I say a little prayer

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Dionne Warwick, the singer of the original version, 1966

I Say a Little Prayer is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David in 1967 . The song appeared in the original version by Dionne Warwick on the album The Windows of the World . Uncoupled as a single, the song reached number four on the US single - and number eight on the R&B charts. In addition, the song was honored with a gold award. Ten years later, Warwick re-released a version of the song, this time as part of a duet medley with Isaac Hayes and the Jimmy Webb composition By the Time I Get to Phoenix . This version only reached number 65 on the R&B charts as a release from the joint live album A Man a Woman . The idea for the medley was not new, however, because as early as 1971 Anne Murray and Glen Campbell had combined the two songs for their part and landed a small success in the pop, country and easy listening charts.

Despite the great success of Warwick, Aretha Franklin saw commercial potential in the song and only a few months later, in 1968, released a version of her own that was also a great success. In the USA, initially only released as the B-side of The House That Jack Built , the song nevertheless reached number 10 on the singles charts and also number 3 on the R&B hit list. This double A-side single also received a gold award. Warwick couldn't land a hit in Great Britain with their version, Franklin was luckier and ended up in fourth place there. Neither Warwick nor Franklin made it to the easy listening charts, this was reserved for the Baja Marimba Band in the fall of 1968 . She reached number ten with her version.

The song was covered many times in the following years, also in various foreign languages. The German version I wish me so much from you was interpreted by Marion Maerz , Siw Malmkvist , Bata Illic and Mary Roos , among others . Malmkvist also recorded the song in Swedish ( Sen drömmer jag en stund om dej ).

In 1969 the song was used in the movie A Frog in Manhattan . Here it was sung by the singer Susan Barrett during a party at which the two leading actors Catherine Deneuve and Jack Lemmon get to know each other.

It also became interesting when male interpreters took on the song, because here the first lines "The Moment I Wake Up, Before I Put on My Makeup" were often changed so that the impression was not created that the performers were putting on make-up. Ed Ames sang "The Moment I Get Up, Before I Can Shave and Set Up", Johnny Mathis combined it to "The Moment I Wake Up, Before I Can Shave and Set Up" and Al Green changed it to "Each Morning You Wake." Up, Before You Put on Your Makeup ”. The German country group The BossHoss tried it in 2006 as follows: "The Moment I Wake Up, Before I Put My Jeans Up".

Even after the 1960s and 1970s, I Say a Little Prayer was always good for a hit: In 1988, a dance remake of Bomb the Bass was made , which reached number ten on the British charts. Diana King followed in 1997 with her version for the soundtrack for My Best Friend's Wedding . Their version reached the top 40 on the US and UK charts.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Serene Dominic: Burt Bacharach, Song by Song. Music Sales Group, 2003, ISBN 978-0-8256-7280-4 , pp. 186-7.
  2. ^ Joel Whitburn: Top R&B Singles 1942-1995, pages 467-8, ISBN 0-89820-115-2
  3. ↑ I Say a Little Prayer (song by Aretha Franklin) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts. Retrieved November 28, 2019 .
  4. ^ Joel Whitburn: Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2006, Record Research, 2007, p. 18
  5. ^ The April Fools (1969) - IMDb. Retrieved November 28, 2019 .
  6. ^ Serene Dominic: Burt Bacharach, Song by Song. Music Sales Group, 2003, ISBN 978-0-8256-7280-4 , pp. 186-7.
  7. ↑ Boss Hoss - I say a little prayer. Retrieved November 28, 2019 (German).
  8. ^ Bomb The Bass - Say A Little Prayer. Retrieved November 28, 2019 (German).
  9. ↑ I Say a Little Prayer (song by Diana King) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts. Retrieved November 28, 2019 .