Catch a Falling Star
"Catch a Falling Star" | ||||
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Single by Perry Como | ||||
B-side | "Magic Moments" | |||
Released | December 3, 1957 | |||
Recorded | October 9, 1957 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 2:23 | |||
Label | RCA Victor | |||
Songwriter(s) | Paul Vance and Lee Pockriss | |||
Producer(s) | Joe Reisman | |||
Perry Como singles chronology | ||||
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"Catch a Falling Star" is a song written by Paul Vance and Lee Pockriss. It is best known and was made famous by Perry Como's hit version, recorded and released in late 1957.
Background and chart performance
The song's melody is based on a theme from Brahms' Academic Festival Overture. Perry Como's version features The Ray Charles Singers, who sing the refrain as a repeated round.
It was Como's last number one hit in the United States, reaching number 1 on the Billboard "Most Played by Jockeys" chart, but not in the overall top 100, where it reached number 3. It was the first single to receive a Recording Industry Association of America gold record certification, on March 14, 1958. In Canada, the song reached number 12 on the CHUM Charts, February 3, 1958, co-charting with Magic Moments.
Overseas, in 1958, the song also topped the Australian charts. In the UK Singles Chart, "Catch a Falling Star" peaked at number nine, whereas its B-side "Magic Moments" topped the charts.
Accolades
The single won Como the 1959 Grammy Award for Best Vocal Performance, Male.
In popular culture
The song has been featured in several films, including:
- The Princess Diaries
- Love Actually
- Everybody's Fine
- Welcome to Me
- Never Been Kissed
- It was featured in the first episode of the second season of the Mr. Mercedes television series.
- It was often featured in the TV series Lost, and was most often associated with Claire Littleton and her baby, Aaron.
- It is also featured in an episode of the FX black comedy Mr Inbetween, and in Series 3 Episode 4 of William and Mary.
- A musical phrase from the song appears in John Williams's score for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull during the motorcycle chase through the college.
- It was also in the musical Forever Plaid
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United States (RIAA) | Gold | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |