Shirley Bassey - The Performance Of My Life (2009 Live At Electric Proms)

2009 (The Pet Shop Boys wrote this wonderful song for veteran songstress Dame Shirley Bassey, which she recorded and released on her 2009 CD. There is no doubt that this song is destined to be a classic!! This clip is a live version from her Concert TV Special)

This song, The Performance Of My Life, is the title track from Dame Shirley Bassey's lastest CD titled, 'The Performance'.

LYRICS:
Brave Face
Stiff upper lip
Will do the trick
Look
The mask is firm
The face is mine
It seems fine

Until the final day
I'll play this part the only way I can
For to live, I have to give
The performance of my life

What's the truth
Well, I won't bore you with the truth
I knew it would be tough
Right from day one
But you go on

Until the final day
I'll play this part the only way I can
For to live, I have to give
The performance of my life

Made it to the top!
Although the road was steep
And there I had a dream
A vision of love
Revealed in sleep

Right on cue
I fell in love with you
You caused many a tear
I had applause
I had a career

Until the final day, I'll play this part
The only way I can
For to live, I have to give
The performance of my....
Life!

ABOUT the CD, 'The Performance'
The Performance is an album by singer Dame Shirley Bassey, released on 9 November 2009. It is her first studio album of original compositions in three decades. English film composer David Arnold co-produced the entire album with Mike Dixon. David Arnold initially contacted Bassey about recording an album together following her successful appearance at Glastonbury festival in 2007. Having entered semi-retirement and not toured for a few years, Bassey was unsure until she heard that a number of famous songwriters were keen to contribute to the album. With artists such as Manic Street Preachers, Gary Barlow and Pet Shop Boys involved, Bassey felt honoured by the contributions and agreed to do the album.

Of the Pet Shop Boys composition, "The Performance of My Life", Bassey remarked that the lyrics hit close to home and moved her to tears during recording. Songwriter Neil Tennant said that it was about a diva, who lived her life on stage, but was not specifically about Bassey.