Bettle Middler?

Are you talking about the Divine Miss M - Bette Midler?

If so...Hell, yeah...she's good!!

I only like her first album, The Divine Miss M. It was produced by Barry Manilow and is a very good pop album. Her take on Do You Want to Dance? is really sexy.

She was one of several people to record the Bonnie Bramlett/Leon Russell-penned Superstar (popularized by The Carpenters), and it's a beautiful rendition of it. Daytime Hustler is I love that one! Cinnie pointed out to me that Young MC sampled that one for the breakdown on Bust a Move.

I don't have anywhere near enough experience in this life to know what constitutes as good on a general level, especially in the arena of the arts.

As best as I can tell, people who enjoy her work think that she's good.
Those who don't like her work, think that she is not good.

But don't quote me on that.

This whole relativity thing and how it works ( especially in the area of all things creative) is beyond me.

I figure, if I just keep myself mired in a deep state of indifference,
then I won't ever have to worry about people's who's work I don't like from ever having to enter my awareness.

I love her song "I Think It's Gonna Rain Today" from the Beaches OST.

Lovely stuff.

OK so maybe the song about bras later on on the album kind of bursts the bubble a little but hey!

I like certain things by her but in general, not a huge fan.

I think her cover of "In My Life" is maybe one of the best Beatles covers every (and a fine example of a Beatles interpatation being a hellvu a lot better than the sterile original). Other than that, I get kind of bored with her covers and mostly AC safety zone hits.

I think she`s good, have all her albums.

"Thighs and whispers" is my favorite

Illustrator said:

Either you like her or you don't, its really simple

I think she IS good and she gots the goodS to prove it; charisma, depth and voice

She's really an individualist IMO. I remember when an early review tried to compare her with Ethel Merman, which is bullshit because the ONLY thing that connects her with Ms.Merman is the broadway background,,,both are different.

Anybody that commands attention and knows how to get his/her message across is cool enough with me. I'm not saying I'll run to buy her music, but I won't change the channel whenever she's on

RipHer2Shreds said:

I think its her best album

Harlepolis said:

That's definitely the best album. But I think her real strength is as a performer. She's among the people EVERYBODY should go see at least once. Even the schmalztier stuff, she nails live (and usually makes fun of a bit before she does). She's also still really dirty-minded, which I love.

3/8/8 I go Experience the Divine


The last of this kind of performer it will be an end to an era when she passes.

I'd do her.

If you're gay, you're probably a big fan.

PFunkjazz said:

Nah. This particular gay only likes the one album. I know plenty of homos that don't like her and plenty of hetties who do. She's an entertainer, for sure, just not my mug o' joe most of the time.

And if she's in front of the camera...not interested at all.

RipHer2Shreds said:

i can see you in a towel lounging at the piano bar in a bathhouse singing along with her.

ehuffnsd said:

Ah, no. That scares me...

RipHer2Shreds said:

embrace your inner bathhouse going piano bar singing 1960s queen.

Her early days with Manilow were her best i think, they worked well together and she did good stuff without him too, but she lost a little without him since she didnt have that great piano and arranger anymore, dont sleep on Manilow as a producer, though he has had one of great producers with him through most of his career, Barry did alot of good production with Bette, Dionne and Nancy Wilson on his own.

Back when she was a singing comedian, yes, she was awesome. And she was good at adult-contemporary ballads. She's even a great actress.

But I saw her perform on... I think it was American Idol, maybe? Don't remember. And she was fucking awful. Don't know how her Vegas show is turning out (or even if it's started yet).

Raze said:

Bette is still a very blue singing comedian.

MikeMatronik said:

Film wise, ya gotta start with "The Rose". Go to the phonebooth scene where she takes every pill and injects every drug under the moon, and listen to the director's commentary by Mark Rydell that accompanies it: you see why she was ROBBED at the Ocscars.

Then move on to "Divine Madness" so you can appriciate her quirky, performance art sensibilty.

To appreciate her dramatic chops, try Stella or For the Boys (Beaches is too hen party-like, ha). For more of her comedic, rapid-fire repartee, maybe go with First Wives Club.

Did you know in her time Bette was the hot toast of the town not unlike the young artists we sit and gab here about on this board today? She was the Grammy award winner for "Best New Artist" in 1972!

I'm a long term fan for years now. The Rose snatched me in as a young one, but I became completely hooked by her stylings as a standards singer. When she does all that Clooney and Peggy Lee stuff, this is where she shines. I'm full of tons of other useless factoids about Bette but unfortunately I have to get back to work now

ehuffnsd said:

I love the fact that this little woman is in her FIFTIES in this clip just stomping all over that stage

Ottensen said:

Or to put it another way, I seriously wouldn't wanna f*ck with a woman like her! I bet she can hold her own and more besides!

Ottensen said:

Or to put it another way, I seriously wouldn't wanna f*ck with a woman like her! I bet she can hold her own and more besides!

She's highly regarded as a show business vetaran. Her last album was a tribute to Rosemary Clooney (I think). It got good reviews. Bette mixed raw emotion, humor and fun into most of her recorded music as well as mellow drama and sincerity.

Some of bette's notable early gigs were at New York's Continental Baths where swarms of gay men would watch her and perform with Barry Mannilow accompanying her on piano. Bette and Barry were great friends and both launched their careers around the same time. The same was true with their pal, Melissa Manchester, whom they befriended after seeing her perform at a Manhattan caberet club in the early 70's. Shortly thereafter, Bette asked Melissa to sing back up for her - the famous Harlettes were born! Melissa Manchester, of course, also went on to have a successful recording career. Singer/actress, Katey Sagal, also performed as one of Bette's Harlettes for a time.
[Edited 12/18/07 8:56am]

Wowugotit said:

Wowugotit said:

Don't forget, you left out super cool, sista-mama JENNIFER LEWIS
...and "Somebody Else's Guy" dance music diva Jocylyn Brown had a stint as a Harlette, too

Ottensen said:

Yep!

Jenifer Lewis started her career in Eubie! but had her big break when she was part of Bette's live show.