Shirley Bassey - GOLDFINGER / Diamonds Are Forever (1997 Live)

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 touch
A spider's touch
Such a cold finger
Beckons you to enter his web of sin
But don't go in

Golden words he will pour in your ear
But his lies can't disguise what you fear
For a golden girl knows when he's kissed her
It's the kiss of death ...

From Mister Goldfinger
Pretty girl, beware of his heart of gold
This heart is cold

Golden words he will pour in your ear
But his lies can't disguise what you fear
For a golden girl knows when he's kissed her
It's the kiss of death ...

From Mister Goldfinger
Pretty girl, beware of his heart of gold
This heart is cold
He loves only gold
Only gold
He loves gold
He loves only gold
Only gold
He loves gold

ABOUT the song, Diamonds Are Forever:
Diamonds Are Forever is the soundtrack for the 7th James Bond film of the same name.

"Diamonds Are Forever", the title song, was the second Bond theme to be performed by Shirley Bassey, after Goldfinger in 1964.
Producer Harry Saltzman hated the song and it only made the film due to co-producer Albert Broccoli. One of Saltzman's major objections was to the innuendo in the lyrics.

The original soundtrack was once again composed by John Barry, his sixth time composing for a James Bond film. Music written by John Barry (Jonathan Barry Prendergrast) and lyrics by Don Black.

charted:
single UK: #38, January 15, 1972
single US: Pop charts: #57, January 29, 1972
Easy Listening charts: #14, January 1, 1972
album US: #74, January 8, 1972

LYRICS:
Diamonds are forever
They are all I need to please me
They can stimulate and tease me
They won't leave in the night, I've no fear that they might desert me
Diamonds are forever
Hold one up and then caress it
Touch it, stroke it and undress it
I can see every part, nothing hides in the heart to hurt me

I don't need love
For what good will love do me?
Diamonds never lie to me
For when love's gone
They'll lustre on

Diamonds are forever
Sparkling round my little finger
Unlike men, the diamonds linger
Men are mere mortals who are not worth going to your grave for

I don't need love
For what good will love do me?
Diamonds never lie to me
For when love's gone
They'll lustre on

Diamonds are forever, forever, forever
Diamonds are forever, forever, forever
Forever and ever