I Say a Little Prayer
| "I Say a Little Prayer" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| A-side | "I Say a Little Prayer" |
| B-side | "(Theme From) Valley of the Dolls" |
"I Say a Little Prayer" (often named in error as "I Say A Little Prayer For You") is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for Dionne Warwick in 1967.
The song was Warwick's second single from her Scepter Records album The Windows Of The World, following the LP's title track. The tune reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1967 and was a certified million seller by the RIAA. The single later appeared on the LP Dionne Warwick's Golden Hits, Part Two and is considered one of Warwick's signature songs. The tune has been covered by many other vocalists. The flip or "B-side" of the single "(Theme From) Valley of the Dolls" was also a million seller and rode the #2 position for 4 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in February 1968. "I Say A Little Prayer" and its B-side "(Theme From) Valley of the Dolls" became one of the most successful double sided hits of the Rock era
Like several Bacharach compositions, "I Say A Little Prayer" contains passages written in unusual time signatures. The verses are in 10/4 time (using successive measures of 4/4 + 2/4 + 4/4), and the chorus in 11/4 (using 4/4 + 4/4 + 3/4). [1]
Other Recordings
Many famous singers have performed and recorded this song, including Aretha Franklin, who recorded it in 1968 as part of her album Aretha Now. It was later included in the 1969 compilation album Aretha's Gold, and the 1971 album Aretha's Greatest Hits. Aretha's version peaked at #10 on the Billboard Magazine Hot 100.
The song has also appeared in many films, being featured prominently in the comedy My Best Friend's Wedding in 1997, which featured both a cover by Diana King and a version sung by the film's cast, and also parodied in the later film "Date Movie".
In the jazz world, Rahsaan Roland Kirk memorably covered the song on his 1969 release, Volunteered Slavery.
Additionally, the song was also covered by UK dance act Bomb the Bass. On the February 5, 2007, episode of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Natalie Cole sang the tune as well. In the same year, an Icelandic pop band, Al'MargiR, has also covered this song as their new single of the third studio album.
References
See also
- "I Sign a Little Player or Two", a parody of both the song and Ex-Chelsea manager José Mourinho
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