Did you ever wonder about my business name, Volaré Products? Where did I get it? What does it mean? How in the world do you pronounce it? Well, I will explain.
This morning, while doing research, I stumbled across the FAC Newsletter Archive, compiled by Lincoln Ross. (What an effort he has done!) I scrolled and found mention of the Durham Mystery Plan that I did (Tom Nallen I design) that was in the newsletter. He made the following comment: “…Volare Products (couldn’t he have called his company something else? That car was a traumatic memory, but what did I expect for $400? How does George expect a model airplane burdened with fine “Corinthian” leather to fly well?)”
Who doesn’t remember Ricardo Montelban’s commercial? It is a cultural classic! But – OOPS! – that was for the Chrysler Cordoba, not the Plymouth Volare. Of course, Lincoln’s comment is tongue-in-cheek (I think?), but it got me to thinking about the name and why it is difficult for people?
First, the pronunciation. It seems that nearly everyone mispronounces this – and I don’t know why. The most grating (and somewhat common) mispronunciation I get is “vol-AIR” – what? Well, I guess it follows the “rules of English pronunciation” with the long vowel sound that precedes the silent E – but it is clearly wrong. I don’t know how anyone that says it that way feels that the fingernails-on-a-chalkboard sound is right.
Those of us of a certain age – and even older – will remember the song “Volare” (or “Nel blu dipinto di blu”) from the late 50s, 60s, and 70s. I grew up near Toledo, Ohio and we listened to WJR out of Detroit. I thought (at the time) it was pop music, but it was really much more staid. That song would occasionally play and it is catchy. That pronunciation is “vo-LAR-ay” – it is Italian and means “to fly” (now we are getting closer to why I picked the name). While this is not the correct pronunciation of my business name – it is the one that I use. It is also the way the Plymouth car name is pronounced (so people should know?) By the way, here is Dean Martin singing “Volare”.
The last pronunciation – and the correct one – comes from Spanish. My wife is a native Spanish speaker and the correct pronunciation of volaré is “vo-la-REY”. And here you will see why THIS word is the name of my business (thank you Google Translate):
You see, long before I purchased the parts business, I had designed my own FAC-based Free Flight model airplane plans. I have dozens and dozens of designs that I have drawn up or started to draw, but only have ever offered a few for sale. I only offer plans – and now kits – of models that have been successfully built and flown to FAC-minimum flight times – 20 seconds or more. My products must be able to fly.
Hey My Friend,
Thanks for taking the time from your busy day for the write up.
Most interesting.
Sky
So, years ago I go into Tower Records store and ask the teenage clerk “Do you have “The Best of Dean Martin” on CD? I’d like to buy it.”
His response: “Why?”