(Credit: Wikimedia)
Frank Sinatra burst onto the scene in the 1940s, prior to rock and roll dominating the following decades. Sinatra was about as far from the spirit and rock and roll as you could get; he was a controller singer and performer in the style of jazz, swing, big band and easy listening. Sinatra himself was sceptical of the rock and roll movement that came through in the 1950s.
In 1957, Sinatra wrote an opinion piece for a French magazine, Western World. It read, “My only deep sorrow is the unrelenting insistence of recording and motion picture companies upon purveying the most brutal, ugly, degenerate, vicious form of expression it has been my displeasure to hear. Naturally, I refer to the bulk of rock and roll.”
Evidently, Sinatra was not a fan of the brashness of rock and roll; it was a far cry from the uptight jazz lounges that he was used to playing in. Continuing his diatribe against the genre, Sinatra said, “It fosters almost totally negative and destructive reactions in young people. It smells phoney and false.”
He added, “It is sung, played and written for the most part by cretinous goons and by means of its almost imbecilic reiterations and sly, lewd – in plain fact, dirty – lyrics, and as I said before, it manages to be the martial music of every side-burned delinquent on the face of the earth… this rancid-smelling aphrodisiac I deplore.”
Naturally, this roused debate within the rock and roll community, and its head honcho, none other than the great Elvis Presley, came to its defence. That same year, Elvis responded, “He has a right to his opinion, but I can’t see him knocking it for no good reason. I admire him as a performer and an actor, but I think he’s badly mistaken about this.”
Sinatra himself had been part of a popular wave of new music, and Presley noted this, adding, “If I remember correctly, he was also part of a trend. I don’t see how he can call the youth of today immoral and delinquent. It’s the greatest music ever, and it will continue to be so. I like it, and I’m sure many other people feel the same way.”
However, Sinatra was adamant about rock and roll being a lesser genre than jazz and swing. Discussing Presley’s talents, Sinatra said in 1957, “Only time will tell. They said I was a freak when I first hit, but I’m still around. Presley has no training at all. When he goes into something serious, a bigger kind of singing, we’ll find out he is a singer. He has a natural, animalistic talent.” How wrong Sinatra was. As we know, Elvis became the king of rock and roll, and rock and roll became the king of the airwaves for the next 50 years!
Related Topics
I'm an enthusiast and expert in the realm of music history, particularly the evolution of genres and the impact of iconic figures. My depth of knowledge allows me to delve into specific instances, such as the interaction between two legendary musicians: Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley.
The article you've provided sheds light on a fascinating episode in the clash of musical genres, where Sinatra, a prominent figure in jazz, swing, big band, and easy listening, expressed his disdain for the emerging rock and roll movement in the 1950s. Sinatra's skepticism was evident in his 1957 opinion piece for the French magazine Western World.
Sinatra criticized rock and roll for its perceived brutality, ugliness, degeneracy, and what he considered a negative influence on young people. He described it as "phony and false" and condemned its lyrics as "dirty." His strong opinions ignited a debate within the rock and roll community.
Elvis Presley, often regarded as the king of rock and roll, stepped up to defend the genre. In a response that showcased his diplomacy, Presley acknowledged Sinatra's right to his opinion but disagreed, asserting that Sinatra was mistaken. Presley highlighted the diversity within the rock and roll genre and defended its cultural significance, stating that it was the greatest music ever.
The exchange between Sinatra and Presley reflected the clash of musical generations and the resistance to change within the industry. Sinatra, a product of a different era, viewed rock and roll as a lesser genre compared to jazz and swing. However, history proved him wrong as Elvis Presley went on to become the undeniable king of rock and roll, and the genre itself dominated the airwaves for the next 50 years.
This historical moment serves as a captivating snapshot of the dynamic nature of musical evolution, showcasing how opinions and genres can clash before the inevitable rise of new styles and figures that reshape the musical landscape. The article underscores the intersection of personal opinions, cultural shifts, and the enduring legacy of musical icons like Sinatra and Presley in shaping the narrative of music history.
