Shirley Bassey - Yesterday When I Was Young (1973 TV Special)

1973 (Shirley delivers an unique cover to this Charles Aznavour song titled, ’Yesterday When I Was Young’ - This song was a hit for both Bassey and Aznavour, which tells someone how good the song really is. Here Shirley performs it on her ’All About Shirley’ TV Special back in 1973.) This song was recorded and released on Shirley’s 1970 LP titled, ’Shirley Bassey - Something’. Bassey’s UK comeback came in 1970, leading to one of the most successful periods of her career. In this year, she returned to the UK with a record breaking run of performances at the Talk of the Town nightclub. Also in that year, she released the album Something, which showcased a new Bassey style, a shift from traditional pop to more contemporary songs and arrangements ABOUT the original songwriter, Charles Aznavour: Charles Aznavour OC, (born Shahnour Vaghenag Aznavourian[1], May 22, 1924, Paris) is a French-Armenian singer, songwriter, actor, public activist and diplomat. Besides being one of France’s most popular and enduring singers, he is also one of the best-known singers in the world. Aznavour is known for his characteristic short figure and unique tenor[2] voice; clear and ringing in its upper reaches, with gravelly and profound low notes. He has appeared in more than 60 movies, composed about 1,000 songs (including 150 at least in English, 100 in Italian, 70 in Spanish, and 50 in German[3]), and has sold well over 100 million records. In 1998, Charles Aznavour was named Entertainer of the Century by CNN and users of Time Online from around the globe. He was recognized as the century’s outstanding performer, with nearly 18% of the total vote, edging out Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan. He has sung for presidents, popes, and royalty, as well as at humanitarian events, and is the founder of the charitable organization Aznavour for Armenia along with his long-time friend and impresario Levon Sayan. Aznavour started his global farewell tour in late 2006, which continues through this day. In 2009 he was appointed ambassador of Armenia to Switzerland, as well as Armenia’s permanent delegate to the United Nations at Geneva LYRICS: Yesterday when I was young The taste of life was sweet as rain upon my tongue I teased at life as if it were a foolish game The way the evening breeze may tease the candle flame A thousand dreams I dreamed The splendid things I planned I always built alas on weak and shifting sand I lived by night and shunned the naked light of day And only now I see how the years ran away Yesterday when I was young So many lovely songs were waiting to be sung So many wayward pleasures lay in store for me And so much pain my dazzled eyes refused to see [ Find more Lyrics on ] I ran so fast that time and youth at last ran out I never stopped to think what life was all about And every conversation I can now recall Concerned itself with me and nothing else at all Yesterday the moon was blue And every crazy day brought something new to do I used my magic age as if it were a wand That never saw the waste and emptiness beyond The game of love I played with arrogance and pride And every flame I lit too quickly quickly died The friends I made all seemed somehow drift away And only I am left on stage to end the play There are so many songs in me that won’t be sung I feel the bitter taste of tears upon my tongue The time has come for me to pay For yesterday.... when I was young.....