People unfortunate enough to come across my ramblings on a regular basis (and you know who you are) will realise that I'm not adverse to lobbing the odd controversial gobbet into the Blogpot to see what it stirs up.Out on my bike yesterday for a trip round Bredon Hill, I came across this poster on a post box at Bricklehampton. Someone, somewhere, is suffering the compunction to ape Frank Sinatra. As I rode on, I pondered on this at some length. Why would anyone want to copy such a bland, over-hyped, over-rated vocal contortionist?
Now I know that the appreciation of music is highly subjective; not everyone hears the same chord, dances to the same rhythm, hums the same melody.
But Frank Sinatra. I've heard spaniels howl with more emotional appeal.
And don't get me started on Elvis. The triumph of media over mediocrity.
16 comments:
I always felt the 'F' was superfluous.
dave, the thread i'm seeing in your disdain for these two idols is that their fame outstripped their talent. but, there is that intangible, charismatic qualilty about them that many found irresistable. just curious what your thoughts on robert palmer are? i saw robert palmer perform and i thought he was the most incredibly smoldering sexy man alive, despite his slick hair and all the logic telling me he was just singing a song.
I'm just being a bit naughty, Snowsparkle. Their style of singing and orchestration is just not to my taste, nor is that of their contemporaries. Although I've heard of Robert Palmer, I can't say I'd recognise anything by him but if he works for you, he's obviously doing something right.
I've been trying to think of a male voice that I like and nothing's come to mind yet.
Female's are easier. The obvious one would be Eva Cassidy although I only really like two or three of her songs. There was a British singer, who also died young, called Sandy Denny who could pull a few tears out of the resolutely masculine eye.
Not sure about you being adverse to being controversial, but over the years I've certainly known you to not being averse to doing so. Mind you in your rapidly declining years its not suprising that you're using archaic forms of words.
As for Sinatra and Elvis - couldn't agree more. Early examples of media induced idolatory leading to a feeding frenzy of self perpetuating drivel. A problem now taken to the extreme by manufactured bands, over paid footballers, and talentless TV presenters.
Must be genetic, Pete.
dave, i definitely agree with you on eva cassidy. "fields of gold" is one of my favorites.
Ah Frank, yes, hmmmnn.
I always prefer professional singers to take the trouble to hit their notes when the band and orchestra have bothered to tune to concert pitch.
I agree 100percent. I never could figure out anyone's interest in Frank Sinatra. Maybe it was because he belongs to the underworld and they were afraid to not like him. I don't know, but I would take Sammi Davis Jr. anyday. He could act, sing, dance, and was an all around nice guy.
Well, thank you all for being so frank about Frank.
I glad to find a journal that let's people react to the Sinatra craze. I hate him. You think he was the pope. People carry on that way. All the Radio plays nothing but blue eyed music.
A lot of Singers of the past.
Don't get the air play that they so deserve.
Frank Sinatra's singing is fucking terrible, if you can call it singing!
Same as those other couple of twats - Tony Bennet and Sammy Davis.
How the fuck can people call that singing?
I doubt any of you have been to one of his concerts.
The man was a living legend. He invented the concept album for Christ's sake!
I agree: Sinatra sucks. In fact, he sucks a big one. He was a no-talent, unoriginal showboat who muscled his way into show business.
However, your statement about Elvis is wrong. Listen to King Creole, what an amazing record. The Elvis era gave birth to many great artists that are normally overlooked now (Dion DiMucci being one, and to a lesser extent even Roy Orbison). Seriously, listen to Elvis' song "Crawfish." You cannot dare lump Sinatra into the same category of overhyped musicians as Elvis. Elvis had a great voice and a lot of his music was great (a lot of it was bad as well - but the era from the 50s-60s was notorious for that, I mean look at The Beach Boys).
Third, to the person who said Sinatra invented the concept album, you don't know what you're talking about. Concept albums were around in the 30s, even. Listen to Lee Wiley and Ella Fitzgerald. Also, it should be noted that Sinatra's "concept album" is hardly a concept album -- perhaps the first TRUE, 100% "concept album" is Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention's "Freak Out."
dude your right, neith sinatra or elvis could sing, they were just a couple of corporate tools years before katy perry and beyonce couldn't sing
For this reason, we should abolish show business. There wasn't always something called show business. It's the modern invention of sleazy, greedy businessmen and corporate PR machines for rather nefarious purposes (control and money). We should decentralize the media. It is absolutely obnoxious, this gaudy, absurd circle jerk that has gone on too far. It has been disastrous for communities, to the truth, to culture, to the individual human beings on this planet. It has turned people into morons, it has breeded a sociopathic, psychopathic, delusional and insane celebrity culture, the New Mythology and new pantheon for he masses. We live in a society of perverts and sleazes because we encourage it.
Frank Sinatra is an overrated buffoon, and even as a child before anyone said a word about him to me, I thought his singing was the insipid droning one might expect playing over the speakers of a discount store or an elevator.
It boggles the mind how the media can dupe or brainwash people into adopting certain tastes and opinions which they don't authentically have. In fact, it is criminal.
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