"You Belong to My Heart" is the name of an English-language version of the Mexican Bolerosong "Solamente una vez" (Only Once, in English). This song was composed by Mexican songwriter Agustín Lara and originally performed by singer Ana María González and tenor José Mojica in the 1941 film Melodías de América.[1][2]
After that, the original Spanish-language version was very popular in Mexico and Cuba as well as being recorded by many of the greatest Bolero interpreters such as Los Panchos in 1951.[3]
"Solamente una vez", retitled "You Belong to My Heart", was featured in the Disney film The Three Caballeros with English lyrics written by Ray Gilbert and sung by Dora Luz.[21]
Gilbert's lyrics bear no similarity to Lara's original Spanish language lyrics.
Bing Crosby and the Xavier Cugat orchestra recorded a version of the song on February 11, 1945 for Decca Records[22] as catalog number 23413. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on May 24, 1945, and lasted 9 weeks on the chart, peaking at #4.[23]
The Charlie Spivak orchestra released a version by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-1663. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on May 17, 1945 and lasted 2 weeks on the chart, peaking at #9.[23]
In 1955, jazz pianist Jack Pleis recorded it for his album, Music from Disneyland.
Elvis Presley, as part of the Million Dollar Quartet, performed a shortened version of the song, mixing Agustín Lara's original Spanish lyrics and Ray Gilbert's English lyrics.[25]
The song was also cut from a Yvonne de Carlo and Vittorio Gasman scene in the 1953 movie Sombrero.
Only Once in My Life
Another English language version, titled "Only Once in My Life" was written by Janis and Rick Carnes and was released in 1998. These lyrics are not a translation of the original Spanish lyrics.