La mer - Charles Trenet

@GuiltyBiStander Yes, one took a French song and translated it into English, but ... "Beyond the Sea" is the English-language version of the 1946 French song "La Mer" by Charles Trenet, popularized by Bobby Darin only in 1959. While the French original was an ode to the sea, Jack Lawrence – who composed the English lyrics – turned it into a love song. "If You Go Away" is an adaptation of the 1959 Jacques Brel song "Ne me quitte pas" with English lyrics by Rod McKuen. The complex melody is partly derivative of classical music: the "But if you stay..." passage comes from Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6. The English version also omits a section of the original version in which the singer begs his lover to give their relationship a second chance, using examples derived from the natural world: "I will tell you of those lovers who saw their hearts catch fire twice;" "Fire has often been seen gushing out of an ancient volcano we thought too old"; "There are, people say, burnt lands that produce more wheat than the best of Aprils". Dusty Springfield's LP Where Am I Going? (1967) was one that experimented with various styles including a "jazzy", orchestrated version of "Sunny" and the acclaimed cover of Jacques Brel's "Ne me quitte pas" ("If You Go Away"). Many other artists have since recorded the song. Among the most notable is Shirley Bassey's version released as a single which also appeared on her album And We Were Lovers (1969). McKuen was very fond of the Bassey's version and wrote to her saying he enjoyed it and thanking her.

@val70

That's what I meant.

@GuiltyBiStander Yes, but the transformation was much more complex. Basically, the translators were Lawrence and McKuen. But for Brel's song the translation was in the fact the work of the two together, thus Brel included. They translated the lyrics and Dusty was only one of the singers at the time that just sang it.

@val70

All way, way before my time.

But I'm discovering a lot of retro music trying to get away from the junk being hyped now.

I'm learning, and appreciating a lot.

@GuiltyBiStander The basic ill with pop culture was/is that it takes indeed a lot longer/more effort to really appreciate art like fine music that went beforehand or even at the time. For example, Abba's songs have a lot more baggage than what is obvious at first

@val70

I've heard that.