"Crickets Sing for Anamaria" is the English-language version of "Os Grilos" ("The Crickets"), a song written by Brazilian musician Marcos Valle with his brother Paulo Sérgio Valle.
"Crickets Sing for Anamaria" has been covered many times since, notably by English singer Emma Bunton, whose version peaked at number fifteen on the UK Singles Chart.
The song was originally released as "Os Grilos". The instrumental original of the song appeared on Valle's 1967 album Brazilliance! and became a "breakout hit".[1] The English version, to which producer Ray Gilbert contributed the lyrics, appeared on his 1968 album Samba '68. His then-wife, Ana Maria Carvalho was included in the title. Carvalho also sang on the album.[2]
English singer Emma Bunton covered "Crickets Sing for Anamaria" for her second studio album, Free Me (2004). It was released on 31 May 2004 as the album's fourth and final single.
The music video for the song was directed by Harvey & Carolyn,[citation needed] who also worked with Bunton on the video for "Maybe". British actor Jake Canuso, who notably starred in Benidorm, co-starred in the music video as Bunton's love interest.
For the B-sides, Bunton covered Paul Anka's "Eso Beso" and Valle's "So Nice (Summer Samba)". The only original B-side was the Latino version of "Maybe".
"Crickets Sing for Anamaria" would be the only cover on the song's respective album, Free Me.[3]
Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine gave the song a positive review, noting that the song, along with other tracks from Free Me, is "what pure pop should be—frothy and inconsequential".[4]
Pip Ellwood-Hughes of Entertainment Focus would put "Crickets Sing for Anamaria" on his list "Emma Bunton: her Top 10 solo singles to date". He said the "fun, carefree and light song is a bit bonkers", however, he'd add that the song suited the theme of its respective album, Free Me.[5]
The single debuted and peaked at number fifteen on the UK Singles Chart, Bunton's second single to miss the top-ten in UK after "We're Not Gonna Sleep Tonight". However, it also marked Bunton's comeback to the top-fourty in Ireland, after failing to do so with Free Me's third single, "I'll Be There". The single also charted in Scotland, peaking at number eighteen.
The song would become Bunton's ninth best-selling song in the UK.[6] It would also place on a list made by the Official Charts Company counting down all of the Spice Girls' solo singles, which Bunton is a member of, being thirty-sixth.[7]
In 1965, Brazilian pianist Eumir Deodato, who played as a sideman with Marcos Valle, recorded a version of "Crickets Sing for Anamaria". His version would appear on the album Ataque by his group Os Catedráticos.[13]
In 1968, Brazilian singer Astrud Gilberto would record a cover of the song for her album, Windy.[14]
