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".
Wives & Lovers
Burt Bacharach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Time to get ready
Time to get ready
For love
Time to get ready
Time to get ready
For love
Time to get ready
Time to get ready
The lyrics to Burt Bacharach's song, "Wives & Lovers," express a sentiment that is both heartbreaking and backwards. The song is about a man who advises other men on how to keep their wives happy and satisfied; however, his advice consists of telling them to always be available and attractive, and to never let their wives forget how lucky they are to have them. The song's message reflects the gender roles of the time it was written, which were based on the idea that women are primarily emotional and relational beings who exist to serve and please their husbands.
The repetition of the phrase "time to get ready" underscores the urgency of the man's advice, as he warns other men that they must always be prepared for their wives' needs and whims. The fact that the lyrics are addressed to other men, rather than to women directly, suggests that the song is more about male pride than female happiness. As such, the song is both a reflection of its time and a cautionary tale about the dangers of rigid gender roles and expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
It's time to get ready
It is time to prepare oneself for love and all that it entails.
Time to get ready
The need to prepare for love is emphasized and reiterated to the listener.
For love
The purpose for getting ready is to be able to participate in a loving relationship.
Time to get ready
The song emphasizes the importance of being ready for love.
Time to get ready
The need to prepare for love is so vital that it is repeated yet again.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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