Cry Me a River (Arthur Hamilton song)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
Related e |
Featured: |
"Cry Me a River" (1953) is a American song written by Arthur Hamilton. It is about a break-up.
A torchy, jazzy blues tune, "Cry Me a River" was originally written for Ella Fitzgerald to sing in the film, Pete Kelly's Blues (1955). But the record producer insisted Hamilton remove the word "plebeian" since "audiences wouldn't accept a black woman in the 1950s using that word.". Hamilton tried but eventually refused to make the change, and the song was dropped. Fitzgerald first released a recording of the song on Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie! in 1961.
The song's first release and most famous recording was by actress/singer Julie London in 1955. This version featured in the 1956 film The Girl Can't Help It and was released as a single in April 1957 (UK #22). More recently, the song has featured on the soundtracks of the films Passion of Mind (2000) and V for Vendetta (2005).
In 1970, British blues rocker Joe Cocker made the chart with a rendition on the album, Mad Dogs and Englishmen. In 1995, British actress Denise Welch's double A-side "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" / "Cry Me a River" spent three weeks in the UK Singles Chart, reaching #23.
Another cover version of the song by Mari Wilson featured as theme music for the British televison series, McCallum (1995–6).
Versions in other languages
- Portuguese - "Chora um Rio" was composed by Artur Nestrovsky and released by Ná Ozzetti and André Mehmari
- French - "Pleurer Des Rivières", translated by Boris Bergman, recorded by Viktor Lazlo in 1985.
- Spanish - "Te Lloré Un Río", recorded by Maná
- Finnish - "Joet tulvimaan itke" was recorded by the Harmony sisters in 1956 with lyrics by Saukki.
Selective list of recorded versions
- Barbra Stiesand
- Gabriella Cilmi
- Bruce Abbott
- Cliff Adams
- George Adams
- Aerosmith
- Barbie Anaka
- Leslie Anders
- Rick Astley
- Brian Auger
- Björk
- Patti Austin
- Sil Austin
- Joan Baez
- Cheryl Bentyne
- Long John Baldry
- Michael Ball
- Shirley Bassey
- BB Band
- Jeff Beck
- Andrea Benanti
- George Benson
- Marie Bergman
- Gene Bertoncini
- Heather Bishop
- Bonnie Bramlett
- Kayle Brechler
- Ray Brown Trio
- Ray Bryant
- Betty Buckley
- Jim Campilongo
- Kate Ceberano & Wendy Matthews
- Ray Charles
- The Chelsea Strings
- Chick Pea
- The Cliks
- Joe Cocker
- Combustible Edison
- Harry Connick Jr.
- Chris Connor
- Sam Cooke
- Jill Corey
- Scott Coulter
- Van Craven
- Sonny Criss
- Ann Crumb
- Vic Damone
- Bobby Darin
- Skeeter Davis
- Mauro DeFedericis
- Dumpster Juice
- Lisa Ekdahl
- George Faith
- Ella Fitzgerald
- Fourplay Quartet
- Noel Freidline Quintet
- Leata Galloway
- Crystal Gayle
- Benny Golson
- Dexter Gordon
- Lesley Gore
- Davy Graham
- Owen Gray
- John Greaves
- Jerry Grillo
- Merle Haggard
- Arthur Hamilton
- Harmony Sisters (Finnish version)
- Gene Harris
- Camille Harrison
- John Hasbrouck
- David Hazeltine
- Jennifer Heaney
- Jeff Hedberg
- Jackie Henderson
- Missy Higgins
- Richard Hindman
- Jim Howe Trio
- Hu & the Hilltops
- Marc Hunter
- Illumination
- Jacintha
- Jai
- Doug James
- Etta James
- Harry James & his New Jazz Band
- J. J. Johnson
- Norah Jones
- Duke Jordan
- Bob Kaper & the Strings of Paris
- Ron Kaplan
- Melissa Kassel
- Stan Keiser
- Mark Keller & Friends
- Rebecca Kilgore
- Sonji Kimmons
- Peggy King
- The Kingbees
- Marie Knight
- Ithamara Koorax
- Kasia Kowalska
- Diana Krall
- Karin Krog
- Gene Krupa
- Joachim Kuhn
- Viktor Lazlo (French Version)
- Rita Lee
- Julie London
- Claudine Longet
- Lost Prophets
- Maná (Spanish Version)
- Tania Maria
- John Martyn
- Brad Mehldau
- Mina
- Hugo Montenegro
- Alison Moyet
- Anne Murray
- Olivia Newton John
- Paolo Nutini
- Ná Ozzetti (Portuguese Version)
- Elaine Paige
- Ligia Piro
- Frank Pourcel
- Realtime (quartet)
- Linda Ronstadt
- Marion Ryan
- Bobby Rydell
- Janet Seidel
- Dinah Shore
- Nina Simone
- Frank Sinatra Jr.
- Dakota Staton
- Debra Stephenson
- Barbra Streisand
- Swans
- Caetano Veloso
- Dinah Washington
- Denise Welch
- Mari Wilson (1983)