Why Frank Sinatra lives... (lyrics, singers, great songs, jazz)

[ExPit]

On another thread I was somewhat surprised to see how many of you would put Frank Sinatra in your top ten essential artists list. Why? This seems like more of a rock n' roll crowd. Many of us inherit our musical taste from our parents, at least the first rush of it, and that could explain it to an extent. But I have to believe there's more to it.

Some artists transcend genres and generations. I believe some artists will be listened to for generations to come and that Frank Sinatra is one of those artists. There are many reasons for this, I would maintain, and I have an idea or two of my own, but would like to hear what others think about it.

[IonRedline08]

Whats funny is that I almost included him on my list.

I don't know. He was the epitome of cool in his time.
Makes for some great romantic music to put on, one of the only one's I can stand, actually

Plus, my favorite CD that I own is a mixtape of Notorious BIG mixed with Frank Sinatra songs and beats, it is amazing!

[ExPit]

Originally Posted by IonRedline08

Whats funny is that I almost included him on my list.

I don't know. He was the epitome of cool in his time.
Makes for some great romantic music to put on, one of the only one's I can stand, actually

Plus, my favorite CD that I own is a mixtape of Notorious BIG mixed with Frank Sinatra songs and beats, it is amazing!

Big E and Frank, I gotta hear that!

You're right Redline, even people who hate that kind of music hear something in Frank. He was the first of those guys that didn't sound like they were singing through a megaphone, the first to talk his lyrics, Frank communicated a song. To my ear, he was so far above the field he was in a class of his own. The only guy since that gives Frank a run for his money is Tony Bennett, and they are such different singers that there is really no comparison.

[IonRedline08]

Originally Posted by ExPit

Big E and Frank, I gotta hear that!

You're right Redline, even people who hate that kind of music hear something in Frank. He was the first of those guys that didn't sound like they were singing through a megaphone, the first to talk his lyrics, Frank communicated a song. To my ear, he was so far above the field he was in a class of his own. The only guy since that gives Frank a run for his money is Tony Bennett, and they are such different singers that there is really no comparison.

It is AWESOME.
I found a place you can download it, I will DM you the info.

[ExPit]

Originally Posted by IonRedline08

It is AWESOME.
I found a place you can download it, I will DM you the info.

Thanks brother I'll check it out. Not a big rap fan, but he did have something else, something that transcended genre as well. Kinda like how you feel about Frank Sinatra. Very cool!

[Huckleberry3911948]

#1 theme in every F. Sinatra song, lonliness.

[ExPit]

Originally Posted by Huckleberry3911948

#1 theme in every F. Sinatra song, lonliness.

Yeah, or swingin' his friggin' ass off.

Frank was the first to do theme albums. Makes sense right? If you're partying you don't want the next song to bring you down, and if your down, chances are you're enjoying it.

[ExPit]

What made/makes Frank so great, so big, for so long? Just like other walks of life it's the guys/gals who can do it all that achieve greatness in their fields. A criminal lawyer who not only has a commanding, charming way in the court room, but also is protective of their client and is a tireless after hours scholar who leaves no stones unturned when preparing a case; a police detective in a big city precinct who dependably enlists the assistance of his community by practicing goodwill, but who has an eye and an ear for the street as well as a fearless soul when challenged; a professional boxer who is elusive, can take a good shot when he does get hit, and can sense when an opponent's hurt and finish them while the finishing is good...

My only point is to say that Frank Sinatra had many qualities, characteristics which lent to his 'greatness', in the inclusive sense of the word...

A few that come to mind for me:

Musicality, which you have or you don't. Just an ear, a wherewithal with music.

Vocal capability, which you have or you don't (for the most part); meaning that you can take singing lessons, breathing lessons, swim underwater as you hear lyrics in your mind, (Frank did this by the way), but if you don't have an innate ability, sorry to say I think you're kidding yourself. Look at it this way, of all the great musicians there are, arrangers, composers, how many of them can sing? Not too many. If it was as easy as taking lessons and conditioning yourself, they'd all be able to do it.

Taste, in musical choices, songs, arrangements, etc. either you have it or you don't. Frank's contemporaries, guys like Bing or Dean or Sammy or Vic Damone or Jerry Vale, or Perry Como i mean the list could stretch from here to Idaho of the guys and gals, (I'd put Streisand in there), of singers who had great voices but whose taste was suspect to say the least and I think would all give accolades to Frank for his impeccable taste.

Voice quality, Frank's voice had just enough flaw to make it human, accessible. Guys like Damone or Vale or Al Martino were like out of a textbook, but too much so, Godlike, I believe. I believe that Sinatra's voice quality was the best of his genre, bar none, just enough human vulnerability.

Juice, and how to use it. Once Frank made it, after he had the stones or the connections, depending on which story you want to believe to get out of his contract with Tommy Dorsey, that's when he made it big, that's when the bobbysoxers started to line up in front of the Paramount. For the next few years Frank and his superstardom were on a honeymoon, till around 1950 when the bottom fell out. He floundered for the next few years till his role in From Here To Eternity and when he made the most of his shot at a rebirth and got the Oscar. From that time on, if you look at Frank's career, I think it's obvious he decided to never to be on the skids again. This is the time of the Sinatra folklore, the Rat Pack, Las Vegas, Marilyn Monroe, JFK, and mob connections, then of course punching out an offensive reporter, half of it was just Frank, his background, his personality, but the other half I have a hunch was him nurturing his public image, maybe not consciously at first, but I think he had to sooner or later realize it was only making him bigger, getting him bigger purses in Hollywood and on the nightclub circuit.

Only the Best! Frank had more juice that's right, but he used it in the best possible way; he hired only the best musicians, arrangers, songwriters you name it, he surrounded himself with the best because he was the best...

These are I think a few of the reasons why Sinatra music has lasted. We could add lyric interpretation, improvisation of a melody much like a jazz musician, humor, depth, which is a product of emotional courage and generosity, I could probably go on, but won't...

I just want to say a thing about the Frank Sinatra legend, the bad side of his legend that is; the bully, the tough guy, the guy who ordered his driver to run over more than one newspaper reporter, the guy old man Joe Kennedy went to, to enlist the help of the boys from Chicago to make sure that his son was the first Catholic President of the United States; or the Frank Sinatra that could hold a grudge for years, sometimes for minimal to imagined offenses, twho on one night could be the most loyal, protective friend or lover, and on the next, axe the very same person right out of his life forever. The very same guy who after hearing that a Hollywood acquaintance was either in the hospital and couldn't pay his bills or just in financial straits, (eg., George Raft, Bela Lugosi, Lee J. Cobb, Richard Burton), would discreetly pay all the bills on the condition that he would remain throughout, as Richard Burton called him, "Mr. Anonymous; I guess my point is to say that he was a complicated guy, that most of the great things you've heard about him are true, as are some of the other things you've heard about him. Also I'm saying those things only made him bigger, more expansive, I believe that is true, but without that singular musical talent, why would any of us care?

[Raggy dee Ann]

Why I love his music? It's the way he translates such great songs. My next best performer of a lot of standards is Mel Torme.

[Jeff Jarrett]

In the Italian American community you will get cussed out if you say you don't like O'Blue Eyes, LOL.