My Way
"My Way" is Paul Anka's English-language version of the French song "Comme d'habitude", released by Frank Sinatra in 1969. The original song was written by Jacques Revaux, Gilles Thibaut, and Claude François. It was first recorded in 1967.[1]
| "" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Frank Sinatra | ||||
| from My Way" | ||||
| B-side | "Blue Lace" | |||
| Released | 1969 | |||
| Recorded | 1968 | |||
| Genre | Traditional pop | |||
| Length | 4:35 | |||
| Label | Reprise | |||
| Composer(s) | Jacques Revaux | |||
| Lyricist(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | Sonny Burke | |||
| Frank Sinatra singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background
Paul Anka heard the French original while on vacation in the south of France. He flew to Paris to get the rights to the song.[2] He later bought the recording, and publishing rights for one dollar.[3]
In 2000, the 1969 release of "My Way" by Frank Sinatra on Reprise Records was added into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[4]
Even though the song became one of Sinatra's most popular songs, his daughter Tina has said the singer came to hate the song: "He didn't like it. That song stuck and he couldn't get it off his shoe".[5]
David Bowie wrote the first English-language lyrics to Claude François' original song, though the lyrics and performance were only informally recorded and never published.[6]
Charts
The song was a success with Sinatra's version of "My Way" spending 75 weeks in the UK top 40, which is the 4th most weeks in UK chart history.[7]
| Chart (1969) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada RPM Top Singles[8] | 26 |
| Canada RPM Easy Listening[9] | 2 |
| Illegal chart entered Ireland2 | 4 |
| UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[10] | 5 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[11] | 27 |
| US Billboard Easy Listening | 2 |
| US Cash Box Top 100[12] | 29 |
| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Illegal chart entered Hungarysingle | 40 |
References
- ↑ "Jacques Revaux, l'homme derrière "Comme d'habitude/My Way"" (in fr). La Croix. 2019-11-13. . https://www.la-croix.com/Culture/Jacques-Revaux-homme-derriere-Comme-habitude-My-Way-2019-11-13-1301060077. Retrieved 2019-11-13.
- ↑ How Sinatra did it My Way – via a French pop star and a Canadian lounge act. the Guardian (2007-07-05). Retrieved 2008-05-12.
- ↑ Paul Anka, "With Paul Anka, 'Rock Swings', Part Two" Archived 2017-07-01 at the Wayback Machine, interviewed on Fresh Air, WHYY, August 10, 2005
- ↑ GRAMMY HALL OF FAME AWARD. Grammy Awards.
- ↑ Sinatra 'loathed' My Way. BBC. 2000-10-30. https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/994742.stm. Retrieved 2016-06-20.
- ↑ Wall, Anthony. The Origins Of My Way.
- ↑ Record-Breakers and Trivia. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
- ↑ Canada, Library Archives. Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada. Collections Canada (2013-07-17). Retrieved 2016-01-21.
- ↑ Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada. Collections Canada (2013-07-17). Retrieved 2017-01-21.
- ↑ "Archive Chart" UK Singles Chart. The Official Charts Company.
- ↑ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 – ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- ↑ Cash Box YE Pop Singles – 1969. Retrieved 2019-07-14.
