Meglio Stasera
Encyclopedia
Meglio Stasera is a 1963 song with music by Henry Mancini
, Italian lyrics by Franco Migliacci
and English lyrics by Johnny Mercer
. It was composed for the 1963 film The Pink Panther
where it was performed by Fran Jeffries
. In addition to the vocal performance, instrumental portions of the song appear in the film's underscore, sometimes as an introduction to the main "Pink Panther Theme".
that appears in the film, but not on the soundtrack record album. An instrumental that resembles the underscore of Fran's rendition. This version is on the soundtrack album. A group vocal with only vaguely related English lyrics. It can be heard in the background during the fancy-dress ball and costume party whilst the attempted robbery is taking place. This version is also on the soundtrack album. Another Italian version, arranged by Ennio Morricone
and performed by Miranda Martino, in 1963, on the compilation album Da Hollywood a Cinecittà. Morricone later also did an instrumental version on compilation albums. A version that appears in another Sellers, Blake Edwards & Mancini collaboration, the 1968 film The Party
. Other singers to subsequently record the song include Sarah Vaughan
, on her 1965 album Sarah Vaughan Sings the Mancini Songbook
, and Lena Horne
. An instrumental lounge-style version was recorded by The Hub Kings on their album This Way. John Barrowman
performed the song during his 2008 tour. Accordionist Frank Marocco
recorded the song together with "Quando, Quando, Quando
", as part of a two-song medley on his compilation album Beyond the Sea. His arrangement appears in one of his sheet-music book combinations, titled Latin Rhythms. A Chill-style remake of this song was done by Italian group Mondo Candido. It appears on the mix album Buddha Bar V. A mambo-style version of the song was recorded by the swing revival
group Lee Press-on and the Nails
for the album El Bando en Fuego. A version of the song was recorded by Mic Gillette
on his album Ear Candy. A Spanish version was also recorded in Santiago, Chile, by Bambi, a popular singer in the mid-1960s. The title was "Mejor Ahora". The Greek singer Elli Paspala performed the Italian version on her 1993 live album Η Ελλη Παπσπαλά στο Μέγαρο Μουσικής.
's third album, Call Me Irresponsible
. Bublé's version is an adaptation of the musical arrangement previously made for Lena Horne
. Bublé's version of the song reached #74 in the UK Singles Chart
after being used in an advertising campaign for Marks & Spencer
. The track became one of Bublé's most remixed songs, with mixes by Eddie Amador
being made available for download.
Henry Mancini
Henry Mancini was an American composer, conductor and arranger, best remembered for his film and television scores. He won a record number of Grammy Awards , plus a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously in 1995...
, Italian lyrics by Franco Migliacci
Franco Migliacci
Franco Migliacci is a lyricist, producer, and actor. He is also known as Francesco Migliacci.- Biography :...
and English lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Johnny Mercer
John Herndon "Johnny" Mercer was an American lyricist, songwriter and singer. He is best known as a lyricist, but he also composed music. He was also a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others...
. It was composed for the 1963 film The Pink Panther
The Pink Panther (1963 film)
The Pink Panther is a 1963 American comedy film directed by Blake Edwards and co-written by Edwards and Maurice Richlin, starring David Niven, Peter Sellers, Robert Wagner, Capucine, and Claudia Cardinale...
where it was performed by Fran Jeffries
Fran Jeffries
Fran Jeffries is an American singer, actress, and model.-Career:She had a cameo in the 1963 film The Pink Panther, in which she sang a song called "Meglio Stasera " while she danced provocatively around a fireplace...
. In addition to the vocal performance, instrumental portions of the song appear in the film's underscore, sometimes as an introduction to the main "Pink Panther Theme".
Lyrics and translation
The beginning of the song, in the original Italian, is here followed by a literal translation and the first two lines of the English version which contains an Italian expression, "Fa' subito!", which translates as "do it right away", but which does not appear in the Italian lyrics. However, all the versions carry the same underlying meaning of "Let's make love tonight, because who knows what will happen tomorrow."-
- Italian
- Meglio stasera, che domani o mai,
- Domani chi lo sa, quel che sarà?
-
- Literal translation
- Better tonight, than tomorrow or never,
- Tomorrow who knows, what will be?
-
- English version
- Meglio stasera, baby, go-go-go,
- Or as we natives say, "Fa' subito!"
-
- Spanish version
- Mejor ahora,
- ya mañana no!!
Other versions
The song has been recorded in a number of versions. The Italian version performed by Fran JeffriesFran Jeffries
Fran Jeffries is an American singer, actress, and model.-Career:She had a cameo in the 1963 film The Pink Panther, in which she sang a song called "Meglio Stasera " while she danced provocatively around a fireplace...
that appears in the film, but not on the soundtrack record album. An instrumental that resembles the underscore of Fran's rendition. This version is on the soundtrack album. A group vocal with only vaguely related English lyrics. It can be heard in the background during the fancy-dress ball and costume party whilst the attempted robbery is taking place. This version is also on the soundtrack album. Another Italian version, arranged by Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone, Grand Officer OMRI, , is an Italian composer and conductor, who wrote music to more than 500 motion pictures and television series, in a career lasting over 50 years. His scores have been included in over 20 award-winning films as well as several symphonic and choral pieces...
and performed by Miranda Martino, in 1963, on the compilation album Da Hollywood a Cinecittà. Morricone later also did an instrumental version on compilation albums. A version that appears in another Sellers, Blake Edwards & Mancini collaboration, the 1968 film The Party
The Party (film)
The Party is a 1968 comedy film directed by Blake Edwards, starring Peter Sellers and Claudine Longet. The film has a very loose structure, and essentially serves as a series of set pieces for Sellers's improvisational comedy talents...
. Other singers to subsequently record the song include Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Lois Vaughan was an American jazz singer, described by Scott Yanow as having "one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century."...
, on her 1965 album Sarah Vaughan Sings the Mancini Songbook
Sarah Vaughan Sings the Mancini Songbook
Sarah Vaughan Sings the Mancini Songbook is a 1965 album by Sarah Vaughan, of music composed by Henry Mancini. -Track listing:# "How Soon" – 2:41# "Days of Wine and Roses" – 2:38...
, and Lena Horne
Lena Horne
Lena Mary Calhoun Horne was an American singer, actress, civil rights activist and dancer.Horne joined the chorus of the Cotton Club at the age of sixteen and became a nightclub performer before moving to Hollywood, where she had small parts in numerous movies, and more substantial parts in the...
. An instrumental lounge-style version was recorded by The Hub Kings on their album This Way. John Barrowman
John Barrowman
John Scot Barrowman is a Scottish-American singer, actor, dancer, musical theatre performer and media personality. Born in Glasgow yet growing up in Illinois after his family emigrated to the United States when he was eight years old, Barrowman was encouraged to further his love for music and...
performed the song during his 2008 tour. Accordionist Frank Marocco
Frank Marocco
Frank Marocco is an American piano-accordionist, arranger and composer. He is recognized as one of the most recorded accordionists in the world.- Background :Frank Marocco grew up in Waukegan, Illinois, near Chicago...
recorded the song together with "Quando, Quando, Quando
Quando, Quando, Quando
"Quando, Quando, Quando" is an Italian pop song from 1962, in the bossa nova style, with music written by Tony Renis and lyrics by Alberto Testa....
", as part of a two-song medley on his compilation album Beyond the Sea. His arrangement appears in one of his sheet-music book combinations, titled Latin Rhythms. A Chill-style remake of this song was done by Italian group Mondo Candido. It appears on the mix album Buddha Bar V. A mambo-style version of the song was recorded by the swing revival
Swing Revival
The Swing Revival was a late 1990s and early 2000s period of renewed popular interest in swing and jump blues music and dance from the 1930s and 1940s as exemplified by Louis Prima, often mixed with a more contemporary rock, rockabilly or ska sound, known also as neo-swing or retro...
group Lee Press-on and the Nails
Lee Press-on and the Nails
Lee Presson and the Nails is a swing band that formed in the San Francisco Bay Area in October 1994 during the late '90s swing revival. It disbanded in 2004 and reformed in 2006...
for the album El Bando en Fuego. A version of the song was recorded by Mic Gillette
Mic Gillette
Mic Gillette is an American brass player born in 1951 and raised in northern California's East Bay area. He is famous for being a member of Tower of Power, Cold Blood, and The Sons of Champlin....
on his album Ear Candy. A Spanish version was also recorded in Santiago, Chile, by Bambi, a popular singer in the mid-1960s. The title was "Mejor Ahora". The Greek singer Elli Paspala performed the Italian version on her 1993 live album Η Ελλη Παπσπαλά στο Μέγαρο Μουσικής.
Michael Bublé version
"It Had Better Be Tonight (Meglio Stasera)" is the fourth and final single from Michael BubléMichael Bublé
Michael Steven Bublé is a Canadian singer. He has won several awards, including three Grammy Awards and multiple Juno Awards. His first album reached the top ten in Canada and the UK. He found worldwide commercial success with his 2005 album It's Time, and his 2007 album Call Me Irresponsible was...
's third album, Call Me Irresponsible
Call Me Irresponsible (album)
Call Me Irresponsible is the third studio album released by Grammy Award-winning Canadian jazz singer Michael Bublé. The album was released on May 1, 2007.-Release:...
. Bublé's version is an adaptation of the musical arrangement previously made for Lena Horne
Lena Horne
Lena Mary Calhoun Horne was an American singer, actress, civil rights activist and dancer.Horne joined the chorus of the Cotton Club at the age of sixteen and became a nightclub performer before moving to Hollywood, where she had small parts in numerous movies, and more substantial parts in the...
. Bublé's version of the song reached #74 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
after being used in an advertising campaign for Marks & Spencer
Marks & Spencer
Marks and Spencer plc is a British retailer headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, with over 700 stores in the United Kingdom and over 300 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products...
. The track became one of Bublé's most remixed songs, with mixes by Eddie Amador
Eddie Amador
Eddie Amador is an American house music record producer and remixer. He is also the founder of the Mochico and MochicoPrimo record labels.Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Amador studied mechanical engineering at Arizona State University while moonlighting as a hip hop DJ. In 1996, he earned a...
being made available for download.
Tracklisting
Digital Download Remixes E.P.- "It Had Better Be Tonight (Meglio Stasera)" (Zoned Out Mix) - 3:16
- "It Had Better Be Tonight (Meglio Stasera)" (Star City Remix) - 3:23
- "It Had Better Be Tonight (Meglio Stasera)" (Eddie Amador's House Lovers Extra Love) - 4:42
- "It Had Better Be Tonight (Meglio Stasera)" (Eddie Amador's House Lovers Dub) - 6:46
- "It Had Better Be Tonight (Meglio Stasera)" (Eddie Amador's House Lovers Club) - 8:04
- "It Had Better Be Tonight (Meglio Stasera)" (Eddie Amador's Club Dub) - 5:15
- "It Had Better Be Tonight (Meglio Stasera)" (Eddie Amador's Club Mix) - 7:45
Charts
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Hot 100 Canadian Hot 100 The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007... |
89 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
74 |
External links
- Performance by Fran Jeffries in the film The Pink PantherThe Pink Panther (1963 film)The Pink Panther is a 1963 American comedy film directed by Blake Edwards and co-written by Edwards and Maurice Richlin, starring David Niven, Peter Sellers, Robert Wagner, Capucine, and Claudia Cardinale...