As
rock ‘n’ roll’s swagger staggers under the weight of its disproportionate
masculinity (you know, too many dudes), women with the appropriate stance and
guts are keeping it somehow viable, visceral, and real. It’s still a man’s
world, but women like The Breeder’s Kim Deal, Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon, Deborah
Harry, or yes, even Madonna have managed to wrestle the music biz’s reins in
their favor.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย It’s a feat that would be much more
difficult — if not impossible — if it weren’t for Nancy Sinatra. Her cute
gal-tough chick stance, with her sensual, sultry vocal style and no-nonsense
demeanor, set the tone for a generation.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Sinatra’s 1966 number one hit, These Boots Were Made For Walkin’, was a
song of empowerment and independence — still is. She’s had roles in seven
movies, including starring roles in Speedway with Elvis Presley and The Wild Angels with Peter Fonda.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย With a string of 21 additional charted
hits, her influence as an artist is immense.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย “I’m just
now becoming aware of it,” she says into her California phone. “It’s very
humbling to meet young women who credit me with their start in the music
business.”
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Sinatra made the scene in the early
1960s. And though she had a little help from her father’s Reprise Records, she
persevered solamente. Having a famous
dad wasn’t necessarily a plus.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย “It doesn’t really help,” she says.
“It works against you a lot.”
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Sinatra’s singing style — her
phrasing in particular — is definitely similar to that of her late father.
Her turn of a phrase, the way she sings casually unaffected and nonchalant is
mucho sexy, cool in the extreme. This, despite her mini-skirted, go-go booted
image, is in my opinion what makes her such a credible and important musician.
And the point is proven by her fans.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย “It’s really a fascinating study in
people and in music,” she says “The fact that the music just seems to overcome
all barriers, age particularly.”
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย “We get all ages,” she continues.
“Kids with pierced noses and eyebrows and guys in golf pants. I get Vietnam
veterans a lot and I get white-haired old ladies who were bobbysoxers and are
there because they loved my father.”
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย “What I notice most about each
audience is that they all know the words to the songs. It’s really funny. It’s
all very, very sweet. It’s all very loving and it’s almost a throwback to a
love-in in a way.”
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Sinatra’s
love in particular has manifested in her tireless charity work. She toured
Vietnam with The USO (and was a popular pinup with the GI’s) during the war.
She continues to support veterans stateside by participating in annual events
like Rolling Thunder in Washington, DC, which honors and remembers POW’s and
MIA’s.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย She is also
involved with Jerry Lewis’ annual telethon and Songs Of Love, an organization
that creates original, personalized songs for terminally ill children. Sinatra
has donated countless pairs of boots to charity auctions as well.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย And with renewed hostilities in the
Middle East, Sinatra was ready to go again. She performed a USO concert at the
Hollywood Bowl, opening for the boobs and teeth known collectively as Jessica
Simpson. But overseas wasn’t offered.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย “The USO
doesn’t want me,” she says. “You know, I volunteered to go to Afghanistan and
later when the Iraqi war began I volunteered my services and they weren’t
interested. I guess they only want young, gorgeous girls.” This coming from a
woman whose beauty belies her 63 years.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย And there are plenty who want Nancy
Sinatra.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Director Quentin Tarantino chose her
cover of “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)” as the opening credit theme for Kill Bill Volume I.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Her upcoming CD, To Nancy With Love, is an all-star collaboration with artists like
Morrissey, Jarvis Cocker, Jon Spencer, Elvis Costello, and Bono.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย “Morrissey sent me his song that he
wanted me to record,” she says. “And that’s really how it started.” The album
even includes some unfinished Sinatra business.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย “Bono had written a song for my dad
that my dad couldn’t sing,” she says. “He wasn’t recording when he heard it and
then of course it was just too late. So I asked Bono if I could do it instead.
He sent me his track and I put my vocal on it. It was very sweet of him to do
that.”
Nancy Sinatra performs Friday, May 7, at The Montage Grille, 50 Chestnut Street, at 6:30 and
10 p.m. Tix: $28-$30. 232-3820
This article appears in May 5-11, 2004.
