THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

441-Shirley Bassey-Razzle Dazzle.

1975-Has never been released as single in the UK, but was issued as the ‘B’ side of ‘I Let You Let Me Down Again’ in 1977.

Best Bit-At 1.55. Britain’s greatest ever female vocalist effortlessly ‘Razzle Dazzle’s’ us.

Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey was born on January 8th, 1937, in Cardiff, Wales, her father was Nigerian, and her mother came from Teeside, England. In January 1959 she became the first Welsh person to achieve a UK Number 1 single with ‘As I Love You.’ In total she has released 38 studio Albums between 1957-2020, and although none of them have made Number 1, she is the only female artist to have had Albums chart in seven separate decades. 30 of her singles have made the UK top 40, including two Number 1 songs, she has also charted with all three of the James Bond themes she has recorded for the films. In America her records don’t sell as well, but she has sold out her concert tours, ‘Goldfinger’ from 1964 remains as her only charting song on Billboard, reaching Number 8. Bassey had a very striking and powerful voice from an early age, it is told that as a child she sang ‘Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man’ from Showboat with such feeling that it made her school teacher uncomfortable.

‘Razzle Dazzle’ was written for the 1975 musical ‘Chicago’ by John Kander and Fred Ebb (1928-2004) as were all the other songs from that musical. The duo first began working together in 1962, and got their big breakthrough when the song ‘My Colouring Book’ was nominated for a Grammy Award. They co-wrote the music and lyrics for 20 musicals including ‘Cabaret’ and ‘Chicago,’ and have also written songs for films and television series (see also best songs 469 and 182.)

In the musical ‘Chicago,’ ‘Razzle Dazzle’ is performed by the lawyer Billie Flynn to his client, the accused murderess Roxie, explaining how to manipulate and bamboozle a jury. In the 2002 film version the song is performed by Richard Gere.

‘Give ’em the old three ring circus, stun and stagger ’em. When you’re in trouble go in to your dance, though you are stiffer than a girder, they let ya get away with murder.’