Sway
“¿Quién será?” (English: “Who Will It Be?”) is a bolero-mambo song written by Mexican composers Luis Demetrio and Pablo Beltrán Ruiz. Beltrán recorded the song for the first time with his orchestra in 1953. Pedro Infante, for whom the song was written, recorded it in 1954.
The first rendition of Luis Demetrio’s “¿Quién será?” was recorded by Pablo Beltrán Ruiz with his orchestra as an instrumental cha-cha-chá in 1953. This version was later included on the LP South of the Border / Al sur de la frontera – Cha-cha-cha. According to Demetrio, Beltrán only contributed the first few chords of the song. The rest of the composition and the original lyrics (in Spanish) were all written by Demetrio. However, because Demetrio sold his rights to Beltrán, the song has often been misattributed to the latter.
Dean Martin Version
In 1954, the English lyrics were written by Norman Gimbel and recorded by Dean Martin backed by Dick Stabile’s orchestra. This recording reached number 15 on the Billboard magazine best-seller chart and number six on the UK chart. The single was released with the B-side “Money Burns a Hole in My Pocket” (Jule Styne, Bob Hilliard) in the US, while the British version was backed by “Pretty as a Picture” (Johnny Anz). The song was well received by critics, being described as a “happy reading of a listenable ditty in the Latin-American manner” by a contemporary reviewer. A version of his rendition is used in the trailer for the movie Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (2022).
Lyrics – Click to open
[Verse 1]
When marimba rhythms start to play
Dance with me, make me sway
Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore
Hold me close, sway me more
Like a flower bending in the breeze
Bend with me, sway with ease
When we dance, you have a way with me
Stay with me, sway with me
[Chorus]
Other dancers may be on the floor
Dear, but my eyes will see only you
Only you have the magic technique
When we sway, I go weak
[Verse 2]
I can hear the sound of violins
Long before it begins
Make me thrill as only you know how
Sway me smooth, sway me now
[Instrumental Break]
[Chorus]
Other dancers may be on the floor
Dear, but my eyes will see only you
Only you have the magic technique
When we sway, I go weak
iReal Chart – Click to Open
