My Way facts for kids

Quick facts for kids "My Way"
German release
Single by Frank Sinatra
from the album My Way
B-side	"Blue Lace"
Released	March 1969
Recorded	December 30, 1968
Genre	Traditional pop
Length	4:35
Label	Reprise
Composer(s)	Jacques Revaux
Lyricist(s)	Gilles Thibaut Claude François Paul Anka
Producer(s)	Sonny Burke

"My Way" is a very famous song that Frank Sinatra made popular in 1969. The music for "My Way" came from an older French song called "Comme d'habitude". This French song was written by Jacques Revaux and had lyrics by Gilles Thibaut and Claude François. Claude François first sang it in 1967.

Later, an American songwriter named Paul Anka wrote new English words for the song. These English words are completely different from the original French ones. "My Way" became a huge hit for many singers, including Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Sid Vicious. Frank Sinatra's version of "My Way" stayed on the UK music charts for 75 weeks. This is one of the longest times any song has ever spent in the UK Top 40!

How the Song "My Way" Was Created

In 1967, a French composer named Jacques Revaux wrote a song called "For Me." It was a sad song about a couple breaking up. He tried to get famous singers like Petula Clark to record it, but it didn't work out. Revaux then worked with Claude François to change the song. They renamed it Comme d'habitude ("As usual"). This new version became a number one hit in France in 1968.

Paul Anka Discovers the Song

Paul Anka, an American singer and songwriter, heard the French song while on vacation. He loved it so much that he flew to Paris to buy the rights to it. He paid a small amount of money, just one dollar, to be able to use the music. The original composers would still get a share of the money from any new versions.

Later, Anka had dinner with Frank Sinatra in Florida. Sinatra told Anka that he was tired of the music business and wanted to quit. This gave Anka an idea.

Rewriting for Frank Sinatra

Back in New York, Paul Anka decided to rewrite the French song just for Frank Sinatra. He changed the music a little bit and wrote completely new English lyrics. Anka finished the song very early in the morning. He called Sinatra, who was in Nevada, and told him he had something special.

Frank Sinatra recorded his version of "My Way" on December 30, 1968. He sang the whole song perfectly in just one try! The song was released in early 1969. It became a big hit in the US and the UK. In the UK, it set a record by staying in the Top 40 for 75 weeks.

Frank Sinatra's Feelings About "My Way"

Even though "My Way" became Frank Sinatra's most famous song, his daughter, Tina Sinatra, said he didn't actually like it. She said he felt the song was too much about himself. He thought it was "self-serving and self-indulgent."

Popularity of "My Way"

"My Way" is often played at funerals in the UK. Many people also love to sing it at karaoke nights around the world.

The song's idea of "doing things your own way" even inspired a political term. When Mikhail Gorbachev allowed countries in Eastern Europe to make their own choices, it was called the "Sinatra Doctrine." This was because he let them do things "their way."

Other Famous Versions of "My Way"

Many other artists have recorded their own versions of "My Way."

Dorothy Squires' Version

While Frank Sinatra's song was still popular in the UK, a Welsh singer named Dorothy Squires released her own version in 1970. Her recording reached number 25 on the UK music charts.

Elvis Presley's Version

"My Way"
Single by Elvis Presley
from the album Elvis in Concert
B-side	"America"
Released	October 3, 1977
Recorded	June 21, 1977
Genre	Pop
Length	3:51
Label	RCA Records
Composer(s)	Jacques Revaux
Lyricist(s)	Gilles Thibaut Claude François Paul Anka
Elvis Presley singles chronology
"Way Down" (1977) "My Way" (1977) "Unchained Melody" (1978)

Elvis Presley started singing "My Way" at his concerts in the mid-1970s. He performed the song during his famous "Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite" show in 1973. This show was broadcast live to many countries around the world.

After Elvis Presley passed away, his live recording of "My Way" was released as a single in 1977. It became a big hit in the US, reaching number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This was even higher than Frank Sinatra's version had reached! It also sold over a million copies, earning a gold record.

Elvis Presley's Song Awards

Sid Vicious's Punk Version

Sid Vicious, who was the bassist for the punk rock band Sex Pistols, made a very different version of "My Way." He changed many of the words and made the song much faster. The music was arranged with an orchestra. Sid Vicious and his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen, helped change the lyrics.

Paul Anka, who wrote the English lyrics, said that Sid Vicious's version was "curious" but that he felt Vicious was "sincere" when he sang it. The movie Sid and Nancy (1986) shows a scene where an actor playing Sid Vicious performs this version. Sid Vicious's song also appears in the 1990 movie Goodfellas.

Margaret Mackie and Jamie Lee Morley

In 2019, a video of Margaret Mackie, who has dementia, singing "My Way" with a staff member named Jamie Lee Morley went viral. Margaret lived in a care home in Edinburgh.

Jamie Lee Morley then helped record the song professionally. They released it in 2020 as a charity single. The money raised went to charities that help people with dementia. The song became very popular on music charts.

Yuzo Kayama's Duet with Frank Sinatra

In Japan, a singer named Yuzo Kayama is often called the "Japanese Frank Sinatra." In 2008, he performed "My Way" in English. Later, in 2015, Yuzo Kayama created a special duet version of "My Way." He sang along with Frank Sinatra's original recording.

Song Awards and Certifications

Images for kids

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  German release

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  A-side label of US single

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  Elvis Presley's "My Way" single cover

See also

In Spanish: My Way (Comme d'habitude) para niños