Beyond the Sea (song)

1945 song by Jack Lawrence

"La Mer"
Cover of musical score published in France in 1946
Song by Charles Trenet
Published	1946 by Les Editions Raoul Breton
Songwriter(s)	Charles Trenet
Composer(s)	Charles Trenet, Albert Lasry

Audio
"Beyond the Sea" on YouTube

"Beyond The Sea" is the English-language version of the French song "La Mer" by Charles Trenet, popularized by Bobby Darin in 1959. While the French original was an ode to the sea, Jack Lawrence – who composed the English lyrics – turned it into a love song.^[1]

Versions

"Beyond the Sea"

Single by Bobby Darin

from the album That's All

B-side

"That's the Way Love Is"

Released

October 1959

Recorded

August 24, 1958

Genre

Big band, pop, swing

Length

2:48

Label

Atco 6158

Songwriter(s)

Jack Lawrence/Charles Trenet

Bobby Darin singles chronology

"Mack the Knife"
(1959)

"Beyond the Sea"
(1959)

"Clementine"
(1960)

Audio

"Beyond the Sea" on YouTube

"Beyond the Sea" has been recorded by many artists, but Bobby Darin's version released in late 1959 is the best known, reaching No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 15 on the US R&B Chart, No. 7 in Canada (co-charted with "That's The Way Love Is"),^[2] and No. 8 in the UK Singles Chart^[3] in early 1960.

Before Bobby Darin's version, two instrumental recordings reached the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. Benny Goodman's version charted in 1948, and was featured in the Cary Grant/Betsy Drake romantic comedy Every Girl Should Be Married. Roger Williams' recording reached No. 37 in 1955.^[4]

The first recording of "Beyond the Sea" was by Harry James and His Orchestra on December 22, 1947, and the first recording of "La Mer" was by French musician Charles Trenet in December 1945.

American R&B singer George Benson recorded an R&B version of the song under the title "Beyond The Sea (La Mer)." It was released on Warner Bros. This version entered the UK Singles Chart on 20 April 1985. It peaked at No. 60 and remained on the chart for three weeks.^[5] Robbie Williams recorded the song for his album Swing When You're Winning, which was used in the closing credits in the film Finding Nemo.^[6]

References

^ Schudel, Matt (March 18, 2009). - "Composer Jack Lawrence dies at 96: Composer's Hits Helped Singers Such as Sinatra". - The Washington Post.
^ "CHUM Hit Parade - February 29, 1960".
^ "Beyond the Sea (La Mer) (song by Bobby Darin) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". Musicvf.com. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
^ "Beyond the Sea (La Mer) (song by Roger Williams) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". Musicvf.com. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
^ Rice, Tim; Rice, Jonathan; Gambaccini, Paul (1990), Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums, Enfield, Middlesex, United Kingdom: Guinness World Records and Guinness Publishing, ISBN 0-85112-398-8
^ Davies, Dave (June 17, 2016). "Producer Nick Venet Recalls The Story Behind Bobby Darin's 'Beyond The Sea'". Npr.org. Retrieved June 27, 2023.

External links

"Beyond The Sea". - Jack Lawrence Website.
Official Bobby Darin fansite
Second Hand Songs: La Mer / Beyond the Sea page

George Benson

Discography

Studio albums

The New Boss Guitar of George Benson
It's Uptown
The George Benson Cookbook
Giblet Gravy
Shape of Things to Come
Goodies
Tell It Like It Is
The Other Side of Abbey Road
Beyond the Blue Horizon
White Rabbit
Body Talk
Bad Benson
Good King Bad
Benson & Farrell
Breezin'
In Flight
Livin' Inside Your Love
Give Me the Night
In Your Eyes
Pacific Fire
I Got a Woman and Some Blues
20/20
While the City Sleeps...
Collaboration
Twice the Love
Big Boss Band
That's Right
Standing Together
Absolute Benson
Irreplaceable
Givin' It Up
Songs and Stories
Guitar Man
Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole
Walking to New Orleans

Live albums

Compilations

Space
The George Benson Collection
The Greatest Hits of All
The Very Best of George Benson: The Greatest Hits of All
The Essential George Benson

Singles

"This Masquerade" (1976)
"Breezin'" (1976)
"The Greatest Love of All" (1977)
"On Broadway" (1978)
"Love Ballad" (1979)
"Give Me the Night" (1980)
"Love X Love" (1980)
"What's on Your Mind" (1980)
"Never Give Up on a Good Thing" (1981)
"Turn Your Love Around" (1981)
"Inside Love (So Personal)" (1983)
"Lady Love Me (One More Time)" (1983)
"Feel Like Makin' Love" (1983)
"In Your Eyes" (1983)
"Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You" (1985)
"Shiver" (1986)
"Teaser" (1986)
"Let's Do It Again" (1988)

v t e Bobby Darin
Studio albums	Bobby Darin That's All This Is Darin For Teenagers Only The 25th Day of December Two of a Kind Love Swings Twist with Bobby Darin Bobby Darin Sings Ray Charles Things and Other Things Oh! Look at Me Now You're the Reason I'm Living It's You or No One 18 Yellow Roses Earthy! Golden Folk Hits Winners From Hello Dolly to Goodbye Charlie Venice Blue Bobby Darin Sings The Shadow of Your Smile In a Broadway Bag (Mame) If I Were a Carpenter Inside Out Bobby Darin Sings Doctor Dolittle Bobby Darin Born Walden Robert Cassotto Commitment
Live albums	Darin at the Copa Live at the Desert Inn
Compilations	The Bobby Darin Story Aces Back to Back
Singles	"Splish Splash" "Early in the Morning" "Queen of the Hop" "Dream Lover" "Mack the Knife" "Beyond the Sea" "Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey" "Beachcomber" "Artificial Flowers" "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby" "Multiplication" "What'd I Say" "Things" "You're the Reason I'm Living" "18 Yellow Roses" "If I Were a Carpenter" "Darlin' Be Home Soon"
Related articles	Discography Beyond the Sea (film) Dream Lover: The Bobby Darin Musical
Category

v t e Robbie Williams singles
Discography
Life thru a Lens	"Old Before I Die" "Lazy Days" "South of the Border" "Angels" "Let Me Entertain You"
I've Been Expecting You	"Millennium" "No Regrets" "Strong" "She's the One" / "It's Only Us" "Win Some Lose Some"
Sing When You're Winning	"Rock DJ" "Kids" "Supreme" "Let Love Be Your Energy" "Eternity/The Road to Mandalay" "Better Man"
Swing When You're Winning	"Somethin' Stupid" "Mr. Bojangles/I Will Talk and Hollywood Will Listen"
Escapology	"Feel" "Come Undone" "Something Beautiful" "Sexed Up"
Greatest Hits	"Radio" "Misunderstood"
Intensive Care	"Tripping" "Make Me Pure" "Advertising Space" "Sin Sin Sin"
Rudebox	"Rudebox" "Kiss Me" "Lovelight" "Bongo Bong and Je ne t'aime plus" "She's Madonna"
Reality Killed the Video Star	"Bodies" "You Know Me" "Morning Sun"
In and Out of Consciousness	"Shame"
Take the Crown	"Candy" "Different" "Be a Boy"
Swings Both Ways	"Go Gentle" "Dream a Little Dream" "Shine My Shoes"
The Heavy Entertainment Show	"Party Like a Russian" "Love My Life" "Mixed Signals"
The Christmas Present	"Time for Change" "Can't Stop Christmas"
Other singles	"Freedom" "United" "Close My Eyes"
Featured singles	"My Culture" "Goin' Crazy" "The Days"
Other songs	"I Wan'na Be Like You" "Beyond the Sea"

v t e We Five
Beverly Bivens Michael Stewart Jerry Burgan Pete Fullerton Bob Jones Debbie Burgan
Studio albums	You Were on My Mind Make Someone Happy The Return of We Five Catch the Wind Take Each Day as It Comes
Singles	"You Were on My Mind" "Let's Get Together" "My Favorite Things" "Walk On By" "Catch the Wind"
B-Sides	"Cast Your Fate to the Wind" "Somewhere Beyond the Sea" "Somewhere" "The First Time" "Here Comes the Sun" "Oh Lonesome Me"
Cover Songs	"Can't Help Falling in Love" "The Inch Worm" "Our Day Will Come" "Softly As I Leave You" "Soon It's Gonna Rain" "Tonight"

v t e Westlife songs
Discography Songs recorded
Westlife	"Swear It Again" "If I Let You Go" "Flying Without Wings" "I Have a Dream"/"Seasons in the Sun" "Fool Again" "More Than Words" "Miss You" "Forever"
Coast to Coast	"Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" "My Love" "What Makes a Man" "I Lay My Love on You" "Uptown Girl" "When You're Looking Like That" "No Place That Far" "My Girl" "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" "I'll Be There"
World of Our Own	"Queen of My Heart" "World of Our Own" "Bop Bop Baby" "Evergreen" "Angel"
Unbreakable	"Unbreakable" "Tonight "Miss You Nights"
Turnaround	"Hey Whatever" "Mandy" "Obvious" "To Be with You" "Lost in You"
...Allow Us to Be Frank	"Ain't That a Kick in the Head" "Smile" "Fly Me to the Moon" "The Way You Look Tonight" "Let There Be Love" "Come Fly with Me" "Mack the Knife" "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" "Summer Wind" "Clementine" "When I Fall in Love" "Moon River" "That's Life"
Face to Face	"You Raise Me Up" "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" "Amazing" "Desperado" "In This Life"
The Love Album	"The Rose" "Total Eclipse of the Heart" "All Out of Love" "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You" "Butterfly Kisses" "Easy" "You Light Up My Life" "You Are So Beautiful" "The Dance" "All or Nothing" "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" "If" "Solitaire"
Back Home	"Home" "Us Against the World" "Something Right" "I'm Already There" "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" "Have You Ever"
Where We Are	"What About Now"
Gravity	"Safe" "The Reason" "Please Stay"
Greatest Hits	"Lighthouse" "Beautiful World"
Spectrum	"Hello My Love" "Better Man" "Dynamite"
Other songs	"Everybody Hurts" "Beautiful in White" "If I Had Words" "Daytime Friends, Nighttime Lovers" "Grease Lightning" "Beyond the Sea" "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" "White Christmas" "Never Can Say Goodbye"
Category