A popular adaptation of Borodin's theme from "Prince Igor" called "My Fantasy" which used the same melody as "Stranger in Paradise" was recorded by Artie Shaw in 1940, though the lyrics differ completely from "Stranger in Paradise." Richard Kiley and Doretta Morrow performed the song in the original cast of Kismet (1953). Vic Damone and Ann Blyth performed the song in the 1955 film.
The most popular version was sung by Tony Bennett (1953), but other versions by The Four Aces (backed by the Jack Pleis Orchestra) and Tony Martin also received popular favor in 1954. Bennett's version reached number one in the UK Singles Chart in May 1955. It was not until 1955 that Kismet, and thus the songs from the show, came to London. It was Bennett's debut hit record in the United Kingdom.
The huge popularity of "Stranger in Paradise" in the UK is reflected by the fact that no fewer than six versions charted in 1955: besides the chart topper by Tony Bennett, others include the versions by the Four Aces (No. 6), Tony Martin (No. 6), Bing Crosby (No. 17), Don Cornell (No. 19), as well as an instrumental version by Eddie Calvert (No. 14) in the UK chart listings. In the same year, the song was recorded in France by Gloria Lasso as Étranger au paradis.
Billy Eckstine with the Hal Mooney Orchestra, Mose Allison, Peter Bernstein (guitarist), Sarah Brightman, Sammy Davis Jr., Percy Faith, Al Hirt,[8] Engelbert Humperdinck, Gordon MacRae, Johnny Mathis, Keely Smith, Ray Conniff, Curtis Counce, Isaac Hayes, the Ink Spots, Jack Jones, Mantovani, Martin Denny, Wes Montgomery, André Rieu, Saint Etienne, Alexander Armstrong, George Shearing, Sun Ra, the Supremes, Della Reese and Toots Thielemans are among the other artists who have recorded cover versions of this standard. Neil Young has performed the song live.
In 1965, the Ventures released their version of the song, renamed "The Stranger" and "Ten Seconds To Heaven".
An instrumental arrangement of the song is used in the 1979 Russ Meyer movie Beneath the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens.
In the film Breakfast of Champions (1999), based on the book of the same name by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., the song is used as a recurring motif.
In the 2001 anime series RahXephon the song is used as a recurring motif.
In 2011, Tony Bennett rerecorded the song as a duet with Andrea Bocelli for Bennett's album Duets II. Also in 2011, the anime Appleseed XIII used instrumental versions of the song for both its starting and ending themes.
| Russian[2] | Transliteration | English translation[3] |
|---|---|---|
Улетай на крыльях ветра
Ты в край родной, родная песня наша, Туда, где мы тебя свободно пели, Где было так привольно нам с тобою. Там, под знойным небом, Негой воздух полон, Там под говор моря Дремлют горы в облаках; Там так ярко солнце светит, Родные горы светом заливая, В долинах пышно розы расцветают, И соловьи поют в лесах зеленых, И сладкий виноград растет. Там тебе привольней, песня, Ты туда и улетай.
Пойте песни славы хану! Пой!
Славьте силу, дочесть хана! Славь! Славен хан! Хан! Славен он, хан наш! Блеском славы Солнцу равен хан! Нету равных славой хану! Нет! Чаги хана славят хана. Хана своего. |
Uletay na krylyakh vetra
Ty v kraj rodnoy, rodnaya pesnya nasha, Tuda, gde my tebya svobodno peli, Gde bylo tak privolno nam s tobyu Tam, pod znoynym nebom, Negoy vozdukh polon, Tam pod govor morya Dremlut gory v oblakakh; Tam tak yarko solntse svetit, Rodnyye gory svetom zalivaya, V dolinakh pyshno rozy rastsvetayut, I solovyi poyut v lesakh zelyonykh, I sladkiy vinograd rastyot. Tam tebe privolney, pesnya, Ty tuda i uletay. |
Fly on the wings of the wind
To our native land, dear song of ours, There, where we have sung you at liberty, Where we felt so free in singing you. There, under the hot sky, The air is full of bliss, There to the sound of the sea The mountains doze in the clouds; There the sun shines so brightly, Bathing the native mountains in light, Splendid roses blossom in the valleys, And nightingales sing in the green forests. And sweet grapes grow. You are free there, song, Fly home, |
Sing songs of praise to the Khan! Sing!
Praise the power and valor of the Khan!
Praise the glorious Khan!
He is glorious, our Khan!
In the brilliance of his glory,
The Khan is equal to the sun!
There is none equal to the Khan in glory, None!
The Khan female slaves praise the Khan,
Their Khan!
Do you see the captives
From the distant sea;
Do you see my beauties,
From beyond the Caspian Sea?
Oh, tell me, friend,
Tell me just one word:
If you want to,
I will give you anyone of them.
Sing songs of praise to the Khan! Sing!
Praised be his generosity, praised be his mercy!
Praise him!
To his enemies the Khan is merciless
He, our Khan!
Who may equal the Khan in glory, who?
In the brilliance of his glory,
He is equal to the sun!
Our Khan, Khan Konchak, is equal
In glory to his forefathers!
The terrible Khan Konchak is equal
In glory to his forefathers! Glorious is our Khan Konchak!
Glory, glory!
(Repeats the opening stanza)
Our Khan, Khan Konchak, is equal
In glory to his forefathers!
The grim Khan Konchak is equal
In glory to his forefathers!
Glory, glory to Khan Konchak!
Khan Konchak!
With your dancing entertain the Khan,
Dance to entertain the Khan, slaves!
Your Khan!
Dance to entertain the Khan, slaves!
Your Khan!
With your dancing entertain the Khan!
Entertain with dancing!
Our Khan Konchak![3]
