Como was also very popular in the UK. His chart successes ranged from 1953 to 1974 and included two number one's, his first hit 'Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes' in 1953 and 'Magic Moments' which stayed at the top for 8 weeks in 1958. His other big UK hits were 'Delaware' ( No 3 in 1960), ' It's Impossible' (No 4 in 1971) , 'And I Love You So' (No 3 in 1973), and 'For The Good Times' (No 7 in 1973).
As well as TV and recording success, Perry Como also made a number of films, including ' Something For The Boys' and 'Doll Face' which were released during WW2.
He died in his sleep on 12 May 2001.
Desafinado
Perry Como Lyrics
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Poets have compared it to a symphony,
A symphony conducted by the lighting of the moon,
But our song of love is slightly out of tune . . . .
Once your kisses raised me to a fever pitch,
Now the orchestration doesn't seem so rich,
Seems to me you've changed the tune we used to sing,
We used to harmonize two souls in perfect time,
Now the song is different and the words don't even rhyme,
'Cause you forgot the melody our hearts would always croon,
What good's a heart that's slightly out of tune?
Tune your heart with mine the way it used to be,
Join with me in harmony and sing a song of love,
We're bound to get in tune again before too long,
There'll be no Desafinado when your heart belongs to me completely
Then you won't be slightly out of tune, you'll sing along with me!
Music by Antonio Carlos Jobim
With original lyrics by Newton Mendonça, 1962
English lyrics by Jon Hendricks and Jessie Cavanaugh
The lyrics of Perry Como's song "Desafinado" explore the complexities and challenges of love. The opening lines compare love to a never-ending melody, an element that brings beauty and inspiration to life. It acknowledges that poets have likened love to a symphony, something grand and harmonious. However, the song highlights that the love being sung about is slightly out of tune, indicating a disconnect between the two lovers.
The second verse delves deeper into the issues within the relationship. In the past, the kisses of the lover brought a sense of intensity and excitement, but now the orchestration feels lacking, indicating a loss of passion and spark. The lyrics imply that the lover has changed the tune they used to sing together, emphasizing the need for love to swing like the bossa nova, a Brazilian music genre known for its rhythm and spontaneity.
The third verse reflects on the harmonious connection the couple used to share. It laments that the song has changed, the words no longer rhyme, and the lover seems to have forgotten the melody that was once at the center of their hearts. It questions the value of a heart that is slightly out of tune, suggesting that when love loses its harmony, it loses its purpose and fulfillment.
The final verse acts as a plea to the lover to tune their hearts back together, to regain the harmony and sing the song of love together. It expresses hope that they will find their way back to each other, promising that once their hearts belong completely to each other, they will be in tune again. The reference to "Desafinado," which means out of tune in Portuguese, represents the desire for the relationship to be in perfect harmony once more.
Overall, "Desafinado" reflects on the challenges and changes that can arise in a love relationship and emphasizes the importance of keeping the melody of love in perfect tune.
Line by Line Meaning
Love is like a never ending melody,
Love is a beautiful and everlasting experience that echoes like a melodious song.
Poets have compared it to a symphony,
Poets have likened love to a grand orchestral performance.
A symphony conducted by the lighting of the moon,
Love's symphony is guided by the romantic ambiance created by the moonlight.
But our song of love is slightly out of tune . . . .
Unfortunately, our love song is not in perfect harmony and lacks synchronization.
Once your kisses raised me to a fever pitch,
In the past, your passionate kisses filled me with intense emotions.
Now the orchestration doesn't seem so rich,
However, now the arrangement of our love doesn't feel as vibrant or fulfilling.
Seems to me you've changed the tune we used to sing,
It appears that you have altered the melody we used to share in our relationship.
Like the bossa nova love should swing . . . .
Similar to the lively rhythm of bossa nova music, love should have a joyful and rhythmic flow.
We used to harmonize two souls in perfect time,
In the past, our souls connected harmoniously and perfectly synchronized.
Now the song is different and the words don't even rhyme,
Now our song has changed, and the lyrics no longer complement each other rhythmically.
'Cause you forgot the melody our hearts would always croon,
This happened because you have forgotten the sweet melody that our hearts used to sing together.
What good's a heart that's slightly out of tune?
A heart that is even slightly out of harmony is not truly valuable or fulfilling.
Tune your heart with mine the way it used to be,
Let us align our hearts once again, just like they used to be.
Join with me in harmony and sing a song of love,
Let us come together in perfect harmony and sing a melodious love song.
We're bound to get in tune again before too long,
We are destined to find our harmony once more, and it won't take too much time.
There'll be no Desafinado when your heart belongs to me completely
When your heart is fully mine, there will be no dissonance or lack of harmony.
Then you won't be slightly out of tune, you'll sing along with me!
At that point, you will no longer be even slightly out of harmony; instead, you will sing in perfect unison with me!
Music by Antonio Carlos Jobim
The music was composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim.
With original lyrics by Newton Mendonça, 1962
The original lyrics were written by Newton Mendonça in 1962.
English lyrics by Jon Hendricks and Jessie Cavanaugh
The English lyrics were adapted by Jon Hendricks and Jessie Cavanaugh.
Lyrics © CORCOVADO MUSIC CORPORATION
Written by: Antonio Carlos Jobim, Newton Mendonca
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind