Cool

Tatiana Troyanos, Tucker Smith, Leonard Bernstein

About Cool

"Cool" is a song from the musical West Side Story. Leonard Bernstein composed the music and Stephen Sondheim wrote the lyrics. This song is known for its fugal treatment of a jazz figure, described by one writer as "possibly the most complex instrumental music heard on Broadway to date".


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Boy, boy, crazy boy, 
Get cool, boy! 
Got a rocket in your pocket, 
Keep coolly cool, boy! 
Don't get hot, 
'Cause man, you got 
Some high times ahead. 
Take it slow and Daddy-O, 
You can live it up and die in bed! 
Boy, boy, crazy boy! 
Stay loose, boy! 
Breeze it, buzz it, easy does it. 
Turn off the juice, boy! 
Go man, go, 
But not like a yo-yo schoolboy. 
Just play it cool, boy, 
Real cool!

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Leonard Bernstein

Leonard Bernstein ( /ˈbɜrnstaɪn/ US dict: bûrn′·stīn; August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American composer, conductor, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim. According to The New York Times, he was "one of the most prodigiously talented and successful musicians in American history." He is quite possibly the conductor whose name is best known to the public in general, especially the American public. more »

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Written by: LEONARD BERNSTEIN, STEPHEN SONDHEIM, STEPHANE AUDARD, DE PREISSAC

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Composer
"Cool" was composed by world-renowned American maestro Leonard Bernstein.
Musical
"Cool" is a song from the famous Broadway musical ''West Side Story'', which debuted in 1957.
Co-Creators
Lyrics for the song were provided by Stephen Sondheim, making it a collaborative work between Bernstein and Sondheim.
Character Focus
In "West Side Story", the song "Cool" is energetically performed by the character 'Riff,' leader of the Jets gang.
Theme
The song "Cool" is about controlling one's emotions, particularly anger, and is a thematic standout in the context of the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks in "West Side Story."
Remix Version
In 1961, a film adaptation of the musical featured a remixed version of "Cool”, where the song was performed by Ice, instead of Riff.
Choreography
The original choreography of the song was done by Jerome Robbins, and it is still considered as one of the most iconic dance numbers in musical theatre history.
Notable Performances
The song has been performed by many great artists over the years, including Larry Kert in the Original Broadway Cast recording and Russ Tamblyn in the 1961 film adaptation.
Musical Styles
"Cool” is a perfect blend of contemporary stage music and traditional jazz, showcasing Bernstein's versatility as a composer.
Influence
The song has greatly influenced modern compositions and arrangements in musical theatre. It has been covered and sampled in various popular culture scenarios over the years.
Accolades
While "Cool" itself did not win any awards, "West Side Story" won several Tony Awards and the film adaptation won 10 Academy Awards.

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