Who is Burt Bacharach and why are his songs timeless?

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SUMMARY

Burt Bacharach, the legendary songwriter, passed away at the age of 94, leaving behind a timeless legacy in music. His collaborations with Hal David produced iconic hits such as "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" and "The Look of Love," showcasing his unique ability to blend various genres. Many fans discovered his work through popular songs in the late 20th century, often unaware of his extensive contributions to the Great American Songbook. Bacharach's understated demeanor and profound musical talent have solidified his status as a pivotal figure in American music history.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the Great American Songbook
  • Familiarity with popular music from the 1960s and 1970s
  • Knowledge of songwriting collaboration, particularly between Burt Bacharach and Hal David
  • Basic music theory, including melody and harmony concepts
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the impact of Burt Bacharach's songwriting on modern music
  • Explore the musical techniques used in "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head"
  • Analyze the collaboration dynamics between Burt Bacharach and Hal David
  • Study the influence of Burt Bacharach on contemporary artists and genres
USEFUL FOR

Music enthusiasts, songwriters, historians, and anyone interested in the evolution of popular music and the contributions of iconic figures like Burt Bacharach.

pinball1970
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Burt Bacharach has passed at 94, Certainly of my favourites.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/feb/09/burt-bacharach-
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Last great songwriter in the Great American Songbook

 
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I had no idea he was still alive.
 
Vanadium 50 said:
I had no idea he was still alive.
He isn't. Or did you mean prior to his death? I think I would have remembered that announcement, like Lemmy.

Anyway, when a beautiful song meets a beautiful voice.
Dusty Springfield, The look of Love. Hopefully it will be play friendly.

 
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Susanna Hoff, The Look of Love.
 
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Two of his biggest hits



 
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Ivan Seeking said:
Two of his biggest hits
I'd never heard of Bacharach until Raindrops became a hit.
 
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Astronuc said:
I'd never heard of Bacharach until Raindrops became a hit.
Probably the same for me.

And I have been in love with Katherine Ross ever since I saw that movie scene. :oldlaugh:
 
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Ivan Seeking said:
Probably the same for me.

And I have been in love with Katherine Ross ever since I saw that movie scene. :oldlaugh:
There were plenty of attactive actresses, and they were out of my league. Katherine Ross divorced 4 times, and is now married to Sam Elliot. And there were actresses like Inger Stevens and Diana Rigg, who I would never meet in person.

I did meet many wonderful women during my university years and married one with whom I'm still married.
 
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What amazes me is all the music genre he made.
 
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Astronuc said:
I'd never heard of Bacharach until Raindrops became a hit.
Never heard of him till the 1980s when I was learning guitar and piano probably.

Getting the chords out to all these great songs and thinking, who the hell is Burt Bacharach (and Hal David)!?

Did he just write the late 60s early 70s??
There were just so many by different artists.
I only just found out that he co-wrote “Arthur” too.
I always thought that was just Christopher Cross on his own.

If you watch him talk about his tracks in later life he was so quietly spoken and jazz cool is the only way I can describe him.

He hardly moved his mouth and had a constant half smile on his face, a far out guy.
Brilliant.
 
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