A while back Chris ran across a list of the songs that have been at the top of the pop charts in Germany over the years. Just for fun, I had looked to see what was the #1 song in Germany on the day I was born, May 28, 1963. I’d intended to work it into a post on my birthday this year. But as it turned out, the song that was #1 on my birthday didn’t seem that exciting. More interesting was the song that was #1 the week after my birthday, called Schuld war nur der Bossa Nova. Recorded by a German singer named Manuela, it reached #1 on the charts the week of June 1, 1963, and stayed there for 5 weeks. It caught my eye, since the only song I knew that had “Bossa Nova” in the title was the American song Blame it on the Bossa Nova— and it turned out that Manuela’s song was the German version of that same song. Schuld war nur der Bossa Nova was a huge hit in Germany, actually, staying on the charts for more than 6 months; the success of that song launched Manuela’s career as a pop singer in Germany.

Now, the original Blame it on the Bossa Nova had also been a huge hit for its singer, Eydie Gormé, who went on to have a #1 hit with that song both in English-speaking countries around the world, and later in Spanish-speaking countries when she re-recorded it with Spanish lyrics. For Gormé, like for Manuela, the song was the key to breaking through as a singer in their respective markets.

I bring this up today because over the the weekend the news came that Eydie Gormé had died. I recall seeing her and her husband/partner Steve Lawrence on TV shows when I was growing up, and I remember that I always enjoyed their performances. In addition to liking their songs, I always enjoyed the way their performances were infused with humor and an infectious sense of fun. Gormé’s obituary talked about her success with Blame it on the Bossa Nova, of course, which triggered a reminder about the links I’d put together a while back, but never used, about that song.

So, FWIW, here the clips I found of the 1963 versions of a song that spawned successful singing careers for two women from different lands, singing the same song, but in different languages.

• Blame it on the Bossa Nova sung by Eydie Gormé (English version, 1963)
• Cúlpale a la bossa nova sung by Eydie Gormé (Spanish version, 1963)
• Schuld war nur der Bossa Nova sung by Manuela (German version, 1963)

BTW, although neither woman was known primarily as a Broadway star, Eydie Gormé did star on Broadway in a show called Golden Rainbow. You can see a clip of them singing a couple of songs from the show here.

Now, there’s another song from that show called For Once in Your Life, and I know what you’re probably thinking: for once in my life couldn’t I have avoided working in a Broadway song reference?

Well, as it turns out, the answer, is probably not. On the day I was born, and indeed for most of the year I was born, the #1 album in Germany was a cast album recording of the musical My Fair Lady. So, while it may not have been written on the star charts, the music charts in the country where I’m currently living clearly tied my destiny to music from musicals.