Shocking Reason Why Frank Sinatra Hated "Rock n' Roll" And Considers It As "WACK"

Shocking Reason Why Frank Sinatra Hated "Rock n' Roll" And Considers It As "WACK" 

Frank Sinatra's disdain for rock and roll can be attributed to several factors, rooted in his musical background, personal tastes, and the cultural shifts of his time. As a prominent figure in the world of big band, jazz, and traditional pop, Sinatra had established himself as a leading artist in the pre-rock era. His music was characterized by sophisticated arrangements, complex melodies, and a focus on vocal technique, all of which contrasted sharply with the emerging rock and roll genre.

Firstly, Sinatra's musical sensibilities were shaped by the big band and swing eras of the 1930s and 1940s. He admired and worked with legendary musicians and arrangers like Tommy Dorsey, Nelson Riddle, and Count Basie, whose sophisticated compositions and arrangements were integral to his style. Rock and roll, with its simpler chord progressions, repetitive structures, and emphasis on raw energy, likely struck Sinatra as musically unsophisticated and lacking the nuanced artistry he valued.

Secondly, Sinatra's personal tastes leaned heavily towards the Great American Songbook and the jazz standards that showcased his vocal prowess. He was known for his meticulous attention to phrasing, timing, and emotional delivery, qualities that were central to his success and identity as an artist. Rock and roll, on the other hand, often prioritized rhythm, beat, and youthful exuberance over vocal finesse, which may have seemed to him like a step backward in musical evolution.

Additionally, Sinatra's disdain for rock and roll was partly cultural and generational. By the time rock and roll began to gain popularity in the mid-1950s, Sinatra was already an established star. The rise of rock coincided with a cultural shift towards youth rebellion, epitomized by artists like Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, and Little Richard. This new wave of music challenged the norms and traditions that Sinatra represented. To him, rock and roll was not just a musical genre but a symbol of a cultural upheaval that he found unsettling and perhaps threatening to his own legacy.

Sinatra's famous comments in the 1950s, where he described rock and roll as "the most brutal, ugly, degenerate, vicious form of expression it has been my misfortune to hear," underscore his strong negative feelings. He viewed it as a degradation of musical standards and a threat to the cultural values he held dear. This harsh critique reflects a broader generational divide, where older artists and audiences were often resistant to the rapid changes in the music industry and society at large.

In summary, Frank Sinatra's hatred for rock and roll was a complex interplay of musical preference, personal taste, and cultural resistance. His background in the sophisticated realms of jazz and big band, combined with his status as a cultural icon of a different era, made it difficult for him to embrace a genre that represented a stark departure from everything he valued in music.