Bond diva Dame Shirley Bassey aims to become oldest ever chart topper
02-Mar-2007 • Bond News
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At 70 years old she would have to defy the odds with her first single release in more than a decade but she is still aiming high.
The Cardiff-born superstar, who is also recording an album and has been offered a spot at Glastonbury, will become the oldest-ever number-one-selling artist if her new release, The Living Tree, tops the charts after going on sale in May.
Such a success would be a remarkable achievement for Dame Shirley, who during a 50-year career has built a huge reputation on the back of hits such as Goldfinger and Diamonds are Forever. The latter was recently re-mixed with massive success by hip-hop star Kanye West.
And like those original hits, the new song will take her back to what writers believe is a "pure James Bond" style of music.
Her latest single is the result of a collaboration with rock band Never The Bride, who have previously supported The Who.
The band say they have always thought the song is worthy of being a 007 theme, something with which Dame Shirley has become synonymous.
A spokeswoman for Dame Shirley has confirmed she is aiming for a number one.
"She performed the song throughout her UK tour last year and had such an amazing response. She did say she wanted to retire but when you've got a special voice like hers you have to use it."
She came to hear the song when members of Never the Bride were performing in her adopted home of Monaco in 2005. They discovered she used the gym at their hotel and persuaded a concierge to slip a copy of their CD with a note into her pigeonhole. They were astonished when, back in London weeks later, they received a call from Dame Shirley's management seeking a meeting about The Living Tree track.
The band's Nikki Lamborn said, "We didn't write it with Shirley Bassey in mind, but the way it came out, we always said, 'Wouldn't it be amazing if this could end up being a Bond song?' You know how you have these little dreams?"
After confirming the deal with Dame Shirley over tea at the Landmark Hotel in London, they went into a recording studio last year.
Lamborn said, "We just kept pinching ourselves. It was stunning. My heart was in my mouth because I'm such a fan. She really goes for it. I think her voice is even better now than she's been in the past."
The release was delayed because Dame Shirley already had a tour planned and was then involved in the Marks & Spencer Christmas television advertising campaign.
But now the band, which has been together for 15 years, is hoping to help her secure what they believe will be a world-record number one single.
If she succeeds she will be the oldest person ever to manage such an achievement.
The singer is now considering whether to perform at this year's Glastonbury festival. According to Lamborn, she has yet to make up her mind.
He said, "It is such a huge event and such a cool event, but explaining how brilliant that opportunity is to a lady in the Dame's position is a little bit difficult.
"She suggested she wants to do a television special."
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