The Impossible Dream (The Quest)
"The Impossible Dream (The Quest)" is a popular song composed by Mitch Leigh, with lyrics written by Joe Darion. The song is the most popular song from the 1965 Broadway musical Man of La Mancha and is also featured in the 1972 film of the same name starring Peter O'Toole.
The complete song is first sung by Don Quixote as he stands vigil over his armor, in response to Aldonza (Dulcinea)'s question about what he means by "following the quest". It is reprised partially three more times – the last by prisoners in a dungeon as Miguel de Cervantes and his manservant mount the drawbridge-like prison staircase to face trial by the Spanish Inquisition.
It was awarded the Contemporary Classics Award from the Songwriter's Hall of Fame.[1]
Notable renditions
| "The Impossible Dream (The Quest)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Jack Jones | ||||
| from the album The Impossible Dream | ||||
| B-side | "Strangers in the Night" | |||
| Released | April 1966 | |||
| Recorded | 1966 | |||
| Studio | Columbia 30th Street Studio, New York City | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 2:17 | |||
| Label | Kapp | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Joe Darion, Mitch Leigh | |||
| Producer(s) | Pete King | |||
| Jack Jones singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
- 1965: Richard Kiley on the original Broadway cast album of Man of La Mancha
- 1966: Ed Ames on his album More I Cannot Wish You
- 1968: Sergio Franchi on his album Wine and Song[2]
- 1966: Jack Jones (with altered lyrics) on his album The Impossible Dream; this version hit No. 35 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and went to No. 1 on the adult contemporary chart[3]
- 1966: Frank Sinatra on his album That's Life
- 1966: Jim Nabors on his album Love Me With All Your Heart,[4] and performed on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., in the episode "The Show Must Go On"[5]
- 1967: The Temptations on the album The Temptations in a Mellow Mood
- 1967: Shirley Bassey on her album And We Were Lovers
- 1967: Robert Goulet on his album More Great Songs From the Big Hit Shows: Robert Goulet On Broadway, Volume 2[6]
- 1967: Matt Monro on his album Invitation to Broadway
- 1967: Brazilian singer Ronaldo Reys did a Portuguese translation titled Sonho Impossível, which was later covered by several Brazilian artists
- 1968: Roger Williams on his album More Than a Miracle
- 1968: The Hesitations on their album Where We're At!
- 1968: The Imperials on their album New Dimensions
- 1968: Andre Kostelanetz on his album For the Young at Heart
- 1968: Jacques Brel (in the French translation titled ("La Quête") on his album L'Homme de la Mancha
- 1968: The Vogues on their album Turn Around, Look at Me
- 1968: Glen Campbell on his album Hey Little One
- 1968: Andy Williams on his album Honey
- 1968: Cher on her album Backstage
- 1968: The Smothers Brothers on their album Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
- 1969: Sammy Davis, Jr. on his album The Goin's Great
- 1969: Roger Whittaker on his album This is Roger Whittaker
- 1969: Scott Walker on his album Scott: Scott Walker Sings Songs from his TV Series
- 1969: Liberace on his album I Play Piano and Sing (Volume Two)
- 1969: Shani Wallis on her album As Long as He Needs Me
- 1970: Roberta Flack on her album Chapter Two
- 1971: Malcolm Roberts on his album Sounds Like Malcolm Roberts
- 1972: Elvis Presley on his album Elvis as Recorded at Madison Square Garden
- 1972: The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Columbia Symphony Orchestra on the album Climb Every Mountain
- 1974: Ken Boothe on his album Everything I Own
- 1974: The Sensational Alex Harvey Band on their album The Impossible Dream
- 1984: Albertina Walker and the Christ Universal Temple Ensemble on the album The Impossible Dream
- 1989: Scott Bakula as Sam Beckett in Quantum Leap
- 1992: Carter USM on their album 1992 – The Love Album
- 1994: Luther Vandross on his album Songs
- 1995: Roger Whittaker on his album On Broadway
- 1998: Maria Bethânia in the Brazilian translation titled "Sonho Impossível" her album A Cena Muda
- 1996: Tevin Campbell on the compilation album Rhythm of the Games: 1996 Olympic Games Album
- 2000: Jose Carreras on the compilation album Tonight - Hits from the Musicals
- 2001: Florence Ballard on her album The Supreme Florence Ballard
- 2002: Brian Stokes Mitchell on the Broadway revival cast album of Man of La Mancha
- 2003: Linda Eder on her album Broadway My Way
- 2005: Aretha Franklin performed the song at the funeral of civil rights activist Rosa Parks
- 2006: Andy Abraham on his debut album The Impossible Dream
- 2006: Johnny Hallyday in the French translation titled La Quête on the live albums Flashback Tour : Palais des sports 2006 and La Cigale : 12-17 décembre 2006
- 2007: Christopher Lee on his album Revelation
- 2007: Sarah Connor on her album Soulicious
- 2007: Jed Madela on his album Only Human
- 2008: Rhydian Roberts on his debut album Rhydian
- 2009: The Mighty Mighty Bosstones recorded for the 7" Impossible Dream
- 2009: The Republic Tigers on the iTunes tribute album His Way, Our Way
- 2010: Alfie Boe on his album Bring Him Home, duet with Matt Lucas
- 2011: Jackie Evancho on her album Dream With Me Deluxe edition
- 2014: Susan Boyle on her album Hope
- 2015: Gerphil Flores sang the operatic version of the song as a contest piece for the grand finals of the inaugural season of Asia's Got Talent which put her on third place
- 2016: Ramon Jacinto on his first ballad album Romancing RJ
- 2016: Cynthia Erivo performed the song at the 2016 Kennedy Center Honors
- 2017: Jason Manford on his debut album A Different Stage
- 2017: Voctave feat. Tiffany Coburn on their studio album The Corner of Broadway & Main Street
- 2020: Josh Groban on his album Harmony
- 2020: Oliver Harris on his album Elvis, Roy & Elton
In politics
During Robert F. Kennedy's long shot campaign for the presidency in 1968, Senator George McGovern introduced him before a South Dakota stump speech by quoting from "The Impossible Dream". Afterwards Kennedy questioned McGovern whether he really thought it was impossible. McGovern replied, "No, I don't think it's impossible. I just... wanted the audience to understand it's worth making the effort, whether you win or lose." Kennedy replied, "Well, that's what I think."[7] It was actually Robert Kennedy's favorite song. One of Kennedy's close friends, Andy Williams, was one of many vocal artists of the Sixties that recorded the song.[7] The song was also a favorite of younger brother Ted Kennedy and was performed by Brian Stokes Mitchell at his memorial service in 2009.[8]
The song was a favorite of Philippine hero Evelio Javier, the assassinated governor of the province of Antique in the Philippines, and the song has become a symbol of his sacrifice for democracy. Javier was shot and killed in the plaza of San Jose, Antique, during the counting following the 1986 Snap Elections, an act which contributed to the peaceful overthrow of Ferdinand Marcos by Cory Aquino in the People Power Revolution. Every year, Javier is remembered on Evelio Javier Day and the song is featured. The song's lyrics are written in brass on a monument in the plaza where he was shot.
See also
References
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-07-15. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-07-13. Retrieved 2011-10-07.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001. Record Research. p. 131.
- ^ "Jim Nabors Sings Love Me with All Your Heart".
- ^ "Jim Nabors Sings Stirring Version of 'The Impossible Dream On Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.". Reshareworthy.com. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
- ^ Watts, Randy; Callahan, Mike; Edwards, David; Eyries, Patrice. "Columbia Album Discography, Part 21 (CL 2500-2599/CS 9300-9399) 1966–1967". Bsnpubs.com. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
- ^ a b Schlesinger, Arthur M. (1978; 1990). Robert Kennedy and His Times. Ballantine Books.
- ^ "Ted Kennedy's Wake: Farewell to 'Captain Ahab'". Time. 2009-08-29. Retrieved 2011-05-30.
Further reading
- Wasserman, Dale (2003). The Impossible Musical. Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. ISBN 978-1-55783-515-4.
