“Fly Me to the Moon,” originally penned as “In Other Words,” is a song that has journeyed far beyond its initial creation in 1954 by Bart Howard. This enduring melody, first recorded by Kaye Ballard, achieved iconic status, particularly after Frank Sinatra’s 1964 rendition became indelibly linked with NASA’s Apollo missions to the Moon. Let’s delve into the captivating history and explore the words that have made “Fly Me to the Moon” a beloved standard.
Kaye Ballard holds the distinction of making the inaugural commercial recording of “In Other Words,” released by Decca Records in April 1954. Billboard magazine, in a concise review published in May of the same year, lauded “In Other Words” as “…a love song sung with feeling by Miss Ballard.” This initial recording served as the B-side to “Lazy Afternoon,” a song Ballard was then performing in the stage production of The Golden Apple.
Throughout the ensuing years, the song began its ascent into wider recognition through jazz and cabaret circles. Numerous artists, including Chris Connor, Johnny Mathis, Portia Nelson, and Nancy Wilson, released their interpretations of “In Other Words” on various EP and LP albums. Eydie Gormé’s rendition, featured on her 1958 album Eydie In Love, garnered significant attention, reaching #20 on the Cashbox Album Charts and earning a Grammy Award nomination, further solidifying the song’s growing appeal.
A pivotal moment in the song’s trajectory occurred in 1960 when Peggy Lee included it on her album Pretty Eyes. Lee amplified its popularity significantly with a captivating performance on The Ed Sullivan Show, broadcast to a vast television audience. As the song’s fame swelled, it gradually became more commonly known by its evocative opening line, “Fly Me to the Moon.” By 1963, Peggy Lee’s influence led Bart Howard to officially embrace this new title, marking a significant shift in the song’s identity. The year 1963 also saw Connie Francis broaden the song’s reach internationally, releasing non-English versions in Italian as “Portami Con Te” and in Spanish as “Llévame a la Luna,” demonstrating its universal appeal.
In 1962, Joe Harnell reimagined the song with an instrumental arrangement in the then-popular bossa nova style. Released as a single in late 1962, Harnell’s bossa nova “Fly Me to the Moon” enjoyed a 13-week run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at #14 in February 1963. It also reached #4 on Billboard’s Middle-Road Singles chart, highlighting its crossover appeal. Billboard recognized its success by ranking it #89 on their year-end “Top Records of 1963.” Harnell’s innovative instrumental version earned him a Grammy Award for Best Performance by an Orchestra – for Dancing at the 5th Annual Grammy Awards. This Grammy-winning track was featured on his album Fly Me to the Moon and the Bossa Nova Pops, released in early 1963, which itself climbed to #3 on the Billboard Top LP’s stereo album chart.
Paul Anka also contributed to the song’s diverse discography with his own version of “Fly Me To The Moon” released in 1963, further demonstrating its widespread appeal across different musical styles and artists.
Frank Sinatra’s 1964 recording, featured on his album It Might as Well Be Swing in collaboration with Count Basie, stands as arguably the most iconic rendition. Arranged by Quincy Jones, who had previously worked with Count Basie on a version of “Fly Me to the Moon” for the album This Time by Basie, Sinatra’s version injected new energy into the song. Music critic Will Friedwald noted that Jones “boosted the tempo and put it into an even four/four” for Basie, but for Sinatra, “they recharged it into a straight swinger… [which]…all but explodes with energy.” Bart Howard himself estimated that by the time Sinatra recorded his version, over 100 covers already existed, underscoring the song’s established popularity. Sinatra’s version, however, cemented its place in popular culture, particularly due to its association with the Apollo missions, lending the fly me to the moon song words a new layer of meaning and resonance.
Bobby Womack’s 1968 rendition, released on Minit Records from his album Fly Me to the Moon, brought a soulful dimension to the song. His version reached #52 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #16 on the R&B chart, showcasing its adaptability across genres.
Interestingly, an instrumental snippet of “Fly Me To The Moon” found its way into popular television culture, serving as a doorbell melody in scenes set in Jennifer Marlowe’s apartment on the CBS-TV series WKRP in Cincinnati, highlighting the song’s pervasive cultural presence.
By 1995, “Fly Me to the Moon” had been recorded over 300 times, a testament to its enduring appeal. In the realm of Japanese animation, the series Neon Genesis Evangelion famously used multiple versions of the song, sung by Claire Littley, Yoko Takahashi, and various female cast members, as its closing theme. However, licensing issues led to its removal from the 2019 Netflix re-release in most regions, much to the disappointment of fans, illustrating the complexities of music licensing in the digital age.
In the video game world, a remix titled “Fly Me To The Moon (Climax Mix),” sung by Helena Noguerra, was featured as the battle theme in the 2009 game Bayonetta, demonstrating the song’s continued relevance and adaptability in contemporary media.
From its humble beginnings as “In Other Words” to its global recognition as “Fly Me to the Moon,” this song’s journey is a fascinating narrative of musical evolution and enduring popularity. The simple yet evocative fly me to the moon song words, combined with its timeless melody, have captivated audiences for generations, ensuring its place as a true classic in the American songbook.
