Saturday 9: I Would Be In Love

Saturday 9: I Would Be in Love (Anyway) 1970

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Frank Sinatra sings, "If I knew then what I know now." If you were giving advice to a recent high school grad, based on that phrase, what would you say?

A. I would tell the person not to worry about what is going to happen tomorrow, because it is always the things one doesn't worry about that ultimately trip you up. I'd also tell him/her to get more education, whatever their interest, even if that's a certificate in plumbing.

2) This song is about a man looking back on his marriage, which has ended. While he is sad, he is not sorry he loved her. Do you believe that it's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?

A. It's better to have loved and lost, I think. I know there is heartache involved with that, but a life without having loved sounds pretty empty to me.

3) Sinatra married four times. He met his first wife, Nancy, when he was 19. He saw a pretty girl sitting on her front porch, giving herself a pedicure, and he rushed home for his ukulele so he could serenade her. Have you ever sung to anyone? Has anyone ever sung to you? 

A. I sing to my husband frequently; I'm not sure he realizes I am telling him something when I do that, though. He cannot sing but if I ask, he will sing "Soft Kitty" to me at night before we go to sleep.

4) According to Barbara, his final wife, they met when they were neighbors in Rancho Mirage, California. Sinatra had his own tennis court, needed a fourth for doubles with his houseguests, and invited the lady next door to play. Tell us about your neighbors.

A. One of my neighbors is in her 80s. She was the athletic director at Hollins College, my alma mater, and led championship teams. She was a huge supporter of Title IX and an advocate for women's sports. She has a long list of sports titles from the many things she has done. She also owns a farm and has cattle. She is one of the most interesting people I know.

Here is a video of her talking about her work with Title IX.

5) When not performing before an audience or cameras, Sinatra often wore hats and caps because his hair was thin, and his toupee annoyed him. Is there anything you wear for "dress up" that you're happy to ditch when you go casual?

A. Makeup. I used to wear makeup every day, but then we had Covid. Since I didn't leave the house for months, I stopped wearing makeup. Now I don't wear makeup just to go to the store or something, although I think I look a little better with makeup. However, after the long break from it, makeup bothered me and made my eyes itch and I've yet to find something that doesn't. Unless I really need to have on that mascara and eye shadow, it's au natural for me these days.

6) Frank had a sweet tooth and to the end of his life, he enjoyed chocolate-covered apricots, ordered from Lepore's in his hometown of Hoboken, NJ. If you could have any sweet treat right now, what would you request?

A. Chocolate covered cherries. And white cake with white icing. Just because.

 
7) This song was written specifically for Sinatra by Bob Gaudio, best known as a member of The Four Seasons. That 1960s quartet is now legendary. In addition to 25 Top Ten Hits, they are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and inspired the Broadway play and movie musical, Jersey Boys. Do you have a favorite Four Seasons song?

A. December, 1963 (Oh What a Night).

8) In 1970, the year this record was released, The Mary Tyler Moore Show premiered. Were you a fan?

A. I'm afraid it did not run on a channel we could receive, so I didn't see it unless I was visiting my grandparents or someone else. We could only get one channel for a long time when I was growing up.

9) Random question: Have you ever named your car or truck?

A. I call it "car" and it seems to respond well to that.

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