Saturday 9: I Left My Heart in San Francisco (1962)
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? My heart is homesick for my parents. I think they went to a Tony Bennett Concert. I inherited some of there CD's.
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 only thing I can think of is giving a homeless woman some money the other day.
3) The lyrics compare San Francisco to Paris, Rome and Manhattan. Have you visited those cities? I have been to San Francisco a few times. I was last there in 2018. I was in Manhattan in 2008. Does Paris, Las Vegas count? We ate at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant.
Banana Eiffel Tower Soufflés
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 are within 5. But one of my friends is 10 years older than me.
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? Too many groups to mention. I did enjoy Motown Music like the Jackson 5.
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? Yes Uptown Girl. Reminds me of Frankie Valli.
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. My supervisor Vera Parks made a big influence in my life. She brought me back to the Lord in the 80's when I was looking. She helped me a lot at work and taught me many things. She was like a mother figure. She helped me gain confidence in myself. I eventually took over one of her programs when she retired.
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? I don't really care for country music. I have talked to a lot of native Californian's and they say the same things. Not sure why. There are a few sings and songs I like, but I would not choose that station. I don't mind a rap that I can understand, and don't like anything with bad language. I did like the rap in the musical Alexander. You do have to listen really well because they go so fast. I thought it was educational too! I have preset stations in my car for Broadway musicals, Classical, easy listening and Soul. Then there are stations for the 60's, 70's, 80's. I do not like heavy metal. I mostly listen to Christian music.
9) Random question: Imagine you're the passenger in a long car ride. Are you more likely to be calm or fidgety? Calm because I am usually working on my crafts.
