Rick Michel's Blog

Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite days of the year given my personal appreciation for Frank Sinatra, and this year the day will be especially memorable because I’m putting on a Sinatra Forever show for a very special audience. Is there any better voice to be representing on a day set aside for lovers?

 I recall a clip of Sinatra on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson asking him Frank, “When you’re in a romantic mood and you’re trying to make out, whose records do you put on?” That line is pure comedy genius and it highlights the fact that The Voice is likely the top most romantic singer of all time.

 Valentine’s Day is all about relationships and Frank knew a thing or two about those – there’s even an entire Wikipedia page devoted to his marriages and “other notable relationships!” That being said, he was the first to point out that he may not have always executed his best judgment with these women, having commented, “I'm supposed to have a Ph.D. on the subject of women. But the truth is I've flunked more often than not. I'm very fond of women; I admire them. But, like all men, I don't understand them.”

 So, when you’re with that special someone and, like Johnny, want to set the mood with the proper tunes, there’s no shortage of options with Sinatra. His Reprise label released a special compilation in 2002 called Greatest Love Songs, which actually followed a Columbia release a year before simply titled, Love Songs. You could likely serenade your sweetheart with a year of Valentine’s songs through Frank, if you were really ambitious. My recommendation: for today, start with My Funny Valentine to set the scene and you’re golden.

 I can’t wait for my Las Vegas show tonight at the University of Texas at El Paso – I hope I’ll see you there!