3 Classic Rock Songs That Are Covers of Traditional Foreign-Language Tracks

When a songwriter is looking for inspiration for a new recording, sometimes the best thing to do is look to another for help. And sometimes that search can lead an artist to another culture or country or even another language all together.

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Here below, we wanted to explore three such examples of this happening. A trio of tracks that were recorded by an artist after translating the original version into English. Indeed, these are three classic rock songs that are actually covers of traditional foreign-language songs.

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“You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me” by Dusty Springfield (Single, 1966)

This song by the British-born Dusty Springfield was originally written by Pino Donaggio and Vito Pallavicini in 1965, an Italian tune with the title “Io che non vivo (senza te).” Springfield was given an English translation of the song written by Vicki Wickham and Simon Napier-Bell. And Springfield’s version, which was released in 1966 as a single, hit No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was later covered by Elvis Presley. Springfield had heard a performance of the composition during a concert in 1965 and said she was moved to tears by it despite not knowing its meaning. And on her epic version, she sings,

When I said I needed you
You said you would always stay
It wasn’t me who changed but you and now you’ve gone away
Don’t you see that now you’ve gone
And I’m left here on my own
That I have to follow you and beg you to come home

“It’s Now or Never” by Elvis Presley (Single, 1960)

Speaking of Elvis, he released his own English version of a foreign-language tune in 1960. Indeed, his song “It’s Now or Never,” which hit No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, is a cover of the Italian song of the Neapolitan language “‘O Sole mio.” You can hear it in his voice, too. Elvis is filled with a melody that is not American—it’s more traditional. You can just hear the roots in the way he sings. And on this loving offering, he croons,

It’s now or never
Come hold me tight
Kiss me my darling
Be mine tonight

Tomorrow will be too late
It’s now or never
My love won’t wait

“Besame Mucho” by The Beatles from Anthology 1 (1995)

While this song was released on the Beatles’ LP Anthology I in 1995, the Mop Tops’ history with the song goes back several decades. They recorded a version of the tune for their Decca audition on January 1, 1962. And then they recorded another version during their first session at Abbey Road Studios six months later on June 6, 1962. And it’s that version that landed on the 1995 anthology record. But it is not a song written by them. Instead, it is a bolero written in 1932 by the Mexican songwriter Consuelo Velázquez. The Beatles, though, sing an English version, offering,

Dearest one, if you should leave me
Then each little dream will take wings and my life would be through
Oh, bésame, bésame mucho
Ooh, love me forever, make all my dreams come true

Ooh, this joy is something new, my arms, they’re folding you
I never knew this thrill before
Whoever thought I’d be holding you close to me
Whispering, “It’s you I adore”

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