Moon River (2:42)
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“Moon River” is a song composed by Johnny Mercer (lyrics) and Henry Mancini (music) in 1961, for whom it won that year’s Academy Award for Best Original Song. It is most well-known for being sung in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Audrey Hepburn, although it has been covered by many other artists.
It became the theme song for Andy Williams, who first recorded the song in 1961 and performed it at the Academy Awards ceremonies in 1962. He sang the first eight bars of the song at the beginning of his television show; he also named his production company and venue in Branson, Missouri after Moon River. Williams’ version was vetoed by Cadence president Archie Bleyer, who believed it had little or no appeal to teenagers. Williams’ famous version never charted, except as an LP track, which he recorded for Columbia in a hit album of 1962.
The success of the song was responsible for relaunching Mercer’s career as a songwriter, which had stalled in the mid-1950s because rock and roll replaced jazz standards as the popular music of the time. An inlet near Savannah, Georgia, Johnny Mercer’s hometown, was named Moon River in honor of him and this song. The popularity of the song is such that it has been used as a test sample in a study on people’s memories of popular songs.
The original version
Mercer and Mancini wrote the song for Audrey Hepburn to fit her vocal range. Initially the lyrics started, “I’m Holly, like I want to be / like Holly on a tree back home…”, however they were later changed to fit the theme to the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
It became the theme song for Andy Williams, who first recorded the song in 1961 and performed it at the Academy Awards ceremonies in 1962. He sang the first eight bars of the song at the beginning of his television show; he also named his production company and venue in Branson, Missouri after Moon River. Williams’ version was vetoed by Cadence president Archie Bleyer, who believed it had little or no appeal to teenagers. Williams’ famous version never charted, except as an LP track, which he recorded for Columbia in a hit album of 1962.
The success of the song was responsible for relaunching Mercer’s career as a songwriter, which had stalled in the mid-1950s because rock and roll replaced jazz standards as the popular music of the time. An inlet near Savannah, Georgia, Johnny Mercer’s hometown, was named Moon River in honor of him and this song. The popularity of the song is such that it has been used as a test sample in a study on people’s memories of popular songs.
The original version
Mercer and Mancini wrote the song for Audrey Hepburn to fit her vocal range. Initially the lyrics started, “I’m Holly, like I want to be / like Holly on a tree back home…”, however they were later changed to fit the theme to the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
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Added by olliekickflip812
Moon River - Henry Mancini (piano)
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Shouts
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daniel_ayala wrote:
Soooooooo beautiful. + 1
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wheatpaste wrote:
I'd love to dance to this at my wedding, if I ever get married...the version with the whole great big chorus.
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rebel_121 wrote:
mmmm..... always nice..
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ivanshello wrote:
This composition was used in sach a lot of films etc.Also There are too much pro singers,
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kuroi_d wrote:
I love it so much. <3
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steamboat58 wrote:
Nice
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squadnik wrote:
Anybody knows what version is it ? Great vocals here! It's not original. PM plz.
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HSbeliever wrote:
Kahlil Gibran would have enjoyed this.
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Antridian wrote:
I like the music. Reminds me of child-hood. Don't care for the movie, though.
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imsostupid_ wrote:
breakfast at tiffany's <3
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surfinggal wrote:
Soooooooo beautiful.
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ruetty79 wrote:
A genius' masterpiece. No question. *dreamy*
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wolfgangchinner wrote:
This is trapped in my childhood memories of christmas when Breakfast at Tiffanys would show on the TV,,,,,i dont do soppy but this melts granite .
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BigxBadxWorld wrote:
One of the most moving songs of all time, I think. Moon River has a crafty way of pulling at one's heartstrings.
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lasvegas34 wrote:
One sentence: i love!!!
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machine_of_god wrote:
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah... *sigh*...
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NoGoodUseless wrote:
The most beautiful song I have ever heard!
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tute65 wrote:
Einzigartig ! Super !
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steamboat58 wrote:
Awww, nice. Love it.
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Yoxyb wrote:
OMG! Good old memories ;-) Beautiful, beautiful song indeed !
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Recent Activity
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sgtgoose1 tagged Henry Mancini – Moon River with instrumental and easy listening. 8 hours ago
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StLep, etreintes and Blackbird_1978 loved Henry Mancini – Moon River. 11 hours ago
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HELENAPF added Moon River to the playlist Et si on se faisait une toile?. Tuesday afternoon
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berndy_fm added Moon River to the playlist Sammlung. Monday evening
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