Spanish Harlem , a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, officially known as East Harlem. The name Spanish Harlem has become established over the decades because the population there is predominantly made up of citizens of the Spanish-speaking countries Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cuba and Mexico. Famous people from the neighborhood, also known as El Barrio, include mafia boss Frank Costello , gangster Joe Valachi and Anthony 'Fat Tony' Salerno , but also some actors such as Burt Lancaster and Al Pacino and the musicians Bobby Darin and Tupac Shakur .
At the end of the 1950s, Phil Spector, who later became famous as a producer, tried his hand at composing and joined the successful songwriting duo Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller . They had already produced several global hits - including for Elvis Presley . One of the trio's first compositions was the song " Spanish Harlem ," which reached number ten in the US Billboard charts in 1961 when performed by Ben E. King .
In 1964, Cliff Richard took on the song and released a German version: " That is the question of all questions ." The song was number one in BRAVO for six long weeks. The most famous interpretation - besides that of Ben E. King - was by Aretha Franklin in 1971. Aretha emotionally transformed the romantic rumba into a protest song against the oppression of the black population, although the lyrics hardly changed.
Ostensibly, the song is about a rose growing through the concrete streets of Spanish Harlem, always in the shadow of the sun. The singer is enchanted by this beautiful flower and dreams of taking it to his garden. Between the lines, however - especially in the second verse - it becomes apparent that the rose is probably a metaphor for a girl, one who is 'soft, sweet and dreaming'. Her black eyes ignite a fire in the viewer, for which he even apologizes.
The most beautiful version of the song appears on the Mamas & Papas' debut album "If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears", released in 1966. Known for their harmony singing, the Mamas & Papas deliver their masterpiece here. Denny Doherty , who was undoubtedly blessed with one of the most beautiful voices in the universe, provides the perfect lead vocals, the elfin harmonies of the two Mamas Michelle Phillips and Cass Elliot are spot on and the strings inspire you to dream of palm trees swaying in the warm summer wind. What a song?