Bésame Mucho is perhaps the most popular Spanish language song ever. It was written by Consuelo Velázquez (1916-2005), a Mexican pianist and composer, in 1940.

The lyrics of Bésame Mucho are shown below, followed by a translation to English, which  attempts to suggest the rhyme, rhythm and meaning of the Spanish language original. A few liberties of a poetic nature were taken so as to give an English translation with a better fit to the music and with a better verbal flow than that of a literal translation.

Bésame Mucho
Letra y Música de Consuelo Velázquez (1940)

4/4
(introducción instrumental de 9 medidas)

Bésame,
bésame mucho —
como si fuera esta noche
la ultima vez.
Bésame,
bésame mucho —
que tengo miedo a per-derte,
perderte después. —

(repite, y entonces la música cambia un poquito) …-derte, perderte después. —

Quiero tenerte muy cerca
mirar me en tus ojos
verte junto a mi.
Piensa que tal vez mañana
yo ya estaré lejos
muy lejos de ti.

Bésame,
bésame mucho —
como si fuera esta noche
la ultima vez.
Bésame,
bésame mucho —
que tengo miedo a perderte,
perderte des-pués. —

(“-pués” tiene 3 tiempos, se sigue con un tiempo y entonces 7 medidas de música)

Bésame,
bésame mucho —
que tengo miedo a perderte,
perderte después. —
Que tengo miedo a perderte, —
perderte des-pués. — — —

(el ultimo “-pués” tiene 5 y 3/4 medidas, un instrumental sigue con 7 y 1/4)

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Bésame Mucho (a translation)
Words and Music by Consuelo Velázquez (1940)

4/4
(instrumental introduction of 9 measures)

Kiss me now,
kiss me with passion —
kiss me as if this were to be
our very last night.
Kiss me now,
kiss me with passion —
for you I may never-more see
once past early light.

(repeat, then the music changes a little bit) …-more see once past early light. —

I want to hold you so closely,
look into your eyes to find
you mirroring me.
I’m sure dawn will find me lonely
cast away so far behind
where you then will be.

Kiss me now,
kiss me with passion —
kiss me as if this were to be
our very last night.
Kiss me now,
kiss me with passion —
for you I may nevermore see
once past early light.

(“light” has three beats followed by one beat then 7 measures of music)

Kiss me now
kiss me with passion —
fearing tomorrow I’ll lose you
past dawn’s early light; —
and I may forever lose you, —
forever lose you. — — —

(the last “you” has 5 and 3/4 measures, followed by 7 and 1/4 measures of music)

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Bésame Mucho is such a good song that it can enchant in many different styles, and despite the passing of time. Here are nine performance videos of Bésame Mucho that caught my attention, many many more are out there. These videos are listed in a sequence of performances that I like.

Andrea Bocelli
(An elegantly balanced performance; video shows lyrics and a literal English translation)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83lnl6hOmUw

Diana Krall
(A sultry and lush version by a wonderful, popular North American jazz stylist)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uEl5Z5DEDw

Consuelo Velázquez
(A piano instrumental by the composer herself, in 1990)

and in 1968

 

Raquel Andueza
(A high soprano version of bell-like clarity and tone, it sounds so Andean to me)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp4Vdr9D0yg

Alina Izquierdo
(¡LLeva! A potent Cuban vocalist gives a rich and propulsive performance)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d76SEnn2z1s

Alioska
(Very sweet, lovely singing by a Cubana during a jam session at a club)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P2ozkMARwY

Chico y Rita
(Idania Valdés, singer; Cuban soul singing about mythical memory)

Bésame Mucho by Ella Garcia
(shimmering)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27HPsNlc80Q

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