Gloomy Sunday

"Gloomy Sunday" (Szomorú Vasárnap)

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is a song written by the Hungarian self-taught pianist and composer Rezs? Seress in 1933. It allegedly inspired many suicides and so quickly became known as the "Hungarian suicide song".

Related Topics:
Hungarian - Rezs? Seress - 1933 - Suicide

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The crushing hopelessness and bitter despair of the original lyrics by Seress were soon replaced by the melancholic lyrics of the Hungarian poet László Jávor.

Related Topics:
Lyrics - László Jávor

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The origin of the song "Gloomy Sunday" recently became the background of a German/Hungarian movie called "Ein Lied von Liebe und Tod" that screened first on 21 October 1999 in Germany, directed by Rolf Schübel and starrring Joachim Król, Ben Becker, Stefano Dionisi and Erika Marozsán.

Related Topics:
Ein Lied von Liebe und Tod - Rolf Schübel - Joachim Król - Ben Becker - Stefano Dionisi - Erika Marozsán

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Sam M. Lewis and Desmond Carter each translated the song into English. Sam Lewis's version was performed from 1936 on by Hal Kemp and his Orchestra, then later by Artie Shaw and Billie Holiday. The popularity of "Gloomy Sunday" increased greatly after its interpretation by Billie Holiday in 1941. Her performance established Lewis' version as the standard for later interpreters.

Related Topics:
Sam M. Lewis - Desmond Carter - Translated - English - 1936 - Hal Kemp - Artie Shaw - Billie Holiday - 1941

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Paul Robeson (1936) and Diamanda Galás (1992) used Carter's lyrics in their versions of the song.

Related Topics:
Paul Robeson - 1936 - Diamanda Galás - 1992

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Artists who have covered the song include:

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• Billie Holiday (1941)
• Mel Tormé (1958)
• Sarah Vaughan (1961)
• Carmen McRae (1967)
• Genesis (1968)
• Ray Charles (1969)
• Lydia Lunch (1979)
• Elvis Costello & the Attractions (1981)
• Associates (1982)
• Peter Wolf (1984)
• Christian Death (1986)
• Serge Gainsbourg (1988) - in French
• Sarah McLachlan (1991)
• Sinéad O'Connor (1992)
• Gitane Demone (1995)
• Marianne Faithfull (1998)
• Björk (1999)
• Heather Nova (1999)
• Kronos Quartet (2000)
• Sarah Brightman (2000)
• Venetian Snares (2005)
• Ricky Nelson
• Sarah Vaughan

The Dead Milkmen did not actually cover the song, but they quoted its lyrics in their 1987 song "(Theme From) Blood Orgy of the Atomic Fern". Diamanda Galas has also recorded a song titled "Gloomy Sunday" though it is rather a reprise of the original Hungarian lyrics with a composition of her own.

Related Topics:
Dead Milkmen - 1987 - Diamanda Galas

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There have been several urban legends regarding the song over the years, mostly involving it being allegedly connected with various numbers of suicides, and radio networks reacting by banning the song. While there is still no hard evidence to support this, the idea may have inspired Spider Robinson's short story "The Law of Conservation of Pain", part of the Callahan's Crosstime Saloon series.

Related Topics:
Urban legends - Spider Robinson - Callahan's Crosstime Saloon

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Seress himself jumped to his death from his apartment in 1968.

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Gloomy Sunday: See also ►