OLDWICK, N.J. — George David Weiss, who helped write chart-topping pop hits including “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and “What a Wonderful World,” has died. He was 89. He died Monday of natural causes at his home in Oldwick, N.J., his wife, Claire, said. Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and many other big-name artists recorded compositions written or co-written by Weiss, whose career choice greatly disappointed his mother. She wanted him to become a lawyer. A Juilliard School of Music graduate who played the violin, piano, saxophone and clarinet, Weiss was a military bandleader during World War II. He gained wide recognition as a songsmith over the next few decades. Among the compositions he wrote or co-wrote were “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” recorded by Elvis Presley; “What a Wonderful World,” recorded by Louis Armstrong; “Surrender,” recorded by Perry Como, and “Oh! What It Seemed to Be,” by Frank Sinatra. Weiss had a role in creating the Tokens’ hit version of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” which was based on a 1939 song written by South African musician Solomon Linda. Weiss and two collaborators gave the song a reworked melody and new lyrics but kept the refrain — “Wimoweh, wimoweh” — that was popularized in a 1950s version of the song performed by the Weavers. The Tokens’ version became a million-selling hit in 1961.
Hugo PerettiLuigi Creatore George David Weiss "Can't Help Falling in Love" is a song originally sang by American singer Elvis Presley that Billie Eilish covered. Lyrics
[Verse 1] Wise men say Only fools rush in But I can't help falling in love with you Shall I stay? Would it be a sin? If I can't help falling in love with you [Chorus] Like a river flows Surely to the sea Darling, so it goes Some things are meant to be[Verse 2] Take my hand Take my whole life too'Cause I can't help falling in love with you Keep abreast of significant corporate, financial and political developments around the world. Stay informed and spot emerging risks and opportunities with independent global reporting, expert commentary and analysis you can trust.
"Can't Help Falling in Love" is a 1961 song recorded by American singer Elvis Presley for the album Blue Hawaii (1961). It was written by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, and George David Weiss. It was published by Gladys Music, Inc.
The melody is based on "Plaisir d'amour".[1] The song was originally written for a woman as "Can't Help Falling in Love with Him", which explains the first and third line ending on "in" and "sin" instead of words rhyming with "you".[2] In the United States, the song was at No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 behind Joey Dee and the Starliters' "Peppermint Twist"[3] and went to No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart for six weeks.[4][5] This song was also the last song he performed live, at his concert in Indianapolis in June 1977.[6][7] "Can't Help Falling in Love" was used in Presley's 1961 movie Blue Hawaii. It is seen as one of the greatest songs by Rolling Stone in 2012.[8] According to a 2020 survey, the song is the most popular choice for couples as the song for the first dance at their wedding.[9]
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