Shirley Bassey - Goldfinger (2011)

2011 - Dame Shirley Bassey appears on the Classic BRIT Awards Show)

Dame Shirley closes the 2011 Classic Brit Awards Show (May 12, 2011) by paying tribute to John Barry. Shirley is spectacular, once again, as she sings one of her hits, Goldfinger, which was co-written by John Barry, Leslie Bricusse, Don Black and Anthony Newley. Bassey is the UKs most successful female recording artist of all time, with approaching 140 Million records sold worldwide! Not bad for someone who never originally intended to go into show business!!

Shirley recorded two versions of this song. She recorded the soundtrack to the movie, 'Goldfinger' and then she recorded a version to be sold as a 'single.' Both versions are superb, but I believe she holds that big last note longer here, on the 'Single' version! Simply amazing! And, based on the length of this last note it most likely was during the recording of this version where John Barry kept telling Shirley to 'hold it,,,,hold it,,,,hold it' until as Shirley says, "I almost passed out!"

ABOUT the song, Goldfinger:
"Goldfinger" was the title song from the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger. Composed by John Barry and with lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, the song was performed by Shirley Bassey for the film's opening and closing title sequences, as well as the soundtrack album release. The single release of the song gave Bassey her only Billboard Hot 100 top ten hit, peaking at number eight; in the United Kingdom, the single reached #21. In 2008, the single was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Upon being asked to create a theme song for the film-in-progress, Bricusse and Newley looked at each other instantly and sang out, "Goldfinger . . . wider than a mile," reprising "Moon River," the successful theme song from Breakfast at Tiffany's. Originally, Newley recorded the song, but it was re-recorded by Bassey with George Martin and Jimmy Page as a session guitarist. Newley's version was later released in 1992 to mark the 30th Anniversary of James Bond on film, in a compilation collector's edition: The Best of Bond...James Bond.

The release on vinyl of Bassey's version sold more than a million copies in the United States (Guinness Book of Records)[citation needed], and it also reached number one on the Japanese charts and the top ten of many European countries. The song has become Bassey's theme song and she has performed it in most of her concerts since the 1960s, often as an opening number.

LYRICS:
Goldfinger
He's the man, the man with the Midas touch
A spider's touch
Such a cold finger
Beckons you to enter his web of sin
But don't go in

Golden words he will pour in your ear
But his lies can't disguise what you fear
For a golden girl knows when he's kissed her
It's the kiss of death ...

From Mister Goldfinger
Pretty girl, beware of his heart of gold
This heart is cold

Golden words he will pour in your ear
But his lies can't disguise what you fear
For a golden girl knows when he's kissed her
It's the kiss of death ...

From Mister Goldfinger
Pretty girl, beware of his heart of gold
This heart is cold
He loves only gold
Only gold
He loves gold
He loves only gold
Only gold
He loves gold

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Shirley Bassey
• John Barry
• Leslie Bricuss
• Don Black
• Anthony Newley

[HonestJobe]

SHE DOESN'T HAVE THE RANGE !

[sas9023055]

Bassey is 74 yo here! Some at your age tend to strike out with a negative comment, but probably have never taken any unbiased time to review many of the artists' performances from in the past. Bassey has a 3.3 Octave rage in full belting voice. She is a mezzo, not a soprano; she can still hit all the notes within that range, including an A5. Bassey sings to the music as written, and doesn't do the extra toots, whistles, or screams that younger artists do, & claim larger range.

[stevesg92]

@sas9023055 Just a random question... if Shirley Bassey had a 3.3 octave range, what would you say was Barbra Streisand's? Thanks...

[sas9023055]

First message: Just want to clarify, the 3.3 Octave range doesn't come from me...it comes from Shirley's musical director Michael Dixon. Singers who practice regularly stretch their vocal chords so when they do sing in public, they are able to more easily hit the musical notes as written. The musical notes as written, are usually segregated into the general vocal categories, (ie, Soprano, mezzo-soprano, contralto (Alto), Tenor, Bariton and Bass....Be right back...

[sas9023055]

@stevesg92 - Barbra Streisand is classified as a mezzo-soprano and she sings in that range, A3-A5, at least she did when she was exercising her vocals regularly. Streisand seldom has ventured down in the Contralto range for her music. Streisand could hit an A5 (Not sure if she still can). Why they sound different? Bassey's Tessitura (starting point) is lower than Streisands but she is still able to hit the A5. Other differing factors: Different vocal weight & vocal timbre

[sas9023055]

Under my alter ego, 'Scot9023055' I have uploaded 'Shirley Bassey - Shirley (The Movie - The Early Years). Check out this docudrama about Shirley's complex life as she goes from 'Rags To Riches' with all the UPs/Downs along the Way. Great Drama!

[davetherave7]

To all those fame hungry talentless wannabe's, listen, and experience real talent and a legend, something, few, if any, will never achieve.

Awesome performance from Shirley, as always, but this one made the hair on my arms stand on end.

Even the footage from the orchestra showed smiles on their faces, as they seemd to be really lapping up playing this iconic music.

John Barry really left his mark on the movie scene with so many memorable scores. Sadly, this great composer has gone forever.

[mrpaiva04]

Shirley Bassey - The eternal diva.

[fobesq]

Thrilling. One of the top singers of all time.

[TINACHER1]

@sas9023055 Well said!

[keff1340]

omg awesome ,simply the best !!!

[chrissy1095]

Incredible.



[medusa7ful]

Now, knock me over with a feather. OOOOweeeee!!!!

[sahajad]

Now this is a real diva ! Why could not Whitney Housten be like her without ruining herself !.

[shige167]

What a voice!! 

[lilithmoon1979]

@HonestJobe shut up she is in her 70's and does a hell of a job which you will never will achieve!

[lildarlingchaz]

@HonestJobe you quite clearly know nothing about music. and you can never fully tell of a singers full potential based on one song , dame shirley is prefection and has been in the music business for over 57 years now not like the 5 minuet stars of today who you might say "have the range".