Shirley BasseyShirley Bassey in 2000Dame Shirley Bassey (born January 8, 1937), Welsh singer, perhaps best known for performing the theme songs to the James Bond films Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever, and Moonraker. To date no other performer has recorded more than one of the coveted theme songs. The Early YearsShirley had a Nigerian seaman father, while her mother came from Yorkshire, Northern England. She grew up in the notorious Tiger Bay area of Cardiff as the youngest of seven children. Her father left when she was just two years old. Shirley first found employment packing in a local factory when she left school at the age of fifteen. She enjoyed singing while she packed enamel pots, and to supplement her wage she sang in local pubs and clubs. In 1953, she signed up for the revue Memories of Jolson, a musical based on the life of Al Jolson. She next took up a professional engagement in Hot From Harlem, which ran until 1954. By this time Shirley had become sick of show business and had become pregnant at 16 years old with her daughter Sharon, so she went back to waitressing in Cardiff. However, in 1955, a chance recommendation of her to Michael Sullivan, a booking agent in London, put her firmly on course for her destined career. He saw talent in Shirley, and decided he would make her a star. She toured various theatres until she got an offer of the show that put her firmly on the road to stardom, Al Read's Such Is Life. While she starred in this show, Philips A&R and record producer Johnny Franz spotted her on television, became impressed, and offered her a record deal. Shirley duly recorded her first single, entitled Burn My Candle, and Philips released it in February 1956. Due to the suggestive lyric, the BBC banned it, but it still sold well nonetheless, backed with her powerful rendition of Stormy Weather. Further singles appeared, and in February 1957 Shirley scored her first hit with The Banana Boat Song, which peaked at #8 in the British chart. That year she also recorded under the direction of US producer Mitch Miller in America for the Columbia label, producing the single If I Had A Needle And Thread / Tonight My Heart She Is Crying. In mid-1958, she recorded two singles which would end up as classics in the Bassey catalogue. As I Love You appeared as a b-side to another ballad, Hands Across The Sea. It didn't sell well at first, but after a chance appearance at the London Palladium, things began to pick up. In February 1959, it made #1 and stayed there for 4 weeks. Shirley also recorded Kiss Me, Honey Honey, Kiss Me at this time, and while As I Love You raced up the charts, so too did this record. They ended up with both in the top 3 at the same time. A few months later, Shirley Bassey signed to EMI Columbia, and the second phase in her recording career had begun. Bassey became a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (the female equivalent of a Knight Commander) on December 31, 1999. Another great song is "Where do I begin". This page about Shirley Bassey includes information from a Wikipedia article. Additional articles about Shirley Bassey News stories about Shirley Bassey External links for Shirley Bassey Videos for Shirley Bassey Wikis about Shirley Bassey Discussion Groups about Shirley Bassey Blogs about Shirley Bassey Images of Shirley Bassey |
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Another great song is "Where do I begin". New lyrics gave the tune a basketball theme, and the spot featured Carlos Santana. The revised song had great success as a single, especially popular on the iTunes music download service. Bassey became a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (the female equivalent of a Knight Commander) on December 31, 1999. The BEP's song "Let's Get Retarded" was restyled as "Let's Get it Started" for an NBA finals worldwide commerical. A few months later, Shirley Bassey signed to EMI Columbia, and the second phase in her recording career had begun. The Tagalog lyrics and backing melody were based on the the song Balita, an original composition of the 1970s Filipino folk rock group Asin. They ended up with both in the top 3 at the same time. The Apl Song, with the chorus written in Tagalog, from their album Elephunk, tells the story of Apl.de.ap. Shirley also recorded Kiss Me, Honey Honey, Kiss Me at this time, and while As I Love You raced up the charts, so too did this record. During Black Eyed Peas' concert tour in Asia in 2004, Apl.de.ap's life story was featured in a weekly Filipino TV drama special called Maalaala Mo Kaya (Will You Remember), which explained his childhood with his poor family in Pampanga, Philippines, before sadly parting with them to live a better life in the US at the age of 14. In February 1959, it made #1 and stayed there for 4 weeks. The current line-up of the Black Eyed Peas as of 2004 (not including supporting band members) is: will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo, and newcomer Fergie. It didn't sell well at first, but after a chance appearance at the London Palladium, things began to pick up. The third single from the album, "Hey Mama" hit the Top 10 in the UK, Germany and several other European countries, and reached the Top 30 of the US Hot 100. Controversially, a reference to "dropping bombs like we in the Middle East" was edited out of some versions of "Hey Mama". As I Love You appeared as a b-side to another ballad, Hands Across The Sea. Indeed the band have enjoyed greater mainstream success in Europe than in the US with "Elephunk" going Top 10, gold and (sometimes multi-)platinum in the UK, Germany and many other European markets, yet ultimately failing to break the US Top 10, although it did go platinum there. In mid-1958, she recorded two singles which would end up as classics in the Bassey catalogue. The album subsequently spawned "Shut Up", which failed in the US but peaked at UK #2 (despite being referred to by one reviewer as "The single most vacuous, pointless, vile and generally loathsome song in a generation") and topped the charts in many other European countries including France and Germany. That year she also recorded under the direction of US producer Mitch Miller in America for the Columbia label, producing the single If I Had A Needle And Thread / Tonight My Heart She Is Crying. From "Elephunk" came the anti-war anthem "Where Is The Love?", which became their first major hit, peaking at #8 on the US Hot 100, but topping the charts practically everywhere else, including six weeks at #1 in the UK where it became the biggest-selling single of 2003. Further singles appeared, and in February 1957 Shirley scored her first hit with The Banana Boat Song, which peaked at #8 in the British chart. She is the replacement of background singer Kim Hill who departed the band during 2000. Due to the suggestive lyric, the BBC banned it, but it still sold well nonetheless, backed with her powerful rendition of Stormy Weather. Their breakthrough album Elephunk was released in 2003, featuring a new female vocalist, called Fergie, born as Stacy Ferguson who used to be in a teen pop band named Wild Orchid. Shirley duly recorded her first single, entitled Burn My Candle, and Philips released it in February 1956. Their other album is 2000's Bridging the Gap (2000 in music). While she starred in this show, Philips A&R and record producer Johnny Franz spotted her on television, became impressed, and offered her a record deal. After Eazy-E died of AIDS in 1995 (see 1995 in music), Atban Klann reformed as the Black Eyed Peas and released a debut, Behind the Front (1998, 1998 in music) that earned the group (and their accompanying live band) critical acclaim. She toured various theatres until she got an offer of the show that put her firmly on the road to stardom, Al Read's Such Is Life. The group is composed of Will.i.am, Apl.de.ap, Taboo, and Fergie. He saw talent in Shirley, and decided he would make her a star. As Atban Klann, they signed to Ruthless Records (run by Eazy-E), but their album was never released because the positive and peaceful lyrics were too unusual for Ruthless. However, in 1955, a chance recommendation of her to Michael Sullivan, a booking agent in London, put her firmly on course for her destined career. The Black Eyed Peas are an American hip hop crew from Los Angeles, who have lately enjoyed massive international pop success. By this time Shirley had become sick of show business and had become pregnant at 16 years old with her daughter Sharon, so she went back to waitressing in Cardiff. 2004 "Let's Get It Started" #21 US, #11 UK. She next took up a professional engagement in Hot From Harlem, which ran until 1954. 2004 "Hey Mama" #23 US, #6 UK. In 1953, she signed up for the revue Memories of Jolson, a musical based on the life of Al Jolson. 2003 "Shut Up" #2 UK. She enjoyed singing while she packed enamel pots, and to supplement her wage she sang in local pubs and clubs. Justin Timberlake) #8 US, #1 UK. Shirley first found employment packing in a local factory when she left school at the age of fifteen. 2003 "Where is the Love" (feat. Her father left when she was just two years old. Macy Gray) #31 UK. She grew up in the notorious Tiger Bay area of Cardiff as the youngest of seven children. 2001 "Request + Line" (feat. Shirley had a Nigerian seaman father, while her mother came from Yorkshire, Northern England. 2005 "Monkey Business"; due for release on April 4th. |