Somos Novios (It's Impossible)

"Somos Novios" (Spanish for "We're a couple") is a song first recorded by Mexican songwriter Armando Manzanero in 1968.[1] 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
Released1968 (1968)
GenreBolero
LabelRCA 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.[2]

Background

The song was the title track of Manzanero third album Somos Novios released in July 1968.[3] Manzanero also appeared in the 1969 Mexican film of the same title Somos Novios starring Palito Ortega, and performed the song.[4][5] The song was included in the inaugural inductions for the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame established in 2001 to honor early Latin music recordings.[2]

Perry Como version
"It's Impossible"
Single by Perry Como
from the album It's Impossible
B-side"Long Life, Lots of Happiness"
ReleasedSeptember 1970[6]
Recorded1970
Genre
LabelRCA Victor
Songwriter(s)
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.[7] 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".[8]

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.[9] On the UK Singles Chart, the single reached No. 4 in 1971.[10]

Como's version was nominated for Song of the Year at the 1971 Grammy but lost to "You've Got a Friend".[11]

Weekly charts
Chart (1970–71) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[12] 85
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[13] 29
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[14] 30
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[15] 4
Canada RPM Top Singles[16] 37
Ireland (IRMA)[17] 6
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[18] 18
UK Singles (OCC)[10] 4
US Billboard Hot 100[19] 10
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[20] 1

Year-end charts
Chart (1970–71)
UK[21] 19

Andrea Bocelli versions
"Somos Novios (It's Impossible)"
Single by Andrea Bocelli featuring Christina Aguilera
from the album Amore
ReleasedMarch 2006 (US)
Recorded2006
Genre
Length4:22
Label
Songwriter(s)Armando Manzanero
Producer(s)
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)
Licensed audio
"Somos Novios" on YouTube

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).[22][23] Aguilera and Bocelli performed the song together at the Sanremo Music Festival on March 3, 2006.[24] This version was ranked at number ten on the list of Aguilera's best songs by AXS.[25]

Another version of the duet with Japanese singer Rimi Natsukawa was released as a bonus track in the album's Japanese edition,[26][27] as well as a bonus track for the Japanese edition of Bocelli's first greatest hits album The Best of Andrea Bocelli: Vivere (2007).[28] 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

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. "Latin GRAMMY Hall Of Fame". Latin Grammy Award. Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. 2001. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  3. "From the Music Capitals of the World". Billboard. June 8, 1968.
  4. Manetti, Ricardo (2005). Cine argentino: modernidad y vanguardias, 1957/1983. p. 437.
  5. "Armando Manzanero, Palito Ortega, Angelica Maria – Música Original de La Película "Somos Novios"". Discogs. 1969.
  6. "Perry Como - It's Impossible".
  7. "From the Music Capital of the World". Billboard. June 19, 1971. p. 51.
  8. "Muere Armando Manzanero: cuando el Rey del rock Elvis Presley hizo una versión de "Somos novios"". BBC News. December 20, 2020.
  9. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 62.
  10. "Perry Como: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  11. "1971 Grammy Winners: Song of the Year". Grammy.
  12. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  13. "Perry Como – It's Impossible" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  14. "Perry Como – It's Impossible" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  15. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1970-12-05. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  16. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1971-02-06. Retrieved 2019-01-18.
  17. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – It's Impossible". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  18. "Perry Como – It's Impossible" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  19. "Perry Como Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  20. "Perry Como Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  21. admin (2021-03-28). "Year-End Chart 1971 – UK". YourMusicCharts. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  22. Villa, Lucas (July 2, 2019). "Christina Aguilera's History With Latin Music, From 'Mi Reflejo' to 'Desnudate'". Billboard.
  23. Vega, Isabella (November 4, 2021). "Our 10 Favorite Christina Aguilera Songs in Español". Remezcla.
  24. Domenico Catagnano (4 March 2006). "Sanremo, il trionfo di Povia". TGCOM (in Italian). Mediaset. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  25. Afshar, Sarah (March 29, 2015). "Top 10 best Christina Aguilera songs". AXS. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  26. "『AMORE』貴方に贈る愛の歌". Universal-music.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2009-09-29. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
  27. "夏川りみ オフィシャルサイト". Rimirimi.jp. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
  28. "タイム・トゥ・セイ・グッバイ〜ボチェッリ・スーパー・ベスト - アンドレア・ボチェッリ ／ オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」". ranking.oricon.co.jp. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
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