San Francisco Still an American Icon
Will You Leave Your Heart in San Francisco?
With over fifteen million visitors a year, San Francisco easily ranks as one of Americas favourite vacation destinations. But it wasnt until recently, while researching a travel itinerary of my own, that it dawned on me how iconic San Francisco really is for the American psyche. Weve seen or heard the city depicted so many times in music, films, or television commercials that a lot of these pictures and sounds have become lastingly linked to our image of the city.
Some popular song tunes illustrate this point pretty well. For those of us who regard San Francisco as a romantic destination, it may well be because of Italian singer Tony Bennetts trademark song, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco". Bennett, whose real name is Anthony Benedetto, was born in Astoria, Queens in New York City. Bennetts first big break came when Pearl Bailey tapped him to open her act at a Greenwich Village nightclub in the late 1940s. Bennett soon went on to sign with Columbia Records, starting a singing career that would only grow in popularity as the Fifties marched on.
Tony Bennett recorded and released "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" at the height of his popularity in the year 1962. Initially, this Ballad of the Bay met with only moderate success, hitting #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. But the tune did well enough on other charts to ultimately go gold. It even captured a Grammy Award for Best Record and Top Male Vocal.
Despite Bennetts hit with "I Left My Heart in San Francisco", lean years were to follow for the singer when the Beatles, Rolling Stones and other British musical groups first invaded and then conquered America's pop music scene in the mid-1960s. Those of us old enough to remember that period of American history will also remember other musical groups everlastingly tied to San Franciscos claim to fame as the home of Flower Power.
Ultimately, Bennetts career in show business would outlast that of Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin and The Grateful Dead. Amazingly, the showman turned his career around in the late 1980s by appealing to younger crowds overloaded with disco dancing, punk and techno tunes. Appearances on Letterman, Conan OBrien and a twosome with the Red Hot Chili Peppers at the MTV Video Music Awards cemented the singers hip new image.
Now in his early eighties, Bennett continues to tour and perform, delighting crowds with silky versions of "Fly Me to the Moon" and "I Left My Heart in San Francisco". The Recording Industry Association of America and the NEA have chosen Bennetts homage to San Francisco as one of the most important songs of the twentieth century.
Are you ready to leave your heart in San Francisco? If you are, youll be in excellent company! According to the citys website, San Francisco attracts more than fifteen million visitors each year, including thousands of honeymooners and countless couples looking for the perfect romantic getaway. See you soon in the City by the Bay!
About the Author
Matthew Paolini is Citybook.com's technical director for the Washington, DC business Yellow Pages division.
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