Bésame Mucho - Wikipedia

1932 song written and composed by Consuelo Velázquez For other uses, see Bésame Mucho (disambiguation).

"Bésame mucho"
Single by Consuelo Velázquez
Language	Spanish
Released	1940
Genre	Bolero
Songwriter	Consuelo Velázquez

"Besame Mucho"
Single by Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra (Vocal Bob Eberle & Kitty Kallen)
Language	Spanish
B-side	"My Ideal"
Released	December 1943 (1943-12)
Recorded	October 7, 1943 (1943-10-07)
Studio	Los Angeles
Genre	Bolero
Length	2:59
Label	Decca 18574
Songwriters	Consuelo Velázquez, Sunny Skylar

"Bésame Mucho" (Spanish: [ˈbesameˈmutʃo]; "Kiss Me A Lot") is a bolero song written in 1932 by Mexican songwriter Consuelo Velázquez.[2] 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.[3][4] 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[5] and in Cowboy and the Senorita (May 13, 1944) with vocal by Dale Evans.[6] It was also sung by Chris Isaak in the 2003 movie Mona Lisa Smile.[7] It inspired the cult Indian song, Yeh Samaa Samaa Hai Pyar Ka, sung by Lata Mangeshkar in the film Jab Jab Phool Khile.[8]

Inspiration

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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.[9][10]

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.[2]

In politics

[edit]

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.[11]

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.[12][13]

Notable versions

[edit]

• Pedro Vargas (inducted into the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001)[14]
• Bob Eberly and Kitty Kallen with Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra (reached number one in the United States in 1944)[15]
• Andy Russell (reached No. 8 in the US in 1944)[16][17]
• 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),[18] 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.[19]
• 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).[20] 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.[21]
• Jet Harris reached No.22 in the UK with their version in 1962.[22]
• 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)[23]
• 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.[24][25]
• Zoé (nominated for a Latin Grammy for Record of the Year in 2012)[26]

References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Sapna Maheshwari (November 4, 2017). "On YouTube Kids, Startling Videos Slip Past Filters". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Wikidata Q119270203. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
2. ^ a b Fox, Margalit (January 30, 2005). "Consuelo Velázquez Dies; Wrote 'Bésame Mucho'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 26, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
3. ^ by SocialMusik (December 5, 2019). "Bésame mucho, la canción en español más versionda - Social Musik". Socialmusik.es. Archived from the original on December 23, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
4. ^ "Hispanic Heritage Month: The 50 Best Latin Songs of All Time". Billboard.com. September 15, 2020. Archived from the original on May 17, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
5. ^ "Follow the Boys (1944)". imdb.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
6. ^ "Cowboy and the Senorita (1944)". imdb.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
7. ^ "Mona Lisa Smile Soundtrack". Retrieved December 2, 2024.
8. ^ "Chronicles of plagiarism in Indian film music". Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
9. ^ "Bésame Mucho Consuelito Velazquez News Feature". YouTube. August 19, 2008. Retrieved February 14, 2011.[dead YouTube link]
10. ^ Burton, Tony (March 14, 2008). "Did You Know? Consuelo Velázquez and "Bésame mucho". : Mexico Culture & Arts". Mexconnected.com. Archived from the original on May 27, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
11. ^ "Headliners; Internal Affair". New York Times. New York. October 21, 1990. Archived from the original on December 21, 2014. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
12. ^ "Band Hits Sour Note". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, CA. November 6, 1990. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
13. ^ "Army Bandleader's detention (Port.)". Google Books. Archived from the original on August 6, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
14. ^ "Latin GRAMMY Hall Of Fame". Latin Grammy Award. Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. 2001. Archived from the original on February 5, 2015. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
15. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890–1954. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 132. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
16. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890–1954. Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 476. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
17. ^ Gilliland, John. (March 23, 2020). "Pop Chronicles 1940s Program #11 - All Tracks UNT Digital Library". Digital.library.unt.edu. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
18. ^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
19. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 177.
20. ^ "A 50 años del Bésame mucho de los Beatles". BBC. July 9, 2012. Archived from the original on August 18, 2017. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
21. ^ "www.discogs.com". discogs.com. October 1962. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
22. ^ "JET HARRIS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
23. ^ "Complete List of the Nominees for 26th Annual Grammy Music Awards". Schenectady Gazette. The Daily Gazette Company. January 9, 1984. p. 49. Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
24. ^ "Lista de popularidad". El Siglo de Torreon (in Spanish). February 10, 1998. p. 28. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
25. ^ Aguirre, Jesús (1998). El consumo cultural del venezolano (in Spanish). Caracas, Venezuela: Fundación Centro Gumilla. p. 1995. ISBN 9789806361799.
26. ^ "Juan Luis Guerra Leads Latin Grammy Nominations with Six". Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. September 25, 2012. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved September 27, 2011.

External links

[edit]

• "Bésame Mucho chord arrangement for guitar". jazzguitar.be. June 30, 2014.

Performances in Spanish

• "Bésame Mucho, performed by Consuelo Velázquez (Piano) & Daniel Riolobos (Singer)". YouTube.com. June 4, 2011. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021.
• "Bésame Mucho, performed by Cesaria Evora". YouTube.com. September 8, 2009. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021.
• "Bésame Mucho, performed by the Mexican group Zoé". YouTube.com. February 27, 2012. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021.

v t e Kitty Kallen
Singles	"Bésame Mucho" "I'm Beginning to See the Light" "I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry" "Aba Daba Honeymoon" "Little Things Mean a Lot" "In the Chapel in the Moonlight" "Go On with the Wedding" "If I Give My Heart to You" "That Old Feeling" "My Coloring Book"
Related articles	Jonathan Granoff

v t e Jimmy Dorsey
Songs	"Pennies from Heaven" "Never in a Million Years" "It's the Dreamer in Me" "Tailspin" "John Silver" "So Many Times" "The Breeze and I" "I Hear a Rhapsody" "Amapola (Pretty Little Poppy)" "My Sister and I" "Yours (Quiéreme Mucho)" "Maria Elena" "Green Eyes (Aquellos Ojos Verdes)" "Blue Champagne" "Jim" "Tangerine" "Jersey Bounce" "I Remember You" "Brazil" "Star Eyes" "Bésame Mucho" "I'm Glad There Is You" "So Rare"
The Dorsey Brothers	"Annie's Cousin Fannie" "Tomorrow's Another Day" "Harlem Chapel Chimes" "Dese Dem Dose"
The California Ramblers	"Has Anybody Seen My Gal?"
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v t e The Coasters
Carl Gardner Billy Guy Bobby Nunn Leon Hughes Adolph Jacobs Young Jessie Cornell Gunter Will "Dub" Jones Vernon Harrell Earl "Speedo" Carroll Ronnie Bright Jimmy Norman
Singles	"Down in Mexico" "One Kiss Led to Another" "Young Blood" "Yakety Yak" "Charlie Brown" "Along Came Jones" "Poison Ivy" "What About Us" "Besame Mucho (Part I)" "Wake Me, Shake Me" "Shoppin' for Clothes" "Little Egypt (Ying-Yang)" "Girls Girls Girls" "T'ain't Nothin' to Me" "Let's Go Get Stoned" "D. W. Washburn" "Love Potion Number Nine" "Cool Jerk"
B-sides	"Brazil" "Searchin'" "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart" "Three Cool Cats" "Besame Mucho (Part II)" "Lovey Dovey" "Money Honey" "Saturday Night Fish Fry"
Other songs	"Autumn Leaves" "But Beautiful" "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" "Easy Living" "Frosty the Snowman" "Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good to You" "I Love Paris" "If I Had a Hammer" "The 'In' Crowd" "Moonglow" "Moonlight in Vermont" "Mustang Sally" "My Babe" "On Broadway" "On the Sunny Side of the Street" "Satin Doll" "The Way You Look Tonight" "Willow Weep for Me" "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To"

v t e Please Please Me
Songs	Side one "I Saw Her Standing There" "Misery" "Anna (Go to Him)" "Chains" "Boys" "Ask Me Why" "Please Please Me" Side two "Love Me Do" "P.S. I Love You" "Baby It's You" "Do You Want to Know a Secret" "A Taste of Honey" "There's a Place" "Twist and Shout"
Non-album single	"From Me to You" "Thank You Girl"
Outtakes	"How Do You Do It?" "Tip of My Tongue" "Hold Me Tight" "Bésame Mucho" "One After 909" "What Goes On"
Extended plays	Twist and Shout The Beatles (No. 1) Souvenir of Their Visit to America
Corresponding NorthAmerican albums	Introducing... The Beatles Twist and Shout The Early Beatles
Tours	Winter 1963 Helen Shapiro Tour 1963 Tour with Roy Orbison
Related articles	The Beatles albums discography
The Beatles albums: Please Please Me With the Beatles A Hard Day's Night Beatles for Sale Help! Rubber Soul Revolver Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Magical Mystery Tour The Beatles Yellow Submarine Abbey Road Let It Be

v t e Luis Miguel singles
Songs
1980s	"Me Gustas Tal Como Eres" "Noi, ragazzi di oggi" "Ahora Te Puedes Marchar" "Cuando Calienta El Sol" "Yo Que No Vivo Sin Ti" "La Incondicional" "Fría Como el Viento"
1990s	"Tengo Todo Excepto a Ti" "Entrégate" "Será Que No Me Amas" "Inolvidable" "No Sé Tú "Contigo en la Distancia" "América, América" "Ayer" "Hasta Que Me Olvides" "Suave" "El día que me quieras" "La Media Vuelta" "Todo y Nada" "Sueña" "Dame" "Cómo Es Posible Que a Mi Lado" "Por Debajo de la Mesa" "El Reloj" "Bésame Mucho" "Sol, Arena y Mar" "O Tú o Ninguna"
2000s	"Dormir Contigo" "Amarte Es un Placer" "La Bikina" "Amor, Amor, Amor" "Todo Para Ti "Santa Claus Llegó a La Ciudad" "Mi Humilde Oración" "Si Tú Te Atreves"

v t e Latin Grammy Hall of Fame
2001	Adiós Nonino by Astor Piazzolla "La Barca" by Lucho Gatica "Bésame Mucho" by Pedro Vargas Caetano Veloso by Caetano Veloso Chega de Saudade by João Gilberto The Composer of Desafinado Plays by Antônio Carlos Jobim Concierto de Aranjuez by Regino Sainz de la Maza and the Spanish National Orchestra "Desafinado" by João Gilberto "El día que me quieras" by Carlos Gardel "Garota de Ipanema (The Girl from Ipanema)" by Antônio Carlos Jobim Getz/Gilberto by Stan Getz and João Gilberto featuring Antônio Carlos Jobim and Astrud Gilberto "Mambo No. 5" by Pérez Prado "El Manisero (The Peanut Vendor)" by Don Azpiazú "Oye Cómo Va" by Santana "El reloj" by Lucho Gatica "Sabor a Mí" by Javier Solís "Somos Novios" by Armando Manzanero
2007	"Caballo Viejo" by Roberto Torres y su Charanga Vallenata Elis & Tom by Elis Regina and Antônio Carlos Jobim Español and More Vol. 1 by Nat King Cole Detalles by Roberto Carlos Irakere by Irakere Mediterráneo by Joan Manuel Serrat "Mi Viejo" by Piero "Muchacha ojos de papel" by Almendra "Rayito de Luna" by Los Panchos "El Rey" by José Alfredo Jiménez Siembra by Willie Colón and Rubén Blades "Son de la Loma" by Trio Matamoros
2013	Amor Eterno by Rocío Dúrcal "América, América" by Nino Bravo "La Bamba" by Ritchie Valens Cuban Jam Sessions in Miniature/Descargas by Israel López "Cachao" "Cómo Fue" by Beny Moré Dulce Patria by Jorge Negrete "Eres tú" by Mocedades "Gracias a la vida" by Violeta Parra Jovem Guarda by Roberto Carlos "Mas que Nada" by Sérgio Mendes & Brazil '66 "Porque Yo Te Amo" by Sandro Teatro Amadeo Roldán – Recital by Irakere

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