View source for Somos Novios (It's Impossible)

{{Short description|1968 song by Armando Manzanero}}
{{Infobox song
| name       = Somos Novios
| cover      = 
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Armando Manzanero]]
| album      = Somos Novios
| released   = {{Start date|1968}}
| format     =
| recorded   =
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      = [[Bolero]]
| length     =
| label      = [[RCA Victor]]
| writer     = [[Armando Manzanero]]
| producer   =
| prev_title = Perdóname
| prev_year  =
| next_title = Aquel Señor
| next_year  =
| misc       = {{External music video|{{YouTube|5CrcNAl9OPk|"Somos Novios"}}|header=Audio video}}
}}
"'''Somos Novios'''" ([[Spanish language|Spanish]] for "We're a couple") is a song first recorded by Mexican songwriter [[Armando Manzanero]] in [[1968 in music|1968]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/armando_manzanero/somos_novios/ |title=Somos novios by Armando Manzanero (Album, Bolero): Reviews, Ratings, Credits, Song list |publisher=Rate Your Music |date=2014-04-30 |access-date=2014-05-23}}</ref>{{deprecated inline|certain=y|date=November 2024}} [[Perry Como]] recorded an English version of "Somos Novios" with original English lyrics titled "'''It's Impossible'''", which was a top 10 hit in the US and the UK.

The song has become one of the most popular [[bolero]]s of all time and it has been covered by numerous artists. The recording by Manzanero was inducted into the [[Latin Grammy Hall of Fame Award|Latin Grammy Hall of Fame]] in 2001.<ref name=latingrammy>{{cite web|title=Latin GRAMMY Hall Of Fame|url=http://www.latingrammy.com/en/node/21337|website=[[Latin Grammy Award]]|publisher=[[Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences]]|access-date=August 19, 2014|year=2001|archive-date=February 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205122045/http://www.latingrammy.com/en/node/21337|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Background==
The song was the title track of Manzanero third album ''Somos Novios'' released in July 1968.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ygoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA49 |title=From the Music Capitals of the World |magazine=Billboard |date=June 8, 1968 }}</ref> Manzanero also appeared in the 1969 Mexican film of the same title ''Somos Novios'' starring [[Palito Ortega]], and performed the song.<ref>{{cite book |title=Cine argentino: modernidad y vanguardias, 1957/1983|first=Ricardo |last=Manetti |date=2005 |page= 437}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/15449433-Armando-Manzanero-Palito-Ortega-Angelica-Maria-M%C3%BAsica-Original-de-La-Pel%C3%ADcula-Somos-Novios |title=Armando Manzanero, Palito Ortega, Angelica Maria – Música Original de La Película "Somos Novios"|work=Discogs |year=1969 }}</ref> The song was included in the inaugural inductions for the [[Latin Grammy Hall of Fame]] established in 2001 to honor early Latin music recordings.<ref name="latingrammy" />

==Perry Como version==
{{Infobox song
| name       = It's Impossible
| cover      = It's_Impossible_-_Perry_Como.jpg
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Perry Como]]
| album      = [[It's Impossible (album)|It's Impossible]]
| B-side     = "Long Life, Lots of Happiness"
| released   = September 1970<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/740387|title = Perry Como - It's Impossible}}</ref>
| format     =
| recorded   = 1970
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      =
* [[Traditional pop]]
* [[vocal]]
* [[jazz]]
| length     =
| label      = [[RCA Victor]]
| writer     =
* [[Armando Manzanero]]
* [[Sid Wayne]]
| producer   = Ernie Altschuler
| prev_title = Seattle
| prev_year  = 1969
| next_title = I Think of You
| next_year  = 1971
| misc       = {{External music video|{{YouTube|X8yzk5wuNTk|"It's Impossible"}}|header=Audio video}}
}}
"Somos Novios" was adapted in [[1970 in music|1970]] by [[Sid Wayne]], who wrote original [[English language|English]] lyrics set to the music.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rggEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA51|title=From the Music Capital of the World|magazine=Billboard |date=June 19, 1971 |page=51 }}</ref> Sid Wayne was a collaborator with [[Elvis Presley]], but decided to give the song instead to Perry Como. [[Perry Como]] recorded the song under the title "It's Impossible".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-55431082 |title=Muere Armando Manzanero: cuando el Rey del rock Elvis Presley hizo una versión de "Somos novios"|work=BBC News |date=December 20, 2020 }}</ref>

The Como version would be one of his most influential records, and in February 1971 it became his first song to reach the top ten of the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] in more than 12 years, peaking at No. 10. The song's peak on the Hot 100 chart came just weeks after concluding a four-week run at number one on the ''Billboard'' [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Easy Listening]] chart.<ref>{{cite book |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2002 |publisher=Record Research |page=62}}</ref> On the [[UK Singles Chart]], the single reached No. 4 in 1971.<ref name=ukchart />

Como's version was nominated for [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]] at the [[14th Annual Grammy Awards|1971 Grammy]] but lost to "[[You've Got a Friend]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/awards/14th-annual-grammy-awards|title=1971 Grammy Winners: Song of the Year |work=Grammy }}</ref>

===Charts===

==== Weekly charts ====
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! Chart (1970–1971)
! Peak<br />position
|-
|Australia ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref>{{cite book|first= David |last= Kent |author-link= David Kent (historian) |title= [[Kent Music Report|Australian Chart Book 1970-1992]] |publisher= Australian Chart Book |location= [[St Ives, New South Wales|St Ives]], N.S.W. |year= 1993 |isbn= 0-646-11917-6}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;" |85
|-
{{single chart|Flanders|29|artist=Perry Como |song= It's Impossible|access-date=June 14, 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|Wallonia|30|artist=Perry Como |song= It's Impossible|access-date=June 14, 2018}}
|-
|Canada ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' Adult Contemporary<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.3725&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.3725.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.3725|title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date=1970-12-05 |access-date=2020-03-11}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;" |4
|-
|Canada ''RPM'' Top Singles<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.3754&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.3754.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.3754|title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date=1971-02-06 |access-date=2019-01-18}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;" |37
|-
|{{single chart|Ireland2|6|song=It's Impossible|access-date=February 4, 2019}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch100|18|artist=Perry Como |song= It's Impossible|access-date=June 14, 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|4|artist=Perry Como |access-date=June 14, 2018|refname=ukchart}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|10|artist=Perry Como |access-date=June 14, 2018}}
|-
|US ''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]]'' Top 100<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1971/Cash-Box-1971-01-30.pdf|title=Cash Box Top 100|date=1 January 1971|work=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]]|accessdate=18 November 2024}}</ref>
|align="center"|10
|-
{{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|1|artist=Perry Como |access-date=June 14, 2018}}
|}

==== Year-end charts ====
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! Chart (1970–71)
!
|-
|UK<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2021-03-28 |title=Year-End Chart 1971 – UK |url=https://www.yourmusiccharts.com/year-end-chart-1971-uk/ |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=YourMusicCharts |language=en}}</ref>
|19
|}

== Andrea Bocelli versions ==

{{Infobox song
| name       = Somos Novios (It's Impossible)
| cover      =
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Andrea Bocelli]] featuring [[Christina Aguilera]]
| album      = [[Amore (Andrea Bocelli album)|Amore]]
| released   = March 2006 (US)
| format     =
| recorded   = 2006
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      = {{Hlist|[[Pop music|Pop]]|[[Classical music|classical]]|[[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]}}
| length     = 4:22
| label      = {{Hlist|[[Sugar Music|Sugar]]|Opera & Blues|[[Decca Records|Decca]]}}
| writer     = [[Armando Manzanero]]
| producer   = {{Hlist|[[David Foster]]|[[Humberto Gatica]]}}
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title =
| next_year  =
| misc       = {{Extra chronology
 | artist     = [[Andrea Bocelli]]
 | type       = single
 | prev_title = [[First Day of My Life (Melanie C song)|Un Nuovo Giorno]]
 | prev_year  = 2004
 | title      = Somos Novios (It's Impossible)
 | year       = 2006
 | next_title = [[Because We Believe]]
 | next_year  = 2006
}}{{Extra chronology
 | artist     = [[Christina Aguilera]]
 | type       = single
 | prev_title = [[Tilt Ya Head Back]]
 | prev_year  = 2004
 | title      = Somos Novios (It's Impossible)
 | year       = 2006
 | next_title = [[Ain't No Other Man]]
 | next_year  = 2006
}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|O9EILUolAsI|"Somos Novios"}}|header=Audio video}}
}}
Italian tenor [[Andrea Bocelli]] recorded the song with American singer [[Christina Aguilera]] in 2006. The duet was released as a single in from Bocelli's eleventh studio album, ''[[Amore (Andrea Bocelli album)|Amore]]'' (2006).<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/latin/christina-aguilera-spanish-songs-playlist-8518505/ |title=Christina Aguilera's History With Latin Music, From 'Mi Reflejo' to 'Desnudate'|first= Lucas|last= Villa |date=July 2, 2019 |magazine=Billboard }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://remezcla.com/lists/music/our-favorite-christina-aguilera-songs-in-espanol/ |title=Our 10 Favorite Christina Aguilera Songs in Español |first= Isabella |last= Vega |date=November 4, 2021 |work=Remezcla}}</ref> Aguilera and Bocelli performed the song together at the [[Sanremo Music Festival]] on March 3, 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/televisione/articoli/articolo299176.shtml|work=[[TGCOM]]|language=Italian|publisher=[[Mediaset]]|accessdate=27 July 2013|title=Sanremo, il trionfo di Povia|author=Domenico Catagnano|date=4 March 2006}}</ref> Jonathan Widran of [[AllMusic]] considered the song "enchanting" and noted that Aguilera's vocals were "delightfully torchy".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/amore-mw0000702049|title='Amore' Review by Jonathan Widran|publisher=[[AllMusic]]. [[RhythmOne]]|first=Jonathan|last=Widran|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609120321/https://www.allmusic.com/album/amore-mw0000702049|archive-date=June 9, 2016|access-date=January 20, 2025}}</ref> This version was ranked at number ten on the list of Aguilera's best songs by ''[[AXS (company)|AXS]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Afshar|first1=Sarah|title=Top 10 best Christina Aguilera songs|url=http://www.axs.com/top-10-best-christina-aguilera-songs-46703|access-date=September 6, 2023|work=[[AXS (ticket merchant)|AXS]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304210337/https://www.axs.com/top-10-best-christina-aguilera-songs-46703|archive-date=March 4, 2016|date=March 29, 2015}}</ref> On the [[Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana|Italian Singles Chart]], "Somos Novios (It's Impossible)" reached number thirty-nine in April 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://acharts.co/italy_singles_top_50/2006/14|title=Italy Singles Top 50 – Issue Date: Tuesday April 4th, 2006|publisher=aCharts|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608231028/http://acharts.us/italy_singles_top_50/2006/14|archive-date=June 8, 2008|access-date=January 20, 2025}}</ref>

Another version of the duet with Japanese singer [[Rimi Natsukawa]] was released as a bonus track in the album's Japanese edition,<ref>{{cite web| title= 『AMORE』貴方に贈る愛の歌| url= http://www.universal-music.co.jp/u-pop/artist/andrea_bocelli/uico1113.html| publisher= Universal-music.co.jp| access-date= 2010-01-30| url-status=dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090929092857/http://www.universal-music.co.jp/u-pop/artist/andrea_bocelli/uico1113.html| archive-date= 2009-09-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title= 夏川りみ オフィシャルサイト| url= http://www.rimirimi.jp/free/disco_a.html| publisher= Rimirimi.jp| access-date= 2010-01-30| archive-date= 2009-02-28| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090228175152/http://rimirimi.jp/free/disco_a.html| url-status= dead}}</ref> as well as a bonus track for the Japanese edition of Bocelli's first [[greatest hits album]] ''[[The Best of Andrea Bocelli: Vivere]]'' (2007).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ranking.oricon.co.jp/free_contents/search/detail.asp?itemcd=752677&samecd=1 |title=タイム・トゥ・セイ・グッバイ〜ボチェッリ・スーパー・ベスト - アンドレア・ボチェッリ ／ オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」 |website=ranking.oricon.co.jp |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722094404/http://ranking.oricon.co.jp/free_contents/search/detail.asp?itemcd=752677&samecd=1 |archive-date=22 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
Bocelli has also covered the song as a duet with a number of other artists, including [[Petra Berger]] and [[Katharine McPhee]].

McPhee joined Bocelli onstage at the  JCPenney Jam and their version is included on the album for the event.

==See also==
*[[List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1970 (U.S.)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15D0ZTLOQS0 "Somos Novios" — Roberto Rubio]
*{{YouTube|Qq0I0x__U-g|"Andrea Bocelli - Somos Novios -Live From Lake Las Vegas / 2001"}}

{{Perry Como}}
{{Andrea Bocelli}}
{{Andrea Bocelli songs}}
{{Christina Aguilera}}
{{Christina Aguilera songs}}
{{Julio Iglesias}}
{{Latin Grammy Hall of Fame}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Somos Novios (It's Impossible)}}
[[Category:1970 singles]]
[[Category:2006 singles]]
[[Category:Songs written by Armando Manzanero]]
[[Category:Songs written by Sid Wayne]]
[[Category:Perry Como songs]]
[[Category:Andrea Bocelli songs]]
[[Category:Christina Aguilera songs]]
[[Category:Luis Miguel songs]]
[[Category:Andy Williams songs]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by David Foster]]
[[Category:Male–female vocal duets]]
[[Category:Songs in Spanish]]
[[Category:Boleros]]
[[Category:1968 songs]]
[[Category:Latin Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients]]
[[Category:RCA Victor singles]]
[[Category:Decca Records singles]]
[[Category:Armando Manzanero songs]]