Today in Pop Culture: Paul, Frank, Elvis, And Sid

By Jeffery X Martin

It is 1968, and at the end of the year, in the twilight of his singing career, Frank Sinatra steps into a recording studio and sings the song that would become his trademark, “My Way.”

The song was based on a French tune called “Comme d’habitude.” Songwriter Paul Anka, known mostly for being interchangeable with other songwriter Neil Sedaka, bought the rights to the song for a measly dollar, thinking he could take the tune and make something better out of it.

Anka wrote the words with Sinatra in mind, peppering it with tough guy talk, a little Mafia lingo, and the sweat of Dean Martin. Add the golden voice of the Chairman and the song became smooth magic. It lodged in the second position on Billboard‘s US Easy Listening charts. And man, did the Brits love this song! It stayed in their Top Ten for over a year! 75 weeks to be exact, and then it stayed in the Top 75 for another 49 weeks.

Sinatra recorded his version on this day in 1968 and dropped the song in early 1969. Once the song was out in the wild, it was ripe for other artists to cover. 1977 saw the release of Elvis Presley’s version. The King had been performing it live for years, most famously on his comeback television special, Aloha from Hawaii. Much swooning ensued, and Presley’s version burned up the charts.

Which version was better? No one can say. It’s a difficult decision between Sinatra’s hard-worn croon and Presley’s gospel-tinged soul. Personally, there’s only one version of “My Way” for me.

I have no idea which screeching demon convinced Sid Vicious but I want to shake his burning, cloven hoof. Lyrically, “My Way” was a stirring testament to individuality and non-conformity, but through overexposure and familiarity, the song had become stodgy. Vicious gave the tune a much-needed kick to the sac.

It’s twice as fast. He can’t sing. Vicious doesn’t even know all the words. Not that it matters. The lyrics he doesn’t know he simply replaces with the best curse words he can think of. It is audio madness.

If anyone did it his way, it was Sid Vicious.

Still, what a strange journey for a song, from France to Vegas to Memphis to London. The message of the song still rings out loudly and clearly, and worth taking to heart.

Do it your way.