| "Sweet Leilani" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single by Bing Crosby with Lani McIntyre and His Hawaiians | |
| B-side | "Blue Hawaii" |
| Released | 1937 |
| Recorded | February 22, 1937[1] |
| Genre | Hawaiian / Popular |
| Length | 3:14 |
| Label | Decca Records 1175 |
| Songwriter(s) | Harry Owens |
| With Lani McIntyre and His Hawaiians | |
"Sweet Leilani" is a song featured in the 1937 film, Waikiki Wedding. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song,[2] and Bing Crosby's record became one of the biggest hits of 1937.[3][4]
Harry Owens wrote the song on October 20, 1934 for his daughter Leilani, who was born the previous day. Leilani is a popular Hawaiian name, meaning "heavenly garland of flowers" (not "heavenly flower"). It also has a figurative meaning: Small Hawaiian children were carried on their parents' shoulders like a lei (garland), so the name took on the meaning "heavenly child."[citation needed]
Prior to Waikiki Wedding, the song had been recorded by Sol Hoʻopiʻi under the title "Leilani" as the B-side of "Hawaiian Honeymoon" (Brunswick Records 55085).[5][6]
Harry Owens and his Royal Hawaiians performed "Sweet Leilani" in the 1938 film Cocoanut Grove starring Fred MacMurray.[7]
- ^ Decca 1000–1500 Numerical Listing 1175
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 134. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Songs from the Year 1937
- ^ Allmusic "Sweet Leilani" Bing Crosby with music sample
- ^ Brunswick 55000 series – The Online 78 rpm Discographical Project 55085
- ^ Hulapages: The Covers: 1930–39 Archived 2002-10-23 at the Wayback Machine 1936, "Leilani."
- ^ Internet Movie Database: Cocoanut Grove