The Sheila Variations

Oh. I thought obsession was already HERE. ;-)

I remember seeing the Dean Martin roasts and being scared, like a drunk friend of an drunk uncle had showed up unannounced at a dinner party and started shoe-horning everyone into singing along to perverted folk songs. I didn't know what he was famous for and those roasts seemed to hint that he didn't really know why either.

then, years later as a grownup, I heard "Ain't ThatA Kick In the Head" in some movie, or in a bar. That's really all you need to do...just listen to that song a few times in a row. It all seems like a joke. Then you start to hear how well he sings the song. Then you realize that someone could have completely fouled the song up. It isn't a very good song, actually. Think about all the classic standards. Everybody does 'em. But is there another famous version of that song? If there is, I haven't heard it.

How does he turn a mediocre song around? He doesn't sound all that invested in the heartbreak aspect of it, there isn't irony dripping all over the place. I still can't quite place what makes the song work so well. But I'm going to try,..

His presence and personality are so evident that you don't even need the song. He has sung the song out of existence. All you want to do is hear him make a rumble in his throat and roll his eyes about how much trouble a broad can be. You also somehow realize that no broad ever caused him too much trouble. He causes them trouble. And they love it.

It is almost a taunt. What could be a stupid jokey brush off of heartache turns into a come on. It is a magic trick.

Another thing that strikes me about Dean Martin is that you get the sense that he would have behaved EXACTLY the same had he been a truck driver, a grocer, a whatever. Most of the other stars of that era seem to have been transformed in some way by fame and what came along with it. This guy could have strolled around the streets of Rome with his jacket over his shoulder and 10 bucks in his pocket and it would make NO DIFFERENCE TO HIM.

The most underrated of all time.

He has sung the song out of existence.

Just needed to pull that line out because it was so perfect, thought everyone else should make sure they saw it.

Oh tracey - you ain/t seen nothin yet!! hahahahaha

Bren - gorgeous. I just read it 5 times through. I love your observation that he would have been the same guy, fame or no fame.

I knew I could count on you. Can't wait to read Dino!! It's arriving by parcel post in a matter of days.

Thanks for the warning.
Your obsessions are contagious, they cost
me money and I enjoy them tremendously.

Regards, Hank

ps. Nice entry Brendan

Hank - HA!!!!

I'm long time Dean Martin student, and just came across this post. Few observations. I've used "Ain't that a kick in the head" to explain to my 24 and 19 year old daughter and son why this guy was unique. My daughter gets it; she's got a pic of Dean on her wall. I had the fun of seeing him live at MGM in Las Vegas; VIP front row seats. He sang Old Man River like Caruso himself. Extremely powerful and moving. And against the backdrop of his very funny, droll, smart-ass comments it was even more effective. I'm most impressed with the extremely insightful, pithy and literate comments on Dean Martin on this post. I hope more show up. Thanks kids - "Jeannie and I ... we read those, so you keep them coming..."

ONe item. If the reference to Dino is the book by Nick Touches, it's a good read. But beware, Touches revels in sort of a self-concious contrivance whereby he uses Italian phrases to explain what Dean was thinking, versus saying or doing. Of course we don't know what he was thinking, this is rather hammer-handed speculation, and unless the reader is fluent in Italian becomes irritating. It's also a fairly dark tome which does give some insight into the demons and issues which might - or might not - explain Dean's hard-to-get aura. Two of his kids, Ricci, and Gail have written books too. Despite his foibles he was/is adored by his 7 children, now well into thier 40's and 50's. Very complex guy.

Jim - I have to say I am SO glad you found your way here from my friend Mitch's blog. Your comments are marvelous. Thank you SO much for your insights and I am SO jealous that you saw him perform live!!

There will be more Dino posts to come!!

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