"Baubles, Bangles, & Beads" is a popular song from the 1953 musical Kismet, credited to Robert Wright and George Forrest.
Like almost all the music in that show, the melody was based on works by Alexander Borodin,[1][2] in this case the second theme of the second movement of his String Quartet in D. The "Kismet" setting maintains the original's 3/4 waltz rhythm; pop music settings change the rhythm to a moderate four-beat accompaniment.
Jazz musicians are especially drawn to the song's beguiling melody and advanced harmonic structure.
[citation needed] The best-selling version of the song was recorded by Peggy Lee on September 16, 1953[3] and charted briefly that year.
[4] Other versions were recorded that year by Lu Ann Simms and Georgia Gibbs.