KING OF COOL
Lately we’ve been eating plenty of eggs Italiano, which always makes my brother and I sing ‘Mambo Italiano’ which then gets us started on ‘Papa Loves Mambo’ and so on through the Dean Martin repertoire.
The Pack Rat is my bubblegum music, and Dean Martin is a special favorite for his smooth voice and ready humor. Here is a YouTube playlist of what are—in our humble opinion—his best songs.
Dean is giddy in love. ‘How lucky can one guy be: I kissed her and she kissed me. Like the fella once said, Ain’t that a kick in the head.’
EVERYBODY LOVES SOMEBODY SOMETIME ✩
‘Everybody loves somebody sometime, and although my dreams were overdue, your love made it all worth waiting for someone like you.’
I am not a fan of cowboy songs, but I do like this one when Dean Martin sings it. ‘I’m a man of means by no means—king of the road.’ {Here is Dean Martin singing ‘King of the Road’ for the 1965 Frank Sinatra Spectacular, while Rat Pack members heckle from the wings.}
Italian is combined haphazardly with English in this silly song about the popular Latin dance. ‘E lo che se dice you get happy in the feets-a when you Mambo Italiano.’ {Here is Dean Martin singing ‘Mambo Italiano’ live.}
Dean sings a recipe for happy memories. ‘One man, one wife, one love through life—memories are made of this.’ {Here is Dean Martin singing ‘Memories are Made of This’ live in 1955.}
‘Please meet me in the plaza near your casa. I am only one and one is much too few.’ {Here is Dean Martin singing live on a cheap Italian set for television.}
Here is another silly song: Papa and Mama are having trouble dancing the mambo together. ‘He goes to; she goes fro. He goes fast; she goes slow. He goes left ‘n’ she goes right. Papa’s lookin’ for Mama, but Mama is nowhere in sight.’
This catchy ditty showcases the onstage banter of friends and Rat Pack members Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr. ‘Tell you what I’ll do. Since I’m with you, we’ll call it Clyde’s song.’
SWAY ✩
‘When marimba rhythms start to play, dance with me, make me sway. Like the lazy ocean hugs the shore, hold me close, sway me more.’
VOLARE ✩
‘No wonder my happy heart sings: your love has given me wings.’ {Here is Dean Martin singing ‘Volare’ for the 1965 Frank Sinatra Spectacular, while fooling about with Rat Pack members offstage.}
And...
Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin sing a comical medley of their greatest hits, interlaced with trademark jokes and gags. We’ve watched this countless times, and still laugh.
• Deano Martini, the King of Cool •
January 7, 2014