"Our other beef", Richard Rodgers (1902-79) wrote in his autobiography Musical Stages, "was registered in 'I Like to Recognize the Tune', in which we voiced objection to the musical distortions then so much a part of pop music because of the swing-band influence. We really had nothing against swing bands per se, but as songwriters we felt it was tough enough for new numbers to catch on as written without being subjected to all kinds of interpretive manhandling that obscured their melodies and lyrics. To me, this was the musical equivalent of bad grammar." But, he continued, "once a song has become established I see nothing wrong with taking certain liberties. A singer or an orchestra can add a distinctive, personal touch that actually contributes to a song's longevity. I can't say I'm exactly grief-stricken when something I've written years before suddenly catches on again because of a new interpretation."