Sweet Leilani
{{Infobox song
| name = Sweet Leilani
| cover = SweetLeilaniSB.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Bing Crosby with Lani McIntyre and His Hawaiians
| album =
| B-side = Blue Hawaii
| released = 1937
| recorded = February 22, 1937[http://www.78discography.com/Dec1000.htm Decca 1000–1500 Numerical Listing] 1175
| studio =
| venue =
| length = 3:14
| label = Decca Records 1175
| writer = Harry Owens
| producer =
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc = With Lani McIntyre and His Hawaiians
}}"Sweet Leilani" is a song featured in the 1937 film, Waikiki Wedding. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song,{{cite book
| first= David
| last= Roberts
| year= 2006
| title= British Hit Singles & Albums
| edition= 19th
| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
| location= London
| isbn= 1-904994-10-5
| page= 134}} and Bing Crosby's record became one of the biggest hits of 1937.[http://tsort.info/music/yr1937.htm Songs from the Year 1937][http://www.allmusic.com/song/sweet-leilani-t1363186 Allmusic "Sweet Leilani" Bing Crosby with music sample]
Harry Owens wrote the song on October 20, 1934 for his daughter Leilani, who was born the previous day. Leilani is a popular Hawaiian name, meaning "heavenly garland of flowers" (not "heavenly flower"). It also has a figurative meaning: Small Hawaiian children were carried on their parents' shoulders like a lei (garland), so the name took on the meaning "heavenly child."{{Citation needed|date=June 2011}}
Prior to Waikiki Wedding, the song had been recorded by Sol Hoʻopiʻi under the title "Leilani" as the B-side of "Hawaiian Honeymoon" (Brunswick Records 55085).[http://www.78discography.com/BRN55000.htm Brunswick 55000 series – The Online 78 rpm Discographical Project] 55085[http://www.hulapages.com/covers_4.htm Hulapages: The Covers: 1930–39] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021023220236/http://hulapages.com/covers_4.htm |date=2002-10-23 }} 1936, "Leilani."
Harry Owens and his Royal Hawaiians performed "Sweet Leilani" in the 1938 film Cocoanut Grove starring Fred MacMurray.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030000/ Internet Movie Database: Cocoanut Grove]
Other versions
=Albums=
{{div col}}
- Harry Owens, Hawaii (1945)[http://www.bsnpubs.com/capitol/78-10/01capitol1-149.html Capitol Album Discography, Part 1: The 78-rpm Albums: 1 to 149] A-4[http://www.bsnpubs.com/capitol/78-10/02capitol150-299.html Capitol Album Discography, Part 2: The 10" Albums: 150 to 299] H-166[http://www.allmusic.com/song/sweet-leilani-t2514056 Allmusic "Sweet Leilani" Harry Owens with music sample]
- Andre Kostelanetz, Motion Picture Favorites (1948)
- Rosemary Clooney with Harry James, Hollywood's Best (1952)[http://www.allmusic.com/album/ring-around-rosie-hollywoods-best-r488676 Allmusic Ring Around Rosie/Hollywood's Best Rosemary Clooney Review with music sample]
- Bing Crosby recorded the song again in 1954 for his album Bing: A Musical Autobiography.
- Eddie Fisher, Eddie Fisher Sings Academy Award Winning Songs (1955)[http://www.allmusic.com/album/sings-academy-award-winning-songs-sings-irving-berlin-broadway-classics-r586914 Allmusic Eddie Fisher Sings Academy Award Winning Songs/Sings Irving Berlin/Broadway Classics Review with music sample]
- Frank Chacksfield, South Sea Island Magic (1957)[http://www.allmusic.com/album/south-sea-island-magic-in-the-mystic-east-r685926 Allmusic South Sea Island Magic/In the Mystic East Frank Chacksfield Review with music sample]
- The King Sisters, Aloha (1957)[http://www.bsnpubs.com/capitol/previews/600-2999.pdf http://www.bsnpubs.com/capitol/previews/600-2999.pdf Capitol Records Discography, Continued] T 808, p. 14.[http://www.allmusic.com/album/aloha-r984235 Allmusic Aloha The King Sisters with music sample]
- Marty Robbins, Song of the Islands (1957)[http://www.allmusic.com/song/sweet-leilani-t14337151 Allmusic "Sweet Leilani" Marty Robbins with music sample]
- Arthur Lyman, Hawaiian Sunset: The Sounds of Arthur Lyman (1958)[http://www.allmusic.com/album/hawaiian-sunset-the-sounds-of-arthur-lyman-r240922 Allmusic Hawaiian Sunset: The Sounds of Arthur Lyman with music sample]
- André Kostelanetz, The Lure of Paradise (1959)[http://www.discogs.com/Andr%C3%A9-Kostelanetz-Lure-Of-Paradise/master/324805 Discogs André Kostelanetz – Lure of Paradise][http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-lure-of-france-the-lure-of-paradise-r732272 Allmusic The Lure of France/The Lure of Paradise André Kostelanetz with music sample]
- Les Paul and Mary Ford, Lovers' Luau (1959)[http://www.discogs.com/Les-Paul-And-Mary-Ford-Lovers-Luau/master/188176 Discogs Les Paul & Mary Ford – Lovers' Luau][http://www.allmusic.com/album/lovers-luau-compilation-r387640 Allmusic Lover's Luau Les Paul & Mary Ford Review with music sample]
- Billy Vaughn, Blue Hawaii (1959)[http://www.discogs.com/Billy-Vaughn-And-His-Orchestra-Blue-Hawaii/release/1714050 Discogs Billy Vaughn And His Orchestra – Blue Hawaii][http://www.allmusic.com/album/sail-along-silvry-moon-blue-hawaii-r835444 Allmusic Sail Along Silv'ry Moon/Blue Hawaii Billy Vaughn Review with music sample]
- Andy Williams, To You Sweetheart, Aloha (1959)[http://www.allmusic.com/album/to-you-sweetheart-aloha-bonus-tracks-r545999 Allmusic To You Sweetheart, Aloha Andy Williams Review with music sample]
- George Greeley, The Most Beautiful Music of Hawaii (1960) Warner Bros. WS-1366 (LP)
- 101 Strings, In a Hawaiian Paradise (1961)[http://www.discogs.com/101-Strings-In-A-Hawaiian-Paradise/release/1647976 Discogs 101 Strings – In a Hawaiian Paradise][http://www.allmusic.com/album/romantic-songs-of-the-sea-r75366 Allmusic Romantic Songs of the Sea 101 Strings Orchestra Review with music sample]
- Nelson Riddle, Love Tide (1961)[http://www.discogs.com/Nelson-Riddle-Love-Tide/release/1691782 Discogs Nelson Riddle – Love Tide][http://www.allmusic.com/album/sea-of-dreams-love-tide-r689182 Allmusic Sea of Dreams/Love Tide Nelson Riddle with music sample]
- Percy Faith, American Serenade (1963)[http://www.pelstream.co.uk/pfalbum.htm Percy Faith – Original Albums], American Serenade[http://www.allmusic.com/song/sweet-leilani-t5884383 Allmusic "Sweet Leilani" Percy Faith with music sample]
- Burl Ives, On the Beach at Waikiki (1965)[http://www.allmusic.com/album/little-bitty-tear-the-nashville-years-1961-1965-r245924 Allmusic A Little Bitty Tear: The Nashville Years 1961–1965 Burl Ives Review with music sample] Disc 5, Track 19.
- Roberto Delgado, Blue Hawaii (1965)[http://www.allmusic.com/album/blue-hawaii-r1344225 Allmusic Blue Hawaii Roberto Delgado Review]
- Henry Mancini, The Academy Award Songs (1966)[http://www.allmusic.com/album/academy-award-songs-r67349 Allmusic The Academy Award Songs Henry Mancini Review with music sample][http://forbiddeneye.com/labels/rcavictor.html RCA Victor Discography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705060934/http://forbiddeneye.com/labels/rcavictor.html |date=2008-07-05 }} LSP-6013
- Ray Conniff, Ray Conniff's Hawaiian Album (1967)[http://www.allmusic.com/album/ray-conniffs-hawaiian-album-r66424 Allmusic Ray Conniff's Hawaiian Album with chart and music sample]
- The Waikikis, Pearly Shells from Hawaii (1968)[http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/the_waikikis/pearly_shells_from_hawaii/ Albums by The Waikikis: Pearly Shells from Hawaii – Rate Your Music]{{deprecated source|certain=y|date=November 2024}}
- Don Ho, Hawaii's Greatest Hits (1970)[http://www.discogs.com/Don-Ho-Hawaiis-Greatest-Hits/release/1533573 Discogs Don Ho – Hawaii's Greatest Hits][http://www.allmusic.com/album/don-ho-hawaiis-greatest-hits-r635822 Allmusic Hawaii's Greatest Hits Don Ho with music sample]
- Roland Cazimero, Waikiki's Greatest Hits, Now! (1990)[http://www.allmusic.com/album/waikikis-greatest-hits-now-r121275 Allmusic Waikiki's Greatest Hits, Now! Roland Cazimero with music sample]
- Chris Isaak, Baja Sessions (1996)[http://www.allmusic.com/album/baja-sessions-r241642 Allmusic Baja Sessions Chris Isaak Review with chart and music sample]
- Dennis Pavao, Sweet Leilani (1996)[http://www.allmusic.com/album/sweet-leilani-r298762 Allmusic Sweet Leilani Dennis Pavao]
- Ray Anthony, Dream Dancing in Hawaii (1997)[http://www.allmusic.com/album/dream-dancing-in-hawaii-r307488 Allmusic Dream Dancing in Hawaii Ray Anthony with music sample]
- Daniel Ho, Hawaiian Classics (1998)[http://www.allmusic.com/album/hawaiian-classics-r1310524 Allmusic Hawaiian Classics Daniel Ho with music sample]
- Sonny Rollins, This Is What I Do (2000)[http://www.allmusic.com/album/this-is-what-i-do-r505570 Allmusic This Is What I Do Sonny Rollins Review with music sample]
- Teresa Bright, Tropic Rhapsody (2008)[http://www.allmusic.com/album/tropic-rhapsody-r1461821 Allmusic Tropic Rhapsody Teresa Bright with music sample]
{{div col end}}
=Selected compilations=
- Elton Britt, Country Music's Yodelling Cowboy Crooner, Vol. 2 (2007)[http://www.allmusic.com/album/country-musics-yodelling-cowboy-crooner-vol-2-r1083957 Allmusic Country Music's Yodelling Cowboy Crooner, Vol. 2 Elton Britt with music sample]
- Martin Denny, Bachelor in Paradise: The Best of Martin Denny (1996)[http://www.allmusic.com/album/bachelor-in-paradise-the-best-of-martin-denny-r234701 Allmusic Bachelor in Paradise: The Best of Martin Denny Review with charts]
- Cliff Edwards ("Ukulele Ike"), Singing in the Rain (1995)[http://www.allmusic.com/album/singing-in-the-rain-audiophile-r286657 Allmusic Singing in the Rain Cliff Edwards with music sample]
- Benny Goodman, The Essential Benny Goodman (2007)[http://www.allmusic.com/album/essential-benny-goodman-bluebird-legacy-r1067700 Allmusic The Essential Benny Goodman Review with music sample]
- The Platters, Four Platters and One Lovely Dish (1994)[http://www.allmusic.com/album/four-platters-and-one-lovely-dish-r218279 Allmusic Four Platters and One Lovely Dish The Platters with music sample] Disc 7, Track 24.
- Don Redman, 1936–1939 (1991)[http://www.allmusic.com/album/1936-1939-r163379 Allmusic 1936–1939 Don Redman Review with music sample]
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://globalia.net/donlope/fz/songs/Sweet_Leilani.html About the song]
{{Bing Crosby singles}}
{{AcademyAwardBestOriginalSong 1934–1940}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sweet Leilani}}