Auf Wiederseh'n, Sweetheart

Last updated

"Auf Wiedersehen", or "Auf Wiederseh'n, Sweetheart", is a song written by German composer Eberhard Storch around 1950. [1] Storch wrote the song in the hospital for his wife Maria as he was ill for a long time. It was originally sung in German by Rudi Schuricke and released on the 78 rpm record Polydor 48 374 H in 1950.

Contents

Vera Lynn version

"Auf Wiederseh'n, Sweetheart"
Single by Vera Lynn
LanguageEnglish
ReleasedMay 1952
Recorded1952
Genre Traditional pop
Length2:36
Label London
Composer(s) Eberhard Storch
Lyricist(s) John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons (English lyrics)
Vera Lynn singles chronology
"Again"
(1949)
"Auf Wiederseh'n, Sweetheart"
(1952)
"Forget Me Not"
(1952)

The English language lyrics were written by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons. The best-known version of the song was recorded by English singer Vera Lynn. The story goes that Vera was on holiday in Switzerland and heard people singing the song in beer parlours, and when she got back she felt she had to record it, so found the music and had lyrics written.

Charts

The recording of the song by Vera Lynn, which featured accompaniment by Soldiers and Airmen of HM Forces and the Johnny Johnston Singers, was the first song recorded by a foreign artist to make number one on the U.S. Billboard charts, in 1952. Reaching the summit on the Billboard "Best Sellers in Stores" chart on July 12, the song spent nine weeks at No. 1 (as well as six weeks on the "Most Played by Jockeys" chart and four weeks on the "Most Played in Jukeboxes").

In reaching number-one, it would be almost six years before another British artist would top the U.S. pop chart; that song was Laurie London's "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands," in April 1958. Additionally, the song's nine-week run at number one on the U.S. pop charts by a British act was a record that stood for 16 years, until The Beatles matched the longevity record (of nine weeks) in 1968 with "Hey Jude." Currently, "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart" is tied with "Hey Jude" for third amongst longest-running number-one songs by British artists on the Billboard pop charts, behind "Candle in the Wind 1997"/"Something About the Way You Look Tonight" by Elton John (14 weeks, 1997-1998) and "We Found Love" by Rihanna with Calvin Harris (10 weeks, 2011). In addition, for more than 12 years Lynn was the only female solo artist from the UK to have a number-one hit in the United States, a feat finally matched by "Downtown" by Petula Clark in January 1965. [2] [3]

Demis Roussos version

"Auf Wiedersehn"
Single by Demis Roussos
from the album Auf Wiedersehn
Released1974
Recorded1974
Length3:34
Label Philips
Songwriter(s) Eberhard Storch
Producer(s) Leo Leandros
Demis Roussos singles chronology
"My Only Fascination"
(1974)
"Auf Wiedersehn"
(1974)
"With You"
(1974)

Greek singer Demis Roussos covered the song on his 1974 German-language album Auf Wiedersehn . It was also released as a single (in 1974 on Philips Records). The recording was produced by Leo Leandros. [4] The song reached no. 6 in the Netherlands and no. 19 in Belgium (Flanders) [4]

Track listing

7" single Philips 6009 526 (1974, Austria, Belgium, Germany, etc.)
7" single RTB / Philips S 53796 (1974, Yugoslavia)

A. "Auf Wiedersehn" (3:35)
B. "Walzer für zwei" (3:12) [4]

Charts

Chart (1974)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [5] 19
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [6] 6

Other versions

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stranger on the Shore</span> 1961 single by Mr. Acker Bilk and the Leon Young String Chorale

"Stranger on the Shore" is a piece for clarinet written by Acker Bilk for his young daughter and originally named "Jenny" after her. The tune was written on a single scrap of paper by Bilk and handed over to Leon Young (1916-1991) who crafted the string arrangement, including the characteristic harmonic shifts at the very end.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lost in Love (Air Supply song)</span> 1980 single by Air Supply

"Lost in Love" is a song recorded by the British/Australian soft rock duo Air Supply. The song was written by group member Graham Russell. The original version of the song appeared on the Life Support album in 1979 and was released as a single in Australia, reaching number 13 on the Kent Music Report. The group re-recorded the song for the album of the same name in 1980 and this version was released as a single in the US, reaching number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Telstar (instrumental)</span> 1962 single by the Tornados

"Telstar" is a 1962 instrumental by the English band the Tornados, written and produced by Joe Meek. It reached number one on the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot 100 in December 1962. It was the second instrumental single to hit number one in 1962 on both the US and UK weekly charts.

This is a summary of 1952 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.

"Again" is a popular song with music by Lionel Newman and words by Dorcas Cochran. It first appeared in the film Road House (1948), sung by Ida Lupino. An instrumental rendition was used in the movie Pickup on South Street (1953). By 1949, versions by Vic Damone, Doris Day, Tommy Dorsey, Gordon Jenkins, Vera Lynn, Art Mooney, and Mel Tormé all made the Billboard charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">To Sir with Love (song)</span> 1967 single by Lulu

"To Sir with Love" is the theme from James Clavell's 1967 film To Sir, with Love. The song was performed by British singer and actress Lulu, and written by Don Black and Mark London. Mickie Most produced the record, with Mike Leander arranging and conducting. The song peaked at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, and became the best-selling single of 1967 in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vera Lynn</span> English singer and entertainer (1917–2020)

Dame Vera Margaret Lynn was an English singer and entertainer whose musical recordings and performances were very popular during World War II. She is honorifically known as the "Forces' Sweetheart", having given outdoor concerts for the troops in Egypt, India and Burma during the war as part of the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA). The songs most associated with her include "We'll Meet Again", "(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover", "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" and "There'll Always Be an England".

"My Son, My Son" is a traditional popular music song written by Gordon Melville Rees, Bob Howard and Eddie Calvert in 1954. A recording of the song by Vera Lynn reached number one in the UK Singles Chart in November that year. It was Lynn's only UK number one hit on the official chart, a feat she achieved long after the period she became most associated with as the Forces' Sweetheart in World War II. However, there was no official singles sales chart in the UK at that time, so her recordings of songs which she has subsequently become more familiar with, such as her 1939 signature song, "We'll Meet Again", did not feature on any contemporary charts.

Auf Wiedersehen, Auf Wiederseh'n, or Auf Wiedersehn may refer to:

"Goodbye, My Love, Goodbye" is a song by Greek singer Demis Roussos. It was released as a single in 1973.

"Schönes Mädchen aus Arcadia" is a song by Greek singer Demis Roussos. It was released as a single in 1973 and was also part of Demis Roussos' 1974 German-language album Auf Wiedersehn.

"When Forever Has Gone" is a song by Greek singer Demis Roussos. The song "When Forever Has Gone" was first released on the B-side of the single "With You" in 1974. Later, in 1976, "When Forever Has Gone" was released as a single itself.

"Kyrila" is a song by Greek singer Demis Roussos. It was released as a single and as an EP in 1977.

"That Once in a Lifetime" is a song by Greek singer Demis Roussos and was also released as a single from his 1978 English-language album Demis Roussos.

"L.O.V.E. Got a Hold of Me" is a song by Greek singer Demis Roussos from his 1978 English-language album Demis Roussos.

"Manuela" is a song by Greek singer Demis Roussos from his 1974 German-language album Auf Wiedersehn. It was also released also as a single.

<i>Auf Wiedersehn</i> (album) 1974 studio album by Demis Roussos

Auf Wiedersehn is a German-language studio album by Greek singer Demis Roussos, released in 1974 on Philips Records.

"Ainsi soit-il" is a song in French by Greek singer Demis Roussos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demis Roussos discography</span>

Demis Roussos was a prolific Greek internationally renowned singer, songwriter and musician who sang in a number of languages and during the course of his career made at least 293 recordings including 38 albums, 154 singles and EPs, 92 compilations and one DVD.

References

  1. "Eberhard Storch". Discogs.com. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  2. Whitburn, Joel, "Pop Memories 1890-1954," Record Research, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, 1991. ISBN   0898200830.
  3. Whitburn, Joel, "The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 9th Edition," Crown Publishing, Record Research, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, 2010. ISBN   0823085546.
  4. 1 2 3 "spanishcharts.com - Demis Roussos - Auf Wiederseh'n" . Retrieved 2017-10-26.
  5. "Demis Roussos – Auf+Wiederseh'n" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
  6. "Demis Roussos – Auf+Wiederseh'n" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
  7. "78 Record: Teddy Johnson - Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart (1952)". 45worlds.com. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  8. "Jerry Vale - The Language Of Love". Discogs.com. 1963. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  9. "Mantovani And His Orchestra – Mantovani Magic (1966, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 1966. Retrieved 3 May 2021.