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.
Summer Me Winter Me
Frank Sinatra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And with your kisses
Morning me, evening me
And as the world slips
Far away, star away
Forever me with love
Wonder me, wander me
Pleasure me, peaceful me
And in the silence
Quietly, whisper me
Forever me with love
Forever me with love
And every day I'll
Gentle you, tender you
And oh, the way I'll
Velvet you, clover you
I'll wrap you up and
Ribbon you, rainbow you
And shower you with shine!
Suddenly, magically
We found each other
There we were, here we are
I plan to let you
Happy me, summer me
Winter me, always be mine!
The song "Summer Me Winter Me" by Frank Sinatra is a beautiful love song that speaks of a deep and everlasting love. In the opening lines, the singer speaks of wanting to love and be loved by his partner throughout all seasons, both the positive and the negative. He longs for the morning and evening kisses of his partner, and wants to be with them forever, through thick and thin.
The singer then speaks of the world slipping away, and wanting to be forever with his partner, away from the chaos and noise of the world. He wants to wander and wonder with his partner, and be by a fire, enjoying each other's company. He also wants to find pleasure and peace with them, and in the quiet moments, he wants them to whisper to him, forever with love.
The final lines of the song speak of how the singer will take care of his partner every day, being gentle and tender with them, and wrapping them up in love, like a ribbon or a rainbow. He wants to shower them with love and make them happy, ensuring that they will always be his. Overall, the song is a beautiful portrayal of a deep and enduring love that is meant to last a lifetime.
Line by Line Meaning
Summer me, winter me
Be with me during summer and winter, showing me warmth and comfort throughout the seasons.
And with your kisses
Demonstrate your love and affection through physical gestures like kissing.
Morning me, evening me
Be present with me at all times, from the beginning of the day to the end of it.
And as the world slips
Despite the changes and uncertainties that occur around us.
Far away, star away
Even if we are separated by distance or time, our love will overcome these obstacles.
Forever me with love
Our love is enduring and everlasting.
Wonder me, wander me
Lead me into exploring new experiences and possibilities, keeping me curious and adventurous.
Then by a fire
In these moments of discovery, let's cozy up by the fire together.
Pleasure me, peaceful me
Bring me joy and contentment, creating a sense of calmness and serenity in my life.
And in the silence
Not all moments need to be filled with noise - there can be beauty in the stillness and quietness.
Quietly, whisper me
Share intimate thoughts with me, speaking softly to show me that our connection is special and not for the rest of the world to hear.
Forever me with love
Our love transcends time and will be with us always.
And every day I'll
Continuously.
Gentle you, tender you
Be kind and gentle towards you, handling you with care and delicacy.
And oh, the way I'll
Express the depth of my feelings towards you.
Velvet you, clover you
Wrap you in love, showering you with comfort and bringing you good luck.
I'll wrap you up and
Protect you and keep you safe.
Ribbon you, rainbow you
Show my love for you through symbols of beauty and color, like those of a ribbon or a rainbow.
And shower you with shine!
Give you all the attention, admiration, and love that you deserve.
Suddenly, magically
Our love might have seemed unexpected, but it's a beautiful wonder that came together perfectly.
We found each other
We were lucky enough to cross paths and discover each other's love.
There we were, here we are
No matter where we started or where we go, we will always have the love that brought us together.
I plan to let you
Make a promise to you, showing that our love is intentional and thoughtful.
Happy me, summer me
You bring joy and happiness to my life, and I am grateful to have you with me throughout every season.
Winter me, always be mine!
No matter how difficult times may get, I will hold onto our love and keep you by my side forever.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAN BERGMAN, MARILYN BERGMAN, MICHEL JEAN LEGRAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mark Blackburn
SINATRA – Summer Me, Winter Me
“Hey, what a double play combination!” says the voice of Frank Sinatra – a moment ago on my “other favorite Sirius radio show” The Chairman's Hour: this, following my all-time favorite Don Costa arrangement, of maybe the best melody composed by Michel Legrand – SUMMER ME, WINTER ME for the movie The Summer of '42.
The late composer (France's greatest-ever?) asked his Oscar-winning collaborators 'The Bergmans' Marilyn and Alan to come up with a lyric. It's 'artful' – the lyric writing genius is on full display. Not artless, like a lyric by Johnny Mercer; merely one of the poetic finest from a couple who, before they married, came up with 'Nice 'N' Easy.'
And every day I'll gentle you, tender you, and oh, the way I'll velvet you, clover you
I'll wrap you up and ribbon you, rainbow you, and shower you with shine . . .
Suddenly, magically, we found each other
There we WERE, here we ARE . . . I plan to let you
happy me, summer me, winter me, always be . . . mine!
Listed as a couple at Wikipedia which reminds us . . .
Alan Bergman (born September 11, 1925) and Marilyn Keith Bergman (born November 10, 1929) are American lyricists and songwriters. The pair have been married since 1958 and have written the music and lyrics for numerous celebrated television shows, films, and stage musicals. The Bergmans have won two Academy Awards for Best Original Song and have been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
[and]
The Bergmans' long relationship with the French composer Michel Legrand began in the late 1960s. The couple wrote English lyrics for Legrand's song "The Windmills of Your Mind" featured in The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), which won them their first Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 41st Academy Awards in 1969. The Bergmans and Legrand were subsequently nominated for the Best Original Song award in the following two years for "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" from The Happy Ending (1969) and "Pieces of Dreams" from the 1970 film of the same name.
The couple's minor work with Legrand in this period included "Listen to the Sea" from Ice Station Zebra (1968) and "Nobody Knows" and "Sweet Gingerbread Man" from The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart (1970).[13] Legrand would also feature eight of the Bergman's lyrics on his 1972 album with Sarah Vaughan.[14]
In 1983 at the 55th Academy Awards, the Bergmans' work on "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" composed by Legrand for the film Best Friends would be nominated for the Best Original Song award.
The 55th Academy Awards was also significant as the Bergmans became the first songwriters ever to have written three of the five nominations for the Academy Award for Best Song, being nominated for "It Might Be You" from Tootsie (composed by Dave Grusin), and "If We Were in Love" from Yes, Giorgio (composed by John Williams), in addition to "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?".
At the subsequent Academy Awards, their work with Legrand on the 1983 film Yentl won them the Academy Award for Best Original Song Score or Adaptation Score, with the songs "Papa, Can You Hear Me?" and "The Way He Makes Me Feel" from the film also being nominated for the Best Original Song award.
[Plus, a note about two great arrangers we have celebrated here lately, and an album Siriusly Sinatra has spotlighted]
In 2007 Alan Bergman released his first album as a vocalist, Lyrically, Alan Bergman, featuring lyrics written by him and his wife and arranged by Alan Broadbent and Jeremy Lubbock.[16] Reviewing the album for Allmusic, John Bush praised Bergman's "excellent interpretive skills" and Christopher Loundon in the JazzTimes described Bergman's voice as a "...revelation, suggesting both the wise, elder Sinatra and the astutely mellow Fred Astaire, with a touch of the offbeat dreaminess of Chet Baker."[17]
Thanks, Sinatra 80 for sharing. Celebrated this day at Sinatra Family - Forum - "Siriusly Sinatra" - MY FAVORITE VERSION, YOURS TOO? https://sinatrafamily.com/forum/showthread.php/50225-My-Favorite-Version-%28yours-too-%29?p=1303759#post1303759
Jackie Mcmeekin
What a beautiful song with passionate, poetic, romantic lyrics. Sinatra was a commensurate vocalist, actor, performer. Notice how Sinatra enunciates the words. Thank you, ‘Sinatra80’, for this great upload. It brings tears to my eyes! Thank you ‘ UTube’’. I access you every day! What enjoyment I derive. 🥰👍
Robert Doran
All the REAL men are gone! This guy got knocked down so many times and became a legend among legends!
Brian Woody
All the real men aren’t gone. Only thing is that they are no longer on tv, movies, and music.
Randall Sundeen
Love this tune orchestra is nothing short of awe inspiring the Bergmans are incapable of writing a bad song everything they've ever written is Brilliant!!!!
Claudiu Udrea
2019
samc1nonli
I just heard this in my car while going up a hill that was glistening by the sunset... Some things you just can't video or record you have to experience them solo... I was having a bad day but at that moment, I realized nothing mattered but my happiness and I'll revel in what makes me happy from now on...
Randal Colucci
Reveling in the moment, our best moments, is really all we own. Cash those in by making memories of them to replay in your heart and mind. Hopefully, you can do that with someone you deeply love as well as solo. Safe Passage to you always....
Carola Becker
Ah Sinatra and Legrand, what a deeply moving, soaring sound. A gorgeous arrangement. Quiet passion.
Harry Giovanoni
Michel and Frank! What more can one say about this one of a kind song??!!??
Mike Mccormick
Chairman of the Board