More Against the Days

[Chris Broderick]

I always thought that Pynchon was referring to the Artie Shaw version, which was one of his bigger hits (not as big as Begin the Beguine, but certainly very popular).  I wouldn't call it treacly, but it's pretty standard big band swing stuff from Shaw.

It was adapted from a Spanish tune by Alberto Dominguez with new English lyrics (by Ray Charles [I don't think it's the same one] and S.K. Russell).  Here's the lyrics to it, and to the original tune.

http://ntl.matrix.com.br/pfilho/html/lyrics/f/frenesi.txt

As for theories, I keep fixating on the line in the English version:
"I knew that frenesí meant "Please love me""

The literal translation of frenesi is "frenzy", or "madness".  Hub & Sasha sure burdened their daughter with one hell of a name...

-Chris

Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2006 14:13:10 -0400 (EDT)
From: kelber at mindspring.com
Subject: Re: Re: More Against the Days
Anyone ever listened to the song Frenesi?  Or have any theories as to why Pynchon used the song to name his VL character?  I've only found an Edie Gorme rendition.  I think Artie Shaw has an instrumental version.  Pretty treacly stuff.
Laura