Today on the Blog we are celebrating Shirley Bassey’s classic 70s track Jezahel. To start with, our première of a new 2014 remix edit by The Apple Scruffs that emerged on SoundCloud this week.
Now a further three eclectic SoundCloud mixes from the past couple of years that weren’t deemed sufficiently ‘Bassey’ to warrant a post of their own! The first is ‘Walken Is Unbelievable’ by Underground Projekt, which samples Jezahel and the voice of American actor Christopher Walken, described by the mixer as a “freak accident!”
The next interestingly entitled “Shirley Not” by Paris Syndrome is screaming out for a shorter, more Bassey-focussed radio edit, worth a listen for uplifting use of Bassey’s great vocals starting from 1:30.
Jon Muru mixed this next instrumental track called ‘Orange Sherbet’ which also features sound clips from the Mad Men series.
In recent years the distinctive instrumentation of Jezahel has been popularised by its extensive sampling in Public Enemy’s song “Harder Than You Think,” produced by Gary G-Wiz, it was the first single from PE’s album ‘How You Sell Soul to a Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul,’ Music video below contains explicit lyrics!!
Despite being released originally in 2007 (the year Dame Shirley performed Glastonbury and triumphantly returned to the pop charts with Get The Party Started and The Living Tree) it wasn’t until five years later when it shot to popularity as theme tune to the 2012 Paralympic Games coverage on Channel 4, in August 2012 becoming Public Enemy’s highest-charting UK single.
Jezahel was first released by Shirley Bassey in 1972 on the ‘And I Love You So’ album and the following year too on some singles with B-sides ‘Day By Day’ and ‘Never Never Never.’ Thanks to recent exposure this original version has enjoyed a resurgence and is regularly played on BBC Radio.
LYRICS:
Come tomorrow way down south in St. Amore
Oh oh oh
Reunited with my love in St. Amore
Oh oh oh
Jezahel, Jezahel
Jezahel, Jezahel
Will we both go home so we can be together
Oh oh oh
Really both go home to stay in love forever
Oh oh oh
Jezahel, Jezahel
Jezahel, Jezahel
Scorching sun upon a beach near a Cantina
Oh oh oh
Out of reach where there’s no one to come between us
Oh oh oh
Jezahel, Jezahel
Jezahel, Jezahel
There’s a stardust past your eyes I see desire
Oh oh oh
Wind and rain can’t stop the flame that starts the fire
Oh oh oh
(Repeat to fade)
Jezahel, Jezahel
Jezahel, Jezahel
This song was originally recorded in Italian and Spanish as ‘Jesahel’ by the band ‘I Delirium’ on their 1971 album ‘Dolce Acqua.’ Band member Ivano Fossati co-wrote the song with Oscar Prudente and it reached number 6 in the 1972 Sanremo Festival, staying at the top of the Italian charts for four months.
There’s a further great selection of different live and cover versions of Jezahel here on YouTube. The English lyrics were written by Brian Keith who recorded it as lead singer of short-lived British pop ensemble ‘The Congregation.’
To finish off, a colourful live Jezahel from Miss Bassey’s Seventies TV Shows, complete with dancers and Goldfingeresque ending! Hopefully the BBC will one day release or re-broadcast this gem in deserving and long overdue remastered glory!
For more Jezahel see also: [REMIX] Jezahel (Shirley Bassey v Good Livers Disco Rework) and for improved audio Astrid’s Simply Bassey #184.
Dame Shirley Bassey Blog 