Colour My World (Petula Clark song)
Encyclopedia
"Colour My World" is a song written by Tony Hatch
and Jackie Trent
recorded by Petula Clark
in 1966.
While overall conforming to the hit formula Hatch had come up with for Clark with "Downtown
" - and being especially reminiscent of Clark's 1965 #1 hit "My Love
- "Colour My World" acknowledged the sound of the later '60s by featuring a riff played on the sitar
.
Recorded in New York City, "Colour My World" was rush released in December 1966 in an attempt to counteract the disappointing performance of Clark's preceding single "Who Am I?
" which had fallen short of the US Top 20 and more seriously had become the first Petula Clark single since "Downtown
" (1964) to not rank in the UK Top 50
.
Although it did return Clark to the US Top Twenty with a #16 peak and was also an Australian Top Ten hit, "Colour My World" became the second consecutive Petula Clark single release to fall short of the UK Top 50 with a #52 peak. The album named for this failed UK single: Colour My World (US title even Color My World/Who Am I?) was similarly overlooked upon its January 1967 release. However after a month the original edition of the album was withdrawn in the UK, but later became one of Clark's highest charting UK albums, bolstered by the inclusion of Clark's smash hit "This Is My Song
" in the reissued album's revised track listing. This boosted the Colour My World album to a #16 UK chart peak.
In addition "Colour My World" gained a high UK profile by virtue of being used by BBC Television
as the theme song for the July 1967 launch of colour service on BBC2
.
Tony Hatch would later produce a recording of "Colour My World" for Two of Each, a group whose lead vocalist Mally Page was the sister of the song's co-writer Jackie Trent to whom Hatch was then married. The Two of Each version of "Colour My World" was issued in January 1970 on a single featuring a version of "Here Comes the Sun
" with neither track charting.
A #38 C&W
hit for Barbara Fairchild
in 1972 as "Color My World", the song was also rendered as an inspirational
number by Sierra
who included the song - as "Color My World" - on their 1998 Story of Life album.
"Colour My World" has been rendered in Croatian by Višnja Korbar as "Svijet za nas" (The world for us), in French by Renée Martel as "Viens Changer Ma Vie" (Just change my life), in Italian as "Dipingi un mondo per me" (Paint a world for me) by Milva
and in Spanish by Gelu as "Pinta mi mundo" (Paint my world).
In 2004 "Colour My World" - referred to as "Color My World" - was utilized as a jingle
in US television commercials
for M&M's
being rendered in various versions including as a languid ballad; the vocal on the last named version was by Reneé Cologne.
UK furniture retailer DFS
used the Petula Clark version in a UK television commercial campaign run in 2008.
"Colour My World" is featured - with some additional lyrics - in the stage musical Priscilla Queen of the Desert
which debuted 6 October 2006. The song appears on the 2007 cast recording performed by Daniel Scott, Tony Sheldon, Jeremy Stanford and the Company.
"Colour My World" was used as the title for a BBC Radio 2
documentary on Tony Hatch broadcast in June 2009.
Tony Hatch
Anthony Peter "Tony" Hatch is an English composer, songwriter, pianist, music arranger and producer.-Early life and early career:...
and Jackie Trent
Jackie Trent
Jackie Trent is an English singer, songwriter, and actress.-Career:Trent's first stage appearance was as a ten-year-old ingenue in the pantomime Babes In The Wood, but her primary interest was a career in pop music...
recorded by Petula Clark
Petula Clark
Petula Clark, CBE is an English singer, actress, and composer whose career has spanned seven decades.Clark's professional career began as an entertainer on BBC Radio during World War II...
in 1966.
While overall conforming to the hit formula Hatch had come up with for Clark with "Downtown
Downtown (Petula Clark song)
"Downtown" is a pop song composed by Tony Hatch which, as recorded by Petula Clark, became an international hit – No. 1 in the US and No. 2 in the UK – at the end of 1964.-Original recording:...
" - and being especially reminiscent of Clark's 1965 #1 hit "My Love
My Love (Petula Clark song)
"My Love" is a 1965 single release by Petula Clark which in early 1966 became an international hit, reaching #1 in the US: Clark's regular songwriter and producer Tony Hatch was responsible for "My Love"....
- "Colour My World" acknowledged the sound of the later '60s by featuring a riff played on the sitar
Sitar
The 'Tablaman' is a plucked stringed instrument predominantly used in Hindustani classical music, where it has been ubiquitous since the Middle Ages...
.
Recorded in New York City, "Colour My World" was rush released in December 1966 in an attempt to counteract the disappointing performance of Clark's preceding single "Who Am I?
Who Am I? (Petula Clark song)
"Who Am I?" was a 1966 single by Petula Clark written and produced by Tony Hatch.Although largely conforming to the formula established by Clark's previous work with Hatch, "Who Am I?" is distinct in its referencing concerns of the 1960s social consciousness, specifically the search for the...
" which had fallen short of the US Top 20 and more seriously had become the first Petula Clark single since "Downtown
Downtown (Petula Clark song)
"Downtown" is a pop song composed by Tony Hatch which, as recorded by Petula Clark, became an international hit – No. 1 in the US and No. 2 in the UK – at the end of 1964.-Original recording:...
" (1964) to not rank in the UK Top 50
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
Although it did return Clark to the US Top Twenty with a #16 peak and was also an Australian Top Ten hit, "Colour My World" became the second consecutive Petula Clark single release to fall short of the UK Top 50 with a #52 peak. The album named for this failed UK single: Colour My World (US title even Color My World/Who Am I?) was similarly overlooked upon its January 1967 release. However after a month the original edition of the album was withdrawn in the UK, but later became one of Clark's highest charting UK albums, bolstered by the inclusion of Clark's smash hit "This Is My Song
This Is My Song (1967 song)
"This Is My Song" is a song written by Charlie Chaplin in 1966 and performed by Petula Clark.-Origin/ Petula Clark recording:"This is My Song" was intended for the film, A Countess from Hong Kong, which Charlie Chaplin wrote and directed...
" in the reissued album's revised track listing. This boosted the Colour My World album to a #16 UK chart peak.
In addition "Colour My World" gained a high UK profile by virtue of being used by BBC Television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
as the theme song for the July 1967 launch of colour service on BBC2
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
.
Tony Hatch would later produce a recording of "Colour My World" for Two of Each, a group whose lead vocalist Mally Page was the sister of the song's co-writer Jackie Trent to whom Hatch was then married. The Two of Each version of "Colour My World" was issued in January 1970 on a single featuring a version of "Here Comes the Sun
Here Comes the Sun
"Here Comes the Sun" is a song by George Harrison from The Beatles' 1969 album Abbey Road. It is regarded as one of the most popular Beatles songs. The song was written while Harrison was away from all of these troubles...
" with neither track charting.
A #38 C&W
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
hit for Barbara Fairchild
Barbara Fairchild
Barbara Fairchild is an American Country Music/Gospel Music Singer, who is best known for her 1973 Country chart-topper "The Teddy Bear Song". After the success of the song, she continued to have success on the Country charts....
in 1972 as "Color My World", the song was also rendered as an inspirational
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
number by Sierra
Sierra (group)
Sierra was an American Contemporary Christian music vocal trio.Sierra was founded in 1992, and quickly signed with Star Song, which released their debut self-titled album in 1994.The group released four full-length albums before breaking up in 2002....
who included the song - as "Color My World" - on their 1998 Story of Life album.
"Colour My World" has been rendered in Croatian by Višnja Korbar as "Svijet za nas" (The world for us), in French by Renée Martel as "Viens Changer Ma Vie" (Just change my life), in Italian as "Dipingi un mondo per me" (Paint a world for me) by Milva
Milva
Maria Ilva Biolcati , known as Milva, is an Italian singer, actress and television personality. She is also known as 'La Rossa', , due to the colour of her hair, and additionally as the 'Panther of Goro', which stems from the Italian press having nicknamed the three most popular Italian female...
and in Spanish by Gelu as "Pinta mi mundo" (Paint my world).
In 2004 "Colour My World" - referred to as "Color My World" - was utilized as a jingle
Jingle
A jingle is a short tune used in advertising and for other commercial uses. The jingle contains one or more hooks and lyrics that explicitly promote the product being advertised, usually through the use of one or more advertising slogans. Ad buyers use jingles in radio and television...
in US television commercials
Television advertisement
A television advertisement or television commercial, often just commercial, advert, ad, or ad-film – is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization that conveys a message, typically one intended to market a product...
for M&M's
M&M's
M&M's are dragée-like "colorful button-shaped candies" produced by Mars, Incorporated...
being rendered in various versions including as a languid ballad; the vocal on the last named version was by Reneé Cologne.
UK furniture retailer DFS
Dfs (retailer)
DFS, formerly Doncaster Furnishing Stores, is a national furniture retailer in the United Kingdom which specialises in sofas and soft furnishings. It serves the lower end of the furniture market and offers credit terms on its goods.- History :...
used the Petula Clark version in a UK television commercial campaign run in 2008.
"Colour My World" is featured - with some additional lyrics - in the stage musical Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Priscilla Queen of the Desert - the Musical
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is a musical with a book by Australian film director-writer Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott, using well-known pop songs as its score...
which debuted 6 October 2006. The song appears on the 2007 cast recording performed by Daniel Scott, Tony Sheldon, Jeremy Stanford and the Company.
"Colour My World" was used as the title for a BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
documentary on Tony Hatch broadcast in June 2009.
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| #10 | #14 | #13 | #16 (Easy Listening Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States... #10) |