DESCRIPTION:
1964 Something Wonderful - The King and I by Shirley Bassey

(These two songs, Something Wonderful and My Child were recorded by Shirley Bassey in 1964. The second song, however, is obscure as it was not released until it was included on a 1994 compilation EMI/UA Box set CD.

NOTE:
"Shirley Bassey-Something Wonderful", sound recording administered by:
EMI

The song, Something Wonderful, from the musical and movie 'The King And I' was recorded and released on Shirley's 1964 LP Titled, 'Shirley Stops the Shows (UK), and 'Shirley Bassey Belts The Best' (USA). With less mass communication back then, record producers were able to market the same material differently to different countries. Shirley is noted around the world for her legendary interpretations of songs from musicals and movies, and in case she is able to place her own stamp on the songs she sings.

ABOUT the Song, Something Wonderful:
"Something Wonderful" is a show tune from the 1951 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King and I.

The song was first sung in the original Broadway production by Dorothy Sarnoff, who played Lady Thiang. Later, in the 1956 film adaptation starring Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner it was sung by Terry Saunders as Lady Thiang. Terry Saunders was the stage name for Terry Termini, a young woman who got her start out of the Brooklyn, New York area.

In the show, Lady Thiang, the King's head wife, sings this song to Anna Leonowens to persuade her to accept the King for what he is, despite his faults. In a sense, these lyrics have echoes of the song "What's the Use of Wond'rin'" from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel, which also deal with the issue of women standing by their husbands despite all their faults. Musically, the heavy chords that punctuate the accompaniment bear some pre-echoes of the song Climb Ev'ry Mountain from The Sound of Music. This is notable because both these songs are inspirational songs sung by the earth-mother characters, who have similar singing voices. Both songs are also the last songs heard in their respective shows, even though Something Wonderful is played as an instrumental rendition to underscore the final scene of the King at his deathbed.

LYRICS - Something Wonderful (Bassey rendition):
He will not always say, what you would have him say
But now and then he'll say something wonderful
The thoughtless things he'll do, will hurt and worry you
And all at once he'll do something wonderful

He has a thousand dreams that won't come true
You know that he believes in them and that's enough for you

You'll always go along defend him when he's wrong
And tell him, when he's strong he is wonderful
He'll always needs your love and so he'll get your love
A man who needs your love can be wonderful

Special Thanks to Pieter, Astrid and others from the Shirley Bassey blog, Tal from the Diamond Bassey website, and all those who have contributed wonderful pictures of Shirley!