Lileks looks none too kindly on the Rat Pack, and nicely ties it to Mob Chic. Those two always seem to go hand-in-hand, which I guess is appropriate.
Sinatra plays a large role in the book, and reminds me again how much I
don’t like the man. And how that extends to his music. There’s something false
and seductive about being a modern-day Sinatra fan, and by “fan” I mean someone
who thinks they can get a few photons of reflected coolness by conspicuously
immersing himself in the Capitol oeuvre, with all its world-wearing romantic rue
and barroom charm.
The Rat Pack Myth works best from a distance, preferably 1500 miles and 30
years; you don’t see them feel up the hat check girl, kick the waiter (or have
him kicked), or stare with vacant eyes from the bottom of whatever well of
drunkenness they toppled into that night. We cut them slack because they wore
cool suits and had short hair and smoked a lot and one of the spoke
ever-so-cultured, and because they either slept with a Kennedy or pimped for
one. Mafia Chic requires the same removal from the scene.
I'm somewhere in the middle on this one, and seemingly opposite of Lileks. Lileks admits to being a Sopranos fan, but no fan of Sinatra.
And I certainly have no love for Mafia movies - have seen most and don't need to see any of them again. I'll never understand what's so romantic about people who can compartmentalize their lives so much that they can "love" their wives while cheating regularly or can espouse honor while having people murdered and beaten.
2 comments:
other than 'high hopes', i love every one of sinatra's songs. ive read more than one biography on the man, and he was no saint. but i bet he had no regrets, and the rat pack was a tight group of friends who honestly loved each other.
I agree with Lileks, people romanticize the whole ‘Rat Pack’ and mafia thing way too much. The way I think if any pervasive celebrity is this: Take away that which makes the person famous, their singing career, acting career, whatever. What you have left is the person they really are. Everything they do for a living means nothing. Sinatra had a good voice. You won’t find many people who will argue that point. Take away his movies, his singing career and his general celebrity and you’re left with a slimy thug who had a huge chip on his shoulder and mafia ties. You can do the same for the rest of them. Or for ANY celebrity. The sad part about the Rat Pack is that for the most part their most redeeming qualities manifested themselves on stage. It doesn’t say much about you if you’re a piece of shit as a human being and charming for a camera. At the end of the day you’re still a piece of shit.
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