I Say a Little Prayer

Infobox Single
Name = I Say a Little Prayer


Caption =
Artist = Dionne Warwick
from Album = The Windows of the World
A-side = I Say a Little Prayer
B-side = (Theme From) Valley of the Dolls
Released = October 1967
Format = 7" single
Recorded = 1966 A & R Studios, NYC
Genre = Soul, pop
Certification = Certified RIAA Million Seller Gold Single Award
Length = 3:09
Label = Scepter
Writer = Burt Bacharach, Hal David
Producer = Burt Bacharach, Hal David
Last single = "The Windows of the World" (1967)
This single = "I Say a Little Prayer" (1967)
Next single = "Do You Know the Way to San Jose" (1968)"I Say a Little Prayer" is a song written by songwriters Burt Bacharach and Hal David for Dionne Warwick in 1967. It is often named in error as "I Say A Little Prayer For You".

The song was Warwick's second single from her Scepter Records album "The Windows Of The World", following the LP's title track. The tune reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1967 and was a certified million seller by the RIAA. The single later appeared on the LP "Dionne Warwick's Golden Hits, Part Two" and is considered one of Warwick's signature songs. The flip or "B-side" of the single "(Theme From) Valley of the Dolls" was also a million seller and rode the #2 position for 4 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in February 1968. "I Say A Little Prayer" and its B-side "(Theme From) Valley of the Dolls" became one of the most successful double sided hits of the Rock era.

Like several Bacharach compositions, "I Say A Little Prayer" contains passages written in unusual time signatures. The verses are in 10/4 time (using successive measures of 4/4 + 2/4 + 4/4), and the chorus in 11/4 (using 4/4 + 4/4 + 3/4).

Other Recordings

Many famous singers have performed or recorded this song, including Aretha Franklin, who recorded it in 1968 as part of her album "Aretha Now". It was later included in the 1969 compilation album "Aretha's Gold", and the 1971 album "Aretha's Greatest Hits". Aretha's version peaked at #10 on the Billboard Magazine Hot 100.

The song has also appeared in many films, being featured prominently in the comedy "My Best Friend's Wedding" in 1997, which featured both a cover by Diana King and a version sung by the film's cast, and also parodied in the later film "Date Movie".

Additionally, the song has also been recorded as a live duet between Natalie Cole and Whitney Houston.

In the jazz world, Rahsaan Roland Kirk covered the song on his 1969 release, Volunteered Slavery.

In the UK, the song was also covered by UK dance act Bomb the Bass. On the February 5, 2007, episode of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Natalie Cole sang the tune as well. In the same year, an Icelandic pop band, Al'MargiR, has also covered this song as their new single of the third studio album.

In 2002, the song was covered by Karine Costa (#16 in France, #82 in Switzerland) whose version is currently used in France for the TV advert for the Crédit mutuel.

In Mexico, the song was covered by girl-group Pandora. The version is called "Rezo Una Oracion Por Ti", literally translated.

Infobox Single
Name = I Say a Little Prayer (American Idol Performance)


Caption =
Artist = Joanne Borgella
Released = February 21, 2008
Format = iTunes download
Recorded = Hollywood, CA USA
2008
Genre = Pop
Length = 1:58
Label = 19 TV Limited/Fremantle Media North America, Inc.
Writer = Burt Bacharach, Hal David
Producer =
Last single = -
This single = "I Say a Little Prayer" (2008)
Next single = -
Joanne Borgella performed "I Say a Little Prayer" on Season 7 of "American Idol" during the top 24 performances.

The X Factor's Alisha Bennett also sang during "songs from the movies" week

References

ee also

*"I Sign a Little Player or Two", a parody of both the song and Ex-Chelsea manager José Mourinho