Bacharach studied music at McGill University and the Mannes School of Music. In the 1950s and the early 1960s he was the pianist, arranger and bandleader for Marlene Dietrich with whom he toured. He teamed with lyricist Hal David and others to write many popular songs in the 1960s and 1970s.
Bacharach's music has been sung by a number of popular singers including The Beatles,The Carpenters, Aretha Franklin, Jack Jones, Tom Jones, Dusty Springfield, Luther Vandross and The Drifters. He met Dionne Warwick, with whom he would form a famed collaboration. His songs are characterized by (1) the use of unexpected harmonic changes and (2) unusual rhythmic patterns and time signatures. He employs times such as 5/4 or 3/2, and frequently goes from one time signature to another in the same song, often after each measure. He also changes keys frequently. An excellent example of his style is "Promises, Promises", from his score to the musical of the same name. He has a total of 52 Top 40 hits. In addition, many of his songs were adapted by jazz artists of the time, such as Stan Getz and Wes Montgomery. The Bacharach-David composition "My Little Red Book", originally recorded by Manfred Mann for the film What's New, Pussycat, and promptly covered by Love in 1965, has become a rock standard. He composed and arranged the soundtrack of the 1967 film Casino Royale.
He has been married four times, to Paula Stewart (1953-1958), to actress Angie Dickinson (1965-1980), to lyricist Carole Bayer Sager (1982-1991) - with whom he collaborated on a number of pieces - and (since 1993) Jane Hanson. He has a total of four children, two girls and two boys.
In 1998 he collaborated on an album called Painted From Memory with singer/songwriter Elvis Costello. His 2005 album At This Time features collaborations with Costello, Rufus Wainwright, and Dr. Dre (who provides bass-and-drum loops).
Bacharach has had cameo roles in a number of Hollywood movies including all three Austin Powers movies. His music is also credited as providing inspiration for these movies.
During subsequent Burt Bacharach concert tours, each show would open with a very brief video clip from the movie Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, with Mike Myers (as Austin Powers) uttering "Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Burt Bacharach".
Paper Mache
Burt Bacharach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eighty people watch a TV show
Paper people, cardboard dreams
How unreal the whole thing seems
Can we be living in a world made of paper maché?
Everything is clean and so neat
Anything that's wrong can be just swept away
Ice cream cones and candy bars
Swings and things like bicycles and cars
There's a sale on happiness
You buy two and it costs less
Can we be living in a world made of paper maché?
Everything is clean and so neat
Anything that's wrong can be just swept away
Spray it with cologne and the whole world smells sweet
Read the papers, keep aware
While you're lounging in your leather chair
And if things don't look so good
Shake your head and knock on wood
Can we be living in a world made of paper maché?
Everything is clean and so neat
Anything that's wrong can be just swept away
Spray it with cologne and the whole world smells sweet
Like paper maché
Burt Bacharach's song "Paper Mache" is a commentary on the superficialities of modern society. The first verse describes rows of houses and people all watching a TV show, suggesting the homogeneity and conformity of the modern world. The reference to "paper people, cardboard dreams" further emphasizes the emptiness of this world, as if everything is just an illusion. Bacharach questions, "Can we be living in a world made of paper mache?" suggesting that everything is fragile and easily destroyed or manipulated.
The second verse continues this theme of superficiality, mentioning the sale of happiness and the ease with which problems can be swept away. The use of the phrase "spray it with cologne and the whole world smells sweet" suggests that appearances are more important than substance. The final verse encourages readers to stay informed but also to maintain a sense of skepticism, as if everything can be either true or false, good or bad, depending on what we choose to see.
In conclusion, Bacharach's "Paper Mache" is a poignant critique of modern society, particularly the focus on appearances and the illusion of progress. It suggests that everything is fragile and transitory, and only by maintaining a critical perspective can we hope to understand the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
Twenty houses is in a row
Houses are lined up uniformly, without any character or uniqueness
Eighty people watch a TV show
People are mindlessly watching TV, disengaged from the world
Paper people, cardboard dreams
People's lives and aspirations are shallow and superficial
How unreal the whole thing seems
The world feels fabricated and fake
Can we be living in a world made of paper maché?
Questioning the authenticity of the world we live in
Everything is clean and so neat
The world is devoid of real, raw emotions and messiness
Anything that's wrong can be just swept away
Problems are not dealt with, but rather brushed under the rug
Spray it with cologne and the whole world smells sweet
Covering up unpleasant things with artificial fragrances
Ice cream cones and candy bars
Materialistic pleasures that bring temporary happiness
Swings and things like bicycles and cars
The superficial joys of material possessions
There's a sale on happiness
Happiness is reduced to a commodity that can be bought and sold
You buy two and it costs less
Promoting excessive consumerism for the sake of capitalism
Read the papers, keep aware
Encouraging people to stay informed and remain vigilant
While you're lounging in your leather chair
Despite leisure and comfort, one must remain attentive to the world
And if things don't look so good
When problems arise and the world seems bleak
Shake your head and knock on wood
Superstitious actions taken for reassurance and hope
Like paper maché
Alluding to the artificiality and fragility of the world
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BURT BACHARACH, HAL DAVID, BURT F. BACHARACH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@spactick
Ladies and gentlemen Burt Bacharach should get a Nobel Prize for making people happy all over the world. Yes the Nobel Prize for spreading Happiness all over the world
@sansuir-c9593
I truly think and believe in my heart that Burt Bacharach deserves a tribute even though he’s gone. They usually do this for known personalities but I wonder why nothing was given nor presented for him. How I wish we Bacharach lovers could get together and just be united in celebrating his music…hopefully 🙏
@wilburwilbur7241
Wonderfully smooth and light… Dionne’s voice is like wisp of honey on a finger….yet so distinct and that you’d never forget
@mariaaparecidaalves8789
Canções que curam meus tímpanos aguçados audição agradece 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
@robertp.wainman4094
Thanks New Format for letting me hear Burt Bacharach gems I've never come across before. This must be so difficult to sing, but of course Dionne makes it sound easy. Hal David lyrics?
@Tiberius291
The horn in Burt Bacharach's songs makes the arrangement so much better, classic signature sound. 🎺
@peterd.9522
sweet pop! Dionne 's vocal lifts it out of elevator music, by the simple beauty of her vocal chops. And Hal Davids lyric is catchy , IMHO.
@manusundays
Maravilhosa. Não existem mais músicas como essa. Bacharach é único
@jalbaneves5704
Não mesmo.
@brunoleopoldo7304
Daqui a cem anos nasce outro é igual um Esteve Macquem ,Um Airton Sena ,Um Charlton Heston,um RogerMoore um Low Ralls é uma vez na vida .