Lolita (1962 Film) - Music

Music

The music for the film was composed by Nelson Riddle. The recurring dance number first heard on the radio when Humbert meets Lolita in the garden later became a hit single under the name "Lolita Ya Ya" with Sue Lyon credited with the singing on the single version. The flip side was a 60s-style light rock song called "Turn off the Moon" also sung by Sue Lyon. "Lolita Ya Ya" was later recorded by other bands- it was also a hit single for "The Ventures" reaching 61 on Billboard and then being included on many of their compilation albums. In his biography of The Ventures, Del Halterman quotes an unnamed reviewer of the CD rerelease of the original Lolita soundtrack as saying "The highlight is the most frivolous track, 'Lolita Ya Ya', a maddeningly vapid and catchy instrumental with nonsense vocals that comes across as a simultaneously vicious and good-humored parody of the kitschiest elements of early-sixties rock and roll."

The tune was also recorded by Mexican guitarist Diego de Cossío, appearing recently on his Mexican-label released CD Guitarra Magica de Diego de Cossio: Los Dorados 60's ("The Golden '60s"). As with many of his guitar adaptations, Diego de Cossio gave the melody a Spanish sensibility.