I saw a re-run of The Cosby Show in which Clare Huxtable celebrated her 46th birthday amidst much heckling from her family about her age; from husband Cliff (Cosby) to son Theo and daughters Vanessa and Trudi.Then during the mid-portion, the couple's friend Alberto (played by the tenor Placido Domingo) came visiting. Placido Domingo, then sang a song for the birthday girl, Clare. He sang Besame Mucho, one of my all- time favorite songs.
In fact, the CD Tenors on Tour (Domingo, Carrera and Pavarotti) carries the Besame Mucho rendition of Placido Domingo.
The few times I sing at Karaoke, I consciously pick Besame Mucho, either its English or Spanish version, to sing. Not that I can sing it well; it just makes the singing more heartfelt.
In 1941, Consuelo Velazquez wrote the music and lyrics for Besame Mucho while she was still a teenager in Mexico. The title translates as “Kiss Me a Lot or Kiss me Much."
The song was first recorded in 1941 by Mexican artists - singer/actor Emilio Tuero and singer/actress Chela Campos, and it became an international hit. French singer/actor Tino Rossi recorded it in 1945.
Then, English lyrics were written by Sunny Skylar, who retained its Spanish title, and the love song became a hit during World War II.
In 1944, Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra's version with vocalists Bob Eberly and Kitty Kallen was #1 for 7 weeks out of a total of 26; Andy Russell's version for a period of 5 weeks, peaked at #10 and Abe Lyman and His Orchestra for 2 weeks, peaking at #21.
The song also garnered a Grammy nomination in 2007 as Best Instrumental Arrangement for trombonist Steve Wiest’s version for the Maynard Ferguson big band.
Dean Martin popularized the song's English version in the early 60's. The recent recordings of the song are those by Diana Krall in 2002, and by Andrea Bocelli in 2006 in his CD/DVD concert Under the Desert Sky.
I love the versions of Andrea Bocelli and Diana Krall.
Besame Mucho. Kiss me much. Kiss me a lot.
BESAME MUCHO
Besame, besame mucho
Each time I cling to your kiss, I hear music divine
Besame, besame mucho
Hold me my darling and say that you'll always be mine.
This joy is something new, my arms enfolding you,
Never knew this thrill before.
Whoever thought I'll be holding you close to me,
Whispering it's you I adore.
Dearest one, if you should leave me,
Each little dream would take wing and my life would be through,
Besame mucho, love me forever and make all my dreams come true.
SPANISH LYRICS
Bésame, bésame mucho
Como si fuera esta noche
La última vez
Bésame, bésame mucho
Que tengo miedo a perderte
Perderte después
Bésame, bésame mucho
Como si fuera esta noche
La última vez
Bésame, bésame mucho
Que tengo miedo a perderte
Perderte después
Quiero tenerte muy cerca
Mirarme en tus ojos
Verte junto a mi
Piensa que tal ves mañana
Yo ya estaré lejos
Muy lejos de ti
Bésame, bésame mucho
Como si fuera esta noche
La última vez
Bésame, bésame mucho
Que tengo miedo a perderte
Perderte después
Bésame, bésame mucho
Que tengo miedo a perderte
Perderte después
Que tengo miedo a perderte
Perderte después
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