Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) This song is a valentine to the city of San Francisco. Songwriters George Cory and Douglas Cross
moved to New York to find fame and fortune and found themselves homesick for the city by the bay. Have you ever been homesick? Or, in the parlance of the song, where have you left your heart?
I am always homesick. I really have no home so I am always wishing for it. It never appears. Just a place to be for a while but never really home.
2) Cory and Cross were buddies with Ralph Sharon, a piano player who often worked with Tony Bennett. Ralph brought the song to Tony and the results were very happy for all involved. Have you more recently done, or been on the receiving end of, a favor?
The universe did me a favor by letting me see the truth about things.
3) The lyrics compare San Francisco to Paris, Rome and Manhattan. Have you visited those cities? I have been to Manhattan many times. I used to live 25 minutes for so outside the city. Its much nicer than people imagine.
4) This week's artist, Tony Bennett, sang professionally for the last time in August. He retired after performing at Radio City Music Hall with Lady Gaga. Their musical collaboration dates back to when they both performed at President Obama's inauguration. Though 60 years apart in age, they became fast friends based on their shared love of jazz. Do you find that most of your friends are older than you, younger than you, or within 5 years of you?
Most of my friends are older than I am.
5) While Lady Gaga grew up listening to Tony Bennett, as a young man Tony recalled listening to Bing Crosby, Judy Garland and Joe Venuti. Which singers did you enjoy during your teen years?
Andy Williams, Johnny Mathis, Mel Torme.
6) While he's famous for singing about San Francisco, Tony is a proud son of New York. Born in Queens, he chose to end his career at Radio City Music Hall and was excited to perform "New York State of Mind" with Billy Joel at Shea Stadium in 2008. Do you have a favorite Billy Joel song?
Just the Way You Are.
7) Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra may have been competitors but they shared mutual admiration. Sinatra called Bennett "the best singer in the business," and Bennett did a Sinatra homage album called Perfectly Frank. Think of people you have worked with over the years. Tell us about someone who has impressed you, and why.
I cant think of anyone really. I am a pretty laid back person which could be why.
8) The 1970s were a difficult period for Tony. During the days of disco and Studio 54, he said singing new songs made him feel like his mother, a talented seamstress, when she was forced to make a cheap dress. OK, so Tony doesn't like disco! Is there a genre of music you just don't care for?
Most of rock and roll is junk.
9) Random question: Imagine you're the passenger in a long car ride. Are you more likely to be calm or fidgety?
Calm.
I am sorry you feel you have no real home. I do miss my last home, but once we retired, it was too much for us. I think it is wonderful that you live by the bay. It must have been nice living so close to Manhattan. My daughter is going there in December.
ReplyDeleteJohnny Mathis, Andy Williams, Mel Thorne ….l always liked them
ReplyDeleteLooking at the pictures on your blog, it looks like you live in a beautiful place. I’m not sure I understand why you feel you have no home. I love the birds flying across your page and the doggies wagging their tails.
ReplyDelete#2 I am a "home body" I lived here for almost my entire like and worked in the same company while my brother and his family followed where the jobs are, he lived not more than 10 years in any location.
ReplyDeleteGosh, I sympathize about not feeling like belonging anywhere. I went most of my life feeling that way until we moved to our current residence (here in Georgia) in 1993. This is my home now until Jesus calls me Home with Him. I pray you can feel at home soon. It's such a lonely feeling, I know.
ReplyDeleteWhen in the mood, I enjoy a song or two by either Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, or any of the crooners. They all had such lovely voices. It was a special time in American history too, so I'm told.
Blessings.
Sparky xx
I agree with your answer to #1...never really felt "home" since moving out of my early childhood home .
ReplyDeleteThe one unifying factor was that most of the subsequent places were by the water , too . Not drawn to the mountains , nor desert , nor cities...it is the countryside bays and ocean that I love to be near .
It is , after all , being near dear friends that makes a place a home now .
My home is wherever Karl and Josh are, so we could live anywhere and I would be fine. I know how you feel though...my real home is in the town I work at and was raised in. I live in a really small community now and do not really feel part of it. So many of the people that live here have always lived here. They are all nice, I just do not feel like I fit. I don't do anything with any of them anymore. I feel like I fit in better at my old hometown. Loved your answers! Have a nice weekend.
ReplyDeletehttps://lorisbusylife.blogspot.com/