Love Theme from The Godfather

"Love Theme from The Godfather"
Song

"Speak Softly Love (Love Theme From The Godfather)" is a song written for The Godfather (1972), the first film in the Godfather trilogy. While its instrumental version is simply known as "The Godfather theme", "Speak Softly Love" is the vocal version. The words are by Larry Kusik but the music itself is by Nino Rota. The words from the vocal version bear no relation to the Sicilian version Brucia La Terra as sung by Corleone's son in Godfather 3; this starts with Brucia La luna (the moon is on fire).

Originally sung by Andy Williams, other artists, such as Al Martino and Bobby Vinton, have also recorded the song. Slash of Velvet Revolver (formerly of Guns N' Roses) had also performed it in a hard rock style. Jamaican singer Ken Boothe recorded a reggae version. Satan's Pilgrims have performed a surf rock version as well. Gianni Morandi had covered the song under the title Parla Più Piano. Dalida had also covered under the title Parle plus bas (Le Parrain), as well as Tino Rossi and Marie Laforêt. A Ukrainian version "Say, You Love Me" Ukrainian: Скажи, що любиш (Skazhi schyo lyubish) was performed by Sofia Rotaru in the musical film "Song Is Always With Us", as the Soviet administration did not allow to register the original English version for the Godfather's soundtrack following the offer from Ariola (Sony BMG Music Entertainment). An Italian version appears in The Godfather Part III. It appears on the music compilation Mob Hits: the Best Songs of Mafia Movies. The Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra has also performed a ska version of the song. Also lifted for an Indian Movie Akele Hum Akele Tum whose theme is a story of a composer whose tunes are stolen by others. In Yugoslavia it was adapted and sung by Tereza Kesovija as Govori Tiše .

The band Fantômas also recorded a rock/metal version of the song on their album The Director's Cut.

The Hot Club of Detroit recorded a Gypsy jazz cover of this song on their eponymous album.

(RU) Russian version by Alexander Vertinsky. (SK) Slovak version by František Krištof Veselý. (CZ) Czech version by Jiří Malásek.

The melody was used as the theme music and as a central plot device in the Soviet short animated film Contact.

Speak softly love, Recorded for Columbia/SonyBMG 2004 by the Norwegian singer Rein Alexander. An album which has sold to Double Platinum in Norway alone.

See also

• Promise Me You'll Remember (Love Theme from The Godfather Part III)

External links

• 'Love Theme' song of the day on thishereboogie.com 29 Oct 2008