Songs to Compare/Contrast - High Hopes

                                                               Part 1 – High Hopes - Sung by Frank Sinatra                              Written 2/28/21
If you’re my age, you might know this song. If you’re young, like my kids in their 20/30’s, or even younger, you’ll have to click on this search link:       high hopes song frank sinatra - Bing
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I didn’t realize Frank recorded it the day after I was born, May 8th, 1959. It came out a month later. I was about a month old too.

This screenshot is from the 1959 movie ‘A Hole in the Head.’ And no, I’ve never seen it. The kid with Frank is Eddie Hodges. He was born in 1947 so he’s 12 years older than me. If you want to figure out our ages . . . do the math!

I remember loving this song as a kid. I can’t copy the lyrics, but it’s basically about when life is tough, bring out your inner ant. Then the lyrics go on to sing about that ant wanting to move a rubber tree plant. I have no idea why, but the point of the song is that ant CAN! Why? Because he has high hopes.
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The composer, Jimmy Van Heusen certainly did. So did the lyricist, Sammy Cahn. They got Frank Sinatra to sing their song, and it won the Oscar for the best original song at the 32nd Academy Awards. And this song, was also John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s presidential campaign song back in 1960. No wonder so many people were inspired by that little old ant! 

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Source: High Hopes (Frank Sinatra song) - Wikipedia
 
Tomorrow – more recent High Hopes – do you know which group sang it?

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​             Sorry! I Got A Little Distracted!

​I planned to write this tomorrow – That should have been March 1st, but it took me 18 tomorrows to return to this post. Instead I was busy launching my 3rd book,  ZOE’S SCAVENGER HUNT FUN.

I had high hopes, and I’m happy with Zoe’s launch. I learned so much! But now it’s time to return to old habits – writing my blog, revising manuscripts, or looking for a new story to write.
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So now the answer – who sang the newest version of High Hopes?
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​Part 2 – High Hopes - Sung by Panic! At the Disco
I love their name, and their version of the song! Do you remember it? It wasn’t long ago, back in 2018. Here’s the link if you’d like to hear it again:       high hopes panic at the disco - Bing
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I’m always fascinated with the story behind a story. This version of High Hopes was released May 23, 2018, but I couldn’t find when it was recorded. I did find its roots – when and where this song started. Ten people were behind it, and it all started at a writing camp back in 2015.

BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc) had a camp in Aspen, Colorado. Four people arrived early and decided to hang out in a hot tub. Jonas Jeberg started singing bass notes, and the others sang chords. They brainstormed lyrics. The group set up a portable recording studio and made a demo, as a rap song before leaving camp. They shopped the song around in 2015, but no one wanted it.

Then in 2016 Panic! At the Disco wanted it for their next album. They didn’t work on it until early 2018. That’s when their lead singer, Brendon Urie co-wrote the lyrics. High Hopes released in May and became a HUGE hit!

It peaked at #4, but it was one of the few songs to stay on the charts for a whole year.  It also won 5 awards that are listed below. Congratulations to the team – Jake Sinclair, Jonas Jeberg, Brendon Urie, Jenny Owen Youngs, Lauren Pritchard, Sam Hollander, William Lobban-Bean, Taylor Parks, Ilsey Juber, and Jonny Coffer. They were the village who wrote this song!

High Hopes was also part of the presidential campaign in 2020. Several Democrats used it at campaign events, without problems. President Trump used it once, and Brendon Urie replied with a rude tweet, and a cease-and-desist order. I’m disappointed. It makes me wonder if I want to listen, or switch the station the next time it comes on the radio. 

Source: High Hopes (Panic! at the Disco song) - Wikipedia

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​Part 3 – Compare and Contrast The Two Songs
Here’s what I thought of.  I was hoping for more similarities, but I found lots of  differences.

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​What’s the same? Think . . .
1. Title
2. Theme
3. Awards*
4. Politics*

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​ What’s Different? Think . . .
1. Artists
2. Songwriters
3. Verses
4. Chorus
5. Awards*
6. Politics*
* Look for the astericks. They mark categories where you can find both similarities and differences.

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