My mom loved Dame Shirley Bassey but I didn’t appreciate her until I realized she sang the theme song to Goldfinger (I’m a big of the James Bond movies). That’s when I really took notice.
Like Tom Jones, the other famous Welsh singer, Dame Shirley worked in a factory. She also sang in local clubs in the evenings and on weekends.
Dame Shirley signed her first professional contract in 1953 and sang in a touring show. Her first single, Burn My Candle (At Both Ends), was recorded three years later. In 1959, she became the first Welsh artist to have a number one single, As I Love You.
Her 1964 recording of the James Bond theme brought her international fame and had a large impact on her career. She also sang the theme songs to Diamonds Are Forever and Moonraker.
Recently, my friend Joan, re-introduced me to Dame Shirley by introducing me to her signature song, This Is My Life. I had goose bumps as I listened and as soon as I got home, searched the Internet to find it on YouTube. The lyrics, below, are just as powerful.
Enjoy!
The Is My Life
Funny how a lonely day, can make a person say:
What good is my life
Funny how a breaking heart, can make me start to say:
What good is my life
Funny how I often seem to think I’ll find never another dream
In my life
Till I look around and see this great big world is part of me
And my life
This is my life
Today, tomorrow, love will come and find me
But that’s the way that I was born to be
This is me
This is me
This is my life
And I don’t give a damn for lost emotions
I’ve such a lot of love I’ve got to give
Let me live
Let me live
Sometime when I feel afraid, I think of what a mess I’ve made
Of my life
Crying over my mistakes, forgetting all the breaks I’ve had
In my life
I was put on earth to be a part of this great world is me
And my life
Guess I’ll just add up the score, and count the things I’m grateful for
In my life
This Is my life
Today, tomorrow, love will come and find me
But that’s the way that I was born to be
This is me
This is me
This is my life
And I don’t give a damn for lost emotions
I’ve such a lot of love I’ve got to give
Let me live
Let me live
This is my life
This is my life
This is my life
I’ve never heard of her before. We can learn so much from listening to artists that our parents listen to and funny because when are younger, those artists are the last one we want to hear. She’s a very glamorous woman, I must say. Move over Tina Turner! And she’s Welsh? I’ll have to look her up to hear her music.
My mum loved Shirley Bassey as well. We grew up listening to Shirley Bassey and Nana Mouskouri.
I’d forgotten about Mouskouri. I’ll have to write something about her next time. Another beautiful woman with a fabulous voice.
Yes, my mother loved Bassey. Amazing how when you’re little, you don’t want to hear your parents’ music but it just gets into your skin and pops back out when you’re older.
Yes, she is. Her father was Nigerian and English, her mother Welsh. There are so many accomplished female performers out there. As I listened to her, I thought of Eartha Kitt.
We grew up on Shirley Bassey too and we were always reminded, “She’s part Nigerian, you know…” Yes, she is and sings beautifully. We loved her and even played a few of her songs at parties in London. Glad you featured her. 🙂
Thanks, Elizabeth. I think my mom had told me that a while ago. She’s got a voice, that’s for sure! And to think she was working in a factory. Isn’t life just beautiful in its twists and turns? My friend who I mentioned in the post saw her twice at Carnegie Hall. I’m jealous.