The Windows of the World (song)
Encyclopedia
"The Windows of the World" is the title of a song written by Burt Bacharach
(music) and Hal David
(lyrics) which was a hit single for Dionne Warwick
in 1967.
The track was recorded in a 13 April 1967 session produced by Bacharach and David with Bacharach as conductor and arranger.
Bacharach and David had scored a #7 hit in 1965 with Jackie DeShannon
's message song
hit "What the World Needs Now is Love
" but "The Windows of the World" was unique in the composers' canon in being a protest song
. Inspired by the songs as "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?
" and "Blowin' in the Wind
", Hal David wrote lyrics for "The Windows of the World" which overtly but gently lament US involvement in the Vietnam War, an especial concern to David who had two young sons, one of them almost of eligible age for the draft. The arrangement for "The Windows of the World" has a subtle Asian flavor featuring strings plucked in the style of a koto
and also finger cymbals the latter evoking the sound of raindrops on a window.
"The Windows of the World" represented a thematic departure for Warwick who had built her career as a romantic balladeer and had passed on the chance to introduce "What the World Needs Now is Love" (although her stated objection to the last-named was not its theme but rather that it sounded "too country"). Released in July 1967, "The Windows of the World" was not one of Warwick's biggest hits reaching #32 on the Billboard Hot 100
(#27 R&B/ #32 Easy Listening). However Warwick stated in 2002 that "The Windows of the World" was her favorite of all of her singles.
Warwick's September 1967 album release featured "The Windows of The World" as its title cut (see The Windows of the World
). The album cut "I Say a Little Prayer
" was released that October as a single and proved to be the track which would re-establish Dionne Warwick as a Top Ten hitmaker.
Dionne Warwick also recorded an Italian language version of "The Windows of the World" as "La Vita Come Va" ([the] life as it should be).
"The Windows of the World" has also been recorded by Scott Walker
(Scot 2 - 1968), Jimmie Rodgers
(The Windmills of Your Mind - 1969) and Rita Reys
(Rita Reys sings Burt Bacharach - 1971). Bobbie Gentry
's rendition of the song was included on her 2007 compilation The Best of Bobbie Gentry: The Capitol Years. The Icelandic rendering "Regn Óréttlætisins" was recorded by Hljómar for their 1968 eponymous album.
Burt Bacharach
Burt F. Bacharach is an American pianist, composer and music producer. He is known for his popular hit songs and compositions from the mid-1950s through the 1980s, with lyrics written by Hal David. Many of their hits were produced specifically for, and performed by, Dionne Warwick...
(music) and Hal David
Hal David
Harold Lane "Hal" David is an American lyricist. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York. David is best known for his collaborations with composer Burt Bacharach.-Career:...
(lyrics) which was a hit single for Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick is an American singer, actress and TV show host, who became a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a United States Ambassador of Health....
in 1967.
The track was recorded in a 13 April 1967 session produced by Bacharach and David with Bacharach as conductor and arranger.
Bacharach and David had scored a #7 hit in 1965 with Jackie DeShannon
Jackie DeShannon
Jackie DeShannon is an American singer-songwriter with a string of hit song credits from the 1960s onwards. She was one of the first female singer-songwriters of the rock 'n' roll period.- Life and early career :...
's message song
Topical song
A topical song is a song that comments on political and/or social events. These types of songs are usually written about current events, but some of these songs remain popular long after the events discussed in them have occurred...
hit "What the World Needs Now is Love
What the World Needs Now Is Love
"What the World Needs Now Is Love" is a 1965 popular song with lyrics by Hal David and music composed by Burt Bacharach. First recorded and made popular by Jackie DeShannon, it was released on April 15, 1965, on the Imperial label after a release on sister label Liberty records the previous month...
" but "The Windows of the World" was unique in the composers' canon in being a protest song
Protest song
A protest song is a song which is associated with a movement for social change and hence part of the broader category of topical songs . It may be folk, classical, or commercial in genre...
. Inspired by the songs as "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?
Where Have All the Flowers Gone?
"Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" is a folk song. The first three verses were written by Pete Seeger in 1955, and published in Sing Out! magazine...
" and "Blowin' in the Wind
Blowin' in the Wind
"Blowin' in the Wind" is a song written by Bob Dylan and released on his album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan in 1963. Although it has been described as a protest song, it poses a series of questions about peace, war and freedom...
", Hal David wrote lyrics for "The Windows of the World" which overtly but gently lament US involvement in the Vietnam War, an especial concern to David who had two young sons, one of them almost of eligible age for the draft. The arrangement for "The Windows of the World" has a subtle Asian flavor featuring strings plucked in the style of a koto
Koto (musical instrument)
The koto is a traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument, similar to the Chinese guzheng, the Mongolian yatga, the Korean gayageum and the Vietnamese đàn tranh. The koto is the national instrument of Japan. Koto are about length, and made from kiri wood...
and also finger cymbals the latter evoking the sound of raindrops on a window.
"The Windows of the World" represented a thematic departure for Warwick who had built her career as a romantic balladeer and had passed on the chance to introduce "What the World Needs Now is Love" (although her stated objection to the last-named was not its theme but rather that it sounded "too country"). Released in July 1967, "The Windows of the World" was not one of Warwick's biggest hits reaching #32 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
(#27 R&B/ #32 Easy Listening). However Warwick stated in 2002 that "The Windows of the World" was her favorite of all of her singles.
Warwick's September 1967 album release featured "The Windows of The World" as its title cut (see The Windows of the World
The Windows of the World
The Windows Of The World is the title of the eighth studio album by Dionne Warwick released August 1967 when the title cut was in the Top 40....
). The album cut "I Say a Little Prayer
I Say a Little Prayer
"I Say a Little Prayer" is a song written by songwriters Burt Bacharach and Hal David for Dionne Warwick, originally peaking at number four on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart in December 1967.-Background:...
" was released that October as a single and proved to be the track which would re-establish Dionne Warwick as a Top Ten hitmaker.
Dionne Warwick also recorded an Italian language version of "The Windows of the World" as "La Vita Come Va" ([the] life as it should be).
"The Windows of the World" has also been recorded by Scott Walker
Scott Walker
Scott Walker may refer to:*Scott Walker , Governor of Wisconsin, and former county executive of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin*Scott Walker , boxer...
(Scot 2 - 1968), Jimmie Rodgers
Jimmie Rodgers (pop singer)
James Frederick "Jimmie" Rodgers is an American singer. He is not related to the country singer of the same name.-Career:...
(The Windmills of Your Mind - 1969) and Rita Reys
Rita Reys
Rita Reys is a jazz singer from the Netherlands.At the 1960 jazz festival of Juan Les Pins , she received the title 'Europe’s first lady of jazz'.-Early career:...
(Rita Reys sings Burt Bacharach - 1971). Bobbie Gentry
Bobbie Gentry
Roberta Lee Streeter , professionally known as Bobbie Gentry, is a former American singer-songwriter notable as one of the first female country artists to compose and produce her own material...
's rendition of the song was included on her 2007 compilation The Best of Bobbie Gentry: The Capitol Years. The Icelandic rendering "Regn Óréttlætisins" was recorded by Hljómar for their 1968 eponymous album.