16. Frank Sinatra´s megahit "My Way" had English lyrics added to a tune that had already charted, but in which country?
From Quiz Fascinating Facts Behind Some Well-Known Songs
Answer:
France
The story begins in Paris, where Franco-Egyptian Claude Francois (no, nor had I) arrived, having fled the Suez crisis. Francois made a name for himself, along with his improbably named dance troupe, The Clodettes, recording songs that would later become more successful for other artists once English lyrics had been added. After splitting up with singer France Gall, Claude, along with Jacques Revaux (music) wrote "Comme D´Habitude" - although one Gilles Thibault is officially credited as the wordsmith. Francois must have been thinking of how he would spend the money the song was generating when, whilst in the bath changing a lightbulb (!), he faced the final curtain. Ole Blue-Eyes recorded the song in 1969, singing a lyric written (but not based on the original) by Paul Anka, who heard the late Francois´ rendition during a trip to Paris, and rushed home to put pen to paper, and to secure the rights to the tune. Canadian Anka was a star in his own right, with "Diana", "Lonely Boy" and "Put Your Head On My Shoulder" to his credit. Sinatra actually loathed the song that would soon become identified with him as "My Way".