"Why" is a hit song recorded by Frankie Avalon in 1959 that went to No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart published on the week of December 28, 1959, for the week ending of January 2, 1960,[1] making it the last No. 1 single of the 1950s, and the first No. 1 single of the 1960s at the same time. It also became the first No. 1 single of the 1960s on the Cashbox magazine charts. The song was written by Avalon's manager and record producer Robert "Bob" Marcucci and Peter De Angelis. It was Avalon's second and final No. 1 hit.[2]
The melody is based on an Italian song. The Avalon version features an uncredited female singer (alleged to be Fran Lori),[3] heard in the repeat of the first four lines of the first part of the song, with Avalon replying, "Yes, I love you". He concludes the last quarter of the song with a coda, by himself.
The French cover by Dalida in 1960 became very popular as Bras Dessus Bras Dessous. Instead of being featured on her 1960 album Les enfants du Pirée, it was released only on EP with three more songs that appeared on her following 1961 year album Garde-moi la dernière danse.
Donny Osmond recorded "Why" in 1972, and it peaked at No. 3 in the United Kingdom. In the U.S., the song reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 19 on the Easy Listening chart.[5] Osmond’s version also reached No. 13 in the New Zealand.[6]
