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"I Remember You" is a popular song, published in 1941. The music was written by Victor Schertzinger, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The song was originally recorded by Jimmy Dorsey in 1941. It has since been covered most notably by Frank Ifield, Glen Campbell and Björk.

History

"I Remember You" was one of several songs introduced in the film The Fleet's In (1942).

In 1941, Mercer began an affair with 19-year-old Judy Garland, while she was engaged to composer David Rose. Garland ended her involvement when she married Rose. In later years, Garland and Mercer rekindled their affair. Mercer stated that his song "I Remember You" was the most direct expression of his feelings for Garland.

Renditions

• Australian singer Frank Ifield recorded the song in a yodeling country-music style on 27 May 1962, and his version went to number one on the UK Singles Chart, selling 1.1 million copies in the UK alone. The recording stayed at No.1 for seven weeks. It also reached number five on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, number one on the U.S. Easy Listening chart, and number four for three weeks in Canada.

• Slim Whitman recorded the song in 1966, taking it to No. 49 on the Billboard Country Chart. In 1980, Whitman re-recorded the song, taking it to No. 44 and No. 57 in Canada. Whitman's 1966 recording was also featured in the 2003 film House of 1000 Corpses.

• Glen Campbell covered the song on his 1987 album Still Within the Sound of My Voice. His version peaked at number 32 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1988 and number 56 in Canada.

• A recording of the song with new lyrics was used in a 1988 commercial for the Republican National Committee accompanying images of the 1979 oil crisis.

• Björk recorded a stripped-down acoustic cover, accompanied by a harp, that is featured on the B-side of her 1993 single, "Venus as a Boy". This version has since become infamous as it is synonymous with Bjork's stalker Ricardo López who in 1996, after having mailed a letter bomb loaded with sulphuric acid to Björk's London home, filmed his suicide whilst listening to the song in a disturbing video diary which later became public after being released to journalists.
• George Michael included a cover of the Björk arrangement on his 4th studio album, "Songs from the Last Century", accompanied by a harp and strings released in 1999. A version with a full orchestra was included on his live album, “Symphonica”.

See also

• List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1962 (U.S.)

References

1. "Single Releases". Music Week. 21 August 1993. p. 23.
2. ^ Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives. p. 66. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
3. Lewisohn, Mark (14 November 2013). The Beatles - All These Years - Extended Special Edition. Little, Brown Book. ISBN 9781408705452.
4. Sedghi, Ami (November 4, 2012). "UK's million-selling singles: the full list". Guardian. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
5. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 121.
6. "CHUM Hit Parade - September 24, 1962".
7. "Slim Whitman – I Remember You". Discogs.com. 1980. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
8. "RPM Top Country - December 9, 1981" (PDF).
9. Whitburn, Joel (2013). Hot Country Songs 1944–2012. Record Research, Inc. p. 63. ISBN 978-0-89820-203-8.
10. "RPM Country Singles - April 23, 1988" (PDF).
11. "Sigmund Rogich Oral History". millercenter.org. University of Virginia. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
12. Ball, Chris (28 August 2009). "Bashing Bush may not work this time for Democratic candidates". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
13. "Inside the Mind of a Celebrity Stalker". ABC News. December 11, 1996. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
14. Whiteley, Shelia (2013). Too Much Too Young: Popular Music Age and Gender. Routledge. p. 105. ISBN 978-1-136-50229-3.
15. Claus Christensen (May 2001). "Bag et mediemonster". Filmmagasinet Ekko (in Danish). p. 1. Retrieved September 3, 2012.

External links

• "I Remember You" at Jazz Standards

• 1941 songs
• 1962 singles
• 1988 singles
• 1993 singles
• Björk songs
• Frank Ifield songs
• Glen Campbell songs
• Song recordings produced by Nellee Hooper
• Songs written for films
• Songs with lyrics by Johnny Mercer
• Songs with music by Victor Schertzinger
• UK singles chart number-one singles
• Number-one singles in Australia
• Australian country music songs
• 1940s jazz standards
• Slim Whitman songs