Welsh singing legend Dame Shirley Bassey today released her new single I Owe It All To You, the lead track from the upcoming album of the same name which is due to be her last.
The new single is a sweeping, reflective ballad which looks back over a career spanning seven decades. Bassey’s YouTube account has debuted a moving accompanying lyric video for the track, set against a gallery of photos from a musical life well-lived: from the streets of Cardiff to the biggest arenas in the world. On her Instagram account, Bassey dedicated the single and album to her fans for “supporting me endlessly all these years” – a sentiment echoed in the lyrics: “This audience of mine has been my bread and wine…You were always there helping me win the fight.”
While her early heyday – the era of Hey Big Spender and the masterful Goldfinger – is now over a half a century away, the last two decades have seen Bassey’s career reinvigorated. She reached new audiences through Glastonbury performances (she had been due to appear at the cancelled 2020 festival); an innovative cover of Pink’s Get The Party Started; and an acclaimed comeback album in 2009’s The Performance. The powerful, retrospective tone of I Owe It All To You suggests a return to the epic nostalgic feel of much of The Performance; and in particular its standout track, the stunning and anthemic The Girl From Tiger Bay composed by the Manic Street Preachers.
Bassey’s new single was penned by Don Black, a previous collaborator on signature tunes like Diamonds Are Forever. He recently spoke about the bittersweet feelings that accompanied his latest link-up with the iconic songstress on what is likely to be her last recording: “She is a songwriter’s dream and one of the best storytellers of all time. The lyric tells of the contentment that can be found on stage and the uncertainty that comes when the curtain comes down.”
While Bassey’s life on stage might be reaching its final chapter, fans will hope that her recent arrival on Instagram will herald a new lease of life for the legendary vocalist on social media. Her debut post on Instagram will surely go down as one of the very best the platform has seen – epitomising her undimmed flair for high drama, glamour and sassiness at the age of 83.
The new album, I Owe It All To You, is due for release on 6th November. Fans can pre-order it at https://www.dameshirleybassey.world/
