Don't Cry for Me Argentina

Don't Cry for Me Argentina” is the best-known song from the 1978 musical, Evita, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. Sung by the title character, Eva Peron, it was titled “It’s Only Your Lover Returning” before Rice settled on the eventual name. It appears early in the second act as Evita addresses the crowd from the balcony of the Casa Rosada and features a sweeping melody tied to broad emotional themes of regret and defiance, characteristic of Lloyd Webber’s most popular songs.

The song shares its tune with Oh What a Circus from the same show.

First versions

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The Julie Covington single cover of “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina”

Evita began life as an album, before ever taking form on the British stage. Julie Covington first sang “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina” for the original 1976 studio release. The single reached No.1 in the UK Singles Chart in February 1977.

When Covington chose not to take the stage role, Elaine Paige was cast as Eva in the London production. In the US, the song is closely linked with Patti LuPone, who performed the role of Eva in the original Broadway production of the show.

During the 1982 Falklands War between the United Kingdom and Argentina, the song was sometimes played sarcastically by British regimental bands as they deployed to the Falklands. At the same time the Covington recording was banned from play on the BBC.

Other recordings

"Don't Cry for Me Argentina"
Song

Madonna starred in the 1996 film, Evita, and recorded the song for its soundtrack. She also released a dance mix in both English and Spanish in early 1997, as the second single from the album. This dance remix, the Miami Mix Edit, can be found on the CD single. Madonna featured her original soundtrack version of “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” as an instrumental interlude on her 2001 Drowned World Tour. The music video used for the song was the complete sequence from Evita directed by Alan Parker.

Many considered the track a risky choice for a single, since the song was twenty years old and was promoted in its original album version in Europe and several other countries. It turned out to be a big hit, taking the number one spot in several countries, most notably in France, where it became her second number one (after “La Isla Bonita”). A U.S. top ten hit and a number three hit in the UK (placing in the top forty at the year end and selling more than 300,000 units), sales and airplay were aided by the dance remix.

“Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina” has also been recorded by many other artists. Olivia Newton-John recorded it in 1977 to be released on her album Making a Good Thing Better and also released as B-side of single re-release “I Honestly Love You”.

The Carpenters recorded it for their album Passage, with an intro called “On the Balcony of the Casa Rosada”, or “On the Balcony of the Pink House”. The song is 8:13 long.

John Petrucci, guitarrist of progressive metal band Dream Theater, played the main melody of this song during the intro of Through Her Eyes live in a concert in Buenos Aires.

The song has also been recorded by:

• Festival (1976)
• The Shadows (1978)
• Patti LuPone (1979 Original American Cast recording)
• Olivia Newton John (1980 at Midnight Special)
• Marti Webb (1980)
• Joan Baez (1980)
• Donna Summer (1981)
• Sinéad O'Connor (1992, from her Am I Not Your Girl album)
• Sarah Brightman and Mike Flowers Pops (1996)
• Judy Collins (1999, from her Classic Broadway album)
• Me First and the Gimme Gimmes (1999)
• Madonna, for the film Evita
• Elena Roger (2006 London Cast recording).
• The Hit Crew (2007) a Dance version.

Paloma San Basilio and Nacha Guevara recorded well-known versions of the song in Spanish (“No llores por mí, Argentina”). Katja Ebstein did a popular German version called “Wein’ nicht um mich Argentinien”. Indeed, the song has also been recorded in a number of languages:

• English: Don't Cry for me, Argentina
• Spanish: No llores por mí, Argentina
• Icelandic: Gráttu mig ei, Argentína
• Hungarian: Miért kell, hogy sírj, Argentína
• Dutch: Huil niet om mij, Argentinië
• Danish: Græd ikke for mig Argentina
• French: Ne pleure pas pour moi, Argentine
• German: Wein' nicht um mich, Argentinien
• Portuguese: Não chores por mim, Argentina
• Malay: Jangan Menangis Untukku, Argentina
• Swedish: Sörj inte mig, Argentina
• Finnish: Ei itkeä saa, Argentiina (the song is also called Kyyneleet pois, Argentiina in a new stage translation)
• Hebrew: Al na tivki, Argentina
• Turkish: "Benim için ağlama, Arjantin"
• Czech: Neplač pro mě, Argentíno
• Polish: Nie płacz po mnie, Argentyno
• Italian: Non piangere per me, Argentina