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.
Oh! Look At Me Now
Frank Sinatra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'm not the guy who cared about fortunes and such
I never cared much
Oh, look at you now
I never knew the technique of kissing
I never knew the thrill I could get from your touch
I never knew much
You're a new man better than Casanova at his best
With a new heart and a brand new start
I'm so proud I'm bustin' my vest
So you the guy who turned out a lover
Yes I'm the guy who laughed at those blue diamond rings
One of those things
Oh, look at you now
He's not the guy who cared about love
And he's not the guy who cared about fortunes and such
Cared about much
But, look at him now
(I'm a lover) He never knew the technique of kissing
He never knew the thrill he could get form her touch
Never knew much
But, look at him now
Man I really come on
He's a new man better than (Casanova at his best, right up)
With a new start, a brand new heart
He's so proud he's bustin' his vest
So he's the guy who turned out a lover
So he's the guy who laughed at those blue diamond rings
One of those things
But, look at me now
He's a new man better than Casanova at his best
He's got some new (?)
Well, I'm so proud I'm bustin' my vest
He's a lover, yes, we know he's a lover
Yes
I laughed at those blue diamond rings
Just one of those things
But, look at him now
Jack I'm ready
Look at him now
The song "Oh! Look At Me Now" was composed by Joe Bushkin and John DeVries and first recorded by Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra in 1941, achieving moderate success. However, it was the Frank Sinatra version, recorded in 1946, that became a hit and gained widespread popularity. The lyrics of the song describe the transformation of a man who never cared about love or romantic relationships and was not interested in material possessions, but now has everything he ever desired. The opening lines express this sentiment, as the singer states that he never cared about love, but upon seeing his lover now, he is amazed by how much he has changed.
The second verse of the song further emphasizes this transformation, as the singer describes himself as someone who never knew the "technique of kissing" or the "thrill" that comes from being touched by a lover. He then goes on to describe his lover as a "new man better than Casanova at his best" because he has undergone a similar transformation and has become a skilled lover himself. The last verse repeats this idea and ends with the singer expressing his pride in his lover's journey.
Overall, the song celebrates personal growth and transformation, particularly in the realm of romantic relationships. It acknowledges that people can change and become better versions of themselves, and that love and relationships can be transformative experiences that improve one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm not the guy who cared about love
I never really cared about love or relationships
And I'm not the guy who cared about fortunes and such
Money and success were never a big concern for me
I never cared much
Overall, I wasn't very interested in or invested in life's offerings
Oh, look at you now
But seeing how successful and happy you've become makes me reconsider
I never knew the technique of kissing
I never knew how to kiss someone properly or make them feel special
I never knew the thrill I could get from your touch
I didn't realize how wonderful physical touch could be until I experienced it with you
I never knew much
In so many ways, I was inexperienced and unaware before meeting you
You're a new man better than Casanova at his best
You've transformed into a true romantic, better than any legendary lover of the past
With a new heart and a brand new start
Your heart has opened up and you've started a new chapter of your life in a positive direction
I'm so proud I'm bustin' my vest
I'm incredibly proud of your growth and transformation
So you the guy who turned out a lover
You've become someone who is truly in love and dedicated to their partner
Yes I'm the guy who laughed at those blue diamond rings
In the past, I may have been dismissive of romantic or material gestures like blue diamond rings
One of those things
But now I realize the error of my ways and hope to make things right
He's not the guy who cared about love
I was never really invested in love and relationships, but now that's changed
And he's not the guy who cared about fortunes and such
Material success was never a priority for me, but that's also changed to some extent
Cared about much
Overall, I didn't have strong feelings or goals when it came to life and love
But, look at him now
But seeing how much I've transformed and grown, you can see how much I've changed
(I'm a lover) He never knew the technique of kissing
I may have started out inexperienced, but my love for you has helped me learn and grow
He never knew the thrill he could get form her touch
Before meeting you, I didn't realize just how wonderful and meaningful your touch could be
Never knew much
I may have been naive or inexperienced before, but my relationship with you has helped me learn and grow
Man I really come on
I've made a lot of progress and growth since we first met
He's a new man better than (Casanova at his best, right up)
I've become a true romantic at heart, and better than any famous lover of the past
With a new start, a brand new heart
I've turned over a new leaf and have started a new chapter of my life with a newfound love and appreciation for life
He's so proud he's bustin' his vest
I'm incredibly proud of my own growth and the positive changes I've made in my life
So he's the guy who turned out a lover
I've transformed into a true romantic who is dedicated to their partner and relationship
But, look at me now
Despite my past self being naive or dismissive, I've changed for the better and am proud of my progress
He's a new man better than Casanova at his best
I've become a true romantic at heart, and better than any famous lover of the past
He's got some new (?)
I've incorporated new ideas, behaviors, and attitudes to become a better version of myself
Well, I'm so proud I'm bustin' my vest
I'm incredibly proud of my own growth and the positive changes I've made in my life
He's a lover, yes, we know he's a lover
My transformation into a true romantic and dedicated lover is evident to everyone around me
Yes
Indeed, I've changed for the better and am proud of my progress
I laughed at those blue diamond rings
In the past, I may have been dismissive of romantic or material gestures like blue diamond rings
Just one of those things
But now I realize the error of my ways and hope to make things right
But, look at him now
Despite my past self being naive or dismissive, I've changed for the better and am proud of my progress
Jack I'm ready
I'm ready to embark on this new chapter of my life with a newfound appreciation for love and relationships
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Joe Bushkin, John Devries
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
)))