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.
The Continental
Frank Sinatra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dangerous rhythm
It's something daring, the Continental
A way of dancing that's really ultra-new
It's very subtle, the Continental
Because it does what you want it to do
It has a passion, the Continental
It's quite the fashion, the Continental
Because you tell of your love while you dance
You kiss while you're dancing
It's continental, ooh, it's continental
You sing while you're dancing
Your voice is gentle and so sentimental
You'll know before the dance is through
That you're in love with her and she's in love with you
You'll find while you're dancin'
That there's a rhythm in your heart and soul
A certain rhythm that you can't control
And you will do the Continental all the time
You'll find while you're dancin'
That there's a rhythm in your heart and soul
A certain rhythm that you can't control
And you will do the Continental all the time
Beautiful music
Dangerous rhythm
The Continental
The song “The Continental” by Frank Sinatra is a romantic ballad that speaks about how dancing the Continental can lead to love and romance. According to the lyrics, the Continental is a new and daring way of dancing that is both subtle and passionate. It allows the dancers to express their love for each other through the movements and rhythm of the dance. There is an invitation to moonlight and romance that is unmistakable in the Continental.
The song describes how the dancers kiss and sing to each other while they dance to the song. The voice is gentle and sentimental, adding to the overall romance of the moment. In the end, the dancers realize that they have fallen in love with each other, captured by the rhythm of their hearts and souls. The Continental creates a certain rhythm that the dancers cannot control, causing them to do the Continental all the time.
Overall, the song speaks to the power of music and dance to create romantic connections between two people. The Continental is described as beautiful music with a dangerous rhythm, creating an ambiance of passion and intimacy.
Line by Line Meaning
Beautiful music
The music accompanying the dance is beautiful and pleasing to the ear.
Dangerous rhythm
The rhythm of the dance is exciting and thrilling, with a hint of danger.
It's something daring, the Continental
The Continental dance is daring and bold, pushing the boundaries of traditional dances.
A way of dancing that's really ultra-new
The Continental dance is innovative and ahead of its time, breaking new ground in the art of dance.
It's very subtle, the Continental
The Continental dance is understated and delicate, requiring finesse and precision to execute properly.
Because it does what you want it to do
The Continental dance can be tailored to fit the desires and preferences of the individual dancer, allowing for personal expression and creativity.
It has a passion, the Continental
The Continental dance is infused with passion and emotion, conveying feelings of desire, longing, and romance.
An invitation to moonlight and romance
The Continental dance is a romantic invitation to spend a moonlit evening with a lover, engaging in an intimate dance that expresses their love and affection.
It's quite the fashion, the Continental
The Continental dance is in vogue and highly fashionable, attracting the attention of trendsetters and fashionistas.
Because you tell of your love while you dance
The Continental dance is a way to express your love and devotion to your partner, using your body and movements to convey your feelings.
You kiss while you're dancing
The Continental dance allows for romantic gestures such as kissing while dancing, heightening the intimacy and passion of the moment.
It's continental, ooh, it's continental
The Continental dance is something special and unique, with an allure that is difficult to resist.
You sing while you're dancing
The Continental dance can incorporate singing, further enhancing the romantic and emotional appeal of the dance.
Your voice is gentle and so sentimental
The singing during the Continental dance is soft and full of sentiment, conveying deep emotions and feelings of love.
You'll know before the dance is through
That you're in love with her and she's in love with you
The Continental dance has the power to reveal and confirm romantic feelings between partners, creating a powerful connection and bond.
You'll find while you're dancin'
That there's a rhythm in your heart and soul
A certain rhythm that you can't control
The Continental dance has a profound effect on the dancer, inducing a rhythm in their heart and soul that nothing can stop or hinder.
And you will do the Continental all the time
Once you experience the magic of the Continental dance, you will be compelled to perform it as often as possible, driven by the intense emotions and sensations it evokes.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CON CONRAD, HERBERT MAGIDSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@davidmooremoore8748
It can't be touched it can't be duplicated The Voice and it's holding strong to this day Frank old blue eyes we miss you thank you on this Thanksgiving Day we we are proud to listen to your beautiful voice thank you Frank to the Sinatra family God bless you
@davidmooremoore8748
Chairman of the board Continental now that's music thank you Frank!
@davidmoore6112
I got this bad boy on my alarm clock chairman of the board Frank Sinatra he left us words of wisdom my man Frank Sinatra God bless you and your family you know we love you and we miss you man God bless you Frank
@davidmooremoore8748
This is class personified to all you squares listen to The Voice Frank Sinatra he still stands tall the Continental thank you Frank we miss you we love you God bless you and your family
@davidmooremoore8748
My buddy Frank Sinatra chairman of the board he knows how to put you in the mood thank you Frank miss you love you
@robbyg8073
The Gay Divorcee brought me here.
Must have been a heck of a time to be alive.
@marisolaznar8080
En catala