Bobby Darin, Beyond The Sea | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 6^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Beyond the Sea” by Bobby Darin. 

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 6^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Beyond the Sea”, performed by Bobby Darin.

“Somewhere beyond the sea / Somewhere waiting for me / My lover stands on golden sands / And watches the ships that go sailing.” Iconic, timeless lyrics! “Beyond The Sea” marked one of 10 top 10 hits by the incredibly versatile, short-lived Bobby Darin (1936 – 1973). Arriving as the second track on his 1959 album, That’s All, it’s eclipsed only by the biggest song of his career, the platinum single,  “Mack The Knife”, which commences the LP. As for “Beyond The Sea,” it peaked at no. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960, charting for a total of 14 weeks.  This standard was composed by Jack Lawrence and Charles Trenet.  Notably, the original by Trenet, a French singer and composer, was titled “La Mer” (“The Sea”). Ahmet Ertegün, Jerry Wexler, and Nesuhi Ertegün produced the most popular version of the song by Darin.

“Beyond The Sea” not only speaks to the beauty of the sea, but it’s also filled with love. “We’ll meet beyond the shore / We’ll kiss just before,” Darin sings, continuing, “Happy we’ll be beyond the sea / And never again I’ll go sailing.” Throughout, Bobby serves up strong vocals. He’s expressive, nuanced, and quite authentic, without ever over-singing. His tone is beautiful.  Beyond the songwriting and the singing, the big band arrangement is lovely.  There are a host of superb instrumental moments including when the  horns blare, contrasted by tender strings, and of course, those pummeling drums.  All told, “Beyond The Sea” is one of those once-in-a-lifetime performances.  Furthermore, this ranks among the greatest songs, regardless of genre, of all time. #CLASSIC!

🎙 Bobby Darin • 💿 That’s All • 🏷 Elektra Entertainment Group • 🗓 1959

Bobby Darin, Beyond the Sea: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 6 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Elektra Entertainment Group; OpenClipart-Vectors, Speedy McVroom via  Pixabay]