PRONTO: SONO IO (HELLO: THIS IS ME)

From a German magazine from the seventies this funny article:

Quarrel in the house of Shirley Bassey

The temperamental Sergio Novak blew up last week. Shirley’s phone bill was once again sky-high: The Italian  phone company sent him an 800 Euro bill for the month of January. Sergio said his wife was sailing close to the wind.
The furious husband in the remote Lugano tried to contact his wife in London. After a four-minute conversation, he learned from the reception of the Hilton that; ‘Madame is out’. Fee for four minutes on the phone: 30 Euro.
After six minutes on the phone with Shirley’s dressmaker Doug Darnell the message was: ‘Madame left the salon 10 minutes ago’.
The understanding wardrobe lady at White Apple took even longer. ‘Miss Bassey is in rehearsal for her new tour and must not be disturbed!’ But then she seemed to sense the heat of Sergio’s now tarnished red head.
Shirley took over the phone, listened to the three-minute surge of Italian-English bad words from back home and then cooly countered (in 5 seconds) : ‘For ten years I am calling my mother every day in Wales. If you are away I always use your telephone but in recent months you were just far too long at home’.
To save money, now manager-husband Sergio had the gold idea: Shirley’s mother will accompany her daughter on the tour. Sergio: ‘It’s much cheaper’. (Thanks to Rien for the article, translation by Ed and Pieter)
 

Two songs that go very well with this article are ‘Pronto sono io’ and ‘Thought I’d ring you.  Below you can see the cover of the single ‘Pronto sono io’. The picture of the cover was taken in front of the apartment building in Lugano in Switzerland where Shirley lived before moving to the villa ‘Capricorn’ on the borders of lake Lugano. 

 Pronto sono io (Hello this is me)

Lyrics:
English translation)

(man’s voice:)

Hello, Hello… this is me
It’s me, darling, please listen to me
Excuse me, but you know
Someone told me that you’re leaving tomorrow
Hello… where are you
Are you listening or not? please answer me
Oh, there you are
Thank you for being there, please listen to me:
Tomorrow you will go away
Tomorrow, you know
That you’ll take my life away with you
It doesn’t matter, my love
That you didn’t say “goodbye”
You did it not to hurt me
Hello… where are you
Are you listening or not? please answer me
Oh, there you are
Thank you for being there, please listen to me:
Tomorrow you will go away
Tomorrow, you know
That you’ll take my life away with you
It doesn’t matter, my love
That you didn’t say “goodbye”
You did it not to hurt me
(phone is hung up on the other side)
Pronto… dove sei
Hello, where are you?
You don’t answer anymore
Goodbye, my love
Goodbye, my love
Goodbye, my love

(Transcribed and translated by Francesco

With Alain Delon

Here you can listen to both sides of the single that Shirley did with al Corley (from Dynasty) The a-side was ‘Remember’ and on the b-side ‘Thought I’d ring you’.

 

Remember

Thought I’d ring you

Dame Shirley Bassey on new Blake album?

It has been reported on social media that Dame Shirley Bassey will be on Blake’s new album out this spring where she will sing The Impossible Dream. Below the video from he Henley festival from in 2016  where she performed with them live on stage, accompanied by the BBC Concert orchestra. 

Dame Shirley Bassey to perform at Bruce Forsyth tribute show

Dame Shirley Bassey will perform at an event to honour the life of Sir Bruce Forsyth next week, the day before what would have been his 90th birthday.

The comedian, singer, dancer and presenter – who died in August last year – will be remembered at the BBC Studios event at the London Palladium, the venue which helped propel him to fame.

The show will chart the entertainment legend’s career, and will be hosted by his former Strictly co-host Tess Daly.

Dame Shirley has been confirmed as one of the acts for the glittering tribute, which will be broadcast on BBC One at a later date.

Dame Shirley BasseyDame Shirley Bassey will pay tribute to a ‘talented singer, dancer, actor’ (Matt Crossick/PA)
In a statement via the BBC, Dame Shirley said: “Sir Bruce Forsyth was a born entertainer – a talented singer, dancer, actor – always putting a smile on people’s faces.

“I’m honoured to be performing one of his favourite songs in his memory.”

The BBC has previously said that the hour-long celebration will have music, dance, entertainment and comedy at its heart, and will also feature dance performances and onstage tributes from star guests.

Staged on the eve of what would have been his birthday, February 21, the show will star the live Strictly Come Dancing band and vocalists, led by Dave Arch.

Others set to feature include former Strictly judge Len Goodman and presenting duo Ant and Dec. Charlotte Moore, BBC Director of Content, said: ‘I couldn’t think of a more fitting tribute to our dear friend Bruce than this celebration at the Palladium – a theater he so loved.

Sir Bruce was was a household name in the UK for generations (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA)Sir Bruce was was a household name in the UK for generations (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA)
Charlotte Moore, BBC director of content, previously said: “I couldn’t think of a more fitting tribute to our dear friend Bruce than this celebration at the Palladium – a theatre he so loved.

“Bruce was such a favourite with the BBC One audience who I know will savour this hour of entertainment, music and commemoration of a true showbiz legend.”

Sir Bruce cemented his place in the hearts of the nation following his stint as the host of ITV’s Sunday Night At The London Palladium in 1958.

In 2005, a bust of Sir Bruce’s head was placed inside the Palladium, to mark his long-running relationship with the central London venue.

For a previous post CLICK HERE

Below the 1991 Easter Show that Shirley Bassey was on and where she did a duet with Bruce Forsyth.

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1984 PROGRAMME -Australia-