| "High Hopes" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byFrank Sinatra | ||||
| from the albumAll the Way | ||||
| B-side | "All My Tomorrows" | |||
| Released | June 5, 1959 (single); 1961 (album version) | |||
| Recorded | May 8, 1959 | |||
| Studio | Capitol (Hollywood) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:41 | |||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Composer | Jimmy Van Heusen[1] | |||
| Lyricist | Sammy Cahn[1] | |||
| Frank Sinatra singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"High Hopes" is apopular song first popularized byFrank Sinatra, with music written byJames Van Heusen and lyrics bySammy Cahn.[1] It was introduced by Sinatra and child actorEddie Hodges in the1959 filmA Hole in the Head, wasnominated for a Grammy, and won an Oscar forBest Original Song at the32nd Academy Awards.[1]
The song describes two scenarios where animals do seemingly impossible acts. First, anant moves arubber tree plant all by himself, then aram single-handedly puts a hole in a "billion-kilowattdam." The desires of these animals are described by the chorus as "high, applepie in the sky, hopes," although the song implies they ultimately accomplish them. The song finishes by comparing problems totoy balloons; the problem has gone away when the balloon is popped, as stated by the closing line, "Oops, there goes another problem, ker-plop."
"High Hopes" was originally recorded by American singerFrank Sinatra in 1959 in a hit version featuring a children's chorus, which was later included in his 1961 albumAll the Way. This version is not the one that appeared in the film, as the film version paired Sinatra withEddie Hodges rather than with a children's chorus;[2] also, the lyrics are slightly different, referring more directly to Anthony the Ant and The Bonanno, or Goodyear Plant and the FBI or Hoover Dam. The tune reached #30 on theBillboard Hot 100.[3] The track peaked at #6 in theUK Singles Chart.[1] Sinatra also recorded a version of the tune with different lyrics which was used as the theme song for the1960 presidential campaign ofJohn F. Kennedy.[4]
Sammy Davis Jr. performed the song with a children's chorus at the32nd Academy Awards ceremony, where it won the award for Best Original Song.
Dinah Shore recorded the song with a children's chorus in 1960.
Doris Day recorded a ratherjazzy version of the song for her 1964 album,With a Smile and a Song. Her version was used in the credits to the 1998 animated filmAntz.[5]
Bing Crosby recorded the song for his 1968 albumThoroughly Modern Bing.
The song also was popularized inPhiladelphia by the latePhilliesplay-by-play announcerHarry Kalas, who made the song his personal anthem. Kalas sang "High Hopes" after the Phillies won the1993 National League pennant, and again after winning the2008 World Series.[6]
Beginning after his death in 2009, after each Phillies’ home win, the fans sing the song while the lyrics and a video of Kalas are played on thejumbotron above Harry the K's restaurant in left field ofCitizens Bank Park.
Rick Logan recorded a shortened version of the song with a women's chorus by Donna Davidson-Medine, Luana Jackman, Susie Stevens-Logan (his wife) and Bobbi Page forA Goofy Movie in 1995.
Franky Perez, American singer and vocalist for Finnish symphonic metal bandApocalyptica, recorded a version of the song for the 2011 metal-inspired tribute albumSin-Atra.
English pop singerRobbie Williams performed the song on hisSwings Both Ways Live tour in 2014, accompanied by a children's choir composed of students from each venue location's respectiveStagecoach Theatre Arts school. The performance was included on theSwings Both Ways live album.
Hip hop emceeCraig Mack looped portions of Sinatra's original song into his 1999 composition "Wooden Horse", which was used on the soundtrack of the filmWhat's the Worst That Could Happen?
"High Hopes" is commemorated inQueens, New York by a park named High Hopes Triangle located in the neighborhood ofWoodside. This trianglular parklet lies at the meeting point of 66th Street and 67th Street, just north of Woodside Boulevard; these streets were formerly Burroughs Avenue and Lee Avenue. The park was commemorated in 1999 byMayor Rudolph Giuliani, Borough PresidentClaire Shulman, and New York State SenatorJohn Sabini.[8]
High Hopes Triangle is managed by theNew York City Parks Department. In addition to a stone marker with the park's name, the park features a series of concrete tiles that feature anthropomorphized ants alongside lyrics from the song.
