I (Who Have Nothing)
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| “I (Who Have Nothing)” | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single by Ben E. King from the album Ben E. King's Greatest Hits |
||
| Released | 1963 | |
| Label | Atco Records | |
| Writer(s) | Carlo Donida, Mogol, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller | |
"I (Who Have Nothing)" (sometimes billed as "I Who Have Nothing") is a song originally released by Ben E. King in 1963. It has been covered by many artists, including most recently by American Idol contestant Jordin Sparks and the winner of Idols 4 the Dutch version of Pop Idol Nikki Kerkhof.
"I (Who Have Nothing)" is based on the Italian song "Uno dei tanti," (English: "One of the Many") with music by Carlo Donida and lyrics by Giulio "Mogol" Rapetti.[1] "Uno dei tanti" was released by Joe Sentieri in 1961. The lyrics for "I (Who Have Nothing)" were translated into English by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Some critics believe that part of this song's melody was later copied in "Nights in White Satin," released by the Moody Blues in 1967.[2]
[edit] Versions
The original Ben E. King version was released in 1963 and reached #29 on the Billboard charts. Tom Jones released the song, which peaked at #14 in 1970. Other version which reached the Billboard charts were performed by Terry Knight and the Pack in 1966 (#46), by Liquid Smoke in 1970 (#82), and by Sylvester in 1979 (#40).
Shirley Bassey released this song (produced by George Martin) in September 1963, reaching #6 on the UK charts. She performs the song at almost every live concert she gives, and it is on many of her compilation albums, including I Am What I Am with the London Symphony Orchestra, and her 1989 album La Mujer where she sings it in Spanish ("Hoy No Tengo Nada"). [3]
Other versions of "I (Who Have Nothing)" have been recorded by Tom & Mick, Petula Clark, The Spectres, Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway, Hodges, James & Smith, Luther Vandross & Martha Wash, Brook Benton, Neil Diamond, Joe Cocker, Normie Rowe, Katherine Jenkins, and Manfred Mann's Earth Band.
Jordin Sparks sang the song during British Invasion Week on the sixth season of American Idol.
[edit] The song in popular culture
- "I (Who Have Nothing)" was one of 39 Leiber and Stoller songs featured in the Broadway production of Smokey Joe's Cafe.
- Ben E. King version was featured in an episode of The Sopranos titled "The Telltale Moozadell" and appears on the soundtrack The Sopranos: Peppers & Eggs: Music from the HBO Original Series.
- It was performed by character Norman Gunston, played by actor Garry McDonald, on the Australian TV show The Norman Gunston Show and appeared on Gunston's debut album.
- The Shirley Bassey version is sampled in "I Who Have Nothing" by Jedi Mind Tricks.
[edit] References
- ^ "Second Hand Songs - Song:Uno dei tanti - Joe Sentieri". Retrieved on 2007-07-28.
- ^ "Allmusic - Nights in White Satin". Retrieved on 2007-07-28.
- ^ "The Songs of Shirley Bassey: Song Info". Retrieved on 2007-07-30.
