Beyond the Sea (song)

For the original French hit written by Charles Trenet, see La mer (song).
"La Mer"

Cover of musical score published in France in 1946.
Song by Charles Trenet
Released 1946
Writer(s) Charles Trenet
Composer(s) Charles Trenet, Albert Lasry

"Beyond the Sea" is a 1946 contemporary pop romantic love song by Jack Lawrence, with music taken from the song "La Mer" by Charles Trenet.

Trenet had composed "La Mer" (which means "the Sea") with French lyrics completely different and unrelated to the English-language version that Lawrence later wrote. Trenet's French version was a homage and ode to the changing moods of the sea, while Lawrence, by just adding one word "Beyond" to the title, gave him the start whereby he made the song into one of a dear lover mourning for a lost love.[1]

Versions

"Beyond the Sea"
Single by Bobby Darin
from the album That's All
B-side "That's the Way Love Is"
Released 1959
Recorded August 24, 1958
Genre Big band
Length 2:48
Label Atco 6158
Writer(s) Jack Lawrence/Charles Trenet
Bobby Darin singles chronology
"Mack the Knife"
(1959)
"Beyond the Sea"
(1959)
"Clementine"
(1960)

It has been recorded by many artists, but Bobby Darin's version released in 1959 is the best known by many, reaching no. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, no. 15 on the US R&B Chart, and no. 8 in the UK Singles Chart.[2]

Prior to Bobby Darin, two recordings reached the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. Benny Goodman's version charted in 1948, and was featured in the Cary Grant/Betsy Drake romantic comedy Every Girl Should Be Married. Roger Williams' recording reached no. 37 in 1955.[3]

Deana Martin recorded Beyond the Sea in 2013. The song was released on her album, Destination Moon, in 2013 by Big Fish Records.

American R&B singer George Benson recorded an R&B version of the song under the title "Beyond The Sea (La Mer)." It was released on Warner Bros. This version entered the UK Singles Chart on 20 April 1985. It reached a peak position of no. 60 and remained on the chart for three weeks.[4]

Cover versions

In popular culture

Bobby Darin's recording has been used in films, TV shows, and video games, including:

Kevin Spacey sang the song in the movie Beyond the Sea, a biopic about Bobby Darin, in a "fantasy" sequence leading up to his marriage to Sandra Dee.

References

  1. Soeder, John (December 27, 2004). - "Darin Continues to be Defined by Single ‘Sea’". - The Plain Dealer.
    —Hedgpeth, Steve (January 10, 2005). - "In any language, it's a hit - RICKY RETRO". - The Star-Ledger.
    —Schudel, Matt (March 18, 2009). - "Composer's Hits Helped Singers Such as Sinatra". - The Washington Post.
  2. "Beyond the Sea (La Mer) (song by Bobby Darin) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". Musicvf.com. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
  3. "Beyond the Sea (La Mer) (song by Roger Williams) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". Musicvf.com. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
  4. Rice, Tim; Rice, Jonathan; Gambaccini, Paul (1990), Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums, Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness World Records and Guinness Publishing, ISBN 0-85112-398-8
  5. "20/20 - George Benson | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
  6. "Pablo Bubar". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
  7. "London-based Musical Director, Conductor, Pianist, Singer and Vocal Coach". Ross Leadbeater. Retrieved 2014-01-29.

External links

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