Songs with Earlier Histories Than the Hit Version

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Feelings

Originally recorded (as “Pout Toi”) by Dario Moreno (1957).
Hit versions by Morris Albert (US #6/MOR #2/UK #4/CAN #18/AUS #5/NZ #4/IRE #5 1975), Walter Jackson (US #93/R&B #9 1976).

From the wiki: “‘Feelings’ is credited to Louis Gasté (also known as Loulou Gasté) and Brazilian singer Morris Albert, and was made famous by Albert who recorded it as a single first released in late 1974. In 1981, Gasté sued Albert for copyright infringement, claiming that ‘Feelings’ plagiarized the melody of his 1957 song ‘Pour Toi’, recorded for the soundtrack to the 1957 movie Le feu aux poudres. They now share the credits of the song.

“Soul ballad singer Walter Jackson charted in the R&B Top-10 in 1976 with his arrangement of ‘Feelings’.

“‘Feelings’ also made headlines in 1999 when an Indonesian army leader sang it at a formal dinner to describe his position on the unrest in East Timor. (The former Portuguese colony that was annexed by Indonesia in 1976. After a quarter-century of unrest, East Timor became independent in 2002.) When a UN delegation arrived in Jakarta in September 1999, they were told by Indonesian President Habibie that reports of bloodshed in East Timor were ‘fantasies’ and ‘lies’. General Wiranto of the Indonesian military insisted that his soldiers had the situation under control, and later expressed his emotion for East Timor by singing ‘Feelings’ at an event for military wives.

“In more recent years ‘Feelings’ has been best known as a target of parody and ridicule for embodying what are perceived by many as the most insipid lyrical and musical qualities of 1970s ‘Soft Rock’ music. It appears frequently on lists of ‘the worst songs ever’ and was included on the 1998 Rhino Records compilation album ’70s Party Killers.

“During a lecture at Chautauqua Institution, Julie Andrews stated that she considered this song too difficult to sing because it had no meaning behind it.”

Morris Albert, “Feelings” English-language version (1974):

Walter Jackson, “Feelings” (1976):

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