- As Long as He Needs Me
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"As Long As He Needs Me"
Introduced in the 1960 musical Oliver!Written by Lionel Bart Published 1960 Language English Recorded by Many artists; see #Recorded versions "As Long As He Needs Me" 
Single by Shirley Bassey Released 1960 Format vinyl record (7", 12") Label Columbia Records As Long as He Needs Me is a torch song sung by the character of Nancy in the musical film Oliver!, introduced in the 1960 musical. It is a love ballad about her criminal boyfriend Bill Sikes. The song expresses Nancy's love for him, despite his mistreatment of her.
A reprise of this song towards the end of the show expresses Nancy's affection for young Oliver Twist, implying that she now feels that the child also needs her. This reprise was omitted from the film version.
The song has also been sung as "As Long as She Needs Me," when sung by a male singer, and became a popular song by virtue of its renditions by several popular singers, including Lionel Bart and Shirley Bassey who reached number two for 5 weeks on the United Kingdom charts with the song. Bassey's recording became one of the highest sellers of 1960 staying on the UK charts for 30 weeks, and is still heard regularly playing in the background on the TV show "EastEnders". The song was performed by Nadia Turner and Melinda Doolittle on American Idol.
Contents
Recorded versions
- Lionel Bart
- Josephine Barstow (1991)
- Shirley Bassey (1960)
- Georgia Brown (London Stage Production), Georgia Brown Sings Gershwin/Georgia Brown (2003)
- Anita Bryant
- Sergio Franchi - on his 1963 RCA Victor Red Seal album Broadway, I Love You[1]
- Alma Cogan - Celebration (2006)
- Kim Criswell (1988)
- Sammy Davis Jr. (As Long as She Needs Me) (1963)
- Doris Day - Latin for Lovers/Love Him (1995)
- Sally Dexter (London revival cast) (1994)
- The Drifters (1965)
- Maureen Evans
- Michael Feinstein - Romance on Film/Romance on Broadway (2002)
- Connie Fisher
- Judy Garland
- Eydie Gormé - Sings Great Songs from the Sound of Music (2003)
- Buddy Greco
- Joni James (1962)
- Anita Kerr (1963)
- Bonnie Langford (1994)
- Steve Lawrence
- Liberace
- Patti LuPone
- Mantovani
- Ann-Margret
- Andrea McArdle
- Matt Monro
- Vaughn Monroe
- Peter Nero
- Gene Pitney
- Jodie Prenger (London revival cast) (2009)
- Frankie Randall
- Lea Salonga
- Kate Smith (1963)
- Sonia Swaby (1998 for Cameron Mackintosh in Hey, Mr. Producer)
- Sally Ann Triplett
- Sarah Vaughan
- Shani Wallis (Film Soundtrack) (1968)
- Dionne Warwick - Dionne Warwick's Greatest Motion Picture Hits (1969)
- Marti Webb (2003)
- Nancy Wilson - The Best of Nancy Wilson (2002)
- Barbara Windsor
The song has also been performed by contestants Nadia Turner (2005) and Melinda Doolittle (2007) on American Idol. It was released as a studio recorded track by Doolittle, and sold as a downloadable song on the American Idol website.
References
See also
- Hooker with a heart of gold
- Domestic abuse
External links
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens Characters Oliver Twist · Bill Sikes · Fagin · Mr. Brownlow · Nancy · Rose Maylie · Monks · The Artful Dodger · Charley BatesFilm adaptations Television adaptations Other adaptations Songs "As Long as He Needs Me" · "Consider Yourself" · "Food, Glorious Food" · "I'd Do Anything" · "Oliver!" · "Oom-Pah-Pah" · "Where Is Love?" · "You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two"See also Bold text
Categories:- Songs from Oliver!
- 1960 songs
- Songs written by Lionel Bart
- Nancy Wilson songs
- Dionne Warwick songs
- Shirley Bassey songs
- English-language songs
- Show tune stubs
- Pop standard stubs
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