Goldfinger (song)
| "Goldfinger" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Shirley Bassey | |
| Released | 1964 |
| Length | 2:48 |
| Label | Capitol |
| Writer(s) | John Barry, Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley |
| Producer | George Martin |
"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 forty hit, peaking at number eight and at number two for four weeks on the Adult Contemporary chart,[1] and in the United Kingdom the single reached number 21.[2] In 2008, the single was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[3]
Contents |
[edit] Production
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. John Barry reacted badly to said lyric.[4] One of the inspirations for the song was "Mack the Knife", which director Guy Hamilton showed Barry as he thought it was a "gritty and rough" song that could be a good model for what the film required.[5] Originally, Newley recorded the song, but it was re-recorded by Bassey with production by George Martin, and Jimmy Page as a session guitarist.[6] This version was recorded in mono and is a different recording than the stereo version on the soundtrack album. Both mono and stereo versions appear on the compilation Goldsinger.[7] 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.
[edit] Release
The release on vinyl of Bassey's (mono) version, UA 790, 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.
[edit] Other versions and adaptations
Billy Strange recorded a version in 1964, which even charted along with Bassey's original.[8]
The Honeycombs did an instrumental cover of it on their 1965 Japanese tour which also appeared on their album In Tokyo which was released in Japan only.
In 1980 Shirley Bassey performed the song on The Muppet Show.
After the release of the later James Bond theme song "Licence To Kill", from the 1989 film of the same name, it was felt to significantly reuse important elements of "Goldfinger", and so the songwriting credits for the former were adapted for all subsequent releases.
The song was to feature prominently in another film: Little Voice, appearing in the film in much the manner of its first use – but with Michael Caine slamming the door that becomes the song's first chord blast, rather than, of course, Sean Connery.
The song has been covered by Howard Devoto's post-punk band Magazine.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers covered the song in concert in 1997, and it is featured on their career-spanning live set, The Live Anthology.
Parodies of the song include "Dr. Evil", written by They Might Be Giants for Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me,[9] and "Max Power", from the The Simpsons episode "Homer to the Max".[10]
Hank Marvin did an instrumental version of the song on his 2000 album Marvin at the Movies.
In the "Shutout In Seattle" episode of popular US sitcom Frasier the song is featured in the final scene, with Frasier Crane, Niles Crane and Martin Crane singing along to a piano accompaniment.
The song was remixed by Propellerheads for the 2000 album Diamonds are Forever: The Shirley Bassey Remix Album. It was also sampled by reggaeton artist Tego Calderón on his song "Alegría", off of his 2007 album El Abayarde Contraataca. It has also been covered in a heavy metal fashion by Finnish rock group Leningrad Cowboys on their album Zombie's Paradise.
In 2011, Céline Dion included the song as part of a James Bond Medley in her new show, Celine, in Las Vegas.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 29.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums. London: Guinness World Records Limited
- ^ http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/awards/hall-of-fame#g
- ^ Fiegel, Eddi (1998). John Barry: a sixties theme : from James Bond to Midnight Cowboy. Constable. p. 135.
- ^ Guy Hamilton. Goldfinger audio commentary. Goldfinger Ultimate Edition, Disk 1: MGM Home Entertainment.
- ^ Jimmy Page - It's been a long time since he rock'n'rolled. The Independent
- ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/goldsinger-the-best-of-shirley-bassey-r229338
- ^ Goldfinger song review, allmusic
- ^ More Music from the Motion Picture Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Allmusic
- ^ "Homer comes over all tree-hugger.". British Broadcasting Corporation. http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/simpsons/episodeguide/season10/page12.shtml. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
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