Bésame Mucho

"Bésame mucho"
Single by Consuelo Velázquez
LanguageSpanish
Released1940
GenreBolero
SongwriterConsuelo Velázquez
"Besame Mucho"
Single by Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra (Vocal Bob Eberle & Kitty Kallen)
LanguageSpanish
B-side"My Ideal"
ReleasedDecember 1943 (1943-12)
RecordedOctober 7, 1943 (1943-10-07)
StudioLos Angeles
GenreBolero
Length2:59
LabelDecca 18574
SongwritersConsuelo Velázquez, Sunny Skylar

"Bésame Mucho" (Spanish: [ˈbesame ˈmutʃo]; "Kiss Me A Lot") is a bolero song written in 1932 by Mexican songwriter Consuelo Velázquez. One of the most important songs in the history of Latin music, it became one of 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. 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 and in Cowboy and the Senorita (May 13, 1944) with vocal by Dale Evans. As the song crossed the Atlantic in 1944, it became one of the most recognizable melodies. It was also sung by Chris Isaak in the 2003 movie Mona Lisa Smile.

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. 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

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

References

  1. 1 2 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.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ "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.
  4. ↑ "Follow the Boys (1944)". imdb.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Cowboy and the Senorita (1944)". imdb.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
  6. ↑ "BBC Audio | Witness History | The Mexican song that captivated lovers during World War II". www.bbc.com. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Mona Lisa Smile Soundtrack". Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Bésame Mucho Consuelito Velazquez News Feature". YouTube. August 19, 2008. Retrieved February 14, 2011.[dead YouTube link]
  9. ↑ Burton, Tony (March 14, 2008). "Did You Know? Consuelo Velázquez and "Bésame mucho". : Mexico Culture & Arts". Mexconnected.com. Retrieved February 14, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  10. ↑ "Headliners; Internal Affair". New York Times. New York. October 21, 1990. Archived from the original on December 21, 2014. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Band Hits Sour Note". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, CA. November 6, 1990. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Army Bandleader's detention (Port.)". Google Books. Archived from the original on August 6, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  13. ↑ "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.
  14. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890–1954. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 132. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
  15. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890–1954. Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 476. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
  16. ↑ 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.
  17. ↑ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  18. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 177.
  19. ↑ "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.
  20. ↑ "JET HARRIS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  21. ↑ "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.
  22. ↑ "Lista de popularidad". El Siglo de Torreon (in Spanish). February 10, 1998. p. 28. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  23. ↑ Aguirre, Jesús (1998). El consumo cultural del venezolano (in Spanish). Caracas, Venezuela: Fundación Centro Gumilla. p. 1995. ISBN 9789806361799.
  24. ↑ "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.

Performances in Spanish