"Big Spender" was written for a 1964 musical called Sweet Charity. The original cast (It has since been brought back in the 1980's) lists Gwen Verdon playing the lead role of Charity so she is the original singer for this song. It is not based on b) or c), it is actually based about a group of girls who are dance hostesses, and they are prodding the customers to spend more money, so I'd have to lean towards it being based on a) burlesque

The song was redone by many people:

Peggy Lee
Shirley Bassey
Queen

and others
Source(s):
http://www.dorothyfields.co.uk/song_bigspender.htm
http://tamswitmark.com/musicals/sweetcharity.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Spender


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