If I Ruled the World - Tony Bennett - MP3 instrumental karaoke

Originating from the 1963 West End musical Pickwick – an adaptation of Charles Dickens's classic The Pickwick Papers – "If I Ruled the World" is a song that became a celebrated standard. Written by the duo of Leslie Bricusse and Cyril Ornadel, the song earned them the prestigious 1963 Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically. In its initial stage setting, Samuel Pickwick, caught in a case of mistaken identity, delivers the song as a spontaneous manifesto, expressing his vision for a better world. Sir Harry Secombe recorded a rendition in 1963, which climbed to number 18 on the UK charts. Tony Bennett's 1965 recording, released as part of his 1965 album If I Ruled the World: Songs for the Jet Set, imbued it with a new flavor. His rendition peaked at number 34 on the U.S. pop charts and hit number 8 on the Middle-Road Singles chart. Tony Bennett's velvety tones breathed life into the song's message, capturing the imaginations of thousands of listeners with dreams of a utopian world. Musically, "If I Ruled the World" is a lush and sentimental easy-listening track, filled with Tony Bennett's signature warmth. Years later, in a testament to the song's lasting allure, the singer revisited this classic in a memorable duet with Celine Dion for his Grammy-winning 2006 album Duets: An American Classic.