1997 (Veteran vocalist/entertainer Shirley Bassey hosts the 1997 Lotto Show in the UK. Shirley has recorded three James Bond Theme songs soundtracks, and here she performs the two most well know, 'Goldfinger' and 'Diamonds Are Forever'. In 1997 Shirley turned 60 yo. Both her powerful voice and her appearance here indicate that this lady is determined to take care of herself. And now in 2012, she still looks great and has retained her powerful voice.
ABOUT the song, Goldfinger:
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