03 | March | 2023 | Dame Shirley Bassey Blog

Fifty years ago today, Dame Shirley Bassey released Never Never Never as a single.
A staple of The Dame’s live act – or should we say, what was her live act – since Never Never Never is the English version – thank you, Mr Norman Newell!

Also 50 years ago today she appeared on Russell Harty where she sang Never Never Never on TV for the first time.

All that is left to say is ‘Happy Birthday ‘Never, Never, Never’ and thank you for all the memories you’ve given us over the past half century’, not least The Dame’s comments about having found it while married to The Italian!

Never, Never, Never
Music written by Tony Renis.
Original Italian lyrics by Alberto Testa and Fabio Testa
English lyrics penned by Norman Newell.

Recorded: December, 1972
Released:
UK: February, 1973 on United Artists single UP 35490
US: March 7, 1973 on United Artists single UA-XW211-W
Charted:
UK Single: #8, March 3, 1973
US Easy Listening: #8, May 12, 1973
US Pop: #48, May 19, 1973
Released in 1973 on the album Never, Never, Never and on some singles. The single “Never, Never, Never” reached position number eight in the charts. In 1984 it was recorded again with the London Symphony Orchestra on the album I Am What I Am.

The original Italian song “Grande, Grande, Grande” was performed by Mina before Shirley. See also an Italian site about Mina. Norman Newell penned the English lyrics to the song to reach an international audience. Since then this song was part of almost every live concert until today. Therefore it is available on many live albums and collections and videos.

A remix of Shirley’s version by the “Groove Armada” has been released in September 2000 on The Remix Album…Diamonds Are Forever.

Celine Dion released this song 1997 on her album “Let’s Talk About Love” as a duet with Luciano Pavarotti. She only slightly modified the lyrics and called it then “I Hate You Then I Love You”.

Vikki Carr recorded this song too, but in Spanish and she kept the original title “Grande, Grande, Grande”.

Lyrics:

I’d like to run away from you, but if you never found me I would die
I’d like to break the chains you put around me, but I know I never will
You stay away and all I do is wonder why the hell I wait for you
But when did common sense prevail for lovers when we know it never will
Impossible to live with you, but I know, I could never live without you
For whatever you do
I never, never, never want to be in love with anyone but you

You never treat me like you should, so what’s the good of loving as I do?
Although you always laugh at love, nothing else would be good enough for you
Impossible to live with you, but I know, I could never live without you
For whatever you do I never, never, never want to be in love with anyone but you

You make me laugh, you make me cry, you make me live, you make me die, for you
You make me sing, you make me sad, you make me glad, you make me mad, for you

I love you, hate you, love you, hate you
But I’ll want you till the world stops turning
For whatever you do
I never, never, never want to be in love with anyone but you