The song of the day for Saturday, May 27, 2017 is “If I Ruled The World.”

About This Song

“If I Ruled The World” was written by Cyril Ornadel and Leslie Bricusse for the 1963 West End musical Pickwick, based on Dicken’s The Pickwick Papers. Harry Secombe, the British actor, originated the role of Pickwick and his version of this song charted at #18 in the UK. The production opened in New York in 1965 on Broadway. Tony Bennett’s was one of the earliest American recordings and the song reached #34 on the US pop singles charts.

About This Version

Tony Bennett first recorded “If I Ruled The World” in 1965 for his terrific album If I Ruled The World: Songs for the Jet Set. Don Costa did the arrangement.

“If I Ruled The World,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs for the Jet Set, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Our video this Saturday is Tony Bennett singing today’s song inthe garden at Buckingham Palace, during the ‘Party at the Palace’ concert for the Queens Golden Jubilee in 2002.