music.wikisort.org - Composition

"Why" is a hit song recorded by Frankie Avalon in 1959. It reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart published on the week of December 28, 1959. It was Avalon's second and final No. 1 hit.[1]

"Why"
Single by Frankie Avalon
B-side	"Swingin' on a Rainbow"
Released	November 9, 1959
Genre	Pop
Length	2:30
Label	Chancellor 1045
Songwriter(s)	Peter De Angelis, Bob Marcucci
Frankie Avalon singles chronology
"Just Ask Your Heart" / "Two Fools" (1959) "Why" (1959) "Don't Throw Away All Those Teardrops" (1960)

The song was covered by Donny Osmond, and this version reached No. 3 on the UK Singles chart.

Background

"Why" was written and produced by Avalon's manager and record producer Robert "Bob" Marcucci and Peter De Angelis.[2] The melody is based on an Italian song. The Avalon version features an uncredited female singer (alleged to be Fran Lori),[3] heard in the repeat of the first four lines of the first part of the song, with Avalon replying, "Yes, I love you". He concludes the last quarter of the song with a coda, by himself.

The song topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart published on the week of December 28, 1959 for the week ending January 2, 1960,[4] making it the last No. 1 single of the 1950s, and the first No. 1 single of the 1960s at the same time. It also became the first No. 1 single of the 1960s on the Cashbox magazine charts. Despite the song's success, Avalon could not take full advantage of its success as he was away filming on location in Texas, and his concentration on his acting career detracted from his recording career, and "Why" would become Avalon's 7th and final top 10 hit.[2]

Charts

Chart (1959–60)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5]	11
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[6]	18
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[7]	11
Norway (VG-lista)[8]	3
UK Singles (OCC)[9]	20
US Billboard Hot 100[10]	1

Donny Osmond version

"Why"
Single by Donny Osmond
from the album Too Young
B-side	"Lonely Boy"
Released	August 12, 1972
Recorded	1972
Genre	Pop
Length	2:44
Label	MGM
Songwriter(s)	Peter De Angelis, Bob Marcucci
Producer(s)	Mike Curb, Don Costa
Donny Osmond singles chronology
"Too Young" (1972) "Why" (1972) "The Twelfth of Never" (1973)

Donny Osmond recorded "Why" in 1972, and it was released as a single from the album Too Young. It peaked at No. 3 in the United Kingdom. In the U.S., the song reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 19 on the Easy Listening chart.[11] Osmond’s version also reached No. 13 in the New Zealand.[12]

Charts

Chart (1972)	Peak position
New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)[12]	13
UK Singles (OCC)[13]	3
US Billboard Hot 100[14]	13
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[15]	19

Other versions

• The French cover by Dalida in 1960 became very popular as Bras Dessus Bras Dessous. Instead of being featured on her 1960 album Les enfants du Pirée, it was released only on EP with three more songs that appeared on her following 1961 year album Garde-moi la dernière danse.
• Anthony Newley covered the song shortly after Avalon, and his version went to No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart in February 1960.[16]

See also

• List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1959 (U.S.)
• List of Cash Box Top 100 number-one singles of 1960
• List of number-one singles from the 1960s (UK)

References

На других языках

---

[de] Why (Frankie-Avalon-Lied)

Why ist der Titel eines Popsongs, der von Peter De Angelis (Musik) und Bob Marcucci (Text) geschrieben wurde. Mit Frankie Avalon wurde das Lied in den USA (1959) und mit Anthony Newley in Großbritannien (1960) ein Nummer-eins-Hit.

---

- [en] Why (Frankie Avalon song)

---

[it] Why (Frankie Avalon)

Why è un brano musicale interpretato originariamente da Frankie Avalon, pubblicato come singolo nel 1959.

---

---