Al Jolson - Swanee [HD]

An excerpt from a Hollywood film Rhapsody In Blue (1945)
Artist: Al Jolson
Music: George Gershwin
Lyrics: Irving Caesar
Play: Sinbad
Orchestral Arrangement: Ray Heindorf
Sound: David Forrest and Stanley Jones

[@user-cm6vj5ls9i]

The first records I ever had were my Dad's collection of Al. Sixty years later I still can sing along and smile.

[@user-oj6ih7ke8p]

That's great!

[@bufb]

Me too

[@Saint-Justus]

Trudeau has the voice of an angel!

[@iggyg1370]

@Vercingetorix He was joking, Trudeau had done blackface 3x that we know of.

[@TheVoluntariast]

LMAO!!!

[@MrsTrohman666]

Snorted. Thankyou

[@bigphizza2819]

Shame it's Satan

[@imadeanaccounttocomment7800]

Especially when he is singing the bohemian rhapsody

[@Brace67]

“Wait a minute folks, wait a minute.” “You ain’t heard nothing yet!” ❤

[@sgtjeff56]

Memories of my father listening to Jolson on his old 78's.

[@1gerard47]

Exactly my father passed away three years ago to day at 84 ❤️

[@trentblakeslee6643]

and Klan meetings too I bet #MAGA

[@falconinflight6235]

Talent is talent

[@joanneharwood2144]

My dad loved him rip dad ❤️

[@benjijack22]

JAN 2024 fantastic will never be topped! JOLSON!

[@J.M.Chadwick6]

He was one of the greatest entertainers who ever lived. He had the rare ability to put his heart and his soul into every performance. This number is a prime example of that gift.

[@ScottAbles-zl5bd]

Greatest all around entertainer ever Two films about his life while he was still alive. He was electric

[@Pandaro2]

This is definitely a great song it may not be rock or pop but a song does need to be a certain genre to be good just like this song proves. If I were feeling better I would be dancing 🕺 to this .

[@trentblakeslee6643]

I agree making fun of black people is soooo cool #MAGA

[@edmondscott7444]

Jolson was a great singer. The Jolson Story a great film.

[@trentblakeslee6643]

yeah and all the black hate just a bonus right? #MAGA

[@Ttown310]

@@trentblakeslee6643get over it, it’s history stop tearing yourself up.

[@arthurharrison1345]

This is the gold standard of showmanship and entertainment. There were very few as great as Jolson.

[@thebambino4728]

You can try NOBODY was as great AS JOLSON !!

[@neilmccormick2064]

That's larry Parkes not Jolson .

[@neilmccormick2064]

​@@thebambino4728Obviously Larry Parkes was cos that's him .

[@thebambino4728]

NOOOOOOOO - YOU'RE DEAD WRONG !! That clip is from the 1945 biofilm of George Gershwin " Rhapsody In Blue " in which the GREAT Jolson PLAYED HIMSELF ! You must have thought it was " TheJolson Story " or " Jolson Sings Again " in which Parks played him in both films .@@neilmccormick2064

[@benjijack22]

@@neilmccormick2064 Don't be silly it's the great man himself AL JOLSON!

[@theflyinghamster8442]

This guy is a real entertainer ! We won’t see the likes of these talented stars again .

[@robertsmith8782]

Can’t do this today lol…

[@trentblakeslee6643]

he was the higest paid entertainer in the USA from 1920 to 1930 also the first openly jewish entertianer in the USA cuz being jewish used to be like being gay was a before a few years ago you had to hide it

[@philipinchina]

He had to wear white makeup and pretend to be Jewish to get work. How bad is that?

[@tj1338]

Shouldn't have done it then

[@williamkerr2121]

@@tj1338 Different culture.

[@nmitchell076]

​@@williamkerr2121worse culture

[@fester73666]

Fantastic song 👍👍

[@Tom-xe9iq]

This is a scene from, "Rhapsody in Blue, The George Gershwin Story". GG wrote it and Jolson made it famous!!

[@postscript67]

Irving Caesar (1895-1996) wrote the words and, I think, was rather annoyed to be written out of history in this film.

[@hmackie6823]

I love that guy

[@hmackie6823]

THis guy had it all!

[@joekerr8334]

It is a beautiful song.

[@lisalegato0109]

This was recorded 74 years before I was born, on what ended up being my birthday!!

[@jeffreylombardo782]

I remember talking with my grandmother , around 1965, and she was always into the theater. She worked as John Gielgoulds housekeeper, and he always gave her tickets to his shows.....when shows cost about $1. She always said she had 3 favorites... George M. Cohan, Jimmy Cagney, and Al Jolson. And when she saw Jimmy Cagneys version of Cohan, she cried in the theatre. It was so close. And I'll never forget when Jimmy Cagney died, as they brought his casket out of the church, the crown errupted into spontaniast applause. A great send off to a great New Yorker, and American!

[@lisalegato0109]

@@jeffreylombardo782 ONE DOLLAR?!

[@ajusaguy]

You were born in 2019?

[@TheRealForrestGeorge]

I've been away from you a long time. I never thought I'd miss you so. Somehow I feel Your love is real. Near you I want to be. The birds are singing it is song time. The banjo's strumming soft and low. I know that you Yearn for me too. Swannee, you're calling me. Swanee, how I love you, how I love you My dear old Swanee. I give the world to be Among the folks in D-I-X-I-E Even though my mammy's Waiting for me, Praying for me Down by the Swanee. The folks up north will see me no more When I get to that Swanee shore. I miss the old folks at home. Swanee, how I love you, how I love you My dear old Swanee. I give the world to be Among the folks in D-I-X-I-E Even though my mammy's Waiting for me, Praying for me Down by the Swanee. The folks up north will see me no more When I get to that Swanee shore.

[@trentblakeslee6643]

Ok so you're cool by you Steelie look up "I wanna go back to Dixie" By Tom Lehrer

[@bradfordrusso7480]

Talk about a Jolson Fanatic !!! ... Years ago, I spotted a thick book at a bookstore. It was a complete historical bibliography and detailed compendium of all the recordings and radio shows in which Al Jolson appeared. It was quite expensive. The sales lady warned me: "This book is discontinued. You can NOT return it for refund." I cordially but emphatically informed her: "Lady, once I get ahold of this book, you couldn't pry it loose from my hands with The Jaws Of Life!" (That's those hydraulic "scissors" that tear open and peel off steel car doors -- to free trapped crash victims.)

[@whattttf4170]

Wow! Such a great find, congratulations.

[@mica412]

Jolsonography???

[@StephanieCabriales]

Yeah fantastic black face

[@bradfordrusso7480]

​@@StephanieCabriales I can Not tell the intent of your ambiguous comment. Is it pro or con? But I will tell this: I do NOT tolerate people who ignorantly accuse Al Jolson of being racist. First of all, he was a Jew. They are Notoriously sympathetic to minorities and ethnic discrimination. Gee, I wonder why ?!?! Secondly, that makeup is NOT intended as a black stereotype. In truth, it is much like today's stark white clown makeup. Look at the big white oval around his mouth. Watch as he rolls his eyes. These are all part of overly exaggerated facial expressions, much like a mime. Used for visual entertainment. Thirdly, consider what the Brits call a "gollywog". It has Pure Black face and hands (Not Negro skin tone). It's much like our Teddy Bear, but in a harlequin costume. A clown or jester. It's a purely innocent children's toy. Fourthly, Jolson actually used his immense influence to open the door for blacks to enter the entertainment field. Such as Hattie McDaniel (Mammy in "Gone With The Wind", several Shirley Temple films, etc.). The first black (male or female) to win an Oscar. Keep in mind: THIS Clip is NOT Jolson "performing" in the present day of that movie. It's him Imitating himself -- from decades earlier in his career. (A more "innocent" time.) May I suggest that people learn the facts. Curb their petty ignorance and own brand of prejudice -- to STOP their un-fair accusations of Al Jolson. The greatest entertainer of All Time !

[@mrpotato3986]

damn 102 years and still an amazing song

[@shadowbassist7992]

Incredible bud.

[@bobwoods1302]

🙄🙄

[@albertoascari2542]

Charles Bronson would be 100, hard to believe Folks

[@albertpeterson5585]

...from 20c Fox production: 1939's "Suwanee River"; biography of Stephen Foster (Don Ameche); Jolson played E P Christy (owner, Christy's Minstrels); this was satired by Spike Lee in 2000's "Bamboozled."

[@sirlottawin]

What a voice

[@user-dh4fw7be2m]

My mum used to sing this to me 😥many moons ago wonderful 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇬🇧🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇺🇸🇺🇦

[@orwellknew3408]

Al Jolson my favorite black artist

[@newambassador376]

Fr

[@ggboot1]

What a moron.

[@Adrian_AdamViolonDiGerma-tm3nq]

What do you mean? He's definitely a black artist >:(

[@TochiSawaki]

Reverse Michael Jackson

[@edludwig1337]

Got the 1920 version and the 1946 version on 78rpm. Take your pick,they're both great! Play on Al

[@jeffreylombardo782]

Its amazing how his stuff holds up after a hundred years! He was known as "The Greatest Entertainer in the World" And even in our jaded times now, he can hold his own with anybody performing now! My father used to play his LP's all weekend long, until we could'nt take it anymore, and put on a Beatles album. Now that I'm older and more wizened, I get it. He was the most natural and talented performer ever, to the point of neglecting everything else in his life. He only lived to perform in front of an audience......to the point of practically being a narcissistic sociopath. But if you're only looking at the entertainment value of the man, no one today even comes close. And remember, he existed in a world with no I phones, no television, no films, and for the most part...no radio. And on top of all that, he helped invent the Jewish Laser Beam, which has guaranteed peace on Earth for the last 80 years.

[@MattMurdockCZ]

What's a Jewish laser beam?

[@jeffreylombardo782]

@MattMurdockCZ It's a joke. A certain congresswoman stated that the surge in forest fires last year were started by a satellite controlled by Israel.

[@margaretthomas8899]

Well put!

[@jimski7711]

😂😂😂 i thought that was what you were doing but wasn’t positive until the laser beam.

[@mariestreeting4213]

Jewish Laser Beam? What am I missing?

[@BunnieWabbit]

This Al Jolson guy is freakin awesome!

[@Alles2007]

That he is, If you haven’t already, you should check out his performances of songs such as “Compton races” “oh Susana” and/or “I love to sing-a” he was a truly talented artist

[@luanloud9454]

​@@Alles2007 he songs godly

[@mszuzubookitty4646]

@@luanloud9454 godly? In black face?

[@minami-kun6566]

@@mszuzubookitty4646 ikr. Im so confused as to people are saying "hes so awesome!" doing minstrel shows lol.

[@mszuzubookitty4646]

@markjohnson7488 sure thing buddy. Try taking that show on the road to as many churches as you can. See how it goes over.

[@missyortega8304]

I've been binge watching a lot of the early Martin and Lewis movies and I think that Dean Martin did a pretty good job singing a lot of Al Jolson songs. Just my opinion.

[@jeffreylombardo782]

He was a big talent. Far beyond his moniker as just a straight man!

[@HiNinqi]

Feel bad every time i look these singers up, but i love this song at the same time.

[@margaretthomas8899]

Feel BAD, WHY PLEASE?

[@ladycavalier]

Same lol. Combination of "oh that's catchy" and also "oof yikes 😬"

[@nickpavia9021]

Don't feel bad. He did a ton to help race relations. I'm sure there are "normal" things we do now in 2022 that people in 100 years will find "cringe"

[@nickpavia9021]

Also, most of the singers who donned "blackface" were black themselves. It was truly a different time.

[@margaretthomas8899]

@@nickpavia9021 The most thorough book detailing that and everything about Blackface/Minstrelsy is The Blackface Minstrel Show In Mass Media.

[@Gennettor-nc8kx]

Fabulous artist.

[@clayguy1]

There's a movie made about his life.. The Jolson Story 1946 If you can find it that is.. Made a year after my birth... haha.. Oh man I'm old...

[@anndbritch-barney8378]

I think they have it on KZbin. Both films on CDs.

[@Masbelah_ben_Shimon]

True talent. Brilliant work. Loved every nanosecond of this!

[@Viktor-kb1px]

@@crazyorganist1609 you are an average snowflake of this generation, you saw it on thumbnail it's a minstrel blackface show yet you clicked on it and now you are crying here, you are the smartest man alive

[@AllRound_GG]

Classic

[@ianwhitehead4337]

Magic!

[@johnmh1000]

What a ham!

[@michaelnaisbitt7926]

Brilliant artist in a class of his own We will never see this kind of talent again Superb

[@benjijack22]

FANTASTIC!! THE WORLD'S GREATEST ENTERTAINER!!!!!!!!!! AL JOLSON

[@thebambino4728]

You GOT THAT RIGHT !!

[@adrianmonk4440]

One thing for sure.... AL JOLSON MATTERS !

[@buckyoung4578]

I was wise enough to never leave D-I-X-I-E!!! You never hear of anyone retiring north.

[@MrPorkmann]

Fantastic. One of the great figures of the Civil Rights movement. A trailblazing African American.

[@markloveless1001]

Now now...

[@robnewton9381]

🤣

[@danmarco7126]

Lol

[@japanfanatic1415]

He was an Ashkenazi Jew.

[@MrPorkmann]

@@japanfanatic1415 No that is a misconception. Asa Joelson and Al are often confused. Al was born in a slave cabin in Alabammy and lived with his Mammy.

[@peterpaszczak4013]

Apparently just before going on stage, AJ would be struck with very bad nerves and suffer panic attacks...this was the first ever recorded case of Pre Minstral Tension.

[@fonso1030]

😂😂😂😂 that was great

[@JustinRochkind]

The way he moves is just memorizing!

[@michaelmiranda7561]

I'm glad you will remember it.

[@hopscotchdays]

Yeah! Jolson the best entertainer in history. No one can come up to his level of entertainment.

[@johnmannellasr.6204]

I remember my grandmother and my mother listening to it on her little Zenith radio internally we used to sing them songs that the old weddings back in the 60s Good Times where did they go

[@SymphonyBrahms]

No. Judy Garland is the greatest entertainer in history.

[@Numerosity]

I think there are better candidates. Besides, Jolson was clearly racist.

[@hopscotchdays]

@@Numerosity Jolson was clearly not a racist.

[@noheruuu]

​@@Numerosity even if he was racist it doesn't mean he wasn't talented. he was one of the most popular jazz singers of the moment

[@jazzpianoman01]

No one had that electricity like Jolson, as Irving Ceaser once said ‘You can feel it, even on the screen

[@Isleofskye]

Or as Julius Ceaser said......."Aaaaaggggghhhhhh"....

[@chickensprint]

@@Isleofskye Then fall, Caesar

[@Isleofskye]

@@chickensprint Veni, vidi, Cecidi....

[@ellacarson2048]

Judy did

[@jazzpianoman01]

@@ellacarson2048 Yes agree, Judy was always compared with Jolson as she had a similar electricity and reached out to an audience like Al did. A pity her health declined in later years; she left us too soon.

[@alanbash2921]

The King 📣📣📣📣

[@NEALPUCCISWEDEN]

20and 30 and 40. women where so beautiful back then. u n a Markel was so beautiful

[@florinaioneseu9269]

You are right. Natural great beauties, great men and everyone had class.

[@NEALPUCCISWEDEN]

@@florinaioneseu9269 they did hair the way they dress looks great

[@NEALPUCCISWEDEN]

@@florinaioneseu9269 like the girl who play teacher on the three stooges Christine mclntyre she was beautiful I think

[@NEALPUCCISWEDEN]

@@florinaioneseu9269 when to day are trash of the earth most of them in the us

[@kohashiguchi9671]

As I see it, there are *nine* superstar singers in the 20th Century. Jolson chronologically is first---if he isn't on the list, the list is *WRONG*

[@kohashiguchi9671]

Al Jolson Bing Crosby Judy Garland Frank Sinatra Nat King Cole Elvis Presley Barbara Streisand Madonna Michael Jackson There are other singers just as *excellent* but not matching in *fame*

[@MrMalibu30]

Where's Yoko Ono?

[@chevrolet-poitiers9507]

⁠@@kohashiguchi9671Blind Willie Otis? Robert Plant?

[@Bill-uo6cm]

Great entertainment.

[@shagjagjim]

I was born in1953! Black face was accepted by mostly all people some blacks accepted it as respect of black talent n incorporating all colors in the mainstream television n radio industry!! The begining of INCLUSION N RACE RELATIONSHIPS! BEAUTIFUL!!

[@pinkdollangel]

😭😭😭

[@shagjagjim]

Fast forward from T.V.films IN blk n white NO COLOR TV RECORD PLAYERS RADIO never thinking about anything more than to DO WHAT WE LOVE MAKE MUSIC TOGETHER!! HENCE MOTOWN!! N A LIST AS LONG AS THE MOUTAINTOP RANG OUT N BOY WE LOVED IT!

[@Cruise_227]

Collaboration today does not involve dressing up in characteristics of those who you admire. We can coexist today and be ourselves, thankfully some of us have evolved.

[@shagjagjim]

@@Cruise_227 COLLABORATION STILL INVOLVES DRESSING UP IF THE GOAL IS INCLUSIVENESS DRESSING UP SUCH AS PRIDE CLOTHES N FLAGS A MONTH TO SYBOLIZE THIS CREATING THESE SYMBOLS ALWAYS ARE USED FOR PROMOTING SOMETIMES OBSURB IDEATIONS N HAS SEGREGATED PEOPLE OF TODAY IN SOCIETY! LETS BE HONEST DEI HAS GOTTEN OUT OF OF CONTROL WITH RADICALIZED FORMATS UNFORTUNATELY! THE PURPOSE N THE BENIFIT MATTERS!!

[@mkkrupp2462]

One of the worlds greatest entertainers!

[@ColtDee]

Yeah he was all that and some extra, the greatest describes Jolly pretty good, love his vocals.

[@thomaslogue7773]

Yes the world's greatest entertainer by a mile

[@juanmanualleiras1828]

Maravillosanente intenso

[@Moxnix46]

My Dad would just say “what schmaltz” and leave the room

[@timklay8540]

Say what you will, but old Trudeau can sing.

[@jahno7154]

What a powerful voice

[@margaretthomas8899]

Very nice quality!

[@radopiflot3372]

Maestro!

[@oldmate1342]

Wow, Al Jolson was a great performer. Great tune thank you Al

[@pushbikeman]

Before Elvis before Sinatra before Crosby there was Al Jolson all sensational each and every one.

[@peterdockrill9653]

love the bird whistle section.

[@oldmate1342]

Great performance thank you Al

[@jazzpianoman01]

The quality is excellent considering the age, 1945

[@shaggynwhitt6672]

1920s

[@japanfanatic1415]

@@shaggynwhitt6672 This is from 1945.

[@shaggynwhitt6672]

@@japanfanatic1415 wow surprised he redid it at that time.for sure make a mark as being in the first sound movie

[@jazzpianoman01]

He did originally record it in 1920 but with the old pre electric acoustic recording techniques at that time; here he is paying tribute to his friend George Gershwin in the movie. Of course the recording techniques had vastly improved by 1945 and Jolson’s voice had mellowed beautifully

[@malcolmlewis6014]

He was regarded as the greatest entertainer of them all , but Sammy Davis Jnr must be close.

[@Mr.Rocklight]

❤

[@roverworld7218]

I believe this was on one of his films in which he portrays a former composer who joined the priesthood and is assigned to an urban parish to assist, a reluctant, older priest. Bing was Catholic by the way

[@MattMurdockCZ]

@@roverworld7218 No it's from a movie where he plays himself

[@user-wz5gc2td9s]

Job interviewer: Sorry, your resume looks great, but we have to meet the DEI quota. Me: ok, give me a sec...

[@bonnybank12233]

well done Justin....

[@danielepavone3131]

If he did the same performance today dressed like that it would be locked up before getting to the D.I.X.I.E line!

[@rayjr62]

David Lee Roth's musical hero.

[@keithkirk8697]

The melody of the opening verse of this song seems to have been "borrowed" for "Shanghai Lil" in "Footlight Parade"

[@MattMurdockCZ]

Haha, yes - however Swanee 1919 < 1933 Shanghai Lil

[@ferdinabuie9074]

WOW 😮

[@doranselwyn8608]

This is fast becoming one of my favorite songs by Gershwin and my favorite performance. It's hard to top this.

[@mikela1341]

I gotta hand it to him. He's a great singer.

[@hmackie6823]

I know many will believe what they want

[@robertpincus6528]

More pickup than 5 cups of coffee!

[@Zog696]

Golly Al Jolson must have sang before they censored the Gollywog in Enid Blyton’s Noddy books. Fantastic singer.

[@bradfordrusso7480]

This is the very definition of "Stop The Show"! Who are those people in the background? ON the Stage? They are the Cast of the play. When Jolson started to sing, the whole show just stopped. The audience wanted to hear him sing, more than seeing the play, itself !!!

[@handeyecoordinationskills]

This is hilarious, laughing me head off 😅

[@robertbrawley5048]

I like that song

[@TomorrowWeLive]

I wish the whole thing had continued in that minor key melody from the beginning.

[@RobertSoul123]

That would be really boring

[@joshron99]

wunnerful

[@RobertValerio-zb8cx]

What talent!

[@florinaioneseu9269]

Al Jolson the greatest ! TCM black racists slam him every day. Shame on them. He is too great for those nobodies.

[@Juliaflo]

2023-The 125th anniversary of the birth of George Gershwin.

[@thatcelloboi]

2024 - 100th anniversary of the debut of Rhapsody in Blue

[@Dylonely42]

I've Been Away From You A Long Time. I Never Thought I'd Miss You So. Somehow I Feel, Your Love Was Real, Near You I Long To Be. The Birds Are Singing, It Is Song Time. The Banjo's Strummin' Soft And Low. I Know That You Yearn For Me Too, Swanee You're Calling Me. Swanee How I Love Ya, How I Love Ya My Dear Old Swanee I'd Give The World To Be Among The Folks In D-I-X-I Even Know My Mammy's Waitin' For Me Prayin' For Me Down By The Swanee The Folks Up North Will See Me No More When I Go To The Swanee Shore.

[@calstonjew]

I'm going to get my face and head tattooed like that.

[@jacko4451]

Your joking right?

[@calstonjew]

@@jacko4451 why not? You're transracialphobic

[@earthwisdomhelps]

What you call racist is simply someone who is race aware. Aware of the manners and habits of the other race. There are only two genders, God choses. It's not wrong to not welcome peoples perversions anymore than it's not wrong to accept a criminal as being a morally outstanding citizen. Nobody wants to know about other people genitalia and to force it on our children or adults is nothing short of child molestation and assault.

[@Ryanjoned163]

This is starting to get boring now after 3456456633566 times of watching it😂❤

[@suzysuzy4799]

💚🙏😇🙏💚

[@DaveLeperre]

No Opie in this episode.

[@SeeYouNextTuesday-]

Jolson was a legend RIP His performances were incredible

[@user-bp3se7zm2x]

Before Al Jorson ”JAZZ“was comtenpt word.He made change！！

[@user-ru8jm8on9z]

סוף סוף מצאתי את הביצוע !!!!!!

[@josephpalermo4538]

Not bad for a guy in his 60's ....with one lung...

[@catrinaciccone6945]

we like him!

[@MrSilverserpent]

That boy good!

[@rlevitta]

Those dance steps looked like James Brown.

[@noblefuse-suleimansamiazar]

i always thoight it was the ole Swamy river

[@johnmannellasr.6204]

They said that their time he was more popular than Michael Jackson ever was

[@lordvonmanor6915]

Mammy is a beautiful song dedicated to the Black woman who nursed and raised him. It's not for his White mother it's to his Black European Mammy.

[@loveanarchy8488]

See that foot work at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="77">1:17</a>?