Goldfinger (song)

"Goldfinger" was the title song from the 1964 James Bond film "Goldfinger (film)". Composed by John Barry and with lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, the song was performed by Shirley Bassey for the film's opening and closing title sequences, as well as the soundtrack album release. The single release of the song gave Bassey her only U.S. top ten hit, peaking at number eight. The song was produced by George Martin, who was also busy producing The Beatles. Paul McCartney would go on to perform the title track on the 1973 James Bond film, "Live and Let Die".

Reportedly, upon being asked to create a theme song for the film-in-progress, Bricusse and Newley looked at each other instantly and sang out, "Goldfinger . . . wider than a mile," reprising "Moon River," the successful theme song from Breakfast at Tiffany's. Originally, Newley recorded the song, but it was re-recorded with Bassey to great effect. In 1992, Newley's version was released to mark the 30th Anniversary of James Bond on film, in a compilation collector's edition: "The Best of Bond...James Bond". The release on vinyl of Bassey's version had sold more than a million copies in the United States, earning a Gold album for her; in the United Kingdom, the theme song single reached as high as number 21 in the charts. It also reached number one on the Japanese charts and the top ten of many european countries.The song has become Bassey' s theme song and she has performed it in most of her concerts since the 1960's often as an opening number.

After the release of the later James Bond theme song "Licence to Kill", from the film of the same name (1989) (performed by Gladys Knight), it was felt to significantly reuse important elements of the "Goldfinger" song, and so the songwriting credits for the former were adapted for all subsequent releases and, presumably, royalties paid.

The song "Goldfinger" was to feature prominently in another film: "Little Voice", appearing in the film in much the manner of its first use – but with Michael Caine slamming the door that becomes the song's first chord blast, rather than, of course, Sean Connery.

The song was remixed by Propellerheads for the 2000 album "".