‘My music, its longevity kind of amazes me’
JEFFREY DAVIES looks back at his interview with songwriting legend Burt Bacharach, talking about Glastonbury, the ups and downs of life in music and why Alfie is his favourite piece of work
CLOSE To You, Make It Easy On Yourself, 24 Hours From Tulsa, Walk On By, Always Something There To Remind Me, I Say A Little Prayer, What’s New Pussycat, Alfie and Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head. All instantly recognisable global hits performed by a range of household names but all from the pen of legendary American songwriter and composer Burt Bacharach in collaboration with fellow lyricist Hal David. I interviewed globally celebrated musician Burt, now 93 years old, ahead of a series of four special UK concerts, one of which took place on the stage of the Colston Hall [now the Bristol Beacon] six years ago... THE multi awardwinning American songwriter and composer Burt Bacharach is a true legend in every sense of the generally overused word. His impressive catalogue of songs, including nine number ones and 48 top ten hits, sound as fresh today as when they were first written and performed at the start of what has been a massively successful career. His worldwide audience and fanbase spans several generations of highly appreciative popular music lovers and loyal fans. Seen as a combination of one of the greatest and most prolific composers of all time, and the ultra-cool cult hero of the contemporary music set, the Kansas City-born popular music phenomenon continues to woo his audience wherever he goes, including at Glastonbury Festival in 2015 where, not to put too fine a point on it, the still wonderfully energetic performer took the world renowned festival by storm with his debut appearance on the iconic Pyramid Stage, which came 15 years after a previous planned visit didn’t happen. “Oh, I was so glad it happened in the end because it was one of the best moments in my life ever. And one never to be forgotten. It was a truly wonderful occasion with so many people enjoying themselves for as far as you could see,” Burt told me proudly down the transatlantic phone line from his music study in his Los Angeles home. “You know, you can’t account for that range of a whole family enjoying a show sometimes; mother, father, daughter, son, grandparents and even greatgrandparents. But for me that was just a great happening. To have all the family there was very memorable,” he added. Ahead of his very welcome return to the West Country in 2016, I asked what might audiences expect from the creme de la creme of songwriters and composers? “Well, firstly, I hope they’ll just come along and enjoy themselves with the music I’ll bring, which will be the songs and music that people seem to have enjoyed over the years,” Burt replied, while telling me that he would be accompanied on stage by a full orchestra. “Songs and tunes that people seem to have enjoyed,” I repeated, somewhat taken aback by the musician’s modest understatement of the universal appeal of his celebrated compositions. After all, haven’t Burt’s classic numbers and film scores stood the proverbial test of time for some six decadesplus already? “Yes, people have enjoyed my music over the years,” he admitted happily while acknowledging that essentially his kind of music did make people feel good and feel happy. But hit after hit after hit! What’s the winning formula? And does Burt know instinctively that a song will be a chart success? “Not really. But you can get a hint. The moment of truth is when you take it into the recording studio and make the record. But your question is a good one, Jeffrey. To be honest I don’t really have the answer because I don’t know,” he answered candidly. He continued: “My music and its longevity kind of amazes me. People say that it’s still relevant some 40, 50 and 60 years later and so it’s only a guess on my part to say that, maybe, the songs have more flesh to them, more meat, than other songs that were simpler.” But people, I suggested, also like a song which has meaningful lyrics framed in a beautifully orchestrated and carefully arranged piece of music too. “Yes, I think that’s so. But I can’t really just sit here in my music study and say I’m going to write something that will really be appreciated, that is really going to catch on, and still be played in 30 years from now. I can’t do that because I’ve got to get by one barrier first, by
one judge, and that’s myself. And then I have to ask myself whether I like what I’m doing!” the perfectionist admitted. What about his inspiration for a song, a tune or a piece of music. What prompts Burt to write? What is the catalyst that gets him started on a new composition? “Well, certainly what prompted Alfie, for example, was being asked to write a song for a situation. In this case a movie. So that is the motivator right there. Other times I get on the keyboard and fool around and maybe get something that way. All kinds of things inspire me to write my songs and tunes,” he said matter-of-factly. Whether or not the most engaging and modest musician admits to having the magic touch – the magic formula – for knowing what will go on to be a big hit, nobody can doubt that the composer, pianist, singer and producer has hit pop gold with an incredible back catalogue of 73 classic hits in America and an equally impressive 52 Top 40 bestsellers in this country behind him, many written in collaboration with Hal David, and performed by a stellar line-up of singers,
I can’t really just sit here in my music study and say I’m going to write something that will really be appreciated, that is really going to catch on, and still be played in 30 years from now. I can’t do that because I’ve got to get by one barrier first, by one judge, and that’s myself
Burt Bacharach
including Dionne Warwick, Gene Pitney, Cilla Black, Dusty Springfield, Bobbie Gentry, Carol Bayer Sager, Tom Jones, Andy Williams, Herb Alpert and The Carpenters. Perhaps it’s an almost impossible question to answer – but here goes – does Burt have a favourite composition now? “Well, I have to say Alfie because it’s a great lyric that Hal wrote,” he replied, before going on to tell me that he wasn’t sure if he had another number one hit in him; a song or piece of music just waiting to be written. “I really don’t know. I really don’t, Jeffrey,” the easy-to-like musician answered with a laugh. It goes without saying that his must have been a wonderfully exciting and fulfilling dream of a career. “Sure, I feel blessed. But it’s not a roller-coaster because you’re not perpetually up. There are down periods too. But I have a good life for sure.” A life, I suggested, that must hold not only many memorable moments for him, but one that must also fill him with a welldeserved sense of pride as well. “Well, thank you. That’s nice of you to say,” the most gentlemanly star replied. With a full and active life still, the icon – 87 at the time of the interview – recoiled in horror when I broached the subject of retirement. “No, I won’t retire,” he said without a hint of hesitation. “I’ll carry on because when you retire you come to a halt and basically die a little bit. So no, I’ll just carry on,” he added, before swiftly returning to what he does best. Making wonderful music. Had our chat given Burt any ideas for a future song maybe? “Maybe. Who knows. My ideas as I said come from everywhere. Everywhere.” I felt privileged to have interviewed the gentle, thoughtful and towering legend that is Burt Bacharach.