My Way

"My Way" is Paul Anka's English-language version of the French song "Comme d'habitude", released by Frank Sinatra in 1969. The original song was written by Jacques Revaux, Gilles Thibaut, and Claude François. It was first recorded in 1967.

Background
Paul Anka heard the French original while on vacation in the south of France. He flew to Paris to get the rights to the song. He later bought the recording, and publishing rights for one dollar.Paul Anka, "With Paul Anka, 'Rock Swings', Part Two" , interviewed on Fresh Air, WHYY, August 10, 2005

In 2000, the 1969 release of "My Way" by Frank Sinatra on Reprise Records was added into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Even though the song became one of Sinatra's most popular songs, his daughter Tina has said the singer came to hate the song: "He didn't like it. That song stuck and he couldn't get it off his shoe".

David Bowie wrote the first English-language lyrics to Claude François' original song, though the lyrics and performance were only informally recorded and never published.

Charts
The song was a success with Sinatra's version of "My Way" spending 75 weeks in the UK top 40, which is the 4th most weeks in UK chart history.

 Chart (1969) Peakposition Canada RPM Top Singles 26 Canada RPM Easy Listening 2 US Billboard Hot 100Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 27 US Billboard Easy Listening 2 US Cash Box Top 100 29

 Chart (2021) Peakposition

References

Category:1969 songs
Category:Frank Sinatra songs