Why Do Fools Fall in Love (song)

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For the 1998 film, see Why Do Fools Fall in Love (film)

"Why Do Fools Fall in Love" was originally a 1956 hit song by early New York City-based rock and roll group Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers and later revived 25 years later by soul singer Diana Ross in 1981.

The original version of the song was written by original Teenagers members Herman Santiago and Jimmy Merchant. When 13-year-old Frankie Lymon joined the group, he made some changes to the composition, and later sang lead on the recorded version. The song helped make Lymon a household name and would make him a rock & roll pioneer, paving the way for similar teen prodigies Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson, whose careers also took off at the ages of 13. With four key changes, the song was notably hard to sing.

The song was covered by a number of other singers, including Gale Storm and Petula Clark.

The Beach Boys issued a cover as a single 1964, eight years after the original. When the song was released again as a single in 1981, this time by Diana Ross (who was 37), Lymon had long since died (due to a heroin overdose) and many people almost forgot that the song or Lymon ever existed. Like she had done with Billie Holiday and Lady Sings the Blues, she helped reintroduce newer audiences to Lymon.

Lymon's version reached #3 on the Billboard Pop Singles Chart in 1956 while Ross' version reached #7 on the Pop Singles Chart in 1981.

The song is listed as written by Frankie Lymon and Morris Levy. The original songwriting credits listed Frankie Lymon and George Goldner until Levy bought Goldner's interest in Gee Records. The current publisher of the song is EMI Music Publishing.

On March 22, 2006, American Idol contestant Lisa Tucker sang "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" to mild praise by the judges.