Sway (song)

"Sway" is the English version of "¿Quién será?", a 1953 mambo instrumental song by Mexican composers Luis Demetrio and Pablo Beltran Ruiz. The most famous English version is that of Dean Martin recorded in 1954. English lyrics are by Norman Gimbel. Since then the song has been recorded and remixed by many artists (see discography below).

"¿Quién será?" by Pablo Beltrán Y Su Orchestra

"¿Quién será?" is a Spanish song written and recorded by Luis Demetrio and Pablo Beltran Ruiz.

Dean Martin version

In 1954 the English lyrics were written by Norman Gimbel^[1] and recorded by Dean Martin (his recording reached number fifteen on the Billboard magazine best-seller chart^[2] and number six on the UK chart).

Chart performance

Michael Bublé version

"Sway"
Single by Michael Bublé
from the album Michael Bublé
Released	June 22, 2004[3]
Format	CD single, digital download
Recorded	2004
Genre	Adult contemporary, Latin pop, Cuban jazz[4]
Length	3:08
Label	143, Reprise
Writer(s)	Luis Demetrio, Norman Gimbel
Michael Bublé singles chronology
"Kissing a Fool" (2003) "Sway" (2004) "Spider-Man Theme" (2004)

"Sway" was covered by Canadian crooner Michael Bublé for his debut major-label studio album, Michael Bublé, released in 2003. Sway was chosen for release as the album's third single, and was released in Australia on June 22, 2004.

Background

Sway was only released as an individual single in Australia. In many other countries, the release of the track was held back until July 26, and packaged as a double A-side with the album's fourth single, Spider-Man Theme. However, due to its popularity with Australian radio stations, the track was given a separate release in the region, with Spider-Man Theme being released three months later in September 2004, as a separate release. Bublé's version of the song has appears in such television shows and films as Las Vegas, CSI: NY, Malcolm in the Middle, The Wedding Date and No Reservations. The music video for the track was directed by Peter Kasden, who also filmed a music video for the single's B-side, Moondance, which was released exclusively to Australian music channels to promote the release of the single. The video features scenes of Bublé performing the song in the studio, intercut with scenes of Bublé driving a car through the Australian outback. The separate release, two music videos and strong radio airplay meant that Sway reached a peak of #15 on the ARIA Singles Chart, making it Bublé's highest charting single to that date.

Track listing

• Australian CD single^[5]

1. "Sway" (Junkie XL Mix) – 3:46
2. "Sway" (Acoustic Version) – 3:08
3. "Moondance" (Live Version) – 3:45

Chart performance

The Pussycat Dolls version

"Sway"
Single by The Pussycat Dolls
from the album Shall We Dance? (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture)
Released	September 28, 2004 (2004-09-28)
Format	7-inch single Digital download
Recorded	2004
Length	3:12
Label	A&M Interscope
Writer(s)	Luis Demetrio Norman Gimbel
Producer(s)	Ron Fair
The Pussycat Dolls chronology
"Sway" (2004) "Don't Cha" (2005)

American girl group The Pussycat Dolls recorded "Sway" for the Shall We Dance? soundtrack. The song was later included as a bonus track on their debut album PCD (2005).

Critical reception

While reviewing the Shall We Dance? soundtrack, Heather Phares cited "Sway" as one of the highlights of the album.^[6] Ashley Spencer from the Orlando Sentinel described the rendition as having a "mesmerizing rhythm."^[7] While reviewing the DVD of Shall We Dance Renata Joy of Dvdizzy.com described the song as "a catchy tune."^[8] Rachel Sexton of MovieFreak.com likened the song writing "the song is great, a classic updated [...]."^[9]

Promotion

The music video for "Sway" was directed by Steve Antin, the brother of The Pussycat Dolls creator, Robin Antin.^[10] The video features The Pussycat Dolls dancing against a backdrop of scenes from the movie. The music video was included as bonus clip in the DVD release of Shall We Dance.^[8] Reviewers for Comingsoon.net, Edward Douglas and Scott Chitwood described the video as "sexy" and "stylish". They also wrote that "it perfectly fits the mood of the film."^[11] Slant Magazine's writer Ed Gonzales wondered if the editors of Maxim financed the video.^[12] Rachel Sexton of MovieFreak.com suggested buyers to skip the video calling it "cheesy".^[9] Renata Joy of Dvdizzy.com noted that "the song is much more enjoyable when not watching the accompanying video."^[8] "Sway" was performed on Dancing with the Stars along with "Don't Cha" during the results show on January 27, 2006.^[13]

Track listing

Digital download^[14]

1. "Sway" (Alternate version) – 3:12

Credits and personnel

Personnel

• Songwriting – Luis Demetrio, Norman Gimbel
• Arranged By – Jerry Hey
• Producer and marimba – Ron Fair
• Co-producer – Tal Herzberg
• Engineer [Bass, Strings] – Michael C. Ross
• Mixed By – Bassy Bob Brockmann
• Bass – Rickey Minor
• Cello – Armen Ksajikian, Cecilia Tsan, Larry Corbett, Suzie Katayama
• Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
• Guitar – George Doering
• Harp – Gayle Levant
• Percussion – Luis Conte Piano – John Beasley
• Trumpet – Gary Grant, Jerry Hey, Wayne Bergeron
• Viola – Darrin McCann, Marlow isher, Sam Formicola, Vicki Miskolczy
• Violin – Charlie Bisharat, Endre Granat, Jackie Brand, Josefina Vergara, Julie Gigante, Katia Popov, Natalie Leggett, Phillip Levy, Ralph Morrison, Rene Mandel, Roberto Cani, Robin Olson, Sara Parkins, Sarah Thornblade, Songa Lee*, Tammy Hatwan*
• Woodwind – Brandon Fields, Dan Higgins, Joel Peskin, Kim Hutchcroft

Charts

In 2012, the song charted on the South Korea Gaon International Chart at number 111, due to strong digital downloads.^[15]

Selective list of recorded versions

Originals

• 1953 – Pablo Beltrán Y Su Orchestra (in Spanish)
• 1954 – Dean Martin, on Capitol Records, catalog number 2818, US 15, UK 6

English and spanish versions

"¿Quién será?" and "Sway" have been recorded dozens of times by many artists over the decades. This is merely a select list of popular recordings, not a comprehensive listing.

• 1954 – Eileen Barton, on Coral Records, catalog number 61185, backed with "When Mama Calls"
• 1959 – Rosemary Clooney and Perez Prado, from A Touch of Tabasco
• 1960 – Bobby Rydell, Capitol Recording Studios, NYC
• 1961 – Ben E. King, from Spanish Harlem
• 1963 – Cliff Richard, from When In Spain
• 1963 – Julie London, from Latin in a Satin Mood
• 1997 – Brent Spiner, from the soundtrack of the movie Out to Sea
• 1998 – Anita Kelsey, from the movie Dark City
• 1999 – Shaft, titled "(Mucho Mambo) Sway"
• 2003 – Michael Bublé, from his self-titled album Michael Bublé
• 2003 – Peter Cincotti, from his self-titled album Peter Cincotti
• 2004 – Arielle Dombasle, from her 2004 album Amor Amor
• 2006 – Claire Johnston, lead singer of Mango Groove. from her album Africa Blue. ^[16]
• 2007 – Puppini Sisters, Betcha Bottom Dollar
• 2007 – Jennifer Lopez
• 2009 – Haifa Wehbe, a Lebanese pop star
• 2010 – Paul Byrom of Celtic Thunder, Irish folk gan roup
• 2011 – Hooshmand Aghili, Iranian Singer
• 2011 – Donald Braswell II, on his 2011 album, Unchained.
• 2011 – 1950 & The Chu Chi Girls ft Hayley Jo, The Chu Chi sway

Live renditions

• 2007 – Melinda Doolittle on American Idol
• 2009 – Joe McElderry in UK The X Factor
• 2011 – Sooyoung of South Korean girl group Girls' Generation sang The Pussycat Dolls version of the song as her solo in the 2011 Girls' Generation Tour. A recording of the performance was also included on their second live album 2011 Girls' Generation Tour
• 2013 – Luis Miguel live at the Curacao North Sea Jazz Festival

Language versions

The song has been translated and covered in several languages. Here is a selective listing of language versions

• 1954 – Pedro Infante, ¿Quien será? in the movie "Escuela de vagabundos" – Original Version (in Spanish)
• 1954 – Olavi Virta, titled "Keinu kanssani" (in Finnish)
• 1959 – The Peanuts, titled Quién Será (キエンセラ) (in Japanese)
• 1962 – Mina, title Che sarà (in Italian)
• 1968 – Teresa Teng, titled "盼望" (in Mandarin)
• 1973 – Sten & Stanley, titled "Äntligen" (in Swedish)
• 1976 – Ajda Pekkan, from "Kim Ne Derse Desin" (in Turkish)
• 1990 – Björk in album Gling-Gló, as "Í dansi með þér" (in Icelandic)
• 1999 – Götz Alsmann, titled "Zuckersüß" (in German)
• 1999 – Komár László in album Mambó Lackó, as "Mexikói Karnevál" (in Hungarian)
• 2000 – Athena – Macera, from "Tam Zamanı Şimdi" (in Turkish)
• 2002 – Pedro Fernandez, ¿Quien será? (in Spanish)
• 2004 – Arielle Dombasle, titled "Quién Será (Sway)" (in Spanish)
• 2005 – Aaron Kwok, titled "飛" ("Sway") (in Cantonese)
• 2005 – Nguyễn Hưng in album Dạ Vũ, as "Ai Sẽ Là Em" (in Vietnamese)
• 2005 – Walid Soroor, titled "Yar Nazanin" (in Persian)
• 2006 – Anjelika Varum, titled "Румба" ("Rumba") (in Russian)
• 2007 – Koor in album Wust El Balaad, as "بحبك" ("Bahebak") (in Arabic)
• 2007 – Rula Zaki (an Egyptian singer), titled "قلبي دق" ("Qalbi Daq") (in Arabic)
• 2010 – Rula Zaki, in the album "Rula" (in Arabic)
• 2010 – Shahkar Binesh Pazhooh, in the song "Vasat-e Ghalbam" (وسط قلبم) (in Persian)
• 2012 – Mohsen Namjoo, in the song "Khat Bekesh" (خط بکش) (in Persian).

Instrumental Versions

• 1955 – Noro Morales, Swinging With Noro
• 1956 – Les Baxter, from Caribbean Moonlight, on Capitol, catalog number T 733
• 1962 – Perez Prado. from Twist Goes Latin, on RCA Victor, catalog number LSP-2524
• 1965 – Michael Danzinger, from Piano Cocktail: Long Drink 6, on Amadeo, catalog number AVRS 9179
• 1965 – Clare Fischer, from Manteca!, on Pacific Jazz, catalog number ST-20096
• 2001 – Cliff Habian, from Havana Sunset, on Azica Records
• 2006 – Bill McGee, from Chase the Sunset, on Funtown
• 2007 – David Grisman, Frank Vignola, Robin Nolan & Frank Papillo, from The Living Room Sessions, on Acoustic Disc
• 2011 – Frank Vignola & Friends, on Playing the Standards (Swing Classics by Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer, Rodgers & Hammerstein and More), on Hyena Records
• 2012 – Wolfgang Russ & A-Train, from Nice & Sweet, on Chaos, catalog number LC 07326

In popular culture

• 1967 – Spanish-language version "¿Quién será?" used in Su Excelencia directed by Miguel M. Delgado
• 1997 – Sung by the cruise director/M.C./performer (Brent Spiner) in the comedy film Out to Sea, starring Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon.
• 1998 – Anita Kelsey recording featured in the film Dark City. The song is lip-synched by Jennifer Connelly's character as a lounge act.
• 1999 – A version is played at the Centennial dance in Drive Me Crazy
• 2000 – Used in Sexy Beast, British film directed by Jonathan Glazer (the Dean Martin version)
• 2001 – Used in Gaudi Afternoon Singer unknown
• 2004 – The film First Daughter directed by Forest Whitaker
• 2004 – The film My Summer of Love directed by Paweł Pawlikowski
• 2004 – An episode of Malcolm in the Middle
• 2005 – The Michael Bublé version appeared in The Wedding Date, starring Debra Messing and Dermot Mulroney.
• 2006 – "Sway" is heavily sampled in the Tech N9ne song; "Welcome to the Midwest"
• 2008 – Rosemary Clooney's version of the song used in the film Paris directed by Cédric Klapisch
• 2008 – Instrumental played in background in the film Revolutionary Road directed by Sam Mendes.
• 2009 – Recorded by Sylvia Brooks on her Dangerous Liaisons album which was released in 2009.^[17]
• 2010 – 10th episode of 6th season of House M.D.
• 2010 – An episode of Glee (02X08 – "Furt") sung by Matthew Morrison
• 2010 – Repo Men Perez Prado ft. Rosemary Clooney version
• 2010 – Featured in Just Dance 2 for the Wii
• 2010 – "Sway" can be heard in the background of Red Letter Media's Star Wars "Sith" Review
• 2011 – Sooyoung of the Korean girl group Girls' Generation sang the song as her solo number as part of Girls' Generation's two 2011 tours The 1st Japan Arena Tour and the Girls' Generation Tour
• 2011 – Used in the film La Folie Almayer, a film adaptation of Joseph Conrad's first novel Almayer's Folly by Belgian director Chantal Akerman
• 2012 – Used in the film Silver Linings Playbook

References

External links

• Full lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics