Wives and lovers Flashcards
(6 cards)
In 1963, successful musical partnership Burt Bacharach and Hal David were asked to write a song about marital infidelity to promote a film called Wives and Lovers. Although it didn’t appear in the film, the resulting song became a hit for singer Jack Jones in that same year, earning him a Grammy Award for best male vocal performance.
what was the purpose of the song initially
The song purports to give advice to married women to prevent their husbands having affairs at work.
Who did savant make a video to accompany the release with?
Salvant made a video to accompany the release of the song, featuring dancer Storyboard P, a regular collaborator with rap artist Jay-Z. The video is available on YouTube.
What male and female singers have recorded it?
Multiple male singers have recorded it, including Andy Williams and Frank Sinatra. Other notable female singers, including Ella Fitzgerald and Lena Horne, have also recorded it.
Controversy over the work and Salvant’s perspective
There has been a lot of discussion about the song’s lyrics, with many calling them sexist and outdated. Salvant said this about the work:
“Things are too often taken at face value. I firmly believe that humour is one of the best and most important tools in making social or political commentary accessible. Had I heard this song sung by a woman as a teenager, I would have felt empowered by the idea of mocking the 1960s ideal of a “perfect” woman.
It would have taken a bit of the daily stress from being a woman and made it a joke, made it something absurd, and thus powerless. This is my intention.”
Original singer
The original recording made by Bacharach and David featured their go-to artist Dionne Warwick.
