Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) – Doris Day | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#2); 1956
Story Behind The Song By Harris Sterling
In 1956, Doris Day introduced Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) in Alfred Hitchcock’s film The Man Who Knew Too Much, in which she starred alongside James Stewart. The song was written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans specifically for the film.
Produced by Columbia Records, the recording featured a gentle, folk-inspired arrangement that complemented Day’s warm vocal style. Released in the summer of 1956, Que Sera, Sera reached #2 on the Billboard Pop chart.
The lyric follows a simple question-and-answer structure, with a child asking about the future and being told that whatever will be, will be. Rather than offering predictions, the song emphasizes acceptance and optimism.
Que Sera, Sera won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and became Doris Day’s signature recording, remaining one of the most enduring songs of the 1950s.
This content was created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Harris Sterling. © 2026 Harris Sterling. All rights reserved.
Produced by:
Columbia Records Production
Lyrics Written by:
Jay Livingston
Ray Evans
Awards:
Academy Award for Best Original Song (1957)
Harris Sterling
Independent music label executive Harris Sterling has worked in the music industry for most of his career.
As Executive Vice President for independent music label Madacy Entertainment, he led the strategic marketing and business development for the label, negotiating agreements with the major record labels to release custom music compilations under license with major brands, such as Ford Motor Company, Crayola, Care Bears and Elvis Presley Enterprises.
Harris also led Madacy’s strategy for the licensing of its entire music catalogue to Apple for their launch of the IPOD.
In 2011, Harris co-founded Starting Five Media, a company that specializes in recording and licensing custom renditions of popular songs as well as clearing the rights to the music composition for use by their clients in media projects.
Harris has negotiated publishing and master recording rights for many Top 40 songs for use in various media projects, TV Commercials and more.