Dave's Song of the Day
Some Enchanted Evening – Ezio Pinza
Sunday song of the day: Today’s song is one of the high points of a classic musical set in World War II.
Shortly after World War II ended, author James Michener wrote a book set in the Pacific Theater of the war. The 1947 novel was titled Tales of the South Pacific and was the basis for the 1949 musical by Rogers and Hammerstein, South Pacific. In the play, there was a romance between a French plantation owner, Emile de Becque, and a young U.S. Navy nurse, Ensign Nellie Forbush.
When the two characters first meet, de Becque sings a song about love at first sight, entitled Some Enchanted Evening. In the original Broadway cast, Emile de Becque was played by opera singer Ezio Pinza. Before the cast recording was made in April 1949, however, Frank Sinatra recorded a version of the song in February 1949, so his recording was the first released. The Sinatra version reached #6 on the Billboard singles chart. Another 1949 recording did even better, with Perry Como’s cover reaching #1. The Ezio Pinza version also did very well once it was released, but not as quite as well as Como’s, reaching only #7.
Eventually, Hollywood made a movie of the musical. In the film, Emile de Becque was played by Rossano Brazzi. His songs, however, were dubbed by opera singer Giorgio Tozzi. Thus, in the film, Brazzi lip synchs the lyrics while Tozzi’s singing is heard. Some Enchanted Evening has been covered over 140 times since South Pacific premiered, including versions by Bing Crosby, Ray Charles, Willie Nelson, The Temptations, and even Bob Dylan.
Ezio Pinza, South Pacific Broadway production, 1949
Frank Sinatra, 1949
Georgio Tozzi (singing for Rossano Brazzi), South Pacific motion picture, 1958
Tomorrow: A suitcase and an old guitar
Some Enchanted Evening – Ezio Pinza
Sunday song of the day: Today’s song is one of the high points of a classic musical set in World War II.
Shortly after World War II ended, author James Michener wrote a book set in the Pacific Theater of the war. The 1947 novel was titled Tales of the South Pacific and was the basis for the 1949 musical by Rogers and Hammerstein, South Pacific. In the play, there was a romance between a French plantation owner, Emile de Becque, and a young U.S. Navy nurse, Ensign Nellie Forbush.
When the two characters first meet, de Becque sings a song about love at first sight, entitled Some Enchanted Evening. In the original Broadway cast, Emile de Becque was played by opera singer Ezio Pinza. Before the cast recording was made in April 1949, however, Frank Sinatra recorded a version of the song in February 1949, so his recording was the first released. The Sinatra version reached #6 on the Billboard singles chart. Another 1949 recording did even better, with Perry Como’s cover reaching #1. The Ezio Pinza version also did very well once it was released, but not as quite as well as Como’s, reaching only #7.
Eventually, Hollywood made a movie of the musical. In the film, Emile de Becque was played by Rossano Brazzi. His songs, however, were dubbed by opera singer Giorgio Tozzi. Thus, in the film, Brazzi lip synchs the lyrics while Tozzi’s singing is heard. Some Enchanted Evening has been covered over 140 times since South Pacific premiered, including versions by Bing Crosby, Ray Charles, Willie Nelson, The Temptations, and even Bob Dylan.
Ezio Pinza, South Pacific Broadway production, 1949
Frank Sinatra, 1949
Georgio Tozzi (singing for Rossano Brazzi), South Pacific motion picture, 1958
Tomorrow: A suitcase and an old guitar
Last edited: