Baubles, Bangles, and Beads is a song written by George Forrest and Robert Wright for the 1953 Broadway musical Kismet, in which nearly all the music adapts themes by the Russian composer Alexander Borodin. The melody derives from the second theme of the Scherzo movement of Borodin's String Quartet No. 2 in D major, composed in 1881. Wright and Forrest transformed this classical source into a beguiling, lyrical piece with an exotic, shimmering quality, adding English lyrics that evoke romantic allure. The song's harmonic framework is notably sophisticated, with dramatic modulations that move up by major thirds between sections, connected by striking progressions that create tension and lift. Originally conceived as a waltz, the tune has been freely reinterpreted in a variety of rhythmic settings, with many pop and jazz versions shifting to a moderate swing feel. Peggy Lee recorded the best-selling early version in 1953, and the Kirby Stone Four scored a hit with it in 1958. The tune became a favored vehicle for jazz improvisers, attracting recordings from Gerry Mulligan, Wes Montgomery, Sarah Vaughan, and Frank Sinatra, who recorded it twice, including a bossa nova-inflected version with Antonio Carlos Jobim in 1967. Other notable interpreters include Lena Horne and June Christy. The song remains a widely performed standard across vocal and instrumental jazz settings.
