Frank Sinatra

[ambernector]

What do you think of Ol' Blue Eyes?

Do you think he is as important as he is made out? Or do you think his music is no longer relevant? traightface:

[Palmer]

I have to admit, Ole Blue Eyes will always play an important role in many of my childhood memories because he is my dad's favorite performer, so I have LOADS of stories and and memories from growing up that include Frank in some way or another. And one cannot deny, he certainly lived his life his way (no pun intended .. :

Is his music still relevant? To a degree .. yes. We still see the old style crooners re-releasing those old standards, a la Sinatra and their CD's selling, and even ventran artists launching successful comebacks using the "crooner" style. Of course Rod Stewart being the most notiable example there. :o_O:

[Beach]

Sinatra is one of my favourite singers - a man of immense talent and taste (in his music at least).
He is just as relevant today as he was in his heyday, a masterful interpreter of popular song.
In recent years, actor Tom Burlinson (The Man From Snowy River, Pharlap, Piece of Cake, The Legend of Kootenai Brown) has been performing the Sinatra catalogue with the Sydney All Stars Big Band to great acclaim out here. It was Tom doing most of the singing on the soundtrack of the TV mini-series aout Sinatra that was made a few years back.
You only have to listen to (as a singer) Sinatra doing something like Angel Eyes to realise his relevance in any era.

[djdave]

I really like Sinatra. How much of that is the songs themselves and how much is Sinatra is hard to say, though.

I reckon he was quite a good actor as well.

Most people know that Sinatra was involved with the Mafia. What you may not know is that - at one point - a contract was put out on him. The Mob had wanted Sinatra to get JFK to stay at Sinatra's home when the President visited that particular state. But at the last moment, JFK stayed with Bing Crosby.

Only the intervention of mobster Sam Giacana - a personal friend of 'Ol Blue Eyes - saved his skin.

Incidentally, Giacana was later found in the basement of his restaurant with four bullets in the head.

I've read that there are two veiled references to Sinatra in The Godfather: the "made him an offer he couldn't refuse" and the horses head bits.

[Palmer]

I've read that there are two veiled references to Sinatra in The Godfather: the "made him an offer he couldn't refuse" and the horses head bits.

Hey djdave,
I have actually heard of the references to "Ole Blue Eyes" in The Godfather as well. I guess that was a different time, when even The Mob was glamorized and romanticized. ::

[Tiggi]

Mrs Tiggi bought me a 21 CD Sinatra set (The Capitol Years) for Xmas, and we've just finished listening to it.

I've always liked the guy, but this box set has been a revelation. I didn't previously realise just how good he was. Time after time we've been blown away by the quality of the music & singing.

Is he still relevant ? Well, that's quite a subjective question, but I'd have to say yes, very much.

What's struck me is the quality of performances & recordings which were usually achieved with 3 or 4 days of recording. Begs the question why do todays' artists spend so long in the studio ??

[Road-Warrior]

I love Frank Sinatra. I think that his music is still relevant,mainly because I know many younger people who also listen to him along with a few that follow the same style. He also inspired not only musicians, but people trying to find a certain lifestyle as well. I actually just got a biography on him which I still haven't had time to read, I really want to start it though. It seems like his life was a total adventure and he regreted none of it.

[Music Head]

I love Frank Sinatra. I think that his music is still relevant,mainly because I know many younger people who also listen to him along with a few that follow the same style. He also inspired not only musicians, but people trying to find a certain lifestyle as well. I actually just got a biography on him which I still haven't had time to read, I really want to start it though. It seems like his life was a total adventure and he regreted none of it.

I've read several
a class act not just for his music, but the way he lived his life.

[gryphon]

I have been around the FS story for most of my life....................MY Dad was a big fan and followed him from the early days ( Dad is 91 this year so he got in early)

I'm not convinced by this :

"It seems like his life was a total adventure and he regreted none of it."

From what I can gather Frank was a very heart broken man

He never ended up with the woman he loved ....................Ava Gardener.

He was a manic depressive , a drunk and if tales are to be believed a member or close associate of the Mafia.............

He did spend six or so years married to Ava but it was all one sided , It was a show biz marriage...............when it broke up Frank admitted he never really got over it and regretted loosing her

Part of his ability as a singer was that he could let that hurt flow in a song............


The drinking he also regretted as was often shown in his stage act soliloquies

THe Mafia connections hunted his dreams and made him unable to sleep at night.

He lost his career at one point and that too pained him...........he made some poor decisions and ended up being cold shouldered by the business until asupreeme gamble and effort brought him back.

The only time he confessed to being happy was in his time with Barbara Marx and with his grand kids ( and the huge train set he built at his home )

So I believe the image projected by the media of him living heard and regretting nothing

Frank hurt and he could channel that into a song...............he could loose his temper ad punch someone and that made him look like he did not care and lived with no regrets.....

But Ava says e never ever left her out of his life.................he would do nothing with out trying to get her approval ................often he could not and as very hurt

He tried all his life to get her back but she would not have him

He spent so much on getting his depressive tenancies sorted or at least under control

BUT BOY COULD HE SING A SAD SONG AND MAKE YOU LISTEN !

[Music Head]

damn, I don't even like him now