Frank Sinatra and Kendall Jenner are linked by an Adidas Originals advertisement built around “My Way.” In August 2017, Jenner appeared in the third chapter of the brand’s “Original Is Never Finished” campaign, which gave the song associated with Sinatra a fresh treatment. The film placed a classic pop standard alongside contemporary musicians, a basketball star, and imagery borrowed from Renaissance art. Sinatra had died in 1998, so the connection belongs to the later use of his musical legacy. The story begins with a song that had already undergone a remarkable transformation.
Where the Frank Sinatra and Kendall Jenner Connection Comes From
Adidas Originals launched “Original Is Never Finished” in January 2017. Its central idea was that existing creative work could become the starting point for something original. The brand put that idea into practice through a remix of “My Way” and visual references drawn from art, music, and street culture.
Jenner entered the series later that year. The third chapter featured her alongside musicians Playboi Carti, 21 Savage, and Young Thug, as well as NBA player James Harden. Advertising agency Johannes Leonardo developed the campaign, and the third film introduced another interpretation of the familiar song.
That sequence matters: the Sinatra-inspired musical concept was already part of the campaign when Jenner joined its cast. Her appearance extended an existing creative idea.
The Timeline Behind the Advertisement
The recording, the campaign launch, and Jenner’s arrival happened at separate points:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| December 30, 1968 | Sinatra recorded “My Way.” |
| March 1969 | His album My Way was released on Reprise. |
| May 14, 1998 | Sinatra died, almost two decades before the campaign. |
| January 2017 | Adidas Originals launched “Original Is Never Finished.” |
| May 31, 2017 | Jenner announced her Adidas partnership. |
| August 2017 | The third campaign chapter appeared, featuring Jenner. |
Kendall Jenner’s Role: Venus in Adidas Superstars
Jenner’s scenes drew inspiration from Sandro Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus. The campaign translated the painting’s association with beauty and emergence into a futuristic setting, with Jenner wearing Adidas Superstar sneakers. A familiar image from art history became material for a streetwear advertisement.
How Jenner Described Originality
In an interview released with the third chapter, Jenner described originality as “putting your own spin on something.” She also connected the campaign’s title to the constant changes in fashion: designs, images, runway presentations, and photo shoots could all lead somewhere unexpected.
Asked whose earlier work she would recreate, Jenner did not single out one artist. Instead, she emphasized developing a creative identity of her own. That answer brought a personal ambition into a campaign otherwise filled with references to the past.
“My Way” Had Already Been Reinvented
Long before Adidas used it, “My Way” had crossed languages and changed meaning. Its melody came from “Comme d’habitude,” a French song recorded by Claude François. Paul Anka wrote new English lyrics with Sinatra in mind.
Anka’s version took a different direction from the French lyric’s account of a worn-out relationship. The English song became a reflection on a life’s decisions, disappointments, and determination. Anka later explained that he imagined Sinatra’s voice and manner of speaking while writing it.
Sinatra’s recording became the title track of his 1969 album. The album itself included interpretations of contemporary songs such as the Beatles’ “Yesterday” and Simon and Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson.” Reinterpreting other writers’ material was already part of the musical world from which “My Way” emerged.
Other performers subsequently took the song in different directions. Elvis Presley and Sid Vicious both recorded versions, placing the same composition in strikingly different musical settings. The Adidas adaptation followed that established history of reinvention.
Why the Song Suited the Campaign
As a creative choice, “My Way” gave the advertisement a recognizable statement of independence. Its title suited a campaign featuring people with distinct careers and styles.
There was also a productive tension in the idea: a declaration of individuality was being expressed through a song that many people had already performed. Read this way, the campaign suggested that originality could come from interpretation—what a new performer or creator brings to existing material.
Where the Campaign Fit in Jenner’s Career
By 2017, Jenner had established a fashion career alongside her television background. She walked in Marc Jacobs’s fall 2014 show and appeared on the September 2016 cover of American Vogue. Those milestones preceded her Adidas partnership.
Adidas Originals placed her in a different setting from a luxury runway: sportswear presented through fashion, music, and visual culture. Her role in the campaign belonged to that modeling and advertising career. Sinatra’s contribution to the concept came through the song associated with him and the later reinterpretation of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Connects Frank Sinatra and Kendall Jenner?
Jenner appeared in the third chapter of Adidas Originals’ 2017 “Original Is Never Finished” campaign. The film used a reworking of “My Way,” the song strongly associated with Sinatra.
Did Sinatra and Jenner Work Together on the Advertisement?
No. Sinatra died in 1998, and the campaign appeared in 2017. Jenner participated in a later advertising project that drew on his musical legacy.
Who Wrote the English Lyrics to “My Way”?
Paul Anka wrote the English lyrics for Sinatra, using the melody of the French song “Comme d’habitude.” He created a new lyrical story rather than translating the original words.
When Did Kendall Jenner Join Adidas?
Jenner announced her partnership on May 31, 2017. She represented Adidas Originals, the brand’s line associated with classic sneakers and sportswear styles.
Was the Soundtrack Simply Sinatra’s Original Recording?
The campaign emphasized reinterpretation. Adidas described the launch film’s soundtrack as a remix, while the third chapter introduced another take on the Sinatra-associated track.
Conclusion
The Frank Sinatra and Kendall Jenner connection sits at the intersection of music and fashion advertising. “My Way” supplied the musical foundation; Jenner helped bring the campaign’s visual ideas to life. The song’s journey from French pop to a Sinatra standard and then to contemporary streetwear makes reinvention the most interesting part of the story.
