When a Child Is Born

When a Child Is Born

When a Child is Born (Soleado) was a popular single by Johnny Mathis.

Written by Fred Jay, from a melody by Ciro Dammico, alias Zacar, the song has been performed by artists as diverse as Boney M., Kenny Rogers, Bing Crosby, The Moody Blues, Cissy Houston, Charles Aznavour, Plácido Domingo, Sissel Kyrkjebø, Willie Nelson, Tarja Turunen, Demis Roussos and many others.

The most successful version is probably the Jack Gold produced version for Johnny Mathis which was his sole number one single in the UK, spending three weeks at the top of the chart in December 1976 and selling 850,000 copies.

The Original with alternate Text was sung by Michael Holm, a German Schlagerstar, "Tränen lügen nicht" (Tears Don't Lie) in 1974. It was the first Version of this Song, but not a Christmas Song. Although the song is often sung as a Christmas standard, it does not actually make any specific mention of Christmas in its lyrics. However, some feel that the importance attached to the birth of a child lends itself to an association with the birth of Jesus Christ, and the reference in the lyrics to "a tiny star" which "lights up way up high" could seem to be an allusion to the Star of Bethlehem.

The hummed beginning of the song was used as the basis for a dance record by the German producer Mark'Oh, entitled "Tears Don't Lie", a hit throughout much of Europe in 1995. As it was unconnected to Christmas and not released at that time of year, anyone who knows the melody principally from this track may not necessarily associate it with Christmas.

A French version of the song exists, with lyrics written by Henri Dijan that are also totally unrelated to Christmas. Its title is "On ne vit pas sans se dire adieu" (literally "we do not live without saying goodbye to each other"), and it was recorded by the French singer Mireille Mathieu in 1975.

There is also a Hungarian version of the song, "Édes kisfiam" (My dear Son) by Zsuzsa Cserháti, who wrote the lyrics after her son was born. This song is also unrelated to Christmas.

Filipino singer José Mari Chan also did an English rendition of the song for his holiday album, Christmas in our Hearts.


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