Dame Shirley Bassey (January 8, 1937 -) is a Welsh singer who found great fame in Great Britain the late 1950s and has been performing ever since. In the United States, Bassey is best known for singing three James Bond theme songs. She holds the record for most James Bond themes performed by a singer.
James Bond Theme Songs by Shirley Bassey[]
- "Goldfinger" from the film Goldfinger (1964)
- "Diamonds Are Forever" from the film Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
- "Moonraker" from the film Moonraker (1979)
Goldfinger Performed Live[]
Bassey performing "Goldfinger" at the Classic BRIT Awards Show on May 12th, 2011.
Diamonds Are Forever Performed Live[]
Bassey performing "Diamonds Are Forver" at Mikhail Gorbachev's 80th birthday party in London in March, 2011.
James Bond Medley Performed Live[]
Bassey performing a James Bond medley, including the themes from Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever, and Moonraker.
Bond History[]
The single "Goldfinger" was released in the US in January 1965, peaking at No 8. The original soundtrack for Goldfinger hit number-one in the US that year. The "Goldfinger" theme song, had a lasting impact on her career. In the sleeve notes for Bassey's 25th Anniversary Album (1978), Peter Clayton noted that: "Acceptance in America was considerably helped by the enormous popularity of ("Goldfinger")...But she had actually established herself there as early as 1961, in cabaret in New York. She was also a success in Las Vegas...'I suppose I should feel hurt that I've never been really big in America on record since "Goldfinger"...But, concertwise, I always sell out.'..."
Also in 1965, she sang the title song for the James Bond spoof The Liquidator. Bassey recorded a song for the next Bond film, Thunderball (1965). "Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" was not used in the movie, although the film's score follows its melodic theme. Written by John Barry and Leslie Bricusse, "Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" was re-recorded by American singer Dionne Warwick, and then rejected in favor of a new song, "Thunderball", hastily written by Barry and given to Welsh singer Tom Jones after the film's producers decided the song over the opening credits must feature the film's title.
In the aftermath of "Goldfinger" her UK sales started to falter as well: only two of her singles would enter the UK top 40 from 1966 to 1970.
Returning to the James Bond franchise, she recorded the theme song for Diamonds Are Forever (1971).
In 1979, Bassey recorded the title theme song for the Bond film, Moonraker.
Bassey also performed at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace on 4 June 2012, singing "Diamonds Are Forever". She was invited to perform at the Queen's 90th Birthday celebrations at Windsor Castle on 15 May 2016.