Frank Sinatra Has a Cold

“Sinatra with a cold is Picasso without paint, Ferrari without fuel—only worse. For the common cold robs Sinatra of that uninsurable jewel, his voice…and it not only affects his psyche but also seems to cause a kind of psychosomatic nasal drip within dozens of people. […It can] shake the national economy.”

‘Frank Sinatra Has a Cold’ is Gay Talese’s magnum opus—and one of the greatest literary profiles ever made. He wasn’t able to meet Sinatra in person as Sinatra—as stated in the title—had a cold and wasn’t well enough to make the interview. Instead, Talese interviewed more than a hundred people in order to get a well-rounded idea of who the real Sinatra was. He succeeded. Gay Talese created a new sense of what journalism was at the time—that is, more than simple news facts or a superficial summary of a man intended for brief morning coffee reads.

A piece for Esquire to commemorate the icon’s fiftieth birthday, ‘Frank Sinatra Has a Cold’ delves deep into the real person and the persona that Frank Sinatra has become—along with the power he holds over the entire entertainment industry—even at his age. Sinatra’s influence was slowly drifting, as newer styles of music came into popularity (think ‘60s rock music—The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, etc). The piece doesn’t gush—Sinatra is made out to be old. He even says to a restaurant owner, “I don’t want anybody in here without coats and ties.” He clings to the past—of formality and of rules (even if he may have been the ones to be breaking rules decades prior). While

Sinatra may be aging, his influence stays pristine, Talese says; he argues that if Sinatra, one of the most famous and influential people in America of the time, had a cold—an annoying and brief stint in bed to anyone else—it would cause a ripple effect into every economic sphere. His essay was not only just a brief biography of a man, but of the

American dream and the complexities of immigrant life—Sinatra was the child of Sicilian immigrants—and of fame.

The piece explores both the successes and failings of Sinatra—his numerous marriages, his gambling, his stubbornness when it came to shooting films.

A reader can sense the melancholy acceptance of Frank Sinatra in Talese’s piece: Sinatra sits down at a table, alone and asking for something “light” as he isn’t hungry enough for a complete meal. He looks down at his half-filled glass. Later, when he’s driving and stops at a red-light, he sees a woman staring at him. She can’t tell if he’s

Sinatra or just some man. He stares back, almost urging her to recognize him. She does, but it takes her a few moments. He drives off. He’s aware that his influence can’t last forever. ‘Frank Sinatra Has a Cold’ makes the reader rethink the idealized celebrity life.