When a Child Is Born
Encyclopedia
"When a Child is Born" is a popular Christmas song. The original melody was "Soleado
", a tune from 1972 by Ciro Dammicco (alias Zacar), composer for the Italian group Daniel Santecruz Ensemble. The English language
lyrics were written later by Fred Jay.
Although the song is sung as a Christmas standard, it does not actually make any specific mention of Christmas in its lyrics. However, the importance attached to looking forward to the birth of one particular child somewhere, anywhere, in the world lends itself to an association with the birth of Jesus Christ, and the reference in the lyrics to "a tiny star" which "lights up way up high" could seem to be an allusion to the Star of Bethlehem
.
in 1976.
It is credited as "Theme From The Motion Picture "The Love Of The Wolf" in Johnny Mathis' "Johnny Mathis Sings The Movie Greats" Album (CBS).
Many artists have performed the song including:
Many international artists have also performed the song in English:
produced version for Johnny Mathis
. Entitled "When A Child Is Born (Soleado)" with B-side as "Every Time You Touch Me (I Get High)", it became Johnny Mathis' sole number one single in the UK, spending three weeks at the top of the chart in December 1976 and selling 850,000 copies.
record by the German
producer Mark'Oh, entitled "Tears Don't Lie", a hit throughout much of Europe
in 1995. As it was unconnected to Christmas and not released at that time of year, anyone who knows the melody principally from this track may not necessarily associate it with Christmas.
Soleado
"Soleado" is a wordless song composed by Ciro Dammicco under the alias "Zacar", based on his earlier composition "Le rose blu" published in 1972...
", a tune from 1972 by Ciro Dammicco (alias Zacar), composer for the Italian group Daniel Santecruz Ensemble. The English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
lyrics were written later by Fred Jay.
Although the song is sung as a Christmas standard, it does not actually make any specific mention of Christmas in its lyrics. However, the importance attached to looking forward to the birth of one particular child somewhere, anywhere, in the world lends itself to an association with the birth of Jesus Christ, and the reference in the lyrics to "a tiny star" which "lights up way up high" could seem to be an allusion to the Star of Bethlehem
Star of Bethlehem
In Christian tradition, the Star of Bethlehem, also called the Christmas Star, revealed the birth of Jesus to the magi, or "wise men", and later led them to Bethlehem. The star appears in the nativity story of the Gospel of Matthew, where magi "from the east" are inspired by the star to travel to...
.
English language versions
The English lyrics have been performed by many artists, with the most successful probably being the version by Johnny MathisJohnny Mathis
John Royce "Johnny" Mathis is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standards, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status, and 73 making the Billboard charts...
in 1976.
- This song is also featured in an 1975 Argentinean film: Nazareno Cruz y el loboNazareno Cruz y el loboNazareno Cruz y el lobo is a 1975 Argentine fantasy film directed by Leonardo Favio, and starring Juan José Camero and Alfredo Alcón. The story works as an adaptation of the classical myth of the Lobizón . It has become a classic and is widely known as the most successful of all time in its country...
(The Love Of The Wolf).
It is credited as "Theme From The Motion Picture "The Love Of The Wolf" in Johnny Mathis' "Johnny Mathis Sings The Movie Greats" Album (CBS).
Many artists have performed the song including:
- Boney M. in their 1981 Christmas AlbumChristmas Album (Boney M. album)Germany7"* "Little Drummer Boy" - 4:27 / "6 Years Of Boney M. Hits " - 4:48 * "Zion's Daughter" - 3:50 / "White Christmas" - 3:15 12"* "6 Years Of Boney M Hits Germany7"* "Little Drummer Boy" - 4:27 / "6 Years Of Boney M. Hits (Boney M. on 45)" (7" Edit) - 4:48 (Hansa Records 103 777-100, 1981)*...
- Kenny RogersKenny RogersKenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
- Bing CrosbyBing CrosbyHarry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
- The Moody BluesThe Moody BluesThe Moody Blues are an English rock band. Among their innovations was a fusion with classical music, most notably in their 1967 album Days of Future Passed....
in their 2003 album December - Cissy HoustonCissy HoustonEmily "Cissy" Houston is a Grammy Award–winning American soul and gospel singer. She led a very successful career as a backup singer for such artists as Elvis Presley, Mahalia Jackson, Wishbone Ash and Aretha Franklin, and is now primarily a solo artist...
- Willie NelsonWillie NelsonWillie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
- Tarja TurunenTarja TurunenTarja Soile Susanna Turunen Cabuli is a Finnish singer-songwriter and composer. She is a full lyric soprano and has a vocal range of three octaves....
- Sarah BrightmanSarah BrightmanSarah Brightman is an English classical crossover soprano, actress, songwriter and dancer. She is famous for possessing a vocal range of over 3 octaves and singing in the whistle register...
in her 2008 holiday CD "A Winter Symphony". - ACM Gospel ChoirACM Gospel ChoirThe ACM Gospel Choir is a gospel choir made up of students of the Academy of Contemporary Music. The group first came to public attention in the summer of 2008 when they gained 4th place in BBC One's Saturday night show Last Choir Standing...
in their 2008 Mail on Sunday giveaway CD "Christmas with the Choir". - ..many others
Many international artists have also performed the song in English:
- Michael HolmMichael HolmMichael Holm is a German singer, musician, songwriter and producer.He is primarily known as a Schlager singer. Although his first appearance in the hit parade was in 1962 , he had his first big hit in 1969...
(Germany) (also see below). The original 1974-75 US chart single. - Tarja TurunenTarja TurunenTarja Soile Susanna Turunen Cabuli is a Finnish singer-songwriter and composer. She is a full lyric soprano and has a vocal range of three octaves....
(Finland) - Lee TowersLee TowersLee Towers is a Dutch singer. He was discovered in 1975 as "The Singing Crane Mechanic" and labelled as a dockworker in Rotterdam...
(Netherlands) - Charles AznavourCharles AznavourCharles Aznavour, OC is an Armenian-French singer, songwriter, actor, public activist and diplomat. Besides being one of France's most popular and enduring singers, he is also one of the best-known singers in the world...
(France) - Andrea BocelliAndrea BocelliAndrea Bocelli, is an Italian tenor, multi-instrumentalist and classical crossover artist. Born with poor eyesight, he became blind at the age of twelve following a soccer accident....
(Italy) - Plácido DomingoPlácido DomingoPlácido Domingo KBE , born José Plácido Domingo Embil, is a Spanish tenor and conductor known for his versatile and strong voice, possessing a ringing and dramatic tone throughout its range...
(Spain) - Sissel KyrkjebøSissel KyrkjebøSissel Kyrkjebø , also simply known as Sissel, is a Norwegian soprano.Sissel is considered one of the world's top crossover sopranos. Sissel's musical style runs the gamut from pop recordings and folk songs, to classical vocals and operatic arias...
(Norway) - Demis RoussosDemis RoussosArtemios Ventouris Roussos is a Greek singer and performer, best known for being the main musical partner of movie soundtrack composer Vangelis and a string of international hit records as a solo performer in the 1960s and 1970s...
(Egypt/Greece/Europe) - Il DivoIl DivoIl Divo is a multinational operatic pop vocal group created by music manager, executive, and reality TV star Simon Cowell. Formed in the United Kingdom, they are also signed to Cowell's record label, Syco Music...
(British based group comprising members from France, Spain, Switzerland and the United States) - Boney MBoney MBoney M. is a Eurodisco group created by German record producer Frank Farian. Originally based in Germany, the four original members of the group's official line-up were Jamaicans Liz Mitchell and Marcia Barrett, Maizie Williams from Montserrat and Bobby Farrell from Aruba...
(German based group comprising members from Aruba, Jamaica, and Montserrat) - Australian singer AlfioAlfioAlfio is an Italian-Australian singer-songwriter, musician, and composer. He began singing at a very early age and started singing professionally at the age of 17, concentrating on recorded music and concerts so far...
recorded a version of this song in 2006 for his debut album Tranquillita: The Christmas Edition - Chinese singer Albert AuAlbert AuAlbert Au Shui Keung is a Hong Kong English pop and Cantopop singer-songwriter and DJ of RTHK. A graduate of Hong Kong Baptist University, he debuted in 1979 and achieved considerable fame in the 80's with his folk music. He also appeared in movies and on TV...
also recorded the song in English - Filipino singer José Mari ChanJosé Mari ChanJose Mari Chan is a Chinese Filipino singer, songwriter and businessman in the sugar industry. He was born in Iloilo City on March 11, 1945. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1967...
covered the song on his holiday album, Christmas in Our Hearts. - Frank PattersonFrank PattersonFrank Patterson was an internationally renowned Irish tenor following in the tradition of singers such as Count John McCormack and Josef Locke. He was known as "Ireland's Golden Tenor".- Early life :...
(Irish) - Connie TalbotConnie TalbotConnie Talbot is an English child singer from Streetly, Aldridge, in the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall, West Midlands. She rose to fame in 2007 when she reached the final of the television talent show Britain's Got Talent, where she was runner-up to Paul Potts...
, a contestant from Britain's Got TalentBritain's Got TalentBritain's Got Talent is a British television talent show competition which started in June 2007 and originated from the Got Talent series. The show is produced by FremantleMedia's TalkbackThames and Simon Cowell's production company SYCOtv. The show is broadcast on ITV in Britain and TV3 in Ireland...
included it in two albums, (Connie Talbot's Christmas AlbumConnie Talbot's Christmas AlbumConnie Talbot's Christmas Album, sometimes referred to as Connie's Christmas Album or just Christmas Album, is the second album from English child singer Connie Talbot, released on 24 November 2008. The album is made up of Christmas-themed songs, and was recorded in the middle of 2008...
in 2008 and Connie Talbot's Holiday MagicConnie Talbot's Holiday MagicConnie Talbot's Holiday Magic is the third album by British child singer Connie Talbot. Released 13 October 2009 by AAO Music, it features rerecordings of songs from Talbot's previous album, Connie Talbot's Christmas Album, as well as new tracks...
in 2009.
Johnny Mathis version
The most successful version of the song is probably the Jack GoldJack Gold
Jack Gold is a British film and television director. He was part of the British Realist Tradition that followed Free Cinema.-Career:...
produced version for Johnny Mathis
Johnny Mathis
John Royce "Johnny" Mathis is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standards, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status, and 73 making the Billboard charts...
. Entitled "When A Child Is Born (Soleado)" with B-side as "Every Time You Touch Me (I Get High)", it became Johnny Mathis' sole number one single in the UK, spending three weeks at the top of the chart in December 1976 and selling 850,000 copies.
Language Versions
- In 1972, the melody was sung with Spanish lyrics by Manolo Otero and entitled "Todo el tiempo del mundo" (translation: I've All the Time for Waiting)
- The same melody was used with German lyrics by Michael HolmMichael HolmMichael Holm is a German singer, musician, songwriter and producer.He is primarily known as a Schlager singer. Although his first appearance in the hit parade was in 1962 , he had his first big hit in 1969...
in "Tränen lügen nicht" (translation: Tears Don't Lie).- The Michael Holm version of "Tears Don't Lie", performed in English, was a minor hit in the US, reaching #53 on Billboard's Hot 100, #7 on Billboard's Easy Listening Top 50.
- In 1975 the melody was used with French languageFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
lyrics, written by Henri Dijan and sung by Mireille MathieuMireille MathieuMireille Mathieu is a French chanteuse, and pop singer. Hailed in the French press as the successor to Édith Piaf, she has achieved great commercial success, recording over 1200 songs in nine different languages, with more than 120 million records sold worldwide.-Childhood to early...
"On ne vit pas sans se dire adieu" (translation: "You can not live without saying goodbye") - It was sung with HungarianHungarian languageHungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe....
lyrics by Zsuzsa Cserháti "Édes kisfiam" ("My sweet son"). In 1975 Iván Bradányi wrote the lyrics of this song for Cserháti after her son was born. - Turkish star Ajda PekkanAjda PekkanAyşe Ajda Pekkan is a Turkish pop singer and actress. Through a career spanning five decades thus far, Pekkan has released more than 20 albums and, with Sezen Aksu, is the most commercially successful female Turkish music artist with the sales of over 30 million copies worldwide. She is nicknamed...
sang it with Turkish languageTurkish languageTurkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
lyrics
Samplings
The hummed beginning of Jonny Mathis's recording was used as the basis for a danceDance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
record by the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
producer Mark'Oh, entitled "Tears Don't Lie", a hit throughout much of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in 1995. As it was unconnected to Christmas and not released at that time of year, anyone who knows the melody principally from this track may not necessarily associate it with Christmas.