San Francisco Still an American Icon
With more than fifteen million visitors a year, San Francisco easily ranks as one of the nations most popular travel destinations. However, it wasnt until recently, while researching a travel itinerary of my own, that I realized how iconic the City by the Bay actually is for the American psyche. Weve seen or heard the city depicted so many times in music, movies, or commercials that a lot of these pictures and sounds are now permanently associated with our view of the city.
I suppose popular music is one of the best examples. For those of us who regard San Francisco as a romantic destination, it may well be because of Italian crooner Tony Bennetts signature number, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco". Bennett, whose real name is Anthony Benedetto, was born in Astoria, Queens in New York City. He got his start when Pearl Bailey hired him to open her show at a Greenwich Village club in 1949. Bennett soon signed with Columbia Records, starting a singing career that would only become more successful as the Fifties rolled on.
Tony Bennett recorded and released "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" roughly at the peak of his career in the year 1962. Initially, this Ballad of the Bay met with only moderate success, topping out at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. But the song did well enough on other charts to eventually become a gold record. It even captured a Grammy for Best Record and Top Male Vocal.
Despite Bennetts success with "I Left My Heart in San Francisco", lean years were to follow for the singer when the Beatles, Rolling Stones and other British bands invaded and 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 bands forever linked with San Franciscos claim to fame as the revolutionary hotbed of Flower Power.
Ultimately, Bennetts career would outlast that of Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin and The Grateful Dead. Amazingly, the singer turned his career around in the late 1980s by finding a voice for younger crowds overloaded with disco dancing, punk and techno tunes. Gigs 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 nearly eight-one, Bennett still tours and performs frequently, delighting audiences with smooth renditions of "Fly Me to the Moon" and "I Left My Heart in San Francisco". The Recording Industry Association of America and the NEA have selected 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!
Matthew Paolini is a consultant with Citybook.com for the Los Angeles, CA business Yellow Pages division.
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