Like almost all the music in that show, the melody was based on works by Alexander Borodin,[1][2] in this case the second theme of the second movement of his String Quartet in D. The "Kismet" setting maintains the original's 3/4 waltz rhythm; pop music settings change the rhythm to a moderate four-beat accompaniment. Jazz musicians are especially drawn to the song's beguiling melody and advanced harmonic structure. The familiar AA'BA+Coda structure of the song is energized by a key change up a major thirdinterval for every section; the transition is marked by a harmonic progression from the central major key of one section to the tritone minor key of the following section.[citation needed]
1953 recordings
The best-selling version of the song was recorded by Peggy Lee on September 16, 1953[3] and charted briefly that year.[4] Other versions were recorded that year by Lu Ann Simms and Georgia Gibbs.
Other recordings
The song has appeared on numerous albums over the years including:
Argentine composer Ernesto Acher mixed the scherzo of Borodin's string quartet with this piece of music, under the name "Borodin, Bangles & Beads" in 1987 on his album Juegos[9]
