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Sunday Sinatra Song
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“Fly Me to the Moon” is a well-known song by Frank Sinatra. However, it was originally written for someone other than him. Here are some things you need to know about this song and its version presented by Sinatra:
- The track was composed by Bart Howard in 1954.
- In 1964, Frank Sinatra recorded his famous interpretation, which Quincy Jones arranged.
- This piece is regarded as one of the jazz standards and became one of the most recognizable songs performed by Sinatra.
- “Fly Me to the Moon” has romantic lyrics and a swinging melody.
- Still, it is often called the Apollo space program of the ’60s in Sinatra’s performance.
- Many singers have covered this song for the years, but none could outshine Frank’s.
- It is usually done in swing or jazz style.
If you have any other questions or would like more information on these topics, feel free to ask!
History:
This song was written as “In Other Words” in 1954.
Kaye Ballard made its first record that year, too.
Throughout the 50-s till the early 60-s different artists were trying their skills with this track, making it more famous each time they performed or recorded again
But it became a real hit only after Sinatra released his version in ’64.
Career:
Frank Sinatra (1915-1998) is considered one of America’s greatest popular music artists ever.
He started working with Harry James’ orchestra during the swing era and joined the Tommy Dorsey Band. Thanks to his unique voice timbre, he became very popular there, earning the nickname “The Voice.”
However, there came a time when nobody wanted him anymore, so Frank left show business for good—or so they thought! A few years later, something happened that turned everything around once again—”Sinatra Comeback.”
In the ’40s, he gained fame performing solo, but in the ’50s through ’60s, he achieved even greater success when he released several albums on Capitol Records, followed by some more with his own company, Reprise Records.
Apart from being a singer, Sinatra also worked as an actor, winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in “From Here to Eternity” (1953).
Frank was also a founding member of the famous Rat Pack, which, with Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr., became one of the most successful shows ever produced!
Cultural Impact:
At first, this song became closely associated with NASA’s Apollo program. Later, it appeared in many different films, TV shows, and commercials, thus securing its place among other popular records of that time.
Since then, it has been covered by many artists from all sorts of music genres, demonstrating the versatility and timeless appeal this particular composition possesses.
The media frequently uses it whenever they want to make people feel romantic about the past or simply nostalgic about something that happened long ago somewhere far away from them.
So, there is no doubt why the phrase “fly me to the moon” is often heard when someone talks about love or great dreams—both are equally beautiful!
Finally, if you listen carefully to Frank’s version recorded in the early ’60s, you will immediately recognize how much sophistication and cool jazz style he put into it—just like every single piece created during these years.
I’ll expand on all of the main points:
Song History:
“Fly Me to the Moon” is a song with a history that spans many decades. Bart Howard had spent twenty years writing songs before composing what he considered his first “standard.” Indeed, this piece was quite different from the slow original ballad-like tempo which Sinatra made famous. The earliest recordings by such artists as Kaye Ballard and Felicia Sanders helped establish it, but at first, it was thought of more as a cabaret standard than a pop hit. It was popularized even further when Johnny Mathis recorded his version in 1956; interestingly, the title officially changed to “Fly Me to the Moon” in 1963 after Peggy Lee sang her cover.
Sinatra’s Career:
Frank Sinatra’s career spanned over five decades, during which time he became an American music and cultural icon for his contributions. His early years with big bands allowed him to develop signature phrasing and timing. As a solo artist, he explored themes like loneliness and introspection with albums such as “In The Wee Small Hours” (1955), which pioneered the concept of the “concept album.”
Sinatra’s comeback in the 1950s—often referred to as ‘the Sinatra comeback’—came about largely because he won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in From Here To Eternity (1953) alongside some critically acclaimed Capitol Records releases. These established him as someone who could act and sing soulfully.
The formation of The Rat Pack in the late 1950s solidified Frank’s status within popular culture. Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop were among its members. They were synonymous with coolness and sophistication in Las Vegas’s early sixties style.
In later years, Frank set up his own record label, Reprise Records, so he had more artistic freedom than ever before. Moreover, he performed until the 1990s, with his final concerts in 1995.
Cultural Impact of “Fly Me to the Moon”:
The space program became associated with the song when Quincy Jones – a friend of Sinatra’s – gave Buzz Aldrin a copy of it on cassette tape, subsequently playing the first music ever heard on the moon.
Film and television have also used this tune countless times throughout productions ranging from romantic comedies to serious dramas. For example, it featured at the end credits sequence of Space Cowboys (2000) and was frequently utilized within Neon Genesis Evangelion, an anime series; Martin Scorsese included it among tracks used throughout The Aviator (2004).
Its influence doesn’t stop at entertainment, though car and life insurance commercials are among many adverts that use this track as background music to evoke feelings of timeless sophistication or ambitious dreams.
Musically speaking, many different recordings have been made using different languages, styles, etc., over the years. Jazz musicians often take “Fly Me To The Moon” as a starting point for improvisation. At the same time, pop/rock acts make their interpretations, too—notable covers include Diana Krall, Michael Bublé, and even a duet version performed by Frank himself with Julio Iglesias.
These all contribute towards making up what is commonly referred to as ‘popular consciousness,’ where certain phrases become part of everyday speech because they embody desirable romantic ideals or represent extremely ambitious goals.
In the early ’60s, Quincy Jones arranged Sinatra’s swinging version, a great example of jazz-style sophistication. It exhibits Sinatra’s perfect phrasing and the renaissance of big band sound at that time. By making this recording, Sinatra confirmed himself as the coolest and most cosmopolitan performer ever.