Never on Sunday ( song ) - wikipedia Never on Sunday ( song ) This article is about the song. For the 1960 film, see Never on Sunday. For other uses, see Never on Sunday ( disambiguation ). This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( July 2010 ) `` Never on Sunday '' 2002 remastered single Single by Manos Hatzidakis from the album Never on Sunday Released October 1, 1960 Format Vinyl Recorded 1960 Label United Artists Songwriter ( s ) Manos Hatzidakis Producer ( s ) Jack Lewis `` Never on Sunday '', also known as `` Ta Pediá tou Pireá '' ( Greek : `` Τα Παιδιά του Πειραιά '', The Children of Piraeus ), is a popular song by Manos Hatzidakis. A vocal version was also released and performed by Melina Mercouri in the film of same name directed by Jules Dassin and starring Mercouri. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1960, a first for a foreign - language picture. The film score to the movie was first released on October 1, 1960 by United Artists Records. The song has since been recorded by numerous artists, and has gained various degrees of success throughout the world. Contents 1 Background 2 Recordings 2.1 Other appearances 3 References 4 External links Background `` Never on Sunday '' was written by Manos Hadjidakis originally in Greek with the title `` Ta Pedia tou Pirea '' ( The children of Piraeus ). The original Greek version featured lyrics also written by Hadjidakis, and was performed in the film by Melina Mercouri. The original Greek lyrics ( along with the foreign translations in German, French and Italian ) do not mention `` Never on Sunday '' ( as found in the English lyrics ), but rather tell the story of the main female character of the film, Illya ( Mercouri ). Illya is a jolly woman who sings of her joyful life in her port town of Piraeus ( `` If I search the world over / I 'll find no other port / Which has the magic / Of my Port Piraeus '' ). Although she earns her money as a prostitute, she longs to meet a man someday who is just as full of joie de vivre as she is herself. In 1960, the song was nominated and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, a first for a foreign - language picture since the Academy began to recognize achievements in this category in 1934. Recordings The song has been recorded in a number of languages since its release : Greek ( as `` Τα Παιδιά του Πειραιά '' ) by Melina Mercouri, Nana Mouskouri, and Pink Martini. English : An orchestral version recorded by Don Costa reached number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960, then returned to the Billboard Top 40 when reissued in 1961. His version also peaked at # 27 in the UK Singles Chart. Following the success of the orchestral version as well as the Oscar win, an English language version of the song was commissioned to be written especially to match the title of the film. The lyrics to the English version of the song were written by Billy Towne. A vocal of the song by The Chordettes reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1961. It was also recorded by Billy Eckstine, Bing Crosby, Lena Horne, Doris Day, Andy Williams, Trini Lopez, The 4 Seasons, Connie Francis, Julie London, Eartha Kitt, Petula Clark, Lale Andersen, Ann - Margret, and the New Christy Minstrels, plus as an instrumental by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass and James Last. The Ventures released a version on their 1963 Dolton album The Ventures Play Telstar and the Lonely Bull. As did The Baskerville Hounds on their 1967 Dot Records album The Baskerville Hounds -- Featuring Space Rock, Part 2. In the United Kingdom, there were five versions in the UK Singles Chart. They were Don Costa, reached number 27 ; Chaquito ( actually Johnny Gregory ), reached number 50 ; Lynn Cornell with the only vocal version in the UK chart, reached number 30 ; Makadopulos and his Greek Serenaders, reached number 36 ; and Manuel and his Music of The Mountains ( actually Geoff Love ), which peaked at number 29. Italian ( as `` Uno a te, uno a me '' ) by Dalida, Milva, Nilla Pizzi, Isabella Fedeli. French ( as `` Les enfants du Pirée '' ) by Dalida, Melina Mercouri, Darío Moreno. Dalida 's French version of this song topped French singles chart in 1960. Spanish ( as `` Los niños del Pireo '' ) by Dalida. `` Nunca en Domingo '' by Xiomara Alfaro. English / Spanish ( as `` No Tengo Dinero '' ) by Los Umbrellos, based on the melody. German : Lale Andersen scored a number one hit in 1960 with the German - language version of the song titled `` Ein Schiff wird kommen ''. It was also covered by Dalida, Caterina Valente, Lys Assia, Nana Mouskouri, Helmuth Brandenburg and Melina Mercouri. In 1982 the Neue Deutsche Welle band Der Moderne Man recorded a gay themed new wave version named `` Blaue Matrosen '' with the same German lyrics of Lale Andersen 's version, but sung by a man. Dutch ( as `` Nooit op zondag '' ) by Mieke Telkamp, based on the melody. Yiddish ( as `` Af zyntik - neyn '' ) by The Barry Sisters. Polish ( as `` Dzieci Pireusu '' ) by Maria Koterbska and duo of actors Hanna Śleszyńska & Jacek Wójcicki. Czech ( as `` Děti z Pirea '', 1962 ) by Milan Chladil & Yvetta Simonová. Serbian ( as `` Деца Пиреја '' ) by Lola Novaković and Ljiljana Petrović. Croatian ( as `` Nikad nedjeljom '' ) by Ksenia Prohaska. Slovenian ( as `` Otroci Pireja '' ) by Helena Blagne. Cantonese ( as `` 兩 仔 爺 '' ) by Andy Lau, Anita Mui, Sandra Ng, Ronald Cheng, Gordon Lam, Suzanne Chung, Cherrie Ying and Lam Chi - chung in the film Dance of a Dream ( 愛 君 如 夢 ). The title song roughly translates `` Father and Son ''. Mandarin ( as `` 別 在 星期天 '' ) by Teresa Teng. The title translates as `` Never on Sunday ''. Portuguese ( as `` As crianças do Pireu '' ) by Paula Ribas. Other appearances The song was used again in the 2005 movie Munich. James Hill, a Canadian ukulele player, recorded a version of the song on ukulele for his album A Flying Leap. Nia Vardalos sang a snippet of the Greek version in her 2009 film My Life in Ruins. Los Umbrellos, a Danish musical group, used it as a base for their 1998 signature song, `` No Tengo Dinero ''. This song was sung on The Muppet Show by Miss Piggy and Greek pigs, complete with smashing plates. Egyptian guitarist Omar Khorshid recorded an instrumental version of this song. Hartford Stage artistic director Darko Tresnjak chose this song to open his production of Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare. References ^ Jump up to : Roberts, David ( 2006 ). British Hit Singles & Albums ( 19th ed. ). London : Guinness World Records Limited. p. 135. ISBN 1 - 904994 - 10 - 5. ^ Jump up to : `` Never On Sunday : Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack ( Enhanced ) ''. Amazon.com. Retrieved July 27, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Manos Hadjidakis - Never On Sunday ( Original Sound Track Music ) ( Vinyl, LP ) ''. Discogs. Retrieved July 27, 2010. ^ Jump up to : Levy, Emanuel ( 2003 - 01 - 14 ). All about Oscar : the history and politics of the Academy Awards. Continuum International Publishing Group. p. 210. ISBN 978 - 0 - 8264 - 1452 - 6. Retrieved July 27, 2010. Jump up ^ Trust, Gary ( March 9, 2010 ). `` Oscar Winners On The Hot 100 - Chart Beat ''. Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2010. Jump up ^ Inc., Nielsen Business Media, ( 1961 - 05 - 29 ). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 13. Retrieved July 27, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Never On Sunday ( 1961, # 13 Billboard chart hit ) ''. Amazon.com. Retrieved July 27, 2010. Jump up ^ Roberts, David ( 2006 ). British Hit Singles & Albums ( 19th ed. ). London : Guinness World Records Limited. p. 333. ISBN 1 - 904994 - 10 - 5. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2006 - 10 - 19. Retrieved 2006 - 01 - 16. Jump up ^ Martin Fuchs ( 2001 - 11 - 06 ). `` No Fun Records Diskografie Teil 1 ''. Highdive.de. Retrieved 2017 - 07 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Hartford Stage Adds 1960s Twist To ' Comedy Of Errors ' ''. Courant.com. Retrieved 2017 - 07 - 09. External links Melody with printed lyrics Academy Award for Best Original Song 1934 -- 1940 `` The Continental '' Music : Con Conrad Lyrics : Herb Magidson ( 1934 ) `` Lullaby of Broadway '' Music : Harry Warren Lyrics : Al Dubin ( 1935 ) `` The Way You Look Tonight '' Music : Jerome Kern Lyrics : Dorothy Fields ( 1936 ) `` Sweet Leilani '' Music and lyrics : Harry Owens ( 1937 ) `` Thanks for the Memory '' Music : Ralph Rainger Lyrics : Leo Robin ( 1938 ) `` Over the Rainbow '' Music : Harold Arlen Lyrics : E.Y. Harburg ( 1939 ) `` When You Wish Upon a Star '' Music : Leigh Harline Lyrics : Ned Washington ( 1940 ) 1941 -- 1950 `` The Last Time I Saw Paris '' Music : Jerome Kern Lyrics : Oscar Hammerstein II ( 1941 ) `` White Christmas '' Music and lyrics : Irving Berlin ( 1942 ) `` You 'll Never Know '' Music : Harry Warren Lyrics : Mack Gordon ( 1943 ) `` Swinging on a Star '' Music : Jimmy Van Heusen Lyrics : Johnny Burke ( 1944 ) `` It Might as Well Be Spring '' Music : Richard Rodgers Lyrics : Oscar Hammerstein II ( 1945 ) `` On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe '' Music : Harry Warren Lyrics : Johnny Mercer ( 1946 ) `` Zip - a-Dee - Doo - Dah '' Music : Allie Wrubel Lyrics : Ray Gilbert ( 1947 ) `` Buttons and Bows '' Music : Jay Livingston Lyrics : Ray Evans ( 1948 ) `` Baby, It 's Cold Outside '' Music and lyrics : Frank Loesser ( 1949 ) `` Mona Lisa '' Music and lyrics : Ray Evans and Jay Livingston ( 1950 ) 1951 -- 1960 `` In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening '' Music : Hoagy Carmichael Lyrics : Johnny Mercer ( 1951 ) `` High Noon ( Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin ' ) '' Music : Dimitri Tiomkin Lyrics : Ned Washington ( 1952 ) `` Secret Love '' Music : Sammy Fain Lyrics : Paul Francis Webster ( 1953 ) `` Three Coins in the Fountain '' Music : Jule Styne Lyrics : Sammy Cahn ( 1954 ) `` Love Is a Many Splendored Thing '' Music : Sammy Fain Lyrics : Paul Francis Webster ( 1955 ) `` Que Sera, Sera ( Whatever Will Be, Will Be ) '' Music and lyrics : Jay Livingston and Ray Evans ( 1956 ) `` All the Way '' Music : Jimmy Van Heusen Lyrics : Sammy Cahn ( 1957 ) `` Gigi '' Music : Frederick Loewe Lyrics : Alan Jay Lerner ( 1958 ) `` High Hopes '' Music : Jimmy Van Heusen Lyrics : Sammy Cahn ( 1959 ) `` Never on Sunday '' Music and lyrics : Manos Hatzidakis ( 1960 ) 1961 -- 1970 `` Moon River '' Music : Henry Mancini Lyrics : Johnny Mercer ( 1961 ) `` Days of Wine and Roses '' Music : Henry Mancini Lyrics : Johnny Mercer ( 1962 ) `` Call Me Irresponsible '' Music : Jimmy Van Heusen Lyrics : Sammy Cahn ( 1963 ) `` Chim Chim Cher - ee '' Music and lyrics : Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman ( 1964 ) `` The Shadow of Your Smile '' Music : Johnny Mandel Lyrics : Paul Francis Webster ( 1965 ) `` Born Free '' Music : John Barry Lyrics : Don Black ( 1966 ) `` Talk to the Animals '' Music and lyrics : Leslie Bricusse ( 1967 ) `` The Windmills of Your Mind '' Music : Michel Legrand Lyrics : Alan and Marilyn Bergman ( 1968 ) `` Raindrops Keep Fallin ' on My Head '' Music : Burt Bacharach Lyrics : Hal David ( 1969 ) `` For All We Know '' Music : Fred Karlin Lyrics : Robb Royer and Jimmy Griffin ( 1970 ) 1971 -- 1980 `` Theme from Shaft '' Music and lyrics : Isaac Hayes ( 1971 ) `` The Morning After '' Music and lyrics : Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn ( 1972 ) `` The Way We Were '' Music : Marvin Hamlisch Lyrics : Alan and Marilyn Bergman ( 1973 ) `` We May Never Love Like This Again '' Music and lyrics : Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn ( 1974 ) `` I 'm Easy '' Music and lyrics : Keith Carradine ( 1975 ) `` Evergreen ( Love Theme from A Star Is Born ) '' Music : Barbra Streisand Lyrics : Paul Williams ( 1976 ) `` You Light Up My Life '' Music and lyrics : Joseph Brooks ( 1977 ) `` Last Dance '' Music and lyrics : Paul Jabara ( 1978 ) `` It Goes Like It Goes '' Music : David Shire Lyrics : Norman Gimbel ( 1979 ) `` Fame '' Music : Michael Gore Lyrics : Dean Pitchford ( 1980 ) 1981 -- 1990 `` Arthur 's Theme ( Best That You Can Do ) '' Music and lyrics : Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, Christopher Cross and Peter Allen ( 1981 ) `` Up Where We Belong '' Music : Jack Nitzsche and Buffy Sainte - Marie Lyrics : Will Jennings ( 1982 ) `` Flashdance... What a Feeling '' Music : Giorgio Moroder Lyrics : Keith Forsey and Irene Cara ( 1983 ) `` I Just Called to Say I Love You '' Music and lyrics : Stevie Wonder ( 1984 ) `` Say You, Say Me '' Music and lyrics : Lionel Richie ( 1985 ) `` Take My Breath Away '' Music : Giorgio Moroder Lyrics : Tom Whitlock ( 1986 ) `` ( I 've Had ) The Time of My Life '' Music : Franke Previte, John DeNicola and Donald Markowitz Lyrics : Franke Previte ( 1987 ) `` Let the River Run '' Music and lyrics : Carly Simon ( 1988 ) `` Under the Sea '' Music : Alan Menken Lyrics : Howard Ashman ( 1989 ) `` Sooner or Later ( I Always Get My Man ) '' Music and lyrics : Stephen Sondheim ( 1990 ) 1991 -- 2000 `` Beauty and the Beast '' Music : Alan Menken Lyrics : Howard Ashman ( 1991 ) `` A Whole New World '' Music : Alan Menken Lyrics : Tim Rice ( 1992 ) `` Streets of Philadelphia '' Music and lyrics : Bruce Springsteen ( 1993 ) `` Can You Feel the Love Tonight '' Music : Elton John Lyrics : Tim Rice ( 1994 ) `` Colors of the Wind '' Music : Alan Menken Lyrics : Stephen Schwartz ( 1995 ) `` You Must Love Me '' Music : Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics : Tim Rice ( 1996 ) `` My Heart Will Go On '' Music : James Horner Lyrics : Will Jennings ( 1997 ) `` When You Believe '' Music and lyrics : Stephen Schwartz ( 1998 ) `` You 'll Be in My Heart '' Music and lyrics : Phil Collins ( 1999 ) `` Things Have Changed '' Music and lyrics : Bob Dylan ( 2000 ) 2001 -- 2010 `` If I Did n't Have You '' Music and lyrics : Randy Newman ( 2001 ) `` Lose Yourself '' Music : Eminem, Jeff Bass and Luis Resto Lyrics : Eminem ( 2002 ) `` Into the West '' Music and lyrics : Fran Walsh, Howard Shore and Annie Lennox ( 2003 ) `` Al otro lado del río '' Music and lyrics : Jorge Drexler ( 2004 ) `` It 's Hard out Here for a Pimp '' Music and lyrics : Juicy J, Frayser Boy and DJ Paul ( 2005 ) `` I Need to Wake Up '' Music and lyrics : Melissa Etheridge ( 2006 ) `` Falling Slowly '' Music and lyrics : Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová ( 2007 ) `` Jai Ho '' Music : A.R. Rahman Lyrics : Gulzar ( 2008 ) `` The Weary Kind '' Music and lyrics : Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett ( 2009 ) `` We Belong Together '' Music and lyrics : Randy Newman ( 2010 ) 2011 -- present `` Man or Muppet '' Music and lyrics : Bret McKenzie ( 2011 ) `` Skyfall '' Music and lyrics : Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth ( 2012 ) `` Let It Go '' Music and lyrics : Kristen Anderson - Lopez and Robert Lopez ( 2013 ) `` Glory '' Music and lyrics : John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn ( 2014 ) `` Writing 's on the Wall '' Music and lyrics : James Napier and Sam Smith ( 2015 ) `` City of Stars '' Music : Justin Hurwitz Lyrics : Benj Pasek and Justin Paul ( 2016 ) `` Remember Me '' Music and lyrics : Kristen Anderson - Lopez and Robert Lopez ( 2017 ) Dalida Studio albums Son nom est Dalida Miguel Gondolier Les Gitans Le disque d'or de Dalida Love in Portofino Les enfants du Pirée Garde - moi la dernière danse Loin de moi Le petit Gonzales Eux Amore Scusami Il Silenzio Pensiamoci Ogni Sera Olympia 67 Piccolo Ragazzo Un pò d'amore Le temps des fleurs Canta in Italiano Ma mère me disait Ils ont changé ma chanson Une vie Il faut du temps Sings in Italian for You Julien Manuel Sempre più J'attendrai Coup de chapeau au passé Femme est la nuit Salma ya salama Génération 78 Dédié à toi Gigi in Paradisco Olympia 81 Spécial Dalida Mondialement vôtre Les p'tits mots / Ton prénom dans mon cœur Dali Le visage de l'amour Compilations Milord Rendez - vous mit Dalida The Best of Dalida Les Années Barclay : 1956 - 1970 Les Années Orlando : 1970 - 1997 Les Années Disco The Queen Tigani bi arab Remix albums Comme si j'étais là... À ma manière... L'an 2005 Le Rêve Oriental Révolution 5 ° du nom Live albums Olympia 1959 Olympia 71 Olympia 74 Olympia 77 Palais des Sports 1980 Popular songs `` Bambino '' `` Gondolier '' `` Come prima '' `` T'aimer follement '' `` Romantica '' `` Itsy bitsy petit bikini '' `` Les enfants du Pirée '' `` Parlez - moi de lui '' `` Je suis malade '' `` Il venait d'avoir 18 ans '' `` Gigi l'amoroso '' `` Monday, Tuesday... Laissez - moi danser '' `` Mourir sur scène '' Related Albums Singles Remix albums List of songs recorded by Dalida Orlando Records Place Dalida The Chordettes Jinny Osborn Carol Buschmann Lynn Evans Janet Ertel Margie Needham Dorothy Schwartz Nancy Overton Studio albums Harmony Encores The Chordettes Sing Your Requests Singles `` Mr. Sandman '' `` Eddie My Love '' `` Born to Be with You '' `` Lay Down Your Arms '' `` Lollipop '' `` Never on Sunday '' Related articles Archie Bleyer Jean Swain Book : The Chordettes Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Never_on_Sunday_(song)&oldid=842441857 '' Categories : 1960 songs Dalida songs Nana Mouskouri songs The Chordettes songs Andy Williams songs Best Original Song Academy Award - winning songs Songs about prostitutes Hidden categories : Articles needing additional references from July 2010 All articles needing additional references Talk Contents About Wikipedia Asturianu Brezhoneg Deutsch Ελληνικά Español Français Norsk Slovenščina Edit links This page was last edited on 22 May 2018, at 13 : 37. 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Question: who sang the song never on a sunday
Answer: Melina Mercouri