Reply #103: I used to think that about Sinatra until I heard an episode of "This American Life"

[HamdenRice]

that explored his career. This was like in their first season. The basic arc of Sinatra's career was that he was a pop singer/teen idol.

Then his voice changed, and he was washed up. Then he audaciously decided to adjust his repertoire to his new voice and to sing jazz and interpret standards. He made series of ground breaking albums that we rarely hear today, and he was actually admired by other jazz singers. As a long time jazz fan, I have to say his albums in that period were pretty good.

And in his third phase he seemed to have lost his pitch and became that weird singer/shouter character who Joe Piscopo so accurately ridiculed.

Crosby - yuck! His life's goal seemed to be getting as much money out of as little talent and hard work as possible, and somehow he richly succeeded.

Also, I think Sinatra had a lot of support because he really was, in his weird gangsterish way, one of the main forces behind the desegregation of Vegas.

Cheers

:hi: