"Bésame Mucho"

Chances are good that if you know only one Spanish-language song, it is "Bésame Mucho (which literally means "kiss me a lot")." The song has been recorded by artists from Emilio Tuero to Jimmy Dorsey to Jennifer Scott. It could well be the most recorded Spanish-language song of all time.

"Bésame Mucho" was written by legendary Mexican composer and pianist Consuelo Velázquez. She was only 16 years old at the time and had not yet had a romantic kiss. She took inspiration from the piano composition "Quejas, o la Maja y el Ruiseñor" Spanish composer  Enrique Granados's 1911 suite Goyescas. The first recording of "Bésame Mucho" was by Los Cadetes del Swing, which was released in 1940.  It was also performed by Mexican actor and singer Emilio Tuero. It proved to be a massive hit in Mexico, so massive that it would find its way to the United States. American composer, lyricist, and singer Sunny Skylar wrote English lyrics for "Bésame Mucho," although he retained the words "Bésame Mucho." It proved popular in the United States during World War II, and it was recorded by such artists as Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra with singers Bob Eberly and Kitty Kallen, Andy Russell, and Xavier Cugat and His Waldorf-Astoria.

Since then it has been recorded by numerous artists over the years, including Frank Sinatra, Frankie Lane, Ray Coniff, Dean Martin, The Coasters, Dalida, and others. Even The Beatles recorded "Bésame Mucho. " It was legendary R&B group The Coasters' version that brought "Bésame Mucho" to the attention of The Beatles. They included it in their live sets when they were performing in Hamburg. They also recorded it on January 1 1962 as part of their ill-fated audition for Decca Records. They also recorded a number of takes of "Bésame Mucho"at their first audition for EMI on June 6 1962. The Beatles' version song was not released until the compilation album Anthology 1 in 1995.

Here is Los Cadetes del Swing's version of "Bésame Mucho.

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