Kiss Me, Honey, Honey, Kiss Me
Written by Albon Timothy / Michael Julien
Released in 1958 on a single. A chance appearance as a last minute substitute on “Saturday Night At The London Palladium” where she sung As I Love You at the end of 1958 helped Shirley Bassey to become well known at that time. The earlier single release “As I Love You” was now selling very well. The public then also discovered “Kiss Me, Honey, Honey, Kiss Me” and in early 1959 it reached No. 3 in the charts. Eventually “As I Love You” reached No. 1 in the charts. These two records were running neck and neck in popularity for some time and Shirley Bassey became the first female singer since 1954 to have two records in the top five. In Australia “Kiss Me, Honey, Honey, Kiss Me” was her first hit and reached position No. 34 in the charts in 1959. “Kiss Me, Honey, Honey, Kiss Me” became a landmark in her early career and is forever associated with her.
In the OK! magazine interview Shirley Bassey stated that this song is one of her favourites among her own songs. Her other favourite is Big Spender. She said: “I never tire of them because they’re fun numbers in which audiences join in.”
The song was included in the 1959 album The Bewitching Miss Bassey (length 2:24). A newer recording was released in 1966 on the album I’ve Got A Song For You (length 1:52). The song was also recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra in 1984 on the album I Am What I Am (length 3:37). Most Shirley Bassey collections contain one of these recordings. Since 1959 Shirley Bassey has sung this song at almost every live concert it is also available on many live recordings, and on Video and DVD.
Lyrics:
Kiss me, honey, honey, kiss me Thrill me, honey, honey, thrill me Don’t care even if I blow my top But, honey, honey, don’t stop
I’d like to play a little game with you A little game especially made for two If you come close then I will show you how Closer, closer, now
Kiss me, honey, honey, kiss me Thrill me, honey, honey, thrill me Don’t care even if I blow my top But, honey, honey, don’t stop
We’ve never played this little game before If you relax then you’ll enjoy it more Just settle down and let me teach you how Closer, closer, now
Kiss me, honey, honey, kiss me Thrill me, honey, honey, thrill me Don’t care even if I blow my top But, honey, honey, don’t stop (But, honey, honey, don’t stop)
You kiss so well my lips begin to burn And I can tell I’ve got a lot to learn So hold me close and darling show me how Closer, closer, now
Kiss me, honey, honey, kiss me Thrill me, honey, honey, thrill me Don’t care even if I blow my top But, honey, honey, don’t stop (Don’t care even if I blow my top) But, honey, honey, don’t stop (Never stop)
Shirley belting out in front of the pyramides of Egypt!
For this weekend you can enjoy the full concert Dame Shirley Bassey gave in Egypt on the 7th. of October 1998. The concert was held in aid of the education of the children of Egypt. With behind the scenes reviews of the organisers of the concert. This concert was recorded a few weeks prior to her TV-special ‘Viva Diva’. I hope you all enjoy this great concert and have a wonderful weekend!
A special THANK YOU! to Tina La Martina from France, one of the organizers of the Egypt-concert, for her pictures, comments and help on putting this great concert together.
Songs: Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever, As I Love You, Johnny One Note, Never, Never, Never, You’ll See, Kiss Me Honey, Honey Kiss Me, Big Spender, Something, I (Who Have Nothing), History Repeating, La passione & New York Medley, Hey Jude, My Way, I Wish You Love & I Am What I Am.
A photo of Shirley Basssey and Sherin Yousri and Yasmin Vetter in Monte Carlo at a charity gala, one year before the concert at the pyramids.
Here is the story about the concert from Tina La Martina from France:
Concerning the concert at the Pyramids, I worked on the team of Phoenix International Corporation in Cairo with Sherin Yousri and Yasmin Vetter. It was a wonderful experience. We were staying together with her impressario and the impresario’s brother at the hotel “Meridien” in Cairo. I remember that Shirley had forgotten her cigarettes on the plane, and I had to look for Lucky Strike during the night with my driver, all around Cairo. Nothing was ready for the concert and it was scary because on the day of rehearsals with her beautiful orchestra that came from London specially, every one was nervous and confident that we were heading for a disaster. It was the time of Ramadan and workers on the scene worked slowly and respected the pause required by their religion. Any organization was a challenge because of problems with customs, corruption, misunderstanding, but our tenacity, our professionalism and our hard work won. Journalists from all over the world on this occasion, were able to interview Dame Shirley during the afternoon, as if everything was going well. The concert was a triumph. All tables purchased were very expensive, and all tickets for the show were sold. The final fireworks before the Sphinx of Giza crowned the success of Dame Shirley.
Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak has been able to finance a social project for children through this spectacle. Despite all the difficulties encountered during the preparation of the concert, Dame Shirley proved to be once again a true diva.
About the dress Dame Shirley is wearing for this performance from Ian (the Gown Guru):
This dress we used to call the Mermaid dress! as it gives the appearance of a mermaid! It was designed in 1992 for DSB by Doug Darnell. Shirley wore it many times in the 90’s this was it’s last appearance I think in Egypt, it was worn on the U.K. show at the Royal Albert Hall in 1992, it can be seen on the video ‘An Audience with’ from 1995. This gown was not sold at the auction in 2003, as we believe it is the gown that Doug Darnell chose to keep, it was one of his personal favourites, and Dame Shirley gave it to him, for all his hard work over the last 50 year’s.
Shirley about her meeting with Madonna (co-writer of You’ll see):
Of all the stars you’ve rubbed shoulders with, some of them must have been boring as hell. Or just plain nuts. Who was the most disappointing? -That would have to be Madonna. I thought she was going to be as outrageous as her videos, but I met her at a function and she was very quiet and really rather disappointing.-
In 1966 Dame Shirley Bassey recorded another version of I (Who Have Nothing). This version was only released on an LP called ‘The Sassy Miss Bassey’ (DJ use only)
Lyrics:
I, I who have nothing I, I who have no one Adore you and want you so I’m just a no one, with nothing to give you but oh I love you
You, you buy her diamonds Bright, sparkling diamonds But believe me, dear, when I say That she can give you the world But she’ll never love you the way I love you
You can take her any place she wants To fancy clubs and restaurants But I can only watch you with My nose pressed up against the window pane
I, I who have nothing I, I who have no one Must watch you, go dancing by Wrapped in the arms of somebody else (but) Darling it is I
Sunshine was the fabulous B-side of the single The Liquidator. Later released on several compilation albums/CD’s.
Album version
Single version
Lyrics:
Say, Why don’t you take a look into the sky, Forget about the clouds, They’ve all gone by, Let’s grab a little sunshine, Grab a little sunshine.
Hey, now come along, You really should, My doctor says it does you very good, To get into the sunshine, Get into the sunshine, Get into the sunshine, Lying in the sunshine Drying in the sunshine Lying in the sunshine, Frying in the sunshine.
So, why don’t you let me take you out-ta town, I know a way to get you nice and brown. By lying in the sunshine. Lying in the sunshine, Sunshine, Sunshine, Sunshine, Sunshine.
Take Away was the B-side of the 1966 single Don’t Take The Lovers From The World. Shirley Bassey’s first single for the United Artists label. Re-released on the compilation CD The EMI/UA Years 1959-1979.
Lyrics:
Take away the dawn. I don’t need the dawn, I’ve got you to start the day.
Take away the sun, I don’t need the sun, I’ve got you to light the way.
What would I do? Where would I go? Who would I be if you left me? Don’t, don’t ever go. My heart would take no time to break, If one day I should find you gone.
Take your love from me, Very soon there’d be, Nothing left what dreaming of, So take away the night and day. The birds that sing, Take anything, But don’t, don’t take away your love.
01. This Is What You Are
02. Englishman In New York
03. Fever
04. I’m Still Here
05. MacArthur Park
06. Wild Is The Wind
07. Goldfinger
08. Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend (Duet With Paloma Faith)
09. Here’s To Life
10. It Was A Very Good Year
11. Hello Like Before
12. We Got Music (Deluxe Edition Only)
13. Hey Jude (Deluxe Edition Only)
A spokesperson from Sony Music advised The Bassey Blog: “There has been a delay with the announcement, more to follow soon!”
The following cover art has been published on Sony Music’s Italian language website and has been picked up in some Italian media. It is unclear if this is the final cover artwork or if the deluxe and vinyl editions will carry alternative imagery:
Due to the unexplained delay and silence on the official website, we are affectionately nicknaming the album, “Hello, is there anybody there?” and since Italians broke the news, this song comes to mind:
About the duet ‘Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend,’ The Press reported on Paloma Faith’s idolisation of Dame Shirley Bassey. “I feel a bit like pinching myself,” said Paloma, admitting to be being “obsessed by (her) biggest, most incredible inspiration” and revealing “I’ve recorded the duet with her for her 60-years-in-music album, it’s not a secret James Bond track; I wish it was.”
London, Wednesday October 22nd: Wembley Arena reports that Dame Shirley Bassey will be receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s MOBO Awards show.
Los Angeles, October 29th: Yahoo reports further details of the amFAR event. Rebecca Wang will chair and Gwyneth Paltrow will host the black tie event which starts at 6.30pm with a cocktail reception prior to the fashion show. Dinner will follow at 8pm accompanied by live entertainment, including a rare American performance by renowned Welsh singer Shirley Bassey, before the evening’s cornerstone activity, the live auction. (Full details here)
These two songs were the most discussed Dame Shirley Bassey songs on YouTube when I uploaded them for the first time many years ago.
The song ‘Somehow’ from the Royal Albert Hall concert from 1973 and ‘Excuse Me’ from the 1972 documentary ‘All about Shirley’.
These two clips take everybody by storm, including Shirley, because of the huge power and emotion she puts in them. It is always nice to show these two clips to people who don’t know Shirley and her music very well. Also because they are not the most obvious choice among all the other well known songs she sings live. They are little secret-hidden-surprise songs.
I remember a story about Liberace. He bought an 8-track from Shirley’s new album at the time: ‘Something Else’. He was driving home by car while playing ‘Excuse Me’ and got so overwhelmed by it that he had to pull his car to the side of the road. He could not concentrate to drive. The police almost arrested him because he was parking in an illigal zone.
Big Spender
Music written by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Dorothy Fields. Recorded: September 12, 1967.
released:
UK: Sep ’67 on United Artists sgl UP 1192
US: Oct 31 ’67 on UA sgl UA 50229
charted: single UK: #21, October 11, 1967
Released in 1967 on the album And We Were Lovers. Re-recorded by Shirley Bassey in the same year and released on a single and this one reached position No. 21 in December 1967 in the British charts. On the US and Spain issue of the album And We Were Lovers there is a different recording arranged and directed by Ernest Freeman. In England and other countries the version was arranged by Alyn Ainsworth and this is the version that you get on all the re-releases. Another studio version was released 1984 on the album I Am What I Am with the London Symphony Orchestra. From the sixties to this day “Big Spender” is an essential part of every live concert, so this song is available on many live recordings, and also on the videos. At some recent concerts she did this number even twice consecutively.
A remix of the original version, done by “Wild Oscar”, has been released in September 2000 on ‘The Remix Album…Diamonds Are Forever’ and by NorthXNWest in 2007 on ‘Get The Party Started.’
The song is taken from the musical “Sweet Charity”. The premiere of this musical was on Saturday, January 29th, 1966 in the Palace Theatre, New York and was a big hit with 608 performances. The director was Bob Fosse and his wife Gwen Verdon was the singing star of the musical on Broadway. The story is loosely based on Federico Fellini’s film “Nights Of Cabiria”, about a sweet-hearted Italian prostitute. It tells the story of an eternally hopeful but repeatedly disappointed dance club hostess. “Sweet Charity” was nominated for a Tony Award in two categories.
Cy Coleman (born 1929 in New York), who was the composer of the music for the musical “Sweet Charity”, began already at the age of six with his career when he had a recital at Steinway Hall. He was playing Manhattan super clubs at 17. Coleman began to attract attention with two hit singles he wrote done by Frank Sinatra in the ’50s: “Try to Change Me Now” and “Witchcraft.” He also penned “Firefly” for Tony Bennett in 1958. Other successful musicals he did have been “Wildcraft”, “Little Me” and “Seesaw.” From the last one comes Shirley’s song Nobody Does It Like Me. Coleman also had songs featured in films, covered by Barbra Streisand and many others. Other hit songs for Cy Coleman from the musical “Sweet Charity” have been “Where Am I Going?,” which was recorded by Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett hit the charts with “Baby, Dream Your Dream,” and Sylvia Syms with “There’s Gotta Be Something Better Than This.” And the song that was best-known from “Sweet Charity” was “If My Friends Could See Me Now.”
The Oscar winning American pop lyricist Dorothy Fields (born 1905 in New Jersey) was the first woman to be elected into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, in recognition of her long and successful career of hit songs, movie scores and Broadway scores that spanned the late 1920s through the early 1970s. Fields most popular songs include “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” in 1928 (for which she worked together with Jimmy McHugh), “On The Sunny Side Of The Street” in 1930, “I’m In The Mood For Love” in 1935 and “The Way You Look Tonight” 1936, which gained her an Oscar. The musical “Redhead” in 1959 for which she had written the lyrics, received a Tony Award and a Grammy.
In 1945 Fields had the idea for the musical “Annie Get Your Gun” starring Ethel Merman. Jerome Kern agreed to write the music, but died before he was able to start the score. Finally Irving Berlin was hired for the score, while Dorothy and her brother Herbert wrote the book. The show, which opened in May 1946, was a sensational smash hit. Dorothy Fields died of a heart attack in 1974.
In 1969 the musical “Sweet Charity” came into cinema with Shirley MacLaine as Charity Hope Valentine and John McMartin as Oscar and featuring Sammy Davis Junior. The complete movie title was “Sweet Charity: The Adventures of a Girl Who Wanted to Be Loved”. The character was changed to an American taxi dancer. Here a plot summary found on the internet: Taxi dancer Charity continues to have Faith in the human race despite apparently endless disappointments at its hands, and Hope that she will finally meet the nice young man to romance her away from her sleazy life. Maybe, just maybe, handsome Oscar will be the one to do it.
“Big Spender” was also a hit in the easy listening charts for Peggy Lee. Freddie Mercury has performed this song too and many others.
“Big Spender” with Shirley Bassey was part of the soundtrack of the film “Little Voice” 1998 and is available on the soundtrack CD.
In the OK! magazine interview Shirley Bassey stated that this song is one of her favourites among her own songs. Her other favourite is Kiss Me, Honey, Honey, Kiss Me. She said: “I never tire of them because they’re fun numbers in which audiences join in.”
Big Spender ( The UK version)
Big Spender (The USA version)
Lyrics
The minute you walked in the joint I could see you were a man of distinction, a real big spender Good looking, so refined Say, wouldn’t you like to know what’s going on in my mind? So let me get right to the point I don’t pop my cork for every man I see Hey big spender! Spend a little time with me
Wouldn’t you like to have fun, fun, fun? How’s about a few laughs, laughs? I could show you a good time Let me show you a good time
The minute you walked in the joint I could see you were a man of distinction, a real big spender Good looking, so refined Say, wouldn’t you like to know what’s going on in my mind? So let me get right to the point I don’t pop my cork for every man I see Hey big spender! Hey big spender! Hey big spender! Spend a little time with me Yes
The release date for Dame Shirley Bassey’s new album “Hello Like Before” has been brought forward – The Standard CD Edition and Deluxe CD Edition will now be released November 17th. The date for the Vinyl Release remains unchanged on Amazon so far.
The press release below by HJPR was kindly shared with us by Sony:
One of the most iconic and indelible voices in British music. Dame Shirley Bassey returns with ‘Hello Like Before,’ her first album in five years & most personal yet, celebrating her very own Diamond Jubilee of an incredible 60 years in the entertainment business!
Recorded at the legendary Abbey Road studios with producer and musical director Stuart Barr at the helm, ‘Hello Like Before’ is a collection of some of the greatest songs of the 20th century – songs that Dame Shirley has always longed to record and finally been able to imbue with her own Bassey spellbinding presence.
This tour of Dame Shirley’s own personal musical history includes the likes of Sting’s ‘Englishman In New York’, Nina Simone’s ‘Wild Is The Wind’, The Beatles’ ‘Hey Jude’ (on the deluxe edition) and ‘It Was A Very Good Year’, made famous by Frank Sinatra and of which Dame Shirley says “When I was 17 I was too young to do this song, and when I was 21, and 35 … I’ve waited all these years to do it.”
The scope of the album charts the entire range and variety of Dame Shirley’s life and career. From the fun and sassy, to the theatrical, to the epic and emotional. ‘MacArthur Park’, in particular, was difficult to record – Dame Shirley admits “I broke down with emotion in the rehearsals for this, couldn’t finish it … I want it make everybody cry”. There is also a stunning duet with Paloma Faith on the timeless ‘Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend’.
One extra special moment during the creation of the album occurred when Dame Shirley came to recreate the song that arguably introduced her to the world as a bright-eyed girl from Tiger Bay, the unmistakeable sound of her first James Bond theme ‘Goldfinger’. “I got a couple of notes wrong originally! After 50 years I got the chance to re-record it and get it right. It was great to record it in Abbey Road, wearing a gown!”
With an unparalleled career in show business spanning over sixty years, Dame Shirley Bassey has done and seen it all, performing for the likes of Royals and Presidents, being met with rapturous applause on worldwide stages from the glamour of Las Vegas to the mud of Glastonbury.
Throughout it all, Dame Shirley’s immediately entrancing voice has matured and richened to ensure she remains even more vibrant a musical force than the day she first stepped into the spotlight. Quite simply, ‘Hello Like Before’ is Dame Shirley Bassey at her very best.
The English lyrics penned by Rod McKuen. Released in 1967 on the Album And We Were Lovers and on a single. The UK album contained a version arranged by Ernie Freeman and the US and Spain album contained another arrangement by Marty Paich. This recording has also been released 1967/68 on an Italian 7″ single (UA 3144, “E’ Giorno” on the B-side). The song is available digitally remastered on many CD collections. A new remix of this song by Mark Brydon from “Moloko” has been released in 2000 on The Remix Album…Diamonds Are Forever. Moloko is a British band founded 1995/96. In addition to Mark Brydon, Roisin Murphy belongs to it as vocalist, but because for this remix Shirley Bassey had already done the vocals a long time before, Murphy didn’t have to sing for this track. Before Shirley Bassey, this song had been performed by Jacques Brel in French: “Ne Me Quitte Pas”. Later Rod McKuen wrote English lyrics to the song and performed successfully. Besides Shirley Bassey some other famous artists have performed this song. 1992 New Kids On The Block reached position No. 16 in the US Billboard with this song. Jacques Brel wrote the original French version “Ne Me Quitte Pas” of this song. He was born in Belgian and became one of France’s most beloved and enduring musical figures as well as a composer of international renown. At the age of 23 on a whim he quit his job and relocated the family to Paris to pursue a career as a songwriter; living in abject poverty, he struggled to find takers for his compositions, finally realizing he would be best served by performing them himself. Because of his own experiences he showed a strong persona in his stage-show and became known as both romantic and embittered. Some of his songs earned recognition throughout Europe, winning acclaim for their literate power and acute social commentary. His bleak songs exposed the injustice, hypocrisy and inhumanity he perceived as endemic in contemporary society. He never earned a hit record in America, but some of his songs after translation into English and performance by other artists, like this song for example and “If We Only Have Love” which has also been performed by Shirley Bassey. The last one is from a musical production “Jacques Brel is Alive and Well, and Living in Paris”. In 1967 after Jacques Brel had given many performances, he retired from the concert stage. He then acted in some films. In 1978 Jacques Brel died of cancer. Rod McKuen, who penned the English words to this song is a famous singer, poet and composer. He has composed more than 900 songs of which many are well known, like this one for example. His songs have been performed by many famous artists around the world. He earned more than 40 gold and platinum records worldwide. During the ’50s, McKuen had worked as a vocalist with Lionel Hampton’s band. Besides pop/rock songs, Rod McKuen has written both film and classical music. His scores for “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” and “A Boy Named Charlie Brown” have earned him two Academy Award nominations. His symphonies, concertos, suites and song cycles have been performed by orchestras throughout the world and are guaranteed to bring in large audiences. “The City: A Suite for Narrator and Orchestra” was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in Music. Another passion of the prolific singer/composer is writing poetry, which takes up most of his time. Rod McKuen has written more than 40 books. His poetry is studied in schools, colleges, universities and seminaries around the world. In his literary career, Rod McKuen earned the Carl Sandburg and Walt Whitman Awards for poetry and the Brandeis University Literary Trust Award for his contributions to poetry. The lyrics to this song are a fine example of his poetry abilities. After Rod McKuen had received the test-pressing of the album “And We Were Lovers” including Shirley’s version of his song, he wrote to Shirley Bassey: Dear Shirley, It’s been a bang-bang day. Too much work. Too much work undone. An hour ago, the test pressing of your album arrived and I used it as an excuse to begin unwinding. Maybe it’s the scotch. Maybe it’s the time of evening and the fact that I’m by myself – whatever, i am unwinding and next to me is that probing, prying voice of yours – now warm, now cold as an iceberg, coaxing out my song and a brilliant programme of other tunes. Thank You for singing If You Go Away. Thank you for doing something different with it. Also, thank you for singing everything you sing. Most of all, thank you for being beautiful always and in all ways – and tonight, thanks for helping me to let go. I love you, Rod McKuen.
If You Go Away
If You Go Away (Alternative Take: The UK album contained a version arranged by Ernie Freeman and the US and Spain album contained another arrangement by Marty Paich. This recording has also been released 1967/68 on an Italian 7″ single (UA 3144, “E’ Giorno” on the B-side).
Remix version (From the 2000 remix album)
Lyrics:
If you go away, on this summer day Then you might as well take the sun away All the birds that flew in the summer sky When our love was new and our hearts were high When the day was young and the night was long And the moon stood still for the night birds’ song If you go away, if you go away, if you go away But if you stay, I’ll make you a day Like no day has been or will be again We’ll sail the sun, we’ll ride on the rain We’ll talk to the trees and worship the wind Then if you go, I’ll understand Leave me just enough love to hold in my hand If you go away, if you go away, if you go away If you go away, as I know you will You must tell the world to stop turning till You return again, if you ever do For what good is love without loving you Can I tell you now as you turn to go I’ll be dying slowly till the next hello If you go away, if you go away, if you go away But if you stay I’ll make you a night Like no night has been or will be again I’ll sail on your smile, I’ll ride on your touch I’ll talk to your eyes that I love so much But if you go I won’t cry Though the good is gone from the word goodbye If you go away, if you go away, if you go away If you go away as I know you must There’ll be nothing left in the world to trust Just an empty room full of empty space Like the empty look I see on your face I’d have been the shadow of your dog If I thought you might have kept me by your side If you go away, if you go away, if you go away
(Transcribed by Roman)
On A Clear Day (You Can See Forever) is song from the 1967 album And We Were Lovers. It was from the musical of the same title. On a Clear Day You Can See Forever is a musical with music by Burton Lane and a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner based loosely on Berkeley Square, written in 1929 by John L. Balderston. It concerns a woman who has ESP and has been reincarnated. The musical received three Tony Award nominations. A 1970 film adaptation directed by Vincente Minnelli starred Barbra Streisand and Yves Montand. (Special thanks to Scot for this information).
In Australia in 1971 Shirley Bassey was presented with a gold disc for this album, during her yearly visit to Australia and New Zealand. This was the first gold disc awarded to a female recording artist in Australia.
Lyrics:
On a clear day, rise and look around you
And you’ll see who you are
On a clear day how it will astound you
That the glow of your being outshines every star
You’ll feel part of ev’ry mountain, sea, and shore You can hear from far and near a world you’ve never heard before
And on a clear day, on that clear day You can see forever and ever more
You can hear from far and near a world you’ve never heard before
And on that clear day, on that clear day You can see forever and ever and ever and ever and ever and evermore!
For this weekend by special request of DavidB our blogmaster and Dieter from Hamburg this great rendition of “Still” sung live in Tokyo in 1994.
From the 1994 concert in Tokyo.
Still
Written by Lionel Richie.
Released on the 1991 album Keep The Music Playing.
In 1979 The Commodores reached No. 1 in the US Billboard with this song. It came from the album “Midnight Magic” which reached No. 3 in the charts. It was the last number one for the group whilst Lionel Richie was still a member. He acted as lead singer, song-writer and played saxophone. In 1981/82 he left The Commodores for a solo career.
Lyrics:
Baby Morning’s just a moment away And I’m without you once again You laughed at me You said you never needed me I wonder if you need me now
We played the games that people play We made mistakes along the way Somehow I know deep in my heart You needed me
Remembering the pain, if I must stay It’s deep in my mind, and locked away But then most of all I Do Love You Still
Memories Times I’m sure, will never forget Those feelings we can’t put aside For what we had Sometimes I try to understand But it’s so heavy on my mind
So many dreams that flew away So many words we didn’t say Two people lost in a storm Where did we go? Where’d we go? Lost what we both had found You know we let each other down But then most of all I Do Love You Still
We played the games that people play We made mistakes along the way Somehow I know deep in my heart You needed me ‘Cause I needed you so desperately We were too blind to see But then most of all I do love you Still
Dame Shirley Bassey will appear for the third time on Graham Norton’s show. According to TV Guide, the show will be broadcast Friday 7th November at 10:35pm on BBC One in England and Wales, 11:05pm in Scotland and Northern Ireland. In the Irish Republic on Saturday 8th November at 9:00pm on 3e and at 10:45pm on TV3.
Tonight promises to be one of the campest line-ups in a long while as Graham meets singing superstar Shirley Bassey and actor, writer and comedian David Walliams. They’re joined on the sofa by comedienne Catherine Tate – David’s Big School co-star – and director-comedian Richard Ayoade. Annie Lennox provides the music, performing God Bless the Child.
An extended broadcast (5 minutes longer) is scheduled for Monday 10th November in the UK. The long-running and popular talk-show is also broadcast in other countries around the world.
Here is a reminder of DSB’s earlier appearances on the show…
It was bandleader and impresario Jack Hylton’s interest in Little Miss Bassey that is said to have put her firmly on her road to international superstardom. In the 1950s, Hylton invited Shirley to star in Al Read’s Such Is Life at the Adelphi Theatre in London, where Philips’ Johnny Franz spotted her, was impressed and offered her a recording deal.
The following video excerpt is from an incredibly rare TV documentary about Hylton’s life, first shown in October 1967 and recently uploaded to Youtube. It also includes a full live performance of Bassey’s first single, Burn My Candle:
With a new album to look forward to, a timely reminder of the incredible longevity of the Shirley Bassey career and Jack Hylton legacy. The 50th anniversary of Hylton’s death is due to be commemorated with a gala concert at Lancaster University on January 29th 2015, featuring a twenty piece orchestra recreating the original Hylton arrangements. We do not know if Dame Shirley will be among the ‘special guests’ attending the event.
(Those Who Love Each Other As We Do…)
Music written by Domenico Modugno and lyrics written by V. Pallavicini.
Released 1968 on the Italian album La Vita and on an Italian Single (UA 3152, with “Epirops” on the B-side). On the single “Canzonissima ’68” is noted which refers to this Italian music festival, where Shirley Bassey’s performance of this song had been a big success 1968.
Single version
Live version from the Monte Carlo Sporting Club
Lyrics: (with English translation)
Febbre di luna sulla mia facia Moon fever upon my face
Come avessi bevuto un po’ As if I were a little drunk
Guardo la gente I look at the people
Sembra che tutti It seems that everybody
Che tutti sappiano di me That everybody knows about me
Di me, di te About me, about you
Chi si vuol bene come noi lo sa Those who love each other as we do, they know
Che un giorno o l’altro ti succede That soon or later it may happen
Di amare tanto da morire To love so much up to the point
E non capire se esiste il mondo Of not understanding if the world exists
Chi si vuol bene come noi lo sa Those who love each other as we do, they know
Che amare è dare la tua vita That loving means to give away your own life
Tutta la vita in un momento Your whole life just in a moment
Anche se dopo, dopo non vivi più Even if later, later you can’t live anymore
Ma almeno questo è vivere But at least that’s living
Chi si vuol bene come noi lo sa Those who love each other as we do, they know
Chi si vuol bene come noi lo sa Those who love each other as we do, they know
Che amare è dare la tua vita That loving means to give away your own life
Tutta la vita in un momento Your whole life just in a moment
Anche se dopo, dopo non vivi più Even if later, later you can’t live anymore
Ma almeno questo è vivere But al least that’s living
È vivere… è vivere That’s living… that’s living
Tiger Bay temptress and world famous singer Dame Shirley Bassey flirts outrageously with comedian and children’s author David Walliams on the Graham Norton show airing tonight on BBC One.
Shirley was on the chatshow to promote her new album – Hello Like Before – but got caught up in a raucous exchange with Walliams who revealed he is a huge James Bond fan.
Dame Shirley will be appearing and performing Goldfinger in Blackpool for BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing:
Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly present the results of Saturday night’s spectacular Strictly Come Dancing, live from the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom. The show reaches fever pitch as one celebrity must leave the competition. As the professionals perform a group dance on a grand scale, the judges scores will be combined with the public vote and the two couples with the lowest scores must return to the dancefloor to compete against each other in the inevitable dance off. And if that wasn’t enough, supergroup McBusted and superstar Shirley Bassey will also be coming to Blackpool to give what is bound to be two very special music performances.
Here is a reminder of DSB’s earlier appearance on Strictly:
Released 1968 on the Italian album La Vita and on an Italian Single (UA 3138, with Pronto…Sono Io on the B-side). in 1968. Other tracks on the album La Vita:
La Vita
Pronto…Sono Io
Domani, Domani
Epirops
Chi Si Vuol Bene Come Noi…
E’ Giorno
Now You Want To Be Loved
A Time For Us
Softly As I Leave You
To Give
The Joker
I Must Know
Domani, Domani (Tomorrow, Tomorrow) Written by Pallavicini / Donaggio.
Lyrics (with English translation)
Quando viene la sera When the evening is falling
E il silenzio è più grande And the silence is greatest
C’e nell’aria qualcosa In the air there is something
Che mi parla di te That speaks to me of you
Domani, domani Tomorrow, tomorrow
Io sento dentro Inside I am hearing a voice
Una voce che dice That is saying
Che tornerai per rimanere You will come back again to stay here
Per sempre con me Forever with me
Domani, domani Tomorrow, tomorrow
Ma che cos’e questo domani, domani But what is this “tomorrow, tomorrow”
È un giorno che It is a day
Ha’ inventato per farmi That has been invented for me
Sperare cosi To be hoping like this
Quando l’alba ritorna When the morning’s returning
Nasce una speranza And a new hope is dawning
Ed aspetto la sera I’m awaiting the evening
Nell’attesa di te In expectation of you
Domani, domani Tomorrow, tomorrow
Io sento dentro Inside I am hearing a voice
Una voce che dice That is saying
Che tornerai per rimanere You will come back again to stay here
Per sempre con me Forever with me
Con me with me
Domani, domani Tomorrow, tomorrow
Io sento dentro Inside I am hearing a voice
Una voce che dice That is saying
Che tornerai per rimanere You will come back again to stay here
Per sempre con me Forever with me
Con me with me
(Transcribed/Translated by Roman supported by Francesco)
