The Burt Bacharach Discussion Forum

Sara, neither can I.

"blue"

Sara D wrote:I remember, Blue, for a few years after his appearance in the first 'Austin Powers' movie where he sang 'What the World Needs Now' he was referred to as a 'crooner' more than he was a composer in the UK press, even by some of the broadsheets. Apart from getting his name better known I can't see how appearing in those movies really advanced his career.

I'm not sure if this is correct. That is to say, I think that being in a big hit movie is a good thing for someone. For one thing, it raises their "Q" score (the measurement of appeal of a celebrity), and, for another thing, it makes them more famous. "Hey, there's the guy that was in the Austin Powers movies -- let's go see him tonight." Celebrities pay publicity agents a lot of money to get their name in the papers. I think that Burt's appearances in those commercials back in the day helped his career also. I think that when people see you and talk about you, I think it does help your career.

His name is so distinctive, Sara, that people remember it even if they're not sure who he is and what he's achieved. This was brought home to me a couple of hours before the first Festival Hall concert in June when I happened to be passing the venue and came upon the Great man signing autographs outside the artists entrance. A girl in her late teens/early 20s sidled up and asked me who it was and when I told her she said, "Wow! Really?", and then proceeded to take photos of him being engulfed by autograph-hunters with her Smart Phone. I couldn't resist asking her if she was a fan and was disappointed but not surprised when she told me she hadn't a clue what he did but knew he was famous. When I told her the reason for his fame and reeled off about a dozen of his most famous song titles she emoted, "Of course, that's why I know him. I f..king love those songs!" But yes, for a while he was better known as that guy who sang a song on top of a bus in 'Austin Powers' than he was as a composer and that definitely wasn't a healthy situation.