- Album This song officially appears on the Anthology 1 Official album.
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
Jan 01, 1962
The Beatles’ first Abbey Road recording session
Jun 06, 1962
Get Back sessions - January 29, 1969 - Day 18
Jan 29, 1969
Related interviews
It's exciting, it's shocking, it's frightening, it's sad, it's happy, and it's THE BEATLES ANTHOLOGY
November 1995 • From Club Sandwich
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Song facts
From Wikipedia:
“Bésame Mucho” (Kiss me a lot) is a song written in 1940 by Mexican songwriter Consuelo Velázquez. It is one of the most famous boleros, and was recognized in 1999 as the most sung and recorded Mexican song in the world.
Inspiration
According to Velázquez herself, she wrote this song even though she had never been kissed yet at the time, and kissing as she heard was considered a sin.
She was inspired by the piano piece “Quejas, o la Maja y el Ruiseñor” from the 1911 suite Goyescas by Spanish composer Enrique Granados, which he later also included as Aria of the Nightingale in his 1916 opera of the same name.
Comments on lyrics
There are slight differences in the wording at the end of the chorus, regarding the words perderte después meaning “to lose you afterwards“. Considering that Velázquez may have been fifteen years old when she wrote the song, this sentence reflects inexperience and innocence. Indeed, a video from “TV Mexicana” shows Consuelo Velázquez playing the piano while the singer sings perderte después. Many interpretations use perderte otra vez (“lose you once again“) instead of the original perderte después (“lose you afterwards“).
The line “Besame mucho, que tengo miedo a perderte después” means “Kiss me a lot, as I am afraid of losing you afterwards.” The word “mucho” may suggest a desire for the kiss to linger, as it may be the couple’s last time being together.
An English-language version of the song was written by Sunny Skylar. The lyrics are different from the direct English translation of the original, but retain the Spanish Bésame mucho.
“Bésame Mucho” is also known by translated names such as “Kiss Me Much,” “Kiss Me a Lot,” “Kiss Me Again and Again,” “Embrasse-moi fort,” “Stale Ma Bozkavaj,” “Suutele minua“, “Szeretlek én” and “Mara beboos“.
Recording and performances
[…] Covered by the Beatles both on stage and in the studio, they included the song in their setlist during the band’s audition for Decca Records, their first EMI recording session and the Get Back sessions. A performance from the Get Back sessions was included in the documentary film Let It Be, while one from the EMI audition appeared on the Anthology 1 compilation. They sang their rendition of the song with English lyrics that do not correspond to the original Spanish lyrics. […]
Paul McCartney in "Many Years From Now", by Barry Miles:
I had this very diverse little record collection from which I was culling material. I remember I had the Coasters’ Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart, which was on the b-side of Yakety Yak. I can look back on these records and see what it was I liked. With Besame Mucho by the Coasters, it’s a minor song and it changes to a major, and where it changes to a major is such a big moment musically. That major change attracted me so much.
From The Usenet Guide to Beatles Recording Variations:
- [a] mono 6 Jun 1962. edited Jul 1984 at AIR Studios, Montserrat.
CD: Apple CDP 8 34445 2 Anthology 1 1995.A copy of this otherwise lost recording was found on a private reel in late 1983 or early 1984, probably in a mono mix made in 1962. It was not used for the Abbey Road Studios show in July 1983, but was in the lineup for the Sessions LP in August 1984. The last line going into the fade seems to be a repeat of the previous line, edited in, probably done for Sessions.
Last updated on July 9, 2017
Lyrics
Besame, besame mucho
Each time I bring you a kiss
I hear music divine
So besame, besame mucho
I'll love you for ever
Say that you'll always be mine
Cha-cha boom!
Dearest one, if you should leave me
Then each little dream will take wings
And my life would be through
Oh besame, besame mucho
Ooh love me for ever
Make all my dreams come true.
Oh this joy is something new
My arms are holding you
I never knew this thrill before
Who ever thought I'd be
Holding you close to me
Whispering it's you I adore
Yes, so dearest one, if you should leave me
Then each little dream will take wings
And my life would be through
Oh, so besame, besame mucho
Yeah I'll love you for ever
Make all my dreams come true
Ooh, this joy is something new
My arms are holding you
Never knew this thrill before
Who ever thought I'd be
Holding you close to me
Whispering it's you I adore
Oh, so dearest one, if you should leave me
Then each little dream will take wings
And my life would be through
Oh, so besame, besame mucho
And I'll love you for ever
Make all my dreams come true
Ooh, love me for ever
Make all my dreams come true
Ooh, love me for ever
Make all my dreams come true
Officially appears on
Official album • Released in 1995
2:37 • Studio rehearsal • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Vocals
- John Lennon :
- Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Pete Best :
- Drums
- Ron Richards :
- Producer
- Session Recording:
- Jun 06, 1962
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Streaming • Released in 2016
2:37 • Studio rehearsal • A2016
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Vocals
- John Lennon :
- Rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Pete Best :
- Drums
- Ron Richards :
- Producer
- Session Recording:
- Jun 06, 1962
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Bootlegs
Star Club - Hamburg, Germany - December 1962
Unofficial live
2:36 • Live • The recording date is a guess - all we now for certain is that the Star-Club tapes were recorded between December 18 and 31, 1962.
Unsurpassed Masters Vol. 1 (1962-1963)
Unofficial album • Released in 1989
2:34 • Outtake • Artist test
- Session Recording:
- Jun 06, 1962
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
The Beatles At The Beeb - Volume 1
Unofficial live • Released in 2003
2:36 • Live
Concert From "Teenager's Turn - Here We Go" in Manchester, United Kingdom on Jun 15, 1962
Live performances
“Besame Mucho” has been played in 3 concerts and 1 soundchecks.
Latest concerts where Besame Mucho has been played
Barcelona • Palau Sant Jordi • Spain
Mar 29, 2003 • Part of Back in the World tour
Barcelona • Palau Sant Jordi • Spain
Mar 28, 2003 • Part of Back in the World tour
Jun 15, 1962 • Part of BBC Sessions
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