Somos Novios (It's Impossible)

"Somos Novios" (Spanish for "We Are Lovers") is a song first recorded by Mexican songwriter Armando Manzanero in 1968.^[1] Originally a French song "J'ai le mal de toi", different versions with unrelated lyrics in different languages have been written and recorded.^[2] Perry Como recorded an English version of "Somos Novios" with original English lyrics titled "It's Impossible", which was a top 10 hit in the US and the UK.

"Somos Novios"
Single by Armando Manzanero
from the album Somos Novios
Released	1968 (1968)
Genre	Bolero
Label	RCA Victor
Songwriter(s)	Armando Manzanero
Armando Manzanero singles chronology
"Perdóname" "Somos Novios" "Aquel Señor"
LPM 10379

The song has become one of the most popular boleros of all time and it has been covered by numerous artists. The recording by Manzanero was inducted into the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001.^[3]

Background

The song has its origin in a song "J'ai le mal de toi" written by Jack Dieval and Michel Rivgauche.^[2] It was performed by Frédérica in 1960 as an unsuccessful submission for the selection of the French entry for the Eurovision Song Contest.^[4] in 1964, Colette Deréal recorded the first known recording of the song. It was recorded in English by Kathy Kirby as "The Way of Love" in 1965.^[5]

In 1968 Armando Manzareno wrote original Spanish lyrics and recorded a version as "Somos Novios" with a tune closely similar to "J'ai le mal de toi". However, "Somos Novios" is regarded as a separate song with Manzareno credited as its only songwriter. The song was the title track of Manzareno third album Somos Novios released in July 1968.^[6] Manzareno also appeared in the 1969 Mexican film of the same title Somos Novios starring Palito Ortega, and performed the song.^[7][8] The song was included in the inaugural inductions for the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame established in 2001 to honor early Latin music recordings.^[3]

Perry Como version

"It's Impossible"
Single by Perry Como
from the album It's Impossible
B-side	"Long Life, Lots of Happiness"
Released	September 1970^[9]
Recorded	1970
Genre	Traditional pop vocal jazz
Label	RCA Victor
Songwriter(s)	Armando Manzanero Sid Wayne
Producer(s)	Don Costa
Perry Como singles chronology
"Seattle" (1969) "It's Impossible" (1970) "I Think of You" (1971)

"Somos Novios" was adapted in 1970 by Sid Wayne, who wrote original English lyrics set to the music.^[10] Sid Wayne was a collaborator with Elvis Presley, but decided to give the song instead to Perry Como. Perry Como recorded the song under the title "It's Impossible".^[11]

The Como version would be one of his most influential records, and in February 1971 it became his first song to reach the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 in more than 12 years, peaking at No. 10. The song's peak on the Hot 100 chart came just weeks after concluding a four-week run at number one on the Billboard Easy Listening chart.^[12] On the UK Singles Chart, the single reached No. 4 in 1971.^[13]

Como's version was nominated for Song of the Year at the 1971 Grammy but lost to "You've Got a Friend".^[14]

Charts

Chart (1970–71)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[15]	85
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[16]	29
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)^[17]	30
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary^[18]	4
Canada RPM Top Singles^[19]	37
Ireland (IRMA)^[20]	6
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[21]	18
UK Singles (OCC)^[13]	4
US Billboard Hot 100^[22]	10
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[23]	1

Andrea Bocelli versions

"Somos Novios (It's Impossible)"
Single by Andrea Bocelli featuring Christina Aguilera
from the album Amore
Released	March 2006 (US)
Recorded	2006
Genre	Pop classical R&B
Length	4:22
Label	Sugar Opera & Blues Decca
Songwriter(s)	Armando Manzanero
Producer(s)	David Foster Humberto Gatica
Andrea Bocelli singles chronology
"Un Nuovo Giorno" (2004) "Somos Novios (It's Impossible)" (2006) "Because We Believe" (2006)
Christina Aguilera singles chronology
"Tilt Ya Head Back" (2004) "Somos Novios (It's Impossible)" (2006) "Ain't No Other Man" (2006)

Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli recorded the song with American singer Christina Aguilera in 2006. The duet was released as a single in from Bocelli's eleventh studio album, Amore (2006).^[24][25] Aguilera and Bocelli performed the song together at the Sanremo Music Festival on March 3, 2006.^[26]

Another version of the duet with Japanese singer Rimi Natsukawa was released as a bonus track in the album's Japanese edition,^[27][28] as well as a bonus track for the Japanese edition of Bocelli's first greatest hits album The Best of Andrea Bocelli: Vivere (2007).^[29] Bocelli has also covered the song as a duet with a number of other artists, including Petra Berger and Katharine McPhee.

Bocelli McPhee joined Bocelli onstage at the JCPenney Jam and their version is included on the album for the event.

See also

• List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1970 (U.S.)

References

1. "Somos novios by Armando Manzanero (Album, Bolero): Reviews, Ratings, Credits, Song list". Rate Your Music. 2014-04-30. Retrieved 2014-05-23.
2. "J'ai le mal de toi". Originals.be.
3. "Latin GRAMMY Hall Of Fame". Latin Grammy Award. Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. 2001. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
4. "Sélection française 1960". Eurovision-fr.net.
5. "Elvis Presley: Original Version Recordings of Songs He Sang". Davidneale.eu. Retrieved 2014-05-23.
6. "From the Music Capitals of the World". Billboard. June 8, 1968.
7. Manetti, Ricardo (2005). Cine argentino: modernidad y vanguardias, 1957/1983. p. 437.
8. "Armando Manzanero, Palito Ortega, Angelica Maria – Música Original de La Película "Somos Novios"". Discogs.
9. "Perry Como - It's Impossible".
10. "From the Music Capital of the World". Billboard. June 19, 1971. p. 51.
11. "Muere Armando Manzanero: cuando el Rey del rock Elvis Presley hizo una versión de "Somos novios"". BBC News. December 20, 2020.
12. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 62.
13. "Perry Como: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
14. "1971 Grammy Winners: Song of the Year". Grammy.
15. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
16. "Perry Como – It's Impossible" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
17. "Perry Como – It's Impossible" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
18. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1970-12-05. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
19. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1971-02-06. Retrieved 2019-01-18.
20. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – It's Impossible". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
21. "Perry Como – It's Impossible" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
22. "Perry Como Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
23. "Perry Como Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
24. Villa, Lucas (July 2, 2019). "Christina Aguilera's History With Latin Music, From 'Mi Reflejo' to 'Desnudate'". Billboard.
25. Vega, Isabella (November 4, 2021). "Our 10 Favorite Christina Aguilera Songs in Español". Remezcla.
26. Domenico Catagnano (4 March 2006). "Sanremo, il trionfo di Povia". TGCOM (in Italian). Mediaset. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
27. . Universal-music.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2009-09-29. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
28. "夏川りみ オフィシャルサイト". Rimirimi.jp. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
29. . ranking.oricon.co.jp. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2022.

External links

• "Somos Novios" — Roberto Rubio