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".
That
Burt Bacharach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I never thought I'd feel this way
And as far as I'm concerned
I'm glad I got the chance to say
That I do believe I love you
And if I should ever go away
Well, then close your eyes and try
And then if you can remember,
[Chorus]
Keep smiling, keep shining,
Knowing you can always count on me
For sure
That's what friends are for
For good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forever more.
That's what friends are for
I never thought I'd feel this way
Well you came and opened me
And now there's so much more I see
And so, by the way, I thank you.
And then for the times when we're apart
Well, then close your eyes and know
These words are coming from my heart
And then if you can remember
[Chorus]
In good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forevermore
That's what friends are for
The lyrics of Burt Bacharach's song "That's What Friends Are For" celebrates the bond between two friends highlighting their emotional support for each other. The singer expresses his gratitude for the friend who helped him discover a new perspective towards life. He acknowledges that he never thought he would feel this way and expresses his affection towards his friend. The chorus of the song emphasizes on the unbreakable bond that true friends share, standing by each other through the good times and bad. The verse "And if I should ever go away, Well, then close your eyes and try To feel the way we do today" indicates that even when one is not physically present, the emotional connection between the two friends continues to thrive.
The theme of the song speaks to the universality of friendship - the emotional bonds between two people that often transcend time and distance. At its core, the song is a reminder of the value of authentic connections with those we hold dear. As the song progresses, it speaks to the essential qualities that make friendships ever-lasting - trust, loyalty, and support.
Line by Line Meaning
And I never thought I'd feel this way
I never expected to feel this level of emotion
And as far as I'm concerned
In my opinion
I'm glad I got the chance to say
I'm happy I had the opportunity to express myself
That I do believe I love you
I truly believe that I love you
And if I should ever go away
If I were to leave at some point
Well, then close your eyes and try
Imagine this moment and how it feels
To feel the way we do today
To feel the same way we do at this moment
And then if you can remember
If you can recall this feeling
Keep smiling, keep shining
Always remain happy and successful
Knowing you can always count on me
You can always depend on me
For sure
Definitely
That's what friends are for
That's the purpose of friendship
For good times and bad times
During the ups and downs
I'll be on your side forever more
I will always support you
I never thought I'd feel this way
I never expected to feel this level of emotion
Well you came and opened me
You showed me a way to be open and vulnerable
And now there's so much more I see
I have gained a new perspective because of you
And so, by the way, I thank you
I want to express my gratitude to you
And then for the times when we're apart
During the moments when we are separated
Well, then close your eyes and know
Imagine this feeling in your mind
These words are coming from my heart
These words are sincere and genuine
In good times and bad times
During the ups and downs
I'll be on your side forevermore
I will always support you
That's what friends are for
The purpose of friendship
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Burt Bacharach, Carole Sager
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@johnmccarthy9391
Consummate artist. Mind-blowing talent.
Burt Bacharach was an original. He was a creative genius. His musical composition, lyricism and arrangement are legendary.
I don't have enough words to describe how massive his contribution has been to American musical culture. If I had been privileged to meet him, I simply would have thanked him for his music.
Rest in peace, Burt. Your music will live on for eternity.
@patriciaquinn6377
RIP. Mr Bacharach. What a talent he was His music lives on!!!
@stevenburger7158
FEB. 8, 2023 BURT BACHARACH PASSED AWAY: I HAD THE HONOR & PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH BURT BACHARACH IN THE STUDIO (ALBUMS & MOVIE SCORES) EVERGREEN STUDIOS, BURBANK CA. BURT WAS A CLASS ACT & SO WERE THE MANY STARS WHO SANG & PERFORMED ON SCREEN TO HIS MASTERPIECES, WHOM I ALSO WORKED WITH, LIKE DIONNE WARWICK & YES, CAROLE BYER SAGER TOO! HE WILL BE MISSED > THERE WAS ONLY 1 BURT BACHARACH!
@OsoMarcol
You were lucky, man. So great memories from the crazy layback 70s
@lauriedavis5946
Wow that is so cool! i actually just came here from “the Nanny” - Burt was in an episode. He sang & played, i snotted & cried & here i am! ANYWAY. He was just so sweet & soft spoken & FUNNY - so endearing! Thrilled to hear that he was as great as he seemed! Except does that mean it was Angie’s fault? Aw i ❤’d them together! Sorry i digress a lot, it’s a problem but i want to be sure to thank you so much for sharing! i do believe that you made my day!
🤟🏻🕊️💕
@joanneorchard7099
❤❤❤❤❤
@stevenburger7158
@@joanneorchard7099 😃
@johnmillett1160
Dionne Warwick and his musical collaboration was spectacular
@brucewessel7753
So good. I'm 68 now. Saw him 5 times live. Charming.
@vaan1520
Never saw him live. So jealous. A wonderful music maker. Hope you are well xx