Mario Lanza first recorded Mexican composer-lyricist Agustín Lara (1897-1970)'s 1932 song "Granada" on 28 October 1949 at Hollywood's Republic Studios. The conductor was Ray Sinatra, and the released take was one of two renditions recorded that day. (The unreleased take has never surfaced.)
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Mario Lanza, 1949
#24 Granada (Radio, 1951)
Lanza recorded "Granada" again on 8 June 1951 as the opening number on his first Coca-Cola-sponsored radio show (which was broadcast weekly from June 1951 to September 1952). Ray Sinatra was again the conductor. This recording was first released commercially on the 2004 BMG UK CD Mario Lanza: The Definitive Collection.
After you have listened to and rated this rendition, you may enjoy reading our forum discussion.
Lanza with Ray Sinatra (right) in 1951 receiving his first Gold Record (for "Be My Love") from RCA's Alan Keyes.
#25 Granada (soundtrack, 1951)
Mario Lanza's final version of "Granada" was recorded on 30 October 1951 at MGM studios for the soundtrack of his 1952 film Because You're Mine. [Click here to see Lanza perform it in the film.] The conductor was John Green. This recording is best heard on the 2020 Sepia Records CD Mario Lanza: Classics.
After you have listened to and rated this rendition, you may enjoy reading our forum discussion.
Lanza performing "Granada" in the 1952 movie Because You're Mine.
Granada Granada, tierra soñada por mí Granada, land of my dreams, mi cantar se vuelve gitano cuando es para ti. mine becomes a gypsy song when I sing to you. Mi cantar hecho de fantasía My song, born of fancy mi cantar, flor de melancolía my song, melancholy flower, que hoy te vengo a dar. that I've come to offer you.
Granada tierra ensangrentada en tardes de toros Granada, land covered in blood from the bullfighting afternoons mujer que conserva el embrujo de los ojos moros woman who retains the spell of Moorish eyes de sueño rebelde y gitana cubierta de flores A dream-land, a rebel, a gypsy covered with flowers y beso tu boca de grana, jugosa manzana and I kiss your scarlet mouth, juicy apple que me habla de amores. that tells me about love.
Granada manola cantada en coplas preciosas Granada, my beautiful, sung in precious coplas no tengo otra cosa que darte que un ramo de rosas I have nothing else to give you but a bouquet of roses de rosas de suave fragancia of roses of sweet fragrance que le dieron marco a la Virgen Morena worthy of adorning the brown-skinned Virgin. Granada tu tierra está llena de lindas mujeres Granada, your soil is full of beautiful women de sangre y de sol. of blood and sunshine.
(Repeat) de rosas de suave fragancia of roses of sweet fragrance que le dieron marco a la Virgen Morena worthy of adorning the brown-skinned Virgin. Granada tu tierra está llena de lindas mujeres Granada, your soil is full of beautiful women de sangre y de sol! of blood and sunshine!
