| "Sweet Leilani" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single byBing Crosby withLani McIntyre and His Hawaiians | |
| B-side | "Blue Hawaii" |
| Released | 1937 |
| Recorded | February 22, 1937[1] |
| Genre | Hawaiian /Popular |
| Length | 3:14 |
| Label | Decca Records 1175 |
| Songwriter | Harry Owens |
| WithLani McIntyre and His Hawaiians | |
"Sweet Leilani" is a song featured in the 1937 film,Waikiki Wedding. It won theAcademy Award for Best Original Song,[2] andBing Crosby's record became one of the biggest hits of1937.[3][4]
Harry Owens wrote the song on October 20, 1934 for his daughter Leilani, who was born the previous day. Leilani is a popularHawaiian name, meaning "heavenly garland of flowers" (not "heavenly flower"). It also has a figurative meaning: Small Hawaiian children were carried on their parents' shoulders like alei (garland), so the name took on the meaning "heavenly child."[citation needed]
Prior toWaikiki Wedding, the song had been recorded bySol Hoʻopiʻi under the title "Leilani" as the B-side of "Hawaiian Honeymoon" (Brunswick Records 55085).[5][6]
Harry Owens and his Royal Hawaiians performed "Sweet Leilani" in the1938 filmCocoanut Grove starringFred MacMurray.[7]
"Sweet Leilani" became astandard ofpopular andHawaiian music,easy listening, and to some extentjazz; and has occasionally been performed bycountry androck artists. The following list is not intended to be exhaustive:
