Mario Lanza- Song of India

[Hostskulker]

A reason to live.

[mrsPaikea]

@ThaiMike2010 absolutely so!

[learningnewshit3]

The Catcher in the Rye brought me here. =]

[drauw]

@learningnewshit3 me too!!!!!

[lamusicahera]

HE has been one of the really best Tenorvoices who are recordet !

Not only his beautiful instrument ...

he has been good schooled ........

BRAVO

BRAVO

BRAVO

[gammondog]

It's a pity Mr. Lanza didn't sing in Russian because this is my favorite performance of this song in spite of it not being in the original language.

[samanthaeblack11]

For so many years I listened to this song in the original language and always wondered what beautiful words this lover sang to his beloved. Lo and behold when I first read the translation I never realized his beloved was his mother land! What a beautiful rendition.

[blunderbabe]

I've loved Mario Lanza's voice all my life and never thought I'd find another voice that moved me in the way his did and still does - until I heard Rhydian (Roberts) sing. See what you think; search YouTube for a fan's video of him singing 'Who Wants To Live Forever' live last September. The lights failed, the sound wasn't the best, but the voice was out of this world. There's something there in that voice that was always there in Mario's, and I've never heard it from anyone else until now.

[lanzanut]

hello etnalleb. Have just read your comments on Mario Lanza unfortunately from a year ago but nevertheless your words are impossible to ignore. I have read many things written about our Mario but I would like to thank you for yours it just about sums up every Mario Lanza fans feelings in a few well written sentences. CHEERS.

[lanzanut]

Well said 14 Kaljan, I have just played Jussi Bjorlings version of this song and although I am a great admirer of this manswonderful voice and technical ability Ifind his version pleasant nobody could sing it like our Mario asfor the comments of Thai Mike I cannot disagree with what you say but fortunately or unfortunately for Mario he worked in Hollywood and all its so called mush but in spite of this fact surely his voice is superior to any other on this particular song and most others.

[MrSammyscroll]

His brilliance can never be matched......no more can be said......

[chafunras]

@MrSammyscroll

you all never heard about lemmy from motörhead???

[gallantentry]

@chafunras lol...cute!

[chafunras]

@gallantentry

hehehe.....;-)

[enylouzada]

saudades dos lindos filmes com esta maravilhosa voz. Maravilha!

[Glaura2009]

Linda voz, sempre foi maravilhoso!

[14kaljan]

Mario Lanza was THE VOICE, still is THE VOICE. always will be THE VOICE, so eat your heart out all you would be pretenders to his throne

[zlatantillifk]

He always gives a lot of emotion to his singing. Jussi Björling sang this in Swedish. Also a decent rendition. Lanza was special though.....

[Ear4Beauty]

Thanks. That was neat.

[monkeybizwak]

He had a great Vibrato, Vibrato is the tremulous effect imparted in some vocal or instrumental music, and the cyle-per-second range causes people to go into an altered state of consciousness.

Sp yeah Mario´s voice can very effectively make you highly susceptible to subliminal manipulation

BTW Godly voice

[bigbow97]

i play pan in a band and i once played this it sounded great

[pondeflouers]

У Марио Ланца везде много эмоций. Мне кажется, здесь это лишнее.

[maxhansendk]

Horrible, horrifying Hollywood version!!

This is by far the verst version of Rimsky Korsakovs masterpiece I heve ever heard!

Lanza had a beautiful voice, but here things go terribly wrong.

Listen to Sergei Lemeshev (russian opera-tenor supremo) singing in native russian. Or listen to Jussi Bjorling. these two are rare stars in the opera sky. They sing in a way we will not hear again for the next 1000 years. Which means you can not find better versions then theirs (or get to be very old ;-)

[brandanebute]

@maxhansendk waaahhaaa bjorling yes {also he sings the lyrics as in the operatic text from the piece sadko.but obviously in his native swedish]..i agree things do go terribly wrong...i have listened to many tenors recanting this piece..but the definitive version is jussi bjorling...without question...

[074August]

Witch Ann Cappelletti, the sorceror of So. Philadelphia, 1/2 sister of Barbara Bush, witch daughters of Aleister Crowley, killed Mario's wife with a voodoo doll. No doubt she killed Mario because she wanted him and he didn't want her. I will post more when I learn it.

[madisonelectronic]

@074August You should lay off the booze and drugs.

[074August]

@madisonelectronic another witch poster, you witches are everywhere. Are you a Cappelletti or just a member of the Cappelletti coven?

[breachborn]

Wonderful!!!! Goodness, such an instrument, the voice. Perfected here.

[oldixe]

I again say thank God for You Tube. This takes me back to my high school days. Lanza was great and this proves it. Let the critics, who can't do it criticize it.

[garybrown57]

A gem critics said of him he was technically flawed what nonesense his tonality was supberb his diction was crystal clear and no tenor before or since had such powerful passion when he sings it's like an entire choir i loved him when i was 11 now 53 i've yet to find a tenor that moves me like mario

[raa2000]

This was my Grandmas favourite. It was played at her funeral. It's so beautiful. I play it when I want to think about her. I miss her so much Thanks for posting.

[caledoonia]

Caledoonia, A beautiful song,a superb rendition by the great Mario Lanza,how sad we lost him at such an early age.

[cobaltjones]

the seeds of the song Brazil are in this work. check it out dude or dudette. these words are bogus in large extent.

[Graziana2010]

bellissima!

[susan8163]

I love an instrumentsl version of this but Mario Lanza sings the hell out of this!!!!!!!!!

[BerryJoy]

is there a version without singing?

[papoocanada]

beautifully sung yes, with Hollywood hoo-hoo-hoo choir behind.......oh ! sounds like Romberg.

Lanza, was an incorrigible undisciplined drunk punk who died of a heart attack at only 38. Tragic. He could have been the tenor of the century.

[paulostroff99]

Beautifully sung!

[ronaldo190172]

This never fails to amaze me, every time I hear it. Amazing

[GosuSan]

Listen to Jussi Björling in "Song of India". The way he interprets this song combined with the Nordic melancholy in his voice and his amazing ability to hit not just every note but also every letter in the sweetspot makes it a fantastic experience to listen to him even if you don´t understand Swedish!

[halavey]

Fine diction and warm plus when he sings piano it's more beautiful. His voice was beautiful especially when he sang softly.

[LanzaLover2]

Ahh! No one can caress words like Mario does.

[atenorforjesus]

I have heard Jussi sing this, I think that Mario broke a few rules but those rules were meant to be broken. There's only one Mario.

[branko1b]

if not provoked, i prefer to say nothing rather than say something bad, but i can't help this one: trying to "improve" on Korsakov's notes is like adding salt into the ocean - it might not have been Lanza's idea ...

[Hairymaineguy]

I cannot agree with you more.

[egymagyar1111111]

this kind of singing of this aria does not make any relation to the way as it is intended by Rimskiy Korsakov and this declamatory kind of interpretation is far away of the Lyemeshev, Reti, Bjorling I´m sorry Lanza is not for this role at all

[sagagossard]

100 percent agree with you

[egymagyar1111111]

which is your favourite interpreter of this aria, mine are the russians of the old style, Jozsef Reti, Tibor Udvardy I could not find a Gigli and Bjoerling angelic voice is missing the poesy but I am a lover of his voice, hehehe

[toberhouse]

My favourite is Georges Thill's

[Shiflis2]

I agree

[Shiflis2]

versión muy "gritada" (1:09), mucho alarde de voz, de notas innecesariamente altas. Lanza es producto del "star sistem" (sorry about my english) Good voice but bad interpretation.

[gladstoned66]

@Shiflis2

Ik begrijp er niks van.

[Shiflis2]

@gladstoned66 Yes

[mltube]

This is a Hollywood version, but a nice one :-)

[PeteCDR]

I love this version. But I would love to find the version sung by Charles Kullman from the movie "Song of Scheherezade". I think he sang the song and it was called Song of Scheherezade in that movie. Thanks.

[megacallas]

Thank you for sharing my feelings. It´s a pity Lanza´s incredibly beautiful renditions are not known at present except for those who belong to my generation.

[bryanbo9]

i love this song

[AnaJilK]

Outstanding version! Thanks a lot Kostas for sharing and cuzinkevin for uploading your beautiful video *****

To those who prefer criticizing Mario Lanza: opinions differ..........

[bud21s]

Exquisite ! I remember owning this 78 rpm record back in the late 60s ! I use to raid the local "Good Will " and "Salvation Army " stores for old recordings ! LOL !

Ahhhh.... those WERE the days !!!

Thanks so much for posting !

Dave

[OnlyBallet]

For anyone looking for the original Russian version of this song, enter Leo Kuznetsov in the search engine.

Personally, I prefer Leo Kuznetsov's interpretation by far.

[operavictim]

Épico?

[orikrol]

thank you for wonderful music!!!

[xBrightTwilight]

lolllll this song is in catcher of the rye and one of the kids try to whistle to it

[lolthatguy123]

Exactly why I just looked this up >.>

[ripleysb]

I enjoyed listening to Mario Lanza sing this, I am not an opera critic so I can't critique his style. What I didn't like were the lyrics. They seemed silly and demeaning to Indian culture. Who wrote the lyrics?

[korsoz]

It has nothing to do whith the original russian lyrics

[korsoz]

It has nothing to do with the original russian lyrics

[ftbrothers]

this is haunting, listen to his phrasing on 'shines'and 'stars' , beautiful diction, hard one to sing, masters it perfect, thanks again x

[Joanexcite70]

BEAUTIFUL. THANKYOU.

[cacata98]

Lanza is unforgetable. Before the famous 3 tenors he was the one through his films who helped take opera to the masses. Read the biographies of Pavarotti or Domingo or Carreras and there you will find references to this tenor as an inspiration for their careers. Lanza was extraordinary if only he had taken more care of himself perhaps we could have seen him at the Met.

[megacallas]

I have gone through all the available versions of this song trying to find one better than Lanza´s, fruitlessly so far. His voice is unique, but also are the passion and sensitivity it transmits. Bjôrling´s version is one of the best but Lanza reaches my heart.

[zsazsamario]

Yes megacallas, that`s it! Lanza reaches my heart! That is what is unique (beside extraordinary beauty of his voice!) by Lanza, he is reaching your heart and soul and make you feel the same as he does! Such an expression, such a feeling, such a poesie! Fabulous and much more!

[Etnalleb]

The Magic of Mario Lanza besides the sheer glorious beauty of his voice is that while there might have been Operatic tenors with equally magnificent voices. NONE could match Lanza in diction, enunciation, and pure emotional brilliance. Most tenors sang notes , Lanza sang words and with every fiber of his being drove those words right through your heart , that's what set him apart from the others and that's why Mario Lanza will always be regarded by millions as the Greatest Singer ever.

[zlatantillifk]

As a swede I also like Jussi Björling.

[DRSYNSCARECROW]

This is beyond beautiful. It posesses an exquisiteness that tears to the very core. The debate about Lanza's place in Tenor history will go on for ever, no doubt, but this exemplifies a superlative gift to communicate; to move and to enthrall in a way rarely, if EVER, like no other voice.

[yingdat]

A few problems with Lanza's singing: His voice production is raggedly uneven, lower notes are hollow and higher ones are pushed/squeezed; the very last note in particularly is simply unpleasant. He couldn't resist barking out some notes in a legato line. His pitches are often suspect, especially in the 2 phrases between 1:36 and 2:00- he didn't seem to know whether the high notes there should be E or Eb. Maybe you like it better because you understand the language. Fine, but he is no Bjorling.

[aguacun]

Too many words just to say: he is not Björling.

[DRSYNSCARECROW]

I hear no problems with Lanza's singing. It has nothing to do with the language. Correct, he is no Bjorling; he's also no Corelli, Tagliavini, Martinelli, Pavarotti, Krause, Gigli nor De Stefano EITHER. But he DOES have an exquisite timbre, resonance and pianissimo; and his voice connects and moves in ways not ONE iota less than Bjorling.

[rupepill]

It's helpful to have such great lyrics as these to enhance the pleasure of hearing Mario Lanza's splendid voice and his singing style, so well suited to this beautiful aria.

You put it very nicely: Mario Lanza didn't need to be anyone else but himself. That was enough.

[julesgabriella]

No he's not. He's generally better.

[fabrizzzio48]

Well, singing is not precisely Computer Science, so I'll give you an easy time for this one.

1) The 2 phrases, silly small detail.

2) Lower notes are hollow, no, he enriched the sound, that's HIS sound, covering the voice.

3)higher notes "pushed/squeezed":

Mario's technique changed.

When young he was lighter and proyected the sound very well up to open cavities. Later, he did the same but covered much more, and the voice darkened.

It's not pushed, he is creating a trumpet like effect.

[yingdat]

Oh sure, next you are going to say he is perfectly in pitch too. Well, enjoy it.

[fabrizzzio48]

He was very good on pitch, and by the way had the best english pronunciation for a singer doing this kind of repertoire.

One day, try singing this song, with the same passion and voice projection.

Let's see if you can hit those notes like that.

Then, get a camera, record yourself and post it in YouTube. Please be so kind as to send me a notice so that I can enjoy your flawless singing capacity.

[samnsky3]

WOOOOW!!!!Great comeback. Love it

[DRSYNSCARECROW]

Actually, I'm not. But I DO and shall continue to, ENJOY it.

[pianist527]

More than the song's lyrics which are absolutely beautiful, is his supreme voice together with this music of indescribable beauty that makes one's heart rejoice with happiness No other tenor's voice does this to a person not in the same incomparable way Mr Lanza did

[cutanea2]

@pianist527 I agree with you, Mario Lanza was special, he sings this song beautifully. My cousin went to see him live at Sheffield City Hall in 1958, Mario did not use a microphone, his voice filled the huge hall. I wish I had been there.

[DixieDreamer48]

Thank you! This was my late father's favorite song. Hearing it brings back memories.

[megacallas]

Heavenly!!

[pianist527]

This music is intense and divine, the lyrics are wonderful, his beautiful tone of voice unique, its enormous amplitude of voice unbelievable Listening attentively it almost makes you cry Thank you again

[tenorismo]

Marios recording is just as good as the great russian tenor Ivan Koslovskys. Boath are beautifull recordings, and boath are " interpeted" by 2 great artistis .

[Perfidiame]

Thank you so much for posting this song.

Let's be thankful that Mario Lanza lived and that we can enjoy his wonderful voice and not quibble about how and why he died.

[Etnalleb]

malamichelle. Mario did not die in a deep sleep treatment. He died of a DVT a blood clot in his leg that traveled to his heart. This song was one of Mario's favorites as you can tell by the enormous passion in puts into each and every word. Tenors today sing notes , Mario sang words and with all his heart and soul. He truly was the Greatest Tenor ever. R.I.P Mario Bravo !

[zsazsamario]

You are very right Etnalleb! Most tenors sang notes , Lanza sang words and with every fiber of his being drove those words right through your heart , that's what set him apart from the others and that's why Mario Lanza will always be regarded by millions as the Greatest Singer ever! Amen!

[band222]

This recording was recorded at Republic studios,Hollywood on the 17th June 1953.Mario had not recorded for RCA for nearly a year following the scandal at Metro Re The student prince film.Here you hear mario at his very best and i would put this song in the top ten recordings of the late great Mario Lanza.

[pianist527]

I want to thank once more for posting this superb song I don't know which is the most beautiful song of the many Mr. Lanza sang but I'm sure this is one of them The lyrics are unique, the music is of impossible misterious beauty and Mr. Lanza exceptional singing here has no terms of comparison whatsoever

[malamichelle]

I heard he died because of being put in a deep sleep just to lose weight for his films. What a shame to die for! His voice lives on! Beautiful!

[pianist527]

His voice has no comparison with any other and this song its music and lyrics are of the utmost beauty We are listening to his extraordinary singing and is as if we were in a real Indian magic place of our own Thanks to the poster who posted the beautiful words I love when the videos come together with the lyrics

[jourdy288]

Wow.

[lincoln1960]

Mario Lanza ´s voice in this performance stands like a soft wave in the sea.

[sagalat]

Made my New Year's. Thanks CuzinKevin and 302MarkVII

[Ragnaroekk]

Nice voice and seductive singing. But what a terrible arrangement.

[grupetto]

Yes, I agree. This is a beautiful song but I prefer the Bjoerling's performance.

[rouman7]

this is a lot better, than bjoerlings..

[hardrfastr]

UNBELIEVABLE.What a voice.Brings me back to my childhood.Dad used to play these songs around the house.There will never be another Mario Lanza.Thanks for bringing these memories back.

[conlagrime]

Mario Lanza had a voice that his critics say was squandered by an undisciplined and emotionally disturbed individual. I say thank God for records! For without them, we would not have known such a God given voice that even to this day bless those that still understand what it is to sing, really sing in a day and age that has forgotten what real talent consist of rather than a product created for consumption by the clueless masses....

[cuzinkevin]

I totally agree

[Aetion]

@cuzinkevin So do I! Thanks for the wondeful posting.

[DTWZA]

i have to agree its a shame in todays world they cant look for this type of talent i want Mario back along with bjorling and corelli and delmonico lets not forget delmonico

[dybbuk4640]

@conlagrime beautifully said :)

[likekinds]

I've had this recording for many years.

Mario is gone. This song will never again

be sung as beautifully as this.

Thank you for it.

[balletamie]

I've read that this one was his dearest. He was so happy about doing this song. An also he said vesti la giubba was his "lucky" aria.

[dQuarters]

I missed this song so much. Thanks for having it here, Kevin.

[FredDay1]

It was Johnny Mercer who wrote this English set of lyrics. There had been previous English sets of lyrics, but Mercer's lyrics (1953) are by far, the best. Extremely picturesque!! Correction to the text: See them all parade across the ages, armies kings and slaves from history's pages, played on one of nature's vastest stages.

[302MarkVII]

Thank you for correcting that Fred. I had copied and pasted from a website where I found Mercer's lyrics.

[dwsingrs]

@FredDay1

Concur heartily! Thanks for giving Johnny Mercer his just due. As far as I'm concerned he is Cole Porter's equal in his inspired lyricism. I've read a book by Mel Torme. In it, he says words to the effect that he was not a Mario Lanza fan, but that he was just blown away by Mercer's lyrics when listening to Lanza's recording.

[consigliere57]

I love this song

[302MarkVII]

The turbaned Sihks and beggars line the street,

While holy men in shadowed calm retreat,

Pray through the night and watch the stars,

The loney plane flies off to meet the dawn,

While down below the busy life goes on,

And women crowd the old bazaar

All are in the song that only India can sing,

India, the jewel of the East

[302MarkVII]

High upon a minaret I stand

And gaze across the desert sand,

Upon an old enchanted land

There the Maharaja's caravan,

Unfolding like a painted fan,

How small the little race of man.

See them all parade across the ages,

All these kings and slaves from History's pages,

Laid on one of Nature's vastest stages.

[302MarkVII]

Here are the lyrics Kevin:

And still the snowy Himalyas rise,

In ancient majesty before our eyes,

Beyond the plains, above the pines.

While through the ever never changing land,

As silently as any native band,

That moves at night, the Ganges shine.

Then I hear the song that only India can sing,

Softer than the plumage on a black raven's wing.

[cuzinkevin]

Wow thanks for that Mark most appreciated.

[zigvog]

Gr8 vid, dude!

[302MarkVII]

You might want to update your tags and also put "song of india". It will make it easier for people to come across.

[cuzinkevin]

Cheers mark I have updated the tag

[302MarkVII]

Thank you so much for putting this on. I have been waiting for a long time for someone to post Lanza's rendition of the aria "Song of the Indian Guest". It is beautiful, latent with the uniqueness in Lanza's voice.

[jadore7]

Wow!!!!!!!

I loved it, thak you.

[marilynf]

A real masterpiece for sure. Lanza's ability to paint a picture with the words on full display here! The lyrics are by the famous Johnny Mercer. Thanks!

[cuzinkevin]

It was a sad day indeed when Mario left us. Thanks for letting me know who wrote the English lyrics I did not know they were by Johnny Mercer

[mcc1691]

Please, more Mario songs instead of Robert Young, or anyone else singing.  There's no comparison.

[cuzinkevin]

Glad you liked it i will post more soon

[katona08]

Very-very NICE!!!!!Thank you so much!!!E.

[cuzinkevin]

Glad you liked it