My Way (Really?)
I would like for you to try to create a mental image as you begin reading this post. This might be more easily done by “those of a certain age” who are reading this post, but maybe even those who are younger can identify somewhat with what I am proposing.
I would like for you to try to imagine yourself sitting in a large concert hall or some other type of musical venue. As the lights dim a single spotlight illuminates one small portion of the stage. As a familiar musical arrangement begins, you begin to hear a familiar voice. You also see a very familiar face singing one of his “signature songs.” The man seems to be remembering things about his own life. Along with seeming to be biographical, the words he is singing also sound more than a little egotistical.
The man on the stage is neither of these three men: Jacques Revaux, Gilles Thibaut, or Claude François. The song being sung is not “Comme d’habitude,” nor is it sung in its original language (French) with all of the original words. The man on the stage is not Paul Anka who heard the French song, bought the rights to it, adapted it for English-speaking audiences, and thought that it “fit” the man on the stage better than himself — even though he was also a well-known singer.
There were a number of influences along the way of the performer which played a role in his popularity and success. Some of these influences included a mother who was determined that her son would succeed, various band leaders who hired him to sing when he was younger and much less well-known, and a connection with an organization which was known for making offers that could not be refused.
Along with all of that, there was at least one voice coach and some others who helped him hone his already considerable talent. It would not be an exaggeration to suggest that, without a great number of other people, this high school dropout could very easily have remained in his hometown of Hoboken, New Jersey and could have spent his life in some menial job.
As (at least in your mind) you sit and watch this famous entertainer, it might only momentarily cross your mind that somebody other than this man made all of the decisions about such things as scheduling, ticket prices, publicity, lighting, the musical arrangement, etc. It would be very unusual if the performer even got himself to the venue by himself. I’m guessing that a person of his stature had somebody make all of the travel arrangements and that a chauffeur drove him to the place where he was to perform. It wouldn’t even be unusual for somebody other than the performer to select and prepare his wardrobe for the concert.
Will all of that and much more being true, there he stands. You and many others have made decisions that have made him famous. Those decisions include buying a ticket to see and hear…
Frank Sinatra singing “My Way.”
I remember hearing a politician speak a number of years ago. After sitting through an introduction that included quite a long list of his achievements, accomplishments, and awards, this man stepped up to the microphone and made a statement that was quite a bit different to the words to “My Way.” I found out later that the statement did not originate with him. It just happened to be the first time I had heard it. The politician had some measure of success, but he never reached the heights of fame or power in his field that “Old Blue Eyes” did in his.
Even though this man was not nearly as famous as Frank Sinatra, I hope that I can persuade you to at least try to think of the mental image that his quote suggested. I may not remember the quote exactly, but I am certain that I am pretty close.
If you ever see a tortoise sitting on the top of a fence post,
you can be pretty sure that it didn’t get there by itself.
This United States senator who had tried and failed to receive his party’s nomination for our nation’s highest office then began to express his gratitude for people who had helped him along the way and for those who had made that particular event possible. I hope that you will agree with me that this man had a more accurate view of life than did “The Chairman of the Board.”
If we are honest with ourselves, there is not a single one of us who can look back on our lives and claim that, in the words of the song, “I did it my way.” If we would be arrogant enough to make that statement, I’m sure that somebody who knows us would be thinking – and might even be brave enough to say —
Really?
AUTHOR: Jim Faughn
