Introduction:

This book is about one song called ” Beggin’ “, that went through 3 music generation. A song that each child in the 70′ known and each child today knows as well.

How it possible that a song can survive that long?

We will see on this book..

1967

original version

The original song was composed by Bob Gaudio and originally popularized by American band  “The Four Seasons” in 1967.

Here is the original version:

Bob Gaudio born in 1942, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer, and the keyboardist and backing vocalist of the Four Seasons.

He had not written a Four Seasons single since 1965’s “Girl Come Running”, although he had written or co-written almost every Four Seasons hit up to then.

The song reached number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100, continuing the group’s string of Billboard top-20 hits.

However, it was overshadowed by Valli’s “solo” recording of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”, a Gaudio-Crewe composition, which rose to number two.

The song is included in Act Two of the Broadway musical about the Four Seasons, Jersey Boys.

Back then, in period of 67′-68′ there was also a few covers of the song, most of them in foreign language:

French:

Spain:

Italy:

And a UK version as well:

The covers did not got a lot of success at the time.

here is another version in 70’s vibe:

2007

DJ Pilooski and Madcon version

In 2007, French DJ “Pilooski” re-edited and released his version of the Four Seasons song.

This version reached number 32 in the United Kingdom and number one on the UK Dance Chart.

His re-edit does not include any new instrumentation or vocals but is purely a manipulation and remix of the original Four Seasons recording, using echo and phase-polarisation.

Pilooski’s remix was used as the main theme of an ad campaign for Adidas, celebrating the company’s 60th anniversary in 2008.

In 2007, the same year as the Pilooski’s remix, Norwegian hip-hop duo Madcon recorded and released a new version of the song with tweaked lyrics and added rap verses.

Madcon’s version of the song is a total re-recording, with all instruments were performed by production team 3Elementz and all vocals by Madcon.

Here is the 2007 Madcon version:

This version reached number one on Norway’s VG-lista chart for 12 nonconsecutive weeks. The single received the “Hit of the Year” award and also became popular throughout Europe.

The version also appeared on series such as “CSI:NY”  and movies such as “Step-up 3” and “Just go with it”.

2017 

Måneskin version

Italian rock band Måneskin recorded a cover of the song in 2017, having performed it on X Factor Italia, and included it on their album.

here is the Rock’n’ Roll version of Beggin’ by Maneskin:

Following the band’s Eurovision victory in 2021, the song started appearing on music charts across Europe and beyond. Also the song got viral success on social media platform TikTok.

“Beggin'” has so far reached number one on the weekly charts in Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia and more..

There is a whole new generation that going to remember that groovy version like this kid in the video:

And also my brother that i heard him listening to the latest version of the song, and ask him if he knew the version from 2007, the one that I listen when I was young.

I think that’s the beauty of it. That’s what’s gives a song immortality – the fact that we keep singing and enjoying his many versions till today.

Just for Entertainment:

here is another fun cover of the song – heavy-metal style:

Beggin’ on the eastern side: Turkey

Conclusion:

In summary, as we can see, that one song “traveled in time” more than 50 years and trough lots of generations that first exposed to it from one of the covers and versions of the song.

Beggin’ is a never ending chorus that can be called, in my opinion, the most famous song of the last 50 years, because it last and survived til now and I’m waiting to hear another version of the song in 20 years from now.

Thank you for reading,

hope you enjoyed 🙂