Somos Novios (It's Impossible)

"Somos Novios (It's Impossible)" is a song written by the premier Mexican bolero composer Armando Manzanero by 1968.[1]  The song was translated into English in 1970 by Sid Wayne and first recorded by Perry Como the same year under the title "It's Impossible".[2]  It is one of the most popular boleros of all time. Besides Como, it has been recorded by Elvis Presley, Andy Williams, The Three Degrees, Jerry Vale, Dennis Brown, Andrea Bocelli and Frances Yip .Tejano group Mazz recorded this as part of a medley entitled "Canciones De Amor" which was on the album Para Nuestra Gente.

The Perry Como version would be one of his most influential records, and in February 1971, it became his first song to reach the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 in more than 12 years, peaking at #10. The song's peak on the Hot 100 chart came just weeks after concluding a four-week run atop the Billboard Easy Listening chart.[3]  On the UK Singles Chart, the single reached #4 in 1971.

Vikki Carr, an influential and popular Spanish-language songstress, recorded a notable version; and the YouTube video of her introducing this song in 1972 onThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is available for viewing. Sergio Franchi covered this song (in English) on his last album, Sergio Con Amore-From My Private Collection (Gold Records, 1976).[4]

Andrea Bocelli has covered the song as a duet with Christina Aguilera, Katharine McPhee and Rimi Natsukawa in 2006. Aguilera features on Bocelli's album,Amore, with the duet with Natsukawa is a bonus track of the album's release in Japan.[5] [6]  The duet with Natsukawa also appears as a bonus track for the Japanese version of Bocelli's The Best of Andrea Bocelli: Vivere.[7]  McPhee joined Bocelli onstage at the JCPenney Jam and their version is included on the album for the event.

The song was also covered by Italian singer Mina in her 1988's album Ridi Pagliaccio.

Luis Miguel recorded another version on his album, Segundo Romance, which was co-produced by Manzanero. Manzanero himself recorded the song as a duet with Puerto Rican singer Olga Tañón for his 2001 album Duetos.

Clay Aiken recorded the song on his 2010 album Tried and True.