Retro Music 64

~ beetleypete

When I was young, I heard a French song called ‘La Mer’, by Charles Trenet. I knew that meant ‘The Sea’, and I enjoyed the music.

Not long after, when I was only eight years old, I heard an English language cover version, by Bobby Darin. The title had changed to’Beyond The Sea’, and it was ever so slightly ‘Jazzed-up’. Just enough to make me love the remake, which my dad played on our record player.

To this day, it is still one of my favourite songs. It is far from being a classic, but it means a lot to me.

If you have never heard it, here is the Charles Trenet original. Just as good.

Somewhere beyond the sea
Somewhere waiting for me
My lover stands on golden sands
And watches the ships that go sailin’
Somewhere beyond the sea
She’s there watching for me
If I could fly like birds on high
Then straight to her arms
I’d go sailing
It’s far beyond the stars
It’s near beyond the moon
I know beyond a doubt
My heart will lead me there soon
We’ll meet beyond the shore
We’ll kiss just as before
Happy we’ll be beyond the sea
And never again I’ll go sailing
I know beyond a doubt, ah
My heart will lead me there soon
We’ll meet (I know we’ll meet) beyond the shore
We’ll kiss just as before
Happy we’ll be beyond the sea
And never again I’ll go sailing
No more sailing
So long sailing
Bye bye sailing
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Albert Lasry / Charles Trenet / Jack Lawrence
Beyond the Sea lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Raoul Breton Editions, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
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48 thoughts on “Retro Music 64”

  4. If you like the Darin version Kevin Spacey’s film, made with the Darin family’s blessing and the original charts, is a work of love. Spacey made it for his mother, and in spite of Spacey and everyone else knowing he was too old for the part the suspension of disbelief and his portrayal are magical.

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    1. Surprised you don’t remember this one, chuq. Darin had a huge hit with it in 1959/60. Then again, my dad worked in the record business, so I was listening to all sorts as a child.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  7. Original version for me Pete, imagine nice quiet café overlooking an idyllic west country fishing village small boats swaying on the tide, the sun gently setting all accompanied with a nice Pinot Gris

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  8. Fun post! If he’d lived longer, Bobby Darin might (in my humble opinion, of course) eclipsed even Sinatra. He was so talented–could sing anything. I love everything he ever recorded. I also love Trenet’s original as I am in general a fan of the “chansons”.

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      1. I was born in 1982, Pete! I have heard a few old western pieces through my brother’s collection who loves playing them on guitar but I was much more into Hindi as I was a vocalist. 😁 But every one loves a good love song.

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  16. One of the songs of my childhood. My dad liked French cabaret, Edith Piaf and Charles Trenet. Piaf had a stunning voice and sang some very emotional songs. There was a group called Les Compagnons de la Chanson. I loved them too. It all makes me very nostalgic.

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  18. Pingback: Retro Music 64 | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

  19. One of my favourites as well. I was so in love with Bobby Darrin; played all his records and had his pictures taped to my bedroom wall. The original in French is good too. I believe Bobby Darrin sang it in French too.

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