April in Portugal (Song)
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| “April in Portugal” | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| English title | “The Whisp’ring Serenade”, “Coimbra” |
| Written | 1947 |
| Genre | Fado |
| Composer(s) | Raul Ferrão |
| Lyricist(s) | Jose Galhardo (Portuguese) Jimmy Kennedy (English) |
“April in Portugal” is a popular song, also named “The Whisp’ring Serenade.” The music was written by Raul Ferrão with Portuguese lyrics by José Galhardo as a fado named “Coimbra”, about the city of that name in 1947. English lyrics written by Jimmy Kennedy were set to the music, though many of the most popular versions of the song were instrumentals. It is one of the signature songs of Portuguese singer and fadista Amália Rodrigues.
It was also recorded in French by the tenor Luís Piçarra.
Charting versions
Charting versions were recorded by the :
- Les Baxter orchestra. The Les Baxter recording was released by Capitol Records as catalog number 2374. It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on March 28, 1953, and lasted 22 weeks on the chart, peaking at #2.
- Richard Hayman orchestra. The Richard Hayman recording was released by Mercury Records as catalog number 70114. It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on April 25, 1953, and lasted 11 weeks on the chart, peaking at #12.
- Freddy Martin orchestra. The Freddy Martin recording was released by RCA Victor as catalog number 20-5052. It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on May 9, 1953, and lasted 3 weeks on the chart, peaking at #15.
- Vic Damone. The Vic Damone recording was released by Mercury Records as catalog number 70128. It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on May 30, 1953, and lasted 3 weeks on the chart, peaking at #16.
- In 2023, Les Baxter’s version of the song was included on the soundtrack of the 2023 film Asteroid City by Wes Anderson.
On Cash Box magazine‘s chart, where all versions were combined, the song reached a peak position of #2.
Other contemporary versions
Other versions recorded include those by:
- Tony Martin with Lennie Hayton‘s orchestra and chorus, recorded on March 26, 1953, released by RCA Victor as catalog number 20-5279 (in USA) and by EMI on the His Master’s Voice label as catalog number B 10500.
- Geraldo & his new Concert Orchestra, recorded on April 30, 1953, released by Philips Records as catalog number PB-149
- Louis Armstrong, recorded on April 21, 1953, released by Decca Records as catalog number 28704
- Eartha Kitt with Henri René‘s Orchestra, recorded on March 13, 1953, released by RCA Victor in an Extended Play album, catalog number EPB 3062
- Mantovani and his Orchestra, recorded on October 14, 1959, on the album Continental Encores for Decca, SKL 4044.
- Bing Crosby with Malcolm Lockyer & His Orchestra, recorded on May 8, 1961, for the “Holiday in Europe” album – produced by Project Records and leased to US Decca.
- Don Costa, released in 1961 on the album The Sound Of The Million Sellers, United Artists WWS 8513.
- Mickey Katz recorded a Yiddish-inflected parody called “Paisach in Portugal” in 1954.
Other recorded versions
The song has also been recorded by:
- The Dukes of Dixieland – (Okeh Records)
- Enoch Light And His Orchestra – (Project 3 Records)
- The Melachrino Strings – (RCA Victor)
- Mitchell Ayres And His Orchestra – (RCA Victor)
- Lawrence Welk – (Ranwood Records)
- Eddy Christiani – (Netherlands-Europe)
- Esquivel – (RCA Victor)
- Juanjo Dominguez – (Epsa Music)
- Gabriella Ferri – (Canti di Versi, Rossodisera, 2000)
- Geoff Love Mandolins
- Caterina Valente
- Tony Evans and His Orchestra
- Ray Conniff Singers
- Liberace
- The Lucky Duckies
- Los Panchos
- Paul Mauriat
Manuel‘s Music Of The Mountains
April in Portugal (Film)
| April in Portugal | |
|---|---|
| |
| Directed by | Euan Lloyd |
| Written by | O. Henry Charles Belden |
| Produced by | Irving Allen Albert R. Broccoli |
| Starring | Trevor Howard Jocelyn Lane Amalia Rodrigues |
| Cinematography | Ted Moore |
| Music by | George Melachrino |
| Production company | Warwick Films |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
| Release date | 20 April 1956 (U.S.) |
| Running time | 20 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
April in Portugal is a 1954 travel film directed by Euan Lloyd, starring Jocelyn Lane and narrated by Trevor Howard. It was released in 1956.
Cast
- Jocelyn Lane as guide (as Jackie Lane)
- Antonio Dos Santos
- Amália Rodrigues
- Trevor Howard as narrator
- Fernando Gil and his Ballet
- Santos Moreira
Production
In order to get permission to film The Cockleshell Heroes in Portugal, Warwick Films had to make the documentary April in Portugal.
Reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: “This brief visit to Portugal is given the customary CinemaScopic treatment, and, in its effort to reveal the varied splendours of Lisbon, succeeds in telling us very little. Miss Jackie Lane, the film’s guide (who wears a different creation in almost every shot) is accompanied by a smiling bullfighter, Antonio dos Santos, and a fulsome commentary delivered by Trevor Howard. The fudos singer, Amalia Rodrigues, renders several well-known songs – one of which, sung from a yacht on the Tagus, suddenly suggests that the film has taken to parodying itself – a folk dance team perform a few steps, a military parade is held in honour of the President of Brazil, and Antonio himself provides the climax shot at a Portuguese bull-fight. These, and sundry other events, are photographed in bright glossy colours, and the title tune is played, in a rich stercophonic arrangement, by George Melachrino’s Orchestra. A chromium-piied travelogue which, nevertheless, wears a decidedly old-fashioned look.”












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