuing the record. Ozzie felt the clean-cut image of the Nelson family would be tarnished should Ricky's teenaged female fans follow the example of so many listeners of this song and do the unthinkable. Other songs have been written supposedly prompting suicide, but most pale in comparison to the number of tragedies ascribed to "Gloomy Sunday." László Jávor regretted having ever revised the lyrics to this tune as the press depicted him as a notorious villain responsible for ending many lives. Several Magyar bands have recorded "Szomorú Vasárnap," including Kalman Lendvay, Sándor Lakatos, Gyula Horváth, Vilmos Lakatos, László Berki as well as singers Sári Barabás and Antal Kóczé. One movie has been made vaguely portraying Seress and László Jávor and was appropriately titled "Gloomy Sunday." Seress and his wife lived for over 20 years in the same small, second-floor apartment at 46 Dob utca in District VII. In 1968, Seress attempted to kill himself by jumping out a window from that very apartment. While recovering at a nearby hospital, Seress attempted suicide again, this time successfully by hanging himself in the doorway of his room. Prior to his self-imposed demise, Seress stated: "I am so very sad to have not made another hit song like 'Gloomy Sunday.'" His wife Hani died in 1969. There are many Magyar halgatos portraying tragic scenarios, such as the popular "A Vén Cigány," but "Szomorú Vasárnap" is by far one of the saddest musical commentaries of all time. The song surfaced at the right time as the circumstances of economic despair along with an impending war aided in forming an exquisite match of sorrow to song. Let me know your thoughts on "Gloomy Sunday" or any personal experiences concerning the song. Boldog Húsvét 2017, Tibor II Tibor Check, Jr., is a member of Branch 28 and an attorney working in Washington, D.C. Let's hear your take If you have any questions or comments about me or my column, please email me at: silverkingl937@ gmail.com, or drop me a letter in care of the William Penn Association, 709 Brighton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15233. WILLIAM PENN LIFE 0 April 2017 0 7
