Born in Hoboken, New Jersey, to Italian immigrants, Sinatra began his musical career in the swing era with bandleaders Harry James and Tommy Dorsey. Sinatra found success as a solo artist after he signed with Columbia Records in 1943, becoming the idol of the "bobby soxers". He released his debut album, The Voice of Frank Sinatra, in 1946. Sinatra's professional career had stalled by the early 1950s, and he turned to Las Vegas, where he became one of its best known residency performers as part of The Rat Pack. His career was reborn in 1953 with the success of From Here to Eternity, with his performance subsequently winning an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor. Sinatra released several critically lauded albums, including In the Wee Small Hours (1955), Songs for Swingin' Lovers! (1956), Come Fly with Me (1958), Only the Lonely (1958) and Nice 'n' Easy (1960).
Sinatra left Capitol in 1960 to start his own record label, Reprise Records, and released a string of successful albums. In 1965, he recorded the retrospective September of My Years, starred in the Emmy-winning television special Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Music, and released the tracks "Strangers in the Night" and "My Way". After releasing Sinatra at the Sands, recorded at the Sands Hotel and Casino in Vegas with frequent collaborator Count Basie in early 1966, the following year he recorded one of his most famous collaborations with Tom Jobim, the album Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim. It was followed by 1968's collaboration with Duke Ellington. Sinatra retired for the first time in 1971, but came out of retirement two years later and recorded several albums and resumed performing at Caesars Palace, and reached success in 1980 with "New York, New York". Using his Las Vegas shows as a home base, he toured both within the United States and internationally until a short time before his death in 1998.
Sinatra forged a highly successful career as a film actor. After winning an Academy Award for From Here to Eternity, he starred in The Man with the Golden Arm (1955), and received critical acclaim for his performance in The Manchurian Candidate (1962). He appeared in various musicals such as On the Town (1949), Guys and Dolls (1955), High Society (1956), and Pal Joey (1957), winning another Golden Globe for the latter. Toward the end of his career, he became associated with playing detectives, including the title character in Tony Rome (1967). Sinatra would later receive the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1971. On television, The Frank Sinatra Show began on ABC in 1950, and he continued to make appearances on television throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Sinatra was also heavily involved with politics from the mid-1940s, and actively campaigned for presidents such as Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, though before Kennedy's death Sinatra's alleged Mafia connections led to his being snubbed.
While Sinatra never formally learned how to read music, he had an impressive understanding of it, and he worked very hard from a young age to improve his abilities in all aspects of music. A perfectionist, renowned for his dress sense and performing presence, he always insisted on recording live with his band. His bright blue eyes earned him the popular nickname "Ol' Blue Eyes". Sinatra led a colorful personal life, and was often involved in turbulent affairs with women, such as with his second wife Ava Gardner. He went on to marry Mia Farrow in 1966 and Barbara Marx in 1976. Sinatra had several violent confrontations, usually with journalists he felt had crossed him, or work bosses with whom he had disagreements. He was honored at the Kennedy Center Honors in 1983, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Ronald Reagan in 1985, and the Congressional Gold Medal in 1997. Sinatra was also the recipient of eleven Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Trustees Award, Grammy Legend Award and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. After his death, American music critic Robert Christgau called him "the greatest singer of the 20th century", and he continues to be seen as an iconic figure.
Sinatra died with his wife at his side at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on May 14, 1998, aged 82, after a heart attack. Sinatra had ill health during the last few years of his life, and was frequently hospitalized for heart and breathing problems, high blood pressure, pneumonia and bladder cancer. He was further diagnosed as having dementia. He had made no public appearances following a heart attack in February 1997. Sinatra's wife encouraged him to "fight" while attempts were made to stabilize him, and his final words were, "I'm losing." Sinatra's daughter, Tina, later wrote that she and her sister, Nancy, had not been notified of their father's final hospitalization, and it was her belief that "the omission was deliberate. Barbara would be the grieving widow alone at her husband's side." The night after Sinatra's death, the lights on the Empire State Building in New York City were turned blue, the lights at the Las Vegas Strip were dimmed in his honor, and the casinos stopped spinning for a minute.
Sinatra's funeral was held at the Roman Catholic Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills, California, on May 20, 1998, with 400 mourners in attendance and thousands of fans outside. Gregory Peck, Tony Bennett, and Sinatra's son, Frank Jr., addressed the mourners, who included many notable people from film and entertainment. Sinatra was buried in a blue business suit with mementos from family members—cherry-flavored Life Savers, Tootsie Rolls, a bottle of Jack Daniel's, a pack of Camel cigarettes, a Zippo lighter, stuffed toys, a dog biscuit, and a roll of dimes that he always carried—next to his parents in section B-8 of Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City, California.
His close friends Jilly Rizzo and Jimmy Van Heusen are buried nearby. The words "The Best Is Yet to Come", plus "Beloved Husband & Father" are imprinted on Sinatra's grave marker. Significant increases in recording sales worldwide were reported by Billboard in the month of his death.
Meet Me At The Copa
Frank Sinatra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The Rockettes in precision are a sheer delight
But I for one would rather visit John McKnight
Meet me at the Copa, meet me at the Copa
Meet me at the Copa tonight
There are those who just adore the Art Museum
And out in Brooklyn, there's a ballpark and it seems
But I don't care a whole lot if I never zeem
Meet at the Copa tonight
The show goes on, and on, and on
Do you hear the applause and the cheering
Even if you're wooing, drop what you're doing
Hurry down to see what you're hearing
On 52nd street, they now have burlesque
And you count the effervescence and the view
But all that stuff that squares is my advice to you
Meet me at the Copa, meet me at the Copa
Meet at the Copa tonight
Now some of you may like to go to movie shows
Or walk along Fifth Avenue to view the clothes
But here's the place that's famous for geriatric nose
Meet me at the Copa, meet me at the Copa
Meet at the Copa tonight
You'll see the nicest people in the nicest cars
They constantly use the lounge across the lovely bars
And it's the spot where stars come just to see the stars
Meet me at the Copa, meet me at the Copa
Meet at the Copa tonight
The show goes on, and on, and on
Do you hear the applause and the cheering
Even if you're wooing, drop what you're doing
Hurry down to see what you're hearing
The most amazing club in town you will admit
It's imitated quite a lot but this is it
And if you want to see where the new acts hit
Meet me at the Copa, meet me at the Copa
Meet at the Copa tonight
In "Meet Me at the Copa," Frank Sinatra declares his preference for visiting the famous Copacabana night club over other attractions in New York City. He mentions several alternatives, such as the Statue of Liberty, the Rockettes, the Art Museum, and even burlesque shows on 52nd Street, but nothing seems to compare to the Copa's atmosphere of excitement, refinement, and star power. Sinatra emphasizes the sensory experience of the Copa, from the effervescence of champagne to the fragrance of geriatric nose (a reference to the older wealthy patrons who frequented the club). He also notes that the Copa is a place to see and be seen, especially by celebrities and their fans.
At a deeper level, "Meet Me at the Copa" can be read as a commentary on the nature of glamour and escape in American culture. The song celebrates the illusions and artifices that make the Copa such a special destination, from the dazzling floor show to the luxurious decor. However, it also acknowledges that such pleasures are fleeting, and that they can distract us from more meaningful pursuits. By choosing the Copa over the Art Museum or the ballpark, Sinatra suggests that he values spectacle over substance, and that he is willing to indulge in the fantasy of the night club even if it means neglecting the "real" world outside.
Line by Line Meaning
The statue in the harbor is a lovely sight
I appreciate the beauty of the statue in the harbor, but it doesn't compare to my desire to visit John McKnight.
The Rockettes in precision are a sheer delight
While I enjoy the Rockettes' precise performance, they still don't compare to my desire to be at the Copa.
But I for one would rather visit John McKnight
Although some people may prefer other sights, I personally would rather be at the Copa with John McKnight.
There are those who just adore the Art Museum
Some people may have a strong affection for the Art Museum, but it doesn't compare to my desire to be at the Copa.
And out in Brooklyn, there's a ballpark and it seems
While there is a ballpark in Brooklyn, it doesn't hold my interest like being at the Copa does.
But I don't care a whole lot if I never zeem
The above mentioned places are of little significance to me compared to the Copa.
The show goes on, and on, and on
The entertainment at the Copa never ends and continues to captivate the audience.
Do you hear the applause and the cheering
The audience's appreciation and excitement are evident through their applause and cheering.
Even if you're wooing, drop what you're doing
Even if you're occupied with dating or courting someone, drop everything and come to the Copa.
Hurry down to see what you're hearing
The excitement of what you're hearing should prompt you to hurry down to the Copa to see it for yourself.
On 52nd street, they now have burlesque
While burlesque shows can be found on 52nd street, they don't compare to the Copa.
And you count the effervescence and the view
The energy and atmosphere of the Copa are unparalleled and should be appreciated.
But all that stuff that squares is my advice to you
I suggest that you ignore such commonplace activities and join me at the extraordinary Copa.
Now some of you may like to go to movie shows
While some may enjoy going to the movies, it doesn't compare to being at the Copa.
Or walk along Fifth Avenue to view the clothes
Window shopping on Fifth Avenue may appeal to some, but it doesn't compare to the experience at the Copa.
But here's the place that's famous for geriatric nose
The fame of the Copa stems from the geriatric singer that performs there, yet it's still the best place to be.
You'll see the nicest people in the nicest cars
The Copa is frequented by the most fashionable and affluent people and their cars.
They constantly use the lounge across the lovely bars
Those at the Copa enjoy spending their time in the lounge which is located near the attractive bars.
And it's the spot where stars come just to see the stars
The Copa is a hot spot where celebrities come to be starstruck themselves.
The most amazing club in town you will admit
Everyone can agree that the Copa is the most impressive club in town.
It's imitated quite a lot but this is it
Although there are many imitators, there is only one undeniable Copa.
And if you want to see where the new acts hit
If you're interested in seeing new talent, you should come to the Copa.
Lyrics © IMAGEM U.S. LLC
Written by: A. STORDAHL, S. CAHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mike
on The Lady Is A Champ
She gets too hungry for dinner at eight
She can't eat late and stay up all night, because unlike society types, she has to get up in the morning.
She likes the theatre and never comes late
She cares more about seeing the play than being seen making an entrance.
She never bothers with people she'd hate
Her friends are friends, not social trophies.
Doesn't like crap games with barons or earls
While barrns and earls probably don't play craps, she associates with friends, not people to be seen with.
Won't go to Harlem in ermine and pearls
She doesn't "slum", the practice of the rich in the 30's, when the song was written, of touring poor neighborhoods dressed in rich clothes to "tut, tut" about the deplorable conditions, and congratulate each other for "caring about the poor"
Won't dish the dirt with the rest of the girls
Doesn't trade gossip for acceptance among an in-crowd
She likes the free, fresh wind in her hair
She cares more about how her hair feels than conforming with current hair fashions
Hates California, it's cold and it's damp
Since most of California is noticeably warmer and / or drier than New York, where the play the song was written for is set, this is probably a facetious excuse to like what she likes.
And she won't go to Harlem in Lincoln's or Ford's
Another reference to slumming, but facetious, since Lincolns and Fords were middle-class, not luxury brands when the lyric was written
Anonymous
on Try a Little Tenderness
Here are the correct lyrics
Try A Little Tenderness - Frank Sinatra - Lyrics
Oh she may be weary
Women do get wearied
Wearing that same old shabby dress
And when she’s weary
You try a little tenderness
You know she’s waiting
Just anticipating things she’ll may never possess
While she is without them
Try just a little bit of tenderness
It’s not just sentimental
She has her grieve and her care
And the words that soft and gentle
Makes it easier to bear
You wont regret it
Women don't forget it
Love is their whole happiness
And it’s all so easy
Try a little tenderness
Musical Interlude
And, it’s all so easy
Try a little tenderness
Daniel
on The Way You Look Tonight
I met Frank Jr. in Las Vegas, a real gentleman. RIP you both.
Giorgi Khutashvili
on Theme from New York, New York
)))