In the 1961 film, the song occurs at a pivotal point, after the rumble in which Tony (Richard Beymer) has stabbed Maria's brother, Bernardo (George Chakiris).
In the 2021 film, the song takes place after "I Feel Pretty," like in the stage show, except now it is sung by Valentina (Rita Moreno), a reworked version of the character Doc.
When the Supremes appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson the day after King had been murdered, lead singer Diana Ross was so overcome with emotion that she practically stumbled through the speech, but got an extraordinary ovation from the studio audience.
In 1985, American singer, songwriter, actress and director Barbra Streisand released a version of "Somewhere" as a single from the Grammy Award-winning The Broadway Album.
In 2011, a duet was produced using scenes from Streisand's version while Jackie Evancho performed live with David Foster at the Ringling Museum of Art.
Steve Baltin from Cash Box wrote, "Taken from the tribute album The Songs Of West Side Story, this classic takes on a whole new connotation than previously heard in Tom Waits and Barbra Streisand’s brilliant versions.
The Pet Shop Boys' version also uses elements of two other West Side Story songs, "One Hand, One Heart" and "I Feel Pretty", and includes a sample of dialogue from the 1993 film Menace II Society.
lang did for “Secret Love” in The Celluloid Closet — put a showbiz classic in the queer context it always deserved.
"[19] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "In a perfect world, this wistful disco cover of the classic song (...) would meet with open arms at pop radio.
But, alas, narrow programming minds and even tighter playlist space will probably limit this single to the clubs—which is not necessarily a sad fate.
Partners Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe dress the song in vibrant trance/NRG keyboards and plucky beats."
"[20] British magazine Music Week rated the song three out of five, noting Tennant's "emotionally controlled vocals and a thumping techno pop beat".
"[21] Editor Alan Jones felt that the duo "turns it from an emotional tour-de-force into a camp disco celebration, where its subleties are completely lost.