Bésame Mucho (Song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
“Bésame mucho” | |
---|---|
Single by Consuelo Velázquez | |
Language | Spanish |
Released | 1940 |
Genre | Bolero |
Songwriter(s) | Consuelo Velázquez |
“Bésame Mucho” (Spanish: [ˈbesame ˈmutʃo]; “Kiss me a lot”) is a bolero song written in 1932 by Mexican songwriter Consuelo Velázquez. It is one of the most popular songs of the 20th century and one of the most important songs in the history of Latin music. It was recognized in 1999 as the most recorded and covered song in Spanish of all time.
“Besame Mucho” | |
---|---|
Single by Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra (Vocal Bob Eberle & Kitty Kallen) | |
Language | Spanish |
B-side | “My Ideal” |
Released | December 1943 |
Recorded | October 7, 1943 |
Studio | Los Angeles |
Genre | Bolero |
Length | 2:59 |
Label | Decca 18574 |
Songwriter(s) | Consuelo Velázquez, Sunny Skylar |
Famous versions were sung by Trio Los Panchos and female vocalist Gigliola Cinquetti in 1968,
and by Dalida in 1976. English lyrics to it were written by Sunny Skylar.
It inspired the cult indian song, Yeh Samaa Samaa Hai Pyar Ka, sung by Lata Mangeshkar in the film Jab Jab Phool Khile.
The song appeared in the film Follow the Boys (May 5, 1944) when it was played by Charlie Spivak and his Orchestra
and in Cowboy and the Senorita (May 13, 1944) with vocal by Dale Evans.
Inspiration
According to Velázquez herself, she wrote this song even though she had never been kissed yet at the time, and kissing, as she heard, was considered a sin.
She was inspired by the piano piece “Quejas, o la Maja y el Ruiseñor“, from the 1911 suite Goyescas by Spanish composer Enrique Granados, which he later also included as “Aria of the Nightingale” in his 1916 opera of the same name.
In politics
In 1990, a hitherto clandestine affair between two Brazilian government ministers, Bernardo Cabral (Minister of Justice) and Zélia Cardoso de Mello (Minister for Economy, Finance & Planning), was revealed to public knowledge as the couple danced cheek to cheek to “Bésame Mucho” during a birthday party held for Cardoso de Mello. A married father of three, Cabral was forced to resign as a result.
A few days later, at a ceremony in which Cardoso de Mello was due to receive her country’s Order of Military Merit, the regimental band of the presidential guard, Os Dragões da Independência, struck up “Bésame Mucho” as she was presented with her medal. Its musical director, Lt. Geraldo Mendonça da Lima, was subsequently given 3 days’ detention for insubordination.
Notable versions
- “Besame Mucho” performed by Xavier Cugat conducting his Waldorf-Astoria Orchestra in 1945
- Bob Eberly and Kitty Kallen with Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra (reached number one in the United States in 1944)
- Andy Russell (reached No. 8 in the USA in 1944)
- Frank Sinatra had a U.S. top 10 hit in 1954.
- Ray Conniff and His Orchestra and Chorus recorded this song on march 25, 1960, for the album “Say It With Music” issued originally on august 08, 1960. A world wide hit and a trademark for Conniff for decades.
- The Coasters hit the Hot 100 with their version, which peaked at No. 70, in 1960.
- The Beatles (recorded during their Decca audition on January 1, 1962. A second version was recorded during their first session at Abbey Road Studios on June 6, 1962. The latter is included on The Beatles’ Anthology 1)
- Jet Harris reached No.22 in the UK with their version in 1962.
- Dalida reached No 5 in France and No 10 in Turkey in 1976.
- Plácido Domingo (received a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Pop Performance in 1983)
- Pedro Vargas (inducted into the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001)
- Zoé (nominated for a Latin Grammy for Record of the Year in 2012)
- Andrea Bocelli – Besame Mucho
- Diana Krall – Besame Mucho
- Laura Fygi – Besame Mucho
- Natalie Cole – Bésame Mucho
- Connie Francis – Besame Mucho
- Lisa Ono – Besame Mucho
- Dave Monk – Besame Mucho
- Alexandra Ilieva & Family – Besame Mucho
- André Rieu – Bésame Mucho
- Tatiana Eva-Marie & Avalon Jazz Band – Bésame Mucho (in French)
- Cesaria Evora – Besame Mucho
- Ksenya Nikora – Besame Mucho
- Vicente Fernández – Bésame Mucho
- Fernando Lopez – Bésame Mucho
- Billy Vaughn – Besame Mucho
- Percy Faith – Besame Mucho
- Engelbert Humperdinck & Lupita Infante – Bésame Mucho | Official Video
- Layers Classic – Bésame Mucho (Live)
- John Spanish – Besame Mucho
- Julie London – Besame Mucho
- Dean Martin – Besame Mucho
- Thalía – Bésame Mucho – Live from Manila (1997)
- GOOGOOSHA – Besame Mucho (feat. Julio Iglesias)
- Hauser – Besame Mucho
- Lara Louise – Besame Mucho
- Angela Aguilar – Besame Mucho
- Luis Miguel – Bésame Mucho
- Princesses of Violin – Bésame Mucho
- Karolina Protsenko (feat. Ani Leva) – Bésame Mucho
- Gina Lollobrigida – Bésame Mucho
- French Latino – Bésame mucho
- Inez Maharani – Besame Mucho
- Vicente Fernández – Bésame Mucho
- Julio Iglesias – Besame Mucho
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