Shirley Bassey BIG SPENDER & HEY JUDE

Shirley Bassey Live from Istanbul 1995 part 7: Big spender & Hey Jude


Big Spender
Music written by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Dorothy Fields.
Big Spender
recorded: September 12, 1967
released:
UK: Sep '67 on United Artists sgl UP 1192
US: Oct 31 '67 on UA sgl UA 50229
charted: single UK: #21, October 11, 1967
Released in 1967 on the album And We Were Lovers. Re-recorded by Shirley Bassey in the same year and released on a single and this one reached position No. 21 in December 1967 in the British charts. On the US and Spain issue of the album And We Were Lovers there is a different recording arranged and directed by Ernest Freeman. In England and other countries the version was arranged by Alyn Ainsworth and this is the version that you get on all the re-releases. Another studio version was released 1984 on the album I Am What I Am with the London Symphony Orchestra. From the sixties to this day "Big Spender" is an essential part of every live concert, so this song is available on many live recordings, and also on the videos. At some recent concerts she did this number even twice consecutively.
A remix of Shirley's original version, done by "Wild Oscar", has been released in September 2000 on The Remix Album...Diamonds Are Forever.
The song is taken from the musical "Sweet Charity". The premiere of this musical was on Saturday, January 29th, 1966 in the Palace Theatre, New York and was a big hit with 608 performances. The director was Bob Fosse and his wife Gwen Verdon was the singing star of the musical on Broadway. The story is loosely based on Federico Fellini's film "Nights Of Cabiria", about a sweet-hearted Italian prostitute. "It tells the story of an eternally hopeful but repeatedly disappointed dance club hostess."
"Sweet Charity" was nominated for a Tony Award in two categories.
"Big Spender" was also a hit in the easy listening charts for Peggy Lee. Freddie Mercury has performed this song too.
"Big Spender" with Shirley Bassey was part of the soundtrack of the film "Little Voice" 1998 and is available on the soundtrack CD.
In the OK! magazine interview Shirley Bassey stated that this song is one of her favourites among her own songs. Her other favourite is Kiss Me, Honey, Honey, Kiss Me. She said: "I never tire of them because they're fun numbers in which audiences join in."


Lyrics

The minute you walked in the joint
I could see you were a man of distinction, a real big spender
Good looking, so refined
Say, wouldn't you like to know what's going on in my mind?
So let me get right to the point
I don't pop my cork for every man I see
Hey big spender!
Spend a little time with me
Wouldn't you like to have fun, fun, fun?
How's about a few laughs, laughs?
I could show you a good time
Let me show you a good time
The minute you walked in the joint
I could see you were a man of distinction, a real big spender
Good looking, so refined
Say, wouldn't you like to know what's going on in my mind?
So let me get right to the point
I don't pop my cork for every man I see
Hey big spender!
Hey big spender!
Hey big spender!
Spend a little time with me
Yes

(Transcribed by Roman)


Lyrics Hey Jude:

Hey Jude, don't make it bad.
Take a sad song and make it better.
Remember to let her into your heart,
Then you can start to make it better.

Hey Jude, don't be afraid.
You were made to go out and get her.
The minute you let her under your skin,
Then you begin to make it better.

And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain,
Don't carry the world upon your shoulders.
For well you know that it's a fool who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder.

Hey Jude, don't let me down.
You have found her, now go and get her.
Remember to let her into your heart,
Then you can start to make it better.

So let it out and let it in, hey Jude, begin,
You're waiting for someone to perform with.
And don't you know that it's just you, hey Jude, you'll do,
The movement you need is on your shoulder.

Hey Jude, don't make it bad.
Take a sad song and make it better.
Remember to let her under your skin,
Then you'll begin to make it:
Better better better better better better, oh.

Na na na na na ,na na na, hey Jude