Bésame Mucho Explained

Bésame mucho
Type:	single
Artist:	Consuelo Velázquez
Released:	1940
Genre:	Bolero
Language:	Spanish
Next Year:	The Beatles^[1] Jimmy Dorsey Pedro Infante Javier Solís

Besame Mucho
Type:	single
Artist:	Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra (Vocal Bob Eberle & Kitty Kallen)
B-Side:	My Ideal
Studio:	Los Angeles
Genre:	Bolero
Language:	Spanish
Label:	Decca 18574

"Bésame Mucho" (pronounced as /es/; "Kiss Me A Lot") is a bolero song written in 1932 by Mexican songwriter Consuelo Velázquez.^[2] 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.^{[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. It inspired the cult indian song, Yeh Samaa Samaa Hai Pyar Ka, sung by Lata Mangeshkar in the film Jab Jab Phool Khile^[5]

The song appeared in the film Follow the Boys (May 5, 1944) when it was played by Charlie Spivak and his Orchestra^[6] and in Cowboy and the Senorita (May 13, 1944) with vocal by Dale Evans.^[7]

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.^{[8] [9]}

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

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.^[10]

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.^{[11] [12]}

Notable versions

• Bob Eberly and Kitty Kallen with Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra (reached number one in the United States in 1944)^[13]
• Andy Russell (reached No. 8 in the USA in 1944)^{[14] [15]}
• Frank Sinatra had a U.S. top 10 hit in 1954.
• 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 march 25, 1960, for the album "Say It With Music" issued originally on August 8, 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.^[16]
• 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)^[17]
• Dean Martin recorded it for his album, Dino Latino in 1962.^[18]
• Jet Harris reached No.22 in the UK with their version in 1962.^[19]
• 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)^[20]
• Cesária Évora featured on her "Best Of" album in 1998.^[21]
• Pedro Vargas (inducted into the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001)^[22]
• Kenny G, recorded for his album Rhythm & Romance (2008)
• Zoé (nominated for a Latin Grammy for Record of the Year in 2012)^[23]

References

in the film Adua e le Compagne at 21.28min in youtube version.

External links

• Web site: Bésame Mucho chord arrangement for guitar. jazzguitar.be. June 30, 2014.

Performances in Spanish

• Web site: Bésame Mucho, performed by Consuelo Velázquez (Piano) & Daniel Riolobos (Singer). https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/FjhwLuHTc2c . December 22, 2021 . live. YouTube.com. June 4, 2011 .
• Web site: Bésame Mucho, performed by Cesaria Evora. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/LLsg_Lk819s . December 22, 2021 . live. YouTube.com. September 8, 2009 .
• Web site: Bésame Mucho, performed by the Mexican group Zoé. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/CSELNSslBVk . December 22, 2021 . live. YouTube.com. February 27, 2012 .

Notes and References

1. 2023-06-09.
2. News: Margalit . Fox . January 30, 2005 . Consuelo Velázquez Dies; Wrote 'Bésame Mucho' . The New York Times . February 6, 2017 . February 26, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150226195127/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/30/obituaries/30velazquez.html?_r=0 . live .
3. Web site: by SocialMusik . Bésame mucho, la canción en español más versionda - Social Musik . Socialmusik.es . December 5, 2019 . January 15, 2021 . December 23, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201223070935/http://socialmusik.es/besame-mucho-cancion-espanol-mas-versionda/ . live .
4. Web site: Hispanic Heritage Month: The 50 Best Latin Songs of All Time . Billboard.com . September 15, 2020 . January 15, 2021 . May 17, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210517162827/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8506478/former-boy-band-members-1999-pop . live .
5. Web site: Chronicles of plagiarism in Indian film music . July 4, 2023 . July 4, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230704195621/https://www.itwofs.com/hindi-ka.html . live .
6. Web site: Follow the Boys (1944). imdb.com. May 12, 2017. August 5, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220805121655/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036832/soundtrack?ref_=tt_trv_snd. live.
7. Web site: Cowboy and the Senorita (1944). imdb.com. May 29, 2017. August 5, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220805121657/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036725/soundtrack?ref_=tt_ql_trv_7. live.
8. Web site: Bésame Mucho Consuelito Velazquez News Feature . YouTube . August 19, 2008 . February 14, 2011.
9. Web site: Burton . Tony . Did You Know? Consuelo Velázquez and "Bésame mucho". : Mexico Culture & Arts . Mexconnected.com . March 14, 2008 . February 14, 2011 . https://archive.today/20120527073109/http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/1172-did-you-know-consuelo-vel%C3%A1zquez-and-b%C3%A9same-mucho . May 27, 2012 . live .
10. News: . Headliners; Internal Affair . New York Times . New York . October 21, 1990 . December 20, 2014 . December 21, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141221063222/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/21/weekinreview/headliners-internal-affair.html . live .
11. News: . Band Hits Sour Note . Winnipeg Free Press . Winnipeg, CA . November 6, 1990 . December 20, 2014 . March 4, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030455/http://newspaperarchive.com/ca/manitoba/winnipeg/winnipeg-free-press/1990/11-06/page-16 . live .
12. Web site: Army Bandleader's detention (Port.) . Google Books . April 6, 2022 . August 6, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230806161244/https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=%22Besame+Mucho%22+%22Drag%C3%B5es+da+Independ%C3%AAncia%22&hl=en&sxsrf=APq-WBtyfrotqluALwK2KWTLI2_UoKUSAQ:1648482291633&source=lnms&tbm=bks&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjP6qSLk-n2AhWCilwKHTo7C-oQ_AUoAXoECAEQCw&biw=1440&bih=900&dpr=1 . live .
13. Book: Whitburn . Joel . Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890–1954 . 1986 . Record Research Inc. . Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin . 0-89820-083-0 . 132 .
14. Book: Whitburn. Joel. Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890–1954. 1986. Record Research Inc. Wisconsin. 0-89820-083-0. 476.
15. Web site: Gilliland, John. . Pop Chronicles 1940s Program #11 - All Tracks UNT Digital Library . Digital.library.unt.edu . March 23, 2020 . January 15, 2021 . November 8, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201108025351/https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1633222/m1/#track/2 . live .
16. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn

    . Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012 . Joel Whitburn . 2013 . Record Research . 177.

17. Web site: A 50 años del Bésame mucho de los Beatles. August 17, 2017. July 9, 2012. BBC. August 18, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170818050443/http://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias/2012/06/120608_beatles_aniversarios_2012_jgc.shtml?MOB. live.
18. Web site: www.discogs.com. discogs.com. July 6, 2024.
19. Web site: JET HARRIS full Official Chart History Official Charts Company. 2023-08-29. www.officialcharts.com. August 29, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230829224104/https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/10203/jet-harris/. live.
20. News: Complete List of the Nominees for 26th Annual Grammy Music Awards. Schenectady Gazette. The Daily Gazette Company. January 9, 1984. May 14, 2014. 49. February 9, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160209181454/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZBEhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JXQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2286,2445615&dq. live.
21. https://www.discogs.com/master/132728-Cesaria-Evora-Best-Of
22. Web site: Latin GRAMMY Hall Of Fame. Latin Grammy Award. Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. August 19, 2014. 2001. February 5, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150205122045/http://www.latingrammy.com/en/node/21337. dead.
23. Web site: Juan Luis Guerra Leads Latin Grammy Nominations with Six. September 27, 2011. September 25, 2012. Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. July 7, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220707075155/https://www.latingrammy.com/en/press-release/juan-luis-guerra-leads-latin-grammy-nominations-six. dead.