A LETTER FROM A FAN

A LETTER FROM A FAN


Dear Eve:

Kababasa ko lang ng FRANK, ang kuwento mo para sa buwan ng Agosto. Napukaw nito ang pagiging fanatic ko kay Frank Sinatra, na talagang idol ko buhat pa noong aking kabataan. May hihigit pa bang mang-aawit sa kanya? Ang nangyari tuloy, naghalughog ako ng mga trivia tungkol sa kanya. Share ko ito sa ‘yo.

1. Ang tunay na pangalan niya ay Francis Albert Sinatra. Ipinanganak noong December 12, 1915 at namatay noong May 14, 1998. Ipinahayag ang kanyang kamatayan sa website niya habang kinakanta ni Frank sa background ang SOFTLY AS A LEAVE YOU.

Softly, I will leave you softly
For my heart would break
if you should wake and see me go
So I leave you softly, long before you miss me
Long before your arms can beg me stay
For one more hour or one more day
After all the years, I can’t bear the tears to fall
So softly, as I leave you there.
(Softly, long before you miss me)
(Long before your arms can beg me stay)
(For one more hour) or one more day
After all the years, I can’t bear the tears to fall
So, softly, as a I leave you there
As I leave you there
As I leave you there.

2. Apat ang naging asawa niya: Una si Nancy Barbato at sila ay nagkaroon ng tatlong anak, sina Nancy, Frank, Jr. and Tina; pangalawa si Ava Gardner; pangatlo si Mia Farrow, at pang-apat si Barbara Marx na nanatiling asawa niya hanggang mamatay si Frank.

Si Ava marahil ang “pag-ibig ng kanyang buhay”; ito rin ang “pinaka- maalon” sa buhay niya bilang may-asawa. Devastated siya nang maghiwalay sila, at dito isinilang ang awiting I’M A FOOL TO WANT YOU.

I’m a fool to want you, I’m a fool to want you
To want a love that can’t be true
A love that’s there for others too
I am a fool to hold you, such a fool to hold you
To seek a kiss, not mine alone
To share a kiss the devil has known
Time and time again I said I’d leave you
Time and time again, I went away
But there would come a time when I would need you
And once again these words I have to say
Take me back I love you
Pity me I need you
I know it’s wrong, it must be wrong
But right or wrong, I can’t get along
Without you.

3. Bagama’t sikat siya noong pang 1940’s, nangulimlim ang kanyang bituin noong 1950-51. Ginawa niya ang pelikulang FROM HERE TO ETERNITY, kasama niya sina Burt Lancaster, Deborah Kerr, Montgomery Clift, Donna Reed at Ernest Borgnine. Ginampanan niya ang papel ni Angelo Maggio na palaging inaasar ni Sergeant Fatso Judson, papel ni Ernest Borgnine. Nag-away sila – matinding suntukan. Nabugbog nang husto si Frank, nguni’t lumaban siya at natalo si Ernest Borgnine. Tinanghal na best picture ng 1953 ang FROM HERE TO ETERNITY. Best supporting actor naman si FRANK SINATRA at best supporting actress si DONNA REED. Sumikat, mangyari pa ang awiting batay sa pelikula ang pamagat:

You vowed your love, from here to eternity
A love so true, it never would die
You gave your lips, gave them so willingly
How could I know your kiss meant goodbye
Now I’m alone with only a memory
My empty arms would never know why
Though you are gone
The love that you left with me, the endless desire
Will live from here to eternity.

4. Hindi niya gusto ang rock and roll at si Elvis Presley. Kalaunan, isinaplaka rin ni Frank ang LOVE ME TENDER na original na awitin ni Elvis.

5. Paboritong anak ni FRANK si Nancy Sinatra. Isang awit ang nilikha niya para sa anak; NANCY WITH THE LAUGHING FACE. Naging mang-aawit din si Nancy at gumawa sila ng isang plaka na duet sila. Ito ay ang SOMETHING STUPID.

6. Isa rin siya sa napakaramong recording artists na nagsaplaka ng awiting OVER THE RAINBOW (hindi SOMEWHERE THE RAINBOW). Ang awiting ito ang pinili bilang Song of the Century ng Recording Industry Association of America at pinili rin ng American Film Institute bilang greatest song of all time:

Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
There’s a land that I dreamed of in a lullaby
Somewhere, over the rainbow skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.
Someday I’ll wish upon a star and wake up
When the clouds are far behind me
Where trouble melts like lemon drips
Away up high the chimney tops
That’s where you’ll find me
Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.
If happy little birds fly beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why, can’t I?

7. Bagama’t daan-daan ang mga kantang isinaplaka ni FRANK, the song he is most associated with is MY WAY, na itinuturing na “national anthem” niya, wika nga. Ang awiting ito ay sinulat ni Paul Anka na inspired naman ng French “Comme d’habitude” (“As Usual”)

8. Noong 1940’s, ang mga tagahanga ni Frank ay mga teen-agar na babae na tinatawag na bobby soxers (ang katawagan ay batay sa mga isinusuot nilang medyas na karaniwa’y puti at hanggang bukong-bukong.)

I hope Frank Sinatra fans of our generation find the above trivia interesting.
Thanks and congratulations for your stories. Needless to say, ibinabalik ng mga kuwento mo ang napakaraming alaala.

Best regards.
Rollie E.