Sway (song)

"Sway" is the English version of "¿Quién será?", a 1953 mambo instrumental song by Mexican composers Luis Demetrio and Pablo Beltrán 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	Latin pop, Cuban jazz
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 singer 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 appeared 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^[4]

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 vinyl Digital download
Recorded	2004
Length	3:12
Label	A&M Interscope
Writer(s)	Luis Demetrio Norman Gimbel
Producer(s)	Ron Fair
The Pussycat Dolls singles 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.^[5] Ashley Spencer from the Orlando Sentinel described the rendition as having a "mesmerizing rhythm".^[6] While reviewing the DVD of Shall We Dance? Renata Joy of Dvdizzy.com pointed the song out as "a catchy tune".^[7] Rachel Sexton of MovieFreak.com called the cover "great" and noted it as "a classic updated".^[8]

Promotion

The music video for "Sway" was directed by Steve Antin, the brother of The Pussycat Dolls creator, Robin Antin.^[9] 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.^[7] 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."^[10] Slant Magazine's writer Ed Gonzales wondered if the editors of Maxim financed the video.^[11] Rachel Sexton of MovieFreak.com suggested buyers to skip the video calling it "cheesy".^[8] Renata Joy of Dvdizzy.com noted that "the song is much more enjoyable when not watching the accompanying video."^[7] "Sway" was performed on Dancing with the Stars along with "Don't Cha" during the results show on January 27, 2006.^[12]

Track listing

Digital download^[13]

1. "Sway" (Alternate version) – 3:12

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Shall We Dance - Soundtrack from the Motion Picture.^[14]

Notable Personnel

• Carmit Bachar – Additional vocals
• Ron Fair – Producer, marimba
• Kaya Jones – Additional vocals
• Bill Reichenbach – Trombone
• Nicole Scherzinger – Lead, backing vocals
• Melody Thornton – Additional vocals

Charts

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

Il Divo version

• Il Divo, the vocal quartet of male singers; Swiss tenor Urs Buhler, Spanish baritone Carlos Marin, American tenor David Miller and French pop singer Sébastien Izambard, along with Colombian producer winner of multiple Grammy Latino Julio Reyes Copello, recorded the song for the album Amor & Pasión from Il Divo (2015).^[16]

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 - Frank Sinatra
• 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
• 1960 – Connie Francis, from Connie Francis Sings Spanish & Latin American Favorites
• 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 (Arielle Dombasle album)
• 2006 - Deana Martin on her 2006 album Memories Are Made of This released by Big Fish Records.
• 2006 – Claire Johnston, lead singer of Mango Groove. from her album Africa Blue.^[17]
• 2007 – Puppini Sisters, Betcha Bottom Dollar
• 2007 – Jennifer Lopez
• 2013 - Pink Martini Album "Get Happy" song N° 11
• 2014 - Juan Karlos Labajo - The Voice Kids Philippines Album under MCA Music Philippines

Live renditions

• 2007 – Melinda Doolittle on American Idol
• 2009 – Joe McElderry in UK The X Factor
• 2013 – Luis Miguel live at the Curacao North Sea Jazz Festival
• 2014 – Ivi Adamou, Elisavet Spanou and Courtney Parker at the MadWalk 2014

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 Chi sarà (in Italian)
• 1968 – Teresa Teng, titled "盼望" (in Mandarin)
• 1976 – Ajda Pekkan, from "Kim Ne Derse Desin" (in Turkish)
• 1990 – Björk in album Gling-Gló, as "Í dansi með þér" (in Icelandic)
• 2004 – Arielle Dombasle, titled "Quién Será (Sway)" (in Spanish)
• 2005 – Aaron Kwok, titled "飛" ("Sway") (in Cantonese)
• 2005 – Walid Soroor, titled "Yar Nazanin" (in Persian)
• 2007 - Amr Diab,titled El Lilady in ARABIC El Lilady الليلا دى
• 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).
• 2016 - Mahan Moin, in the song "Vaghti Miraghsi" (وقتی‌ می‌رقصی) (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 – Clare Fischer, from Manteca!, on Pacific Jazz, catalog number ST-20096
• 2001 – Cliff Habian, from Havana Sunset, on Azica Re
• 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

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, lip-synched by Jennifer Connelly's character as a lounge act (Jennifer Connelly herself sang it in the Director's Cut)
• 1999 – A version is played at the Centennial dance in Drive Me Crazy
• 2000 – Used in Sexy Beast, British crime film directed by Jonathan Glazer (the Dean Martin version)
• 2001 – Used in Gaudi Afternoon, singer unknown
• 2004 – The film "2046", directed by Wong Kar-wai
• 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 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
• 2010 – 10th episode of sixth season of TV series House M.D.
• 2010 – An episode of Glee (season 2 episode 8, "Furt") sung by Matthew Morrison
• 2010 – Repo Men, Perez Prado, 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 – Used in 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
• 2013 – Used in the spot of Blue Seduction. An Antonio Banderas' fragrance.
• 2013 – 4th episode of first season of Masters of Sex
• 2014 - Dean Martin - featured on "Endeavour" episode "Sway" 2014
• 2014 - Used in the film Lilting, by Director and Writer Hong Khaou

References

External links

• Original lyrics (in Spanish) to the song Sway (¿Quien será?)
• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics