Dame Shirley Bassey is the legendary Welsh singer famous for her powerful voice and James Bond themes (“Goldfinger,” “Diamonds Are Forever,” “Moonraker”). On this track she is credited as “Miss Shirley Bassey.”
Propellerheads were an English electronic/big-beat duo from Bath, formed in 1995 by Alex Gifford and Will White. They specialized in high-energy breakbeats and had a brief but sharp peak in the late ’90s.
“History Repeating” (1997) is their standout collaboration.
- Written by Alex Gifford specifically with Bassey in mind
- Blends big-beat rhythms with jazz-flavored production and her dramatic vocals
- Reached No. 19 in the UK, No. 1 on the UK Indie chart, and No. 10 on the US Dance Club Songs chart
- Featured on the soundtrack of There’s Something About Mary and used as the theme for the TV show So Graham Norton
The song became a stylish crossover hit that paired classic diva power with late-’90s electronic energy.