‘Strangers in the Night,’ recorded by Frank Sinatra in 1966 for an album of the same name, reached #1 in both the U.S. and the UK. It won three Grammy awards, including Record of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. The album became the most commercially successful in Sinatra’s career.
And yet Ol’ Blue Eyes hated the song. When he was first given the sheet music, he reportedly told his aid “I don’t want to sing this, it’s a piece of shit.”
Of course, he had no choice but to sing it given its popularity. Once, after performing the song live, the mic picked him up saying “That’s the worst fucking song I ever heard. If you like that song you must be crazy about pineapple yoghurt.”
I’ve always enjoyed this song just fine, especially the quintessentially Sinatra “doobie doobie do” at the fade out.
Wondering in the night, what were the chances?
We’d be sharing love before the night was through
Something in your eyes was so inviting
Something in your smile was so exciting
Something in my heart told me I must have you
Strangers in the night
Two lonely people, we were strangers in the night
Up to the moment when we said our first hello, little did we know
Love was just a glance away, a warm embracing dance away and
Ever since that night we’ve been together
Lovers at first sight, in love forever
It turned out so right for strangers in the night
[Instrumental-first three lines of Chorus]
Love was just a glance away, a warm embracing dance away
Ever since that night we’ve been together
Lovers at first sight, in love forever
It turned out so right for strangers in the night
Meet Me In Montauk 
He hated this song? Not “My Way?” Not his take on Jingle Bells?” 😁
Your commentary had us laughing out loud🤣 I am not and never was a fan of this song and to read about all the awards is stunning to me.
Just to add a little credibility: Owning every album (and later, CD) Frank ever made, watched every TV special and concerts plus most CD’s by Ella, Ms. Devine, Shirley, Tony, Andy, Mel, Jack and dozens of others, here’s my take on ‘Strangers In The Night’. In a way, it’s a somewhat corny, almost quirky combination of a 1940’s melody combined with 1950 B-movie lyrics. It’s what advertisers call ‘middle of the road’ ads “Expectant’. The words could have been straight out of a 1940’s-50’s film noir movie.
What ‘saves’ it is the phrase: “Up to the moment when we said our first hello, little did we know…
Love was just a glance away, a warm embracing dance away”
That gave Frank a great segway into “Ever since that night we’ve been together…Lovers at first sight, in love forever
Frank, being who he is, turned a song he first hated into a #1 hit on Billboard Hot 100, Easy Listening and UK Singles Charts. Plus awarded Grammy Award for Best Male Pop vocal performance, Record of the Year and Album named after the song as his most commercially successful album. Imagine if he didn’t like the song!
He probably thought it was corny as well which may have prompted him to end it with “do be do be do”. Only Frank could pull that off. If Tony or Andy tried, they’d be laughed off the stage. But not the Chairman of the Board!
And as a last thought- this was right in the middle of the British Invasion! (Coincidentally, Frank and Nancy’s “These Boots Are Made For Walking” was #2.
Hope this wasn’t too long but thought some readers who love Frand would be interested.