"Bésame Mucho" (Spanish:[ˈbesameˈmutʃo]; "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]
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]
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
Capitol Records 78rpm record label for USA release of Andy Russell's "Bésame Mucho." Original issue. 1944
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),[17] issued originally on August 8, 1960. A worldwide hit and a trademark for Conniff for decades.
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)[19]
^"Headliners; Internal Affair". New York Times. New York. October 21, 1990. Archived from the original on December 21, 2014. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
^"Band Hits Sour Note". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, CA. November 6, 1990. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
