Last October I attended the memorial service for a former staff member of the school I went to as a child. The service concluded with a montage of this man's life, with Frank Sinatra's recording of "My Way" playing in the background. This motivated me to write about Sinatra's signature hit from 1969. It also led me to dig deeper into its French origins.
Yes, "My Way" does have its musical roots in France. Originally known as "Comme d'habitude (As Usual)," it was sung and co-written by French pop star Claude François (1939-1978). He co-wrote it with Jacques Reveaux and Gilles Thibaut in 1967.
Its lyrical content couldn't be more different than "My Way." While the English-language version deals with a man looking back on his life, "Comme d'habitude" is about a man struggling to go on with life while being in a strained relationship. This part is loosely autobiographical for François, as it was during this period that he broke up with fellow French pop star France Gall. This major theme was added to the song after Reveaux expressed dissatisfaction with Hervé Vilard's rendition. "Comme d'habitude" finally became a hit when François recorded it in 1968.
Frank Sinatra released "My Way" as a single in January 1969. It also became the title track of one of his albums in 1969. While it was not his biggest-charting hit, it became one of his most requested and played songs in the latter period of his career. Sinatra made it part of his concert repertoire from that point on, and even re-recorded it as a duet with Luciano Pavarotti (1995). Sinatra, however, reportedly disliked "My Way," calling it self-serving and self-indulgent.
One of the most famous covers of "My Way" is by Elvis Presley. He performed it live on his Aloha from Hawaii TV special in 1973, and also on the Elvis in Concert special that aired posthumously in 1977. A studio version from 1971 was released officially for the first time in 1995.
Dorothy Squires, Sid Vicious, Nina Hagen, Nina Simone, Brook Benton, Shirley Bassey, Shane MacGowan and the Gipsy Kings have also done well-known covers of "My Way."
Even Claude François would record "My Way" on the heels of its success. It also represented François' biggest commercial success in the anglophone market as a songwriter. He died tragically at his Paris apartment in March 1978 while attempting to fix a light bulb above his bathtub. François is considered a national treasure in France, and his music continues to be popular there.
Whether it is by design or a mere coincidence, "My Way" has become a staple at many funerals and memorial services. The Guardian reported in 2005 that it is the most popular contemporary song played at British funerals.
Canadian crooner Paul Anka heard "Comme d'habitude" during a trip to France. He didn't care for the song, but liked the melody. He thought it would make a good hit for Sinatra, so he wrote new lyrics after acquiring the publishing rights free of charge. Anka decided to recreate the song as being about a man looking back on his life, and how he had lived it on his own terms. Anka had Sinatra in mind by writing it in his voice (e.g. lines like "I ate it up, and spit it out"). He gave it to Sinatra after completing it in an all-night session in New York.
