Goldfinger (song)

September 1964

Goldfinger is the theme song of the eponymous James Bond film from the year 1964. Was composed the song by John Barry, lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley. We sing the song by Shirley Bassey.

Genesis

The film series James Bond 007 had with the premiere of James Bond - Dr. No 007 hunts started on 5 October 1962 to become a blockbuster. The third Bond film Goldfinger was the dramatic and musical basis for future Bond films. Bonds classic drinks request " vodka martini - shaken not stirred " as well as current pop stars as interpreters of the title song first appeared in the third Bond film. John Barry worked since August 1963, the theme tune for this Bond film and asked Anthony Newley, if he could write the text. Since Newley as a composer lyricist Leslie Bricusse mostly cooperated with, Newley and Bricusse now working together as a copywriter for this project. Leslie Bricusse was already a fan of the Ian Fleming novel series, as he was commissioned to write the text for the title theme to the planned film Goldfinger. Already from 20 January 1964, the filming began and were completed on 21 July 1964. In the novel, there was the scene with the completely over-painted in gold, lying on the bed Bond Girl Jill Masterson ( Shirley Eaton ). This scene gave the hint for the text passage "for a golden girl knows When he's kissed her / its the kiss of death from Mr. Goldfinger ." Anthony Newley sang a lyrically unfinished demo recording in the directed by John Barry recording session on 14 May 1964. This version remained unpublished until 1992 when a commemorative edition of various James Bond songs was published. As the melody of the soundtrack of Moon River resembled Barry masked his composition with an existing three-note Bläserriff. John Barry suggested as a singer Shirley Bassey, he had accompanied with a 23 - piece orchestra in December 1963 a tour.

Shirley Bassey sang since 1959 at the EMI sub-label Columbia, where he was produced by Norman Newell. She could already boast five top 10 finishes and a number-one hit with Columbia before they contacted the Beatles' music producer George Martin. After some scheduling difficulties with the highly occupied Martin Shirley Bassey appeared for the scheduled recording date August 20, 1964 in the Cine - Tele Sound ( CTS) recording studios with a nave -like space developed. Sound engineer Eric Tomlinson had to take about 15 takes before Barry was satisfied with the result midnight. Bassey was accompanied by the orchestra conducted by Sid Margo. Guitar solos were from Vic Flick, the sax solo by Johnny Scott. Overall, a horn- dominated recording with a voiced presentation of Bassey was born.

Film producer Harry Saltzman declined the song, because it was not suited for the youthful audiences; but he ultimately accepted it because there is no more time was available for his new production.

Publication and success

Because the film had its premiere already on 17 September 1964, London's Odeon Leicester Square. After release of the single Goldfinger / Strange How Love Can Be (Columbia DB 7360 ) on September 18, 1964, she arrived in the UK only up to number 21 on the British charts. In the U.S., however, the single and the soundtrack LP developed to millions sellers. The gold record for more than one million sold singles She was awarded in May 1965. The single climbed into the United States to rank 8, the album remained in the United States on Rank 1 for 3 weeks. In Europe, the song was included in many Top 10 Charts, such as in April 1965 with Rank 8 in Germany. In Japan reached Goldfinger number one on the singles charts. The film - in which the song appears both in the opening credits as well as credits - played worldwide 124.9 million U.S. $ in the coffers.

Cover versions

Overall, there are at least 45 cover versions of the title theme to Goldfinger. Composer John Barry was the first an instrumental version with his guitarist Vic Flick out ( October 1964 ), followed by Billy Strange with a similarly orchestrated instrumental recording (recorded on October 5, 1964), Santo & Johnny ( November 1964 ) or Sounds Incorporated ( November 1966 ). The Wise Guys ( LP -haired times; 1996), Chaka Khan (October 2004) or Leningrad Cowboys (LP Zombies Paradise; June 2006) brought out vocal versions.

The theme song to the James Bond film Licence to Kill ( Licence to Kill ) which was interpreted in 1989 by Gladys Knight, contained substantial elements of Goldfinger, after which the author details of Licence to Kill were adjusted accordingly. At the 85th Academy Awards in February 2013, the song was performed for the 50 -year-old James Bond Anniversary of Shirley Bassey on stage in Dolby Theatre.