Hi, everyone. Welcome to this week’s edition of Music Monday.
(Image found online. Original source unknown.)
Marilyn Monroe was born 100 years ago as Norma Jean Mortenson on June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles, California. A teenage marriage and a stint as a factory girl during WW2 led to a career as a pin-up model which got her noticed by Hollywood. She studied with acclaimed acting coach Lee Strasberg & eventually starred in dozens of movies including “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (1953), “Some Like It Hot” (1959, which earned her the Golden Globe Award For Best Actress in a Musical Or Comedy the following year) and “Misfits” (1961). Her status as a sex symbol turned her into the ultimate pop culture icon. Two high profile marriages -one to New York Yankee legend Joe DiMaggio & another to playwright Arthur Miller-only added to her legacy.
She yearned for the respect of Hollywood and a simple quiet life as a wife and mother at the same time. Despite years of hard work & multiple marriages she never found lasting happiness in her personal life. She died on August 5, 1962 at the age 36. Her death was featured in one of my all time favorite series, “Mad Men” in 2008. In S2 E9 (“Six Month Leave”), the episode opens at the start of the workday on Monday, August 6, 1962. We see that most of the young secretaries at the Sterling Cooper ad agency are visibly shaken about the news of Monroe’s sudden unexpected passing. An exchange between two employees showed the different perspectives of how Monroe was perceived. On one side was the firm’s most visible piece of eye candy, buxom head secretary Joan Holloway (played by the stunning Christina Hendricks) who used her looks to her advantage because most men could not see past her voluptuous figure despite running that office like a well oiled machine and her boss (and one time lover) Roger Sterling (the oh so charming John Slattery). Joan took Monroe’s death hard, Sterling felt very differently.
Joan: “She was so young. This world destroyed her”.
Roger: “She was a movie star who had everything. And everybody. And she threw it away”.
Before Elton John’s 1997 tribute song to Princess Diana became one of the best selling records of all time, it appeared on his 1973 album, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, as a tribute to Monroe, a smart, talented, funny & gifted woman who had depth, character and drive.
Marilyn Monroe: June 1, 1926 – August 4, 1962.
Marilyn Monroe in 1953 photographed at her Hollywood home. Photo courtesy of Alfred Eisenstaedt—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images.
Nancy Sinatra turned 86 last week. Born June 8, 1940 in Jersey City, New Jersey, the first born child of entertainer superstar Frank Sinatra released her debut album, Boots, 60 years ago on March 15, 1966. It included covers of Bob Dylan’s “It Ain’t Me Babe”, The Beatles” “Daytripper” and “Run For Your Life” along with The Rolling Stones/Marianne Faithful tune, “As Tears Go By”. The album’s first single was a #1 hit for one week in 1966 & became Sinatra’s signature song.
She released two more albums that year: How Does That Grab You and Nancy in London. In both 1966 & 1967 she traveled to Vietnam to perform for the troops in Vietnam where many adopted her top selling track as their anthem. It was written by singer, songwriter & record producer Lee Hazelwood and began a nearly 50 year friendship & collaboration between the two until his death in 2007.
In 1967 Sinatra teamed up with her father on the song, “Somethin’ Stupid”, which was a #1 hit for four consecutive weeks that spring. A year later she joined forces with him again along with er siblings-Frank Sinatra Jr & Tina Sinatra-for the holiday album, The Sinatra Family Wish You a Merry Christmas, released in September 1968.
Twenty years ago in 2006 Sinatra received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. The following year she appeared as herself in a 2007 episode of “the “The Sopranos” (S6 E16, “Chasing It”), singing to Tony & his crew at a private party. Her music was featured in a 2009 “Cold Case” episode, “The Brush Man” (S6 E14) led by the track, “Lightning’s Girl”.
(Image found online. Original source unknown.)
(Image found online. Original source unknown.)
Nancy Sinatra (R) with her famous dad, Frank (L) circa 1966. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)
Another famous blonde & her band, Blondie, had two #1 songs 45 years ago. The the first one hit the top spot on January 31, 1981 for one week, knocking John Lennon’s “Starting Over” from the #1 position where it had been since the beginning of the year. I was today year’s old when I discovered Blondie’s song was a remake of a 1967 song by The Paragons.
Two months later on March 28, 1981, Blondie was back on top-this time for two consecutive weeks-with their second top selling song of the year. Both tracks were from their fifth album, Autoamerican, released in November 1980. The 2001 CD reissue included the song Blondie recorded for the movie “American Gigilo” which up to that point was only released as a single & as a track on the soundtrack album.
(Image found online. Original source unknown.)
Marilyn Monroe: “I’m Through With Love” (As performed in the 1959 movie, Some Like It Hot”. Written by Gus Kahn, Matty Malneck and Fud Livingston).
Elton John: “Candle In The Wind” (1973, written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin).
Nancy Sinatra: “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’” (1966, written by Lee Hazlewood).
Nancy Sinatra: “Let It Be Me” (1966, written by Gilbert Bécaud, Manny Curtis and Pierre Delanoë).
Nancy Sinatra: “On Broadway” (1966, written by Jerry Leiber, Barry Mann, Mike Stoller and Cynthis Weil).
Blondie: “The Tide Is High” (1980, written by John Holt).
Blondie: “Rapture” (1980, written by Debbie Harry and Chris Stein).
Blondie: “Call Me” (1980, written by Debbie Harry and Giorgio Moroder).
Stay safe & well.
Lilacs & Rust 