Sensationally Sinatra


If there is one person I've always had a MASSIVE CRUSH on, it's been Ol' Blue Eyes himself, Mr. Frank Sinatra. My Dad first introduced me to his music as a young girl and I've been smitten ever since. There is just something in his charming smile, the twinkling of his eyes, that breathtakingly rich voice that that makes me go weak at the knees, and generally gush like most teenaged girls do. The problem is that:
a): I am no longer a teenager and
b): Sinatra is no longer among the living (well at least not physically anyways).
Yet, despite the obvious obstacle, my love for him has not diminished. Of course my dream of seeing him perform live was shattered the day he died in 1998.

But, when I was given the opportunity to see Sinatra at the Palladium yesterday, I seized it with a great degree of enthusiasm. You must think I've truly lost the plot now. See Sinatra at the Palladium, but how? He's dead. Well, thanks to the ground-breaking and creative use of the latest digital film and stage technology and £5 million worth of production money, he has been resurrected and is making his latest, greatest and most ambitious comeback at London's West End.


Although, nothing can beat a live performance, this production was not just cleaver and creative, it was electrifying, engaging and you could feel his presence in the room. It was pretty impressive. The creative and ambitious use of cutting edge technology allowed Sinatra to sing directly to us and walk along a series of backgrounds. With his usual swagger and style, he sure looked like he "owned the joint".

The basic idea of the show was to have Sinatra tell his story from childhood to Superstardom and beyond with interviews from the legend himself. And tell it…he did. We were treated to a rare collection of never before seen performances from the Sinatra family's private collection. This was broadcast on 20 foot screens. Sinatra belted out seemingly live performances of favourites like Fly Me to the Moon, I've got you Under My Skin, Come Fly With Me, Pennies from Heaven, New York New York, That’s Life etc. He was aided by a lively 24-piece orchestra and an entertaining cast of dancers and singers - some of whom performed duets with the legend.

Sinatra spoke about his family, his women, and his “chums” in the famous Rat Pack, and people he looked up to like Bing Crosby, Humphrey Bogart etc. Had he still been alive, he would have celebrated his 90th birthday
on the 12th of December 2005.

I could not help but reminisce and hum along to the tunes of this "swell guy". Sinatra will always be a legend who will be remembered for “doing it HIS WAY”. And I, will always be the girl whose “got a crush, Mr. Sinatra on you”, coz “your sensational, sensational….that’s all”.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Hey Cuz..that was neat.
Trust our pappy's to introduce us to guys we'd never meet. Mine too loved Sinatra and would often show off his dance moves.
Well am glad you enjoyed a trip down Sinatra's memory lane. Was visiting Mom in Bakersfield around the time of his demise and he was everywhere. So I got great deals on his Cd's and other memorablia.
He's the only "swell guy" who could be "singing in the rain" and make you feel okay about doing everything your way, No?
March 20, 2006 4:12 am
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