Bésame Mucho

Template:Short description {{#invoke:other uses|otheruses}} Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox song Template:Infobox song "Bésame Mucho" (Template:IPA; "Kiss Me A Lot") is a bolero song written in 1932 by Mexican songwriter Consuelo Velázquez.<ref name=fox20050130nyt>Template:Cite news</ref> One of the most important songs in the history of Latin music, it became one the most popular pop standards of the 20th century as well as a jazz standard. "Bésame Mucho" was recognized in 1999 as the most recorded and covered Spanish-language song of all time.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.

The song appeared in the film Follow the Boys (May 5, 1944) when it was played by Charlie Spivak and his Orchestra<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and in Cowboy and the Senorita (May 13, 1944) with vocal by Dale Evans.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was also sung by Chris Isaak in the 2003 movie Mona Lisa Smile.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It inspired the cult Indian song, Yeh Samaa Samaa Hai Pyar Ka, sung by Lata Mangeshkar in the film Jab Jab Phool Khile.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Inspiration

According to Velázquez, she wrote this song even though she had never been kissed yet at the time, and kissing, as she heard, was considered a sin.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:CbignoreTemplate:Dead YouTube link</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref name=fox20050130nyt/>

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Geraldo">Template:Cite web</ref>

Notable versions

Capitol Records 78rpm record label for USA release of Andy Russell's "Bésame Mucho." Original issue. 1944

• Pedro Vargas (inducted into the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Bob Eberly and Kitty Kallen with Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra (reached number one in the United States in 1944)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Andy Russell (reached No. 8 in the US in 1944)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Velázquez herself recorded the song as piano instrumental on her album Piano Interpretations (1955).
• Ray Conniff and His Orchestra and Chorus recorded this song on 25 March 1960, for the album Say It with Music (A Touch of Latin),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> issued originally on August 8, 1960. A worldwide hit and a trademark for Conniff for decades.
• The Coasters hit the Hot 100 with their version, which peaked at No. 70, in 1960.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• 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).<ref name= TheBeatlesCover>Template:Cite web</ref> It was also performed by the band in 1969 at their Apple Studio and published in the documentary film Let It Be.
• Dean Martin recorded it for his album, Dino Latino in 1962.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Jet Harris reached No.22 in the UK with their version in 1962.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Dalida reached No 5 in France and No 10 in Turkey in 1976.
• João Gilberto recorded a cover of the song for his 1977 bossa nova album Amoroso.
• Plácido Domingo (received a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Pop Performance in 1983)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Luis Miguel on the album, Romances (1997), No. 1 on the Mexican ballads chart and among the top ten best-performing songs of 1998 in Venezuela.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Zoé (nominated for a Latin Grammy for Record of the Year in 2012)<ref name= LatinGrammy2012>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

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Performances in Spanish

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