Antonio Banderas is an actor whose singing is best known from the 1996 film Evita. He played Che, the narrator, opposite Madonna, and sang solo numbers such as “The Lady’s Got Potential” and “And the Money Kept Rolling In (And Out).” He later sang on the 2003 Broadway cast recording of Nine. His most recent verified cast album is the Spanish-language Company, released in 2022.
People keep searching for Antonio Banderas as a singer mainly because of Evita. Alan Parker’s film of the Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber musical had its cast sing their own parts. That made Banderas one of the three male voices on a soundtrack that Madonna led.
Antonio Banderas: key facts
| Occupation | Actor and singer |
|---|---|
| Genres | Musical theater, film soundtracks |
| Years active | 1996–2022 (music) |
| Labels | Warner Bros. (Evita soundtrack) |
| Known for | Evita (1996); Nine: The Musical (2003); Company, Original Spanish Cast Recording (2022) |
The Evita sound of Antonio Banderas (1995–1996)
Antonio Banderas recorded his Evita vocals at CTS Studios in London. The sessions began in October 1995 and took almost four months to finish. Madonna and Jonathan Pryce worked with him there.
In the film, Banderas plays Che, an everyman who narrates the story. Madonna plays Eva Perón and Pryce plays Juan Perón. The songs follow Eva’s early life, her rise to fame, her political career and her death. Rice and Lloyd Webber worked with Parker to rework the music and words of the original songs.
On record, Banderas carries the role’s sharpest commentary. He sings “The Lady’s Got Potential” and “And the Money Kept Rolling In (And Out)” alone. He also sings duets with Madonna, including “High Flying, Adored,” and trades verses with her on “Goodnight and Thank You.” His musical style here is theatrical and sardonic: he sings as a storyteller with a pronounced Spanish accent.
Warner Bros. released the soundtrack on November 12, 1996. It is generally treated as a Madonna album because she sings most of the tracks. Banderas, Pryce and Jimmy Nail are credited as additional performers. Producers credited on the film’s music include Nigel Wright, Alan Parker, Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Caddick.
How critics heard Antonio Banderas on Evita
Reviews of the soundtrack were mixed: AllMusic’s Stephen Thomas Erlewine found it expertly produced but unengaging. Banderas fared better with film critics. The New York Times’ Janet Maslin praised his work as the film’s singing narrator, and he was nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. Banderas himself described the recording experience as “scary,” according to accounts of the production.
Antonio Banderas on stage and in later recordings (1997–2022)
Antonio Banderas kept singing after Evita, mostly in musical theater and film. He also recorded the Spanish-language duet “No Sé Por Qué Te Quiero” with Ana Belén.
On Broadway, Banderas sang in the 2003 revival cast recording of Nine: The Musical, released by PS Classics. It includes a tango duet that Maury Yeston wrote for Banderas and Chita Rivera, and the role earned him a Tony Award nomination. In 2007 he appeared on the soundtrack of the animated film Shrek the Third, on a Sly and the Family Stone cover.
His most recent verified cast album is Company (Original Spanish Cast Recording), released on October 28, 2022. It is a Spanish-language staging of the Stephen Sondheim musical.
Selected Antonio Banderas records
| Year | Album | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Evita (The Complete Motion Picture Music Soundtrack) | Soundtrack |
| 2003 | Nine: The Musical (New Broadway Cast Recording) | Cast recording |
| 2007 | Shrek the Third (Motion Picture Soundtrack) | Soundtrack |
| 2022 | Company (Original Spanish Cast Recording) | Cast recording |
FAQ
– What are Antonio Banderas’s best-known songs?
Antonio Banderas is best known as a singer for his Evita performances from 1996. These include his solos “The Lady’s Got Potential” and “And the Money Kept Rolling In (And Out)” and his duet with Madonna, “High Flying, Adored.”
– Did Antonio Banderas really sing in Evita?
Yes. Antonio Banderas sang his own part as Che, because the film required its actors to sing their roles. He recorded his vocals in London starting in October 1995.
– What genre is Antonio Banderas’s music?
Antonio Banderas sings mainly musical theater and film soundtrack material. His credits include Evita, the Broadway revival of Nine and a Spanish-language Company.
– Is Antonio Banderas still singing?
Antonio Banderas’s most recent verified recording is Company (Original Spanish Cast Recording) from 2022. It shows him still active in musical theater since Evita.
Header photo: Pedro J Pacheco / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0, resized
