Big Spender

This article is about the song. For the Hong Kong criminal, seeCheung Chi Keung.For the US television series, seeBig Spender (TV series).For the Peggy Lee album, seeBig $pender.

"Big Spender"is a song written byCy ColemanandDorothy Fieldsfor themusicalSweet Charity,first performed in 1966.Peggy Leewas the first artist to record the song (on single released on Jan 29, 1966), also on the albumBig Spender(released July 30, 1966). It is sung, in the musical, by the dance hostess girls; it was choreographed byBob Fossefor the Broadway musicalSweet Charityand the 1969 filmSweet Charity.It is set to the beat of a striptease as the girls taunt the customers.

Paula Kelly(third from right) andChita Rivera(second from right) as seductive dance hostess girls performing "Big Spender" in
Sweet Charity(1969).

Shirley Bassey version

"Big Spender"
SinglebyShirley Bassey
B-side	"Dangerous Game"
Released	September 1967
Recorded	1967
Genre	Jazz,vocal
Length	1:48
Label	United Artists Records
Songwriter(s)	Cy Coleman,Dorothy Fields
Producer(s)	Norman Newell
Official audio
"Big Spender"onYouTube

A hit version of the song byShirley Bassey(released September 1967) reached No. 21 in theUK Singles Chartin December 1967.This version is featured in the 2004 filmThe Life and Death of Peter Sellers,and in the 2005 filmNynne.Bassey often performed the song live, including at the 80th birthday ofPrince Philipand the 2007Glastonbury Festival.

In December 2007, the Shirley Bassey version was re-released in a new remixed version as adigital download.This was the third and final single released from the albumGet the Party Started.The single features a remix fromPink Poundand two instrumental remixes that were not included on the album release. Unlike the previous two singles this track featured a remix of a previous released recording, the vocal track was taken from a session recorded in 1984 for the albumI Am What I Am.There was no promotion undertaken for the single and no video was made to support the release.

Track listing

1. Big Spender
2. Dangerous Game

Other versions

• Queenperformed itLive at Wembley Stadiumon July 12, 1986, and also performed it live in period between 1973 and 1977; it is included on the concert recordingsA Night at the Odeon(Hammersmith, 1975) andLive at the Rainbow '74(Rainbow, November 1974).
• ThePussycat Dollsperformed the song live at the 2004MTV Asia Awards,with Melody Thornton on lead vocals.

Parodies and alternate lyrics

• A well knowntake-offof the song was shown onThe Morecambe and WiseChristmas Show 1975,sung byBrenda Arnau,and featuringPan's Peopleas guest dancers.
• The song appeared in UStelevision commercialsforMuriel Cigarsin the 1970s, sung byEdie Adams.A modified version of the lyrics invited the viewer to "...spend a little dime with me", referring to the price of a Muriel.
• In an episode of British Asian sketch comedy showGoodness Gracious Me,the cast perform a parody of the song called "Big Spinster".
• In the "Two Bad Neighbors"episode ofThe Simpsons,Homer Simpsonperformed the song at a yard sale with new lyrics to reflect the merchandise he is promoting.
• In theDiscworld Noircomputer game the Troll Saphire performed a parody of "Big Spender", with the opening lyrics as "The minute you walked through the wall, I could tell that you were a troll of destruction".
• In the "Viva Mars Vegas"episode ofFuturama,a parody version is played of "Big Spender", with the lyrics as "Hey Rich Lobster", when Dr. Zoidberg shows up at a casino on Mars with millions of dollars to spend and lose.
• A controversial video with flight attendants entreating an elite frequent flier made news in February 2019, generating protest from the flight attendants' union.
• A parody appeared on a musical segment ofSaturday Night Liveon Halloween of 2020 called "Big Spreader", referring toCOVID-19.

Samples

• The 2007 single "Roc-A-Fella Billionaires"byFreewayfeaturingJay-ZsamplesHelen Gallagher's version of the song.
• The 2012 single "Big Spender" byTheophilus LondonandASAP Rockysamples Peggy Lee's rendition of "Big Spender".

Television and film appearances

• During the animated opening credits ofThe Pink Panther Strikes Again(1976), animatorRichard Williamshas a lineup ofPink Panthersin a parody of the hostess girls' staging;Henry Manciniquotes "Big Spender," seguing seamlessly into the "Pink Panther Theme."
• InHou Hsiao-hsien's 1987 filmDaughter of the Nile,the song plays twice from Lin Hsiao-fang's restaurant.
• InNational Lampoon's European Vacation,Ellen Griswold performs "Big Spender" with exotic dancing while Clark (her husband) videotapes it.
• In 1998, the song was sung byVanessa Marcil,Vanita Harbour,Lynn Herring,andJennifer Hammonon thesoap operaGeneral Hospitalduring the hospital's annual Nurses Ball.
• In "Dream On",aseason 1 episodeofGlee,a woman auditioning forLes Misérablessings this song. The song was performed again on theseason 3 premiere"The Purple Piano Project"by Sugar (Vanessa Lengies), a student who can't sing.
• The song was sung by Ellis on the first episode ofThe Glee Project.
• In theGrounded for Lifeepisode "Mrs. Finnerty, You've Got a Lovely Daughter", Sean gets the song approved for his daughter Lily to perform at her Catholic school talent show.
• In the promo forThe Client List,Jennifer Love Hewittperforms this song.
• The song appears in the trailer forJohnny Depp'sMortdecai.
• The first episode ofFosse/Verdonopens with the number.
• The song appears in the trailer for the Netflix television seriesRatched.
• In the television series ‘Benidorm’ the song is performed during karaoke by Michael Garvey.

External links

• Lyricsof Shirley Bassey's version of Big Spender
• Shirley Bassey sings Big SpenderBBCarchive footage