Paul Anka Swings

1bassleft · Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 12:57 am Post subject:

Funnelly nuff, one of the things I dislike about Anka is that he peddles this myth. Lounge-lizard-like ( Shocked

alliteration), he'd appear on 70s chat shows, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd like to perform a song that, when Mr Frank Sinatra heard it, he approached me personally and asked if he could use the song and I said..."

A combination of name-dropping, forelock-tugging and fact-omission that kindof sums him up. He didn't write "My Way". He did an anglo-lyric version of Claude Francoise's song. It even sounds French, if you think about it (I can easily imagine Edith Piaf singing it). To give him credit, he wrote lyrics at a time when many singers just put out what was handed to them.

OK, so Anka wrote songs. Frank may not have been a writer but he's a collosus by comparison as a performer. "Songs for Swinging Lovers" sounds like the title of an album for dubious couples advertizing in the classifieds with box numbers, but it is one of the great albums of the genre. It also contains a fair proportion of cheesy old numbers that were suddenly brought to life again (due credit to Nelson Riddle) by excellent arrangement.

"Rock Swings" (or is it "Swing Rocks" or "Wring Socks"?) just isn't in the same league and won't be quoted in five years' time, never mind fifty.

ps, I loved Sid's "My Way". Useless bass player, useless in every department, I did like My Way. I remember my parent's open-mouthed faces when they saw it. All that "Call this music? It's ... it's... You kids today..." stuff. Decided it had to have some merit for that reason alone. I wish my sprog would dislike my taste in music, seems only natural.

Michael · Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 1:08 am Post subject:

Even when Anka carks it, no ones going to remember him for Rock Swings. Even his die hard will only remember how his massive head of hair dwindled away to a patch of baldness, just as his singing career dwindled away to performing covers of the Alf and Bewitched themes.

With respect to Anka but, according to reviews on Amazon etc, people do enjoy the new album, and I guess that's all that matters.

lee_UK · Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2005 6:51 pm Post subject:

I saw him today being interveiwed on BBC television, and you 2 do have a very good point, he is kind of up himself, and i see why you dont like him on a personal level, but still, 'Teen spirit' does swing... a little.
The 2 interviewers said they loved it, so im not too hot on it anymore, i dont like to be associated with middle class England.
Anarchy in the UK, it's coming sometime a may beeee..

1bassleft · Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 12:33 am Post subject:

Surely Metallica's "Enter Sandman" is ripe for swing-treatment? It's not on the tracklist is it?

glw · Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 12:59 pm Post subject:

I never rated Nirvana anyway. Paul Anka is welcome to that trash.

1bassleft · Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 1:18 am Post subject:

Ordinarily, that tends to extend the threadlife a little bit Smile

Michael · Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 1:28 am Post subject: Anka covers Floyd

I've never been much of a fan of Nirvana either... but if you let Anka get his hands on them soon enough Anka has a swing version of Wish You Were here and Comfortably Numb. Scissor Sisters fair enough.... Anka no thanks.

1bassleft · Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 1:46 am Post subject:

A duet with Peggy Lee is in the pipeline:

Anka: "When I was a child, I had a fever"

Lee: "fever, when you kiss me
Fever when you hold me tight
Fever in the morning
Fever all through the night"

Anka: "My hands felt just like two balloons"

Shocked

Incidentally, I've just checked out who has covered "Fever": Beyonce, Kylie, Madonna... Confused

Michael · Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 1:58 am Post subject:

It's always around track number 12 that it appears. And for good reason.

the original can't be topped.. give it a rest women, and guys for that matter.

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