just electric! i hope the younger generation discovers this side of bette...her deserved diva status may be a stopgate for younger listeners who think she is just a "grande dame"....but the fire, the passion here is still kindled in her every performance... that is the power of a diva...the heart and energy expended...each note...each word...
"..they say everything can be replaced..." Who? Liars...you can't replace your memory, and if you can't do that, it all sticks. As it probably should.
I saw bette in london in 1978. she was very good and great to her audience/s, the night i went i was so excited, i nearly forgot to breathe!! (and didnt she develop performance of this song through the decades.)
What a fireball of emotion, from the beginning of her career.....so much inside, just wanting to get out. I love you so much, Bette. You've been a constant source of inspiration, pure joy, and total comfort thru the years to so many.
My cousin invited me to this place called the baths (never heard of it), I walk in and see a swimming pool, guys,...this is nuts I thought..don't leave my cousin said. Midnight, she sang this song, I was blown away and made it a point to be there every Sat. for the show. I anxiously waited, for months, the release of her first ablum and turned all my friends on to her. I knew I was seeing a star being born and did not miss any of her Broadway shows...how luck can I be!!
...every distance is not near... .... somewhere far beyond this wall, I see my light come shining from the west to the east.... any day now... any day now... I shall be released.
Holly shit, I was in this audience. This was the first venue where I saw Bette. She was totally AWESOME. And no, she wasn't gay just because she performed in a gay bath house.
Bette is way better than bob Dylan with this song even it is was originally his. And if u thought that this was divine you should watch the finale to divine madness when Bette sings probably her best performance of this song.
as a huge Barry fan, i love how he already plays piano in his style which is essentially his own, just as bette's voice is unique. the grainy, bad quality is forgiven because of bette's voice being utterly sublime. i'm so glad someone recorded it. wow her phrasing is so great at 0:58 and that voice just still blows me away. thanks for posting!
Are you kidding? You have no idea how much fun it was being gay then - at least if you made it to the big city. An incredible party, incredible energy.
I qualified my comment by saying "if you made it to the big city" - the party was a state of mind. I was in Chicago and Boystown really was a lot of fun on a day to day basis. when my straight friends visited they were envious.
@Livingallalone - Live, and singing with all of her heart, at the Baths, with all of the intensity of a Madison Square Garden performance. She was ready, even then.
Oh, thank you so much!!! I love Bette and I love this song. The version on Divine Madness is one of my all-time favorites. Where in the world did you get this video. Brilliant!!! Thanks!!
just electric! i hope the younger generation discovers this side of bette...her deserved diva status may be a stopgate for younger listeners who think she is just a "grande dame"....but the fire, the passion here is still kindled in her every performance... that is the power of a diva...the heart and energy expended...each note...each word...
SuperForeigner4 1 month ago
My hair stands on end whenever I hear Midler sing this.
psychicpajamas 3 months ago
"..they say everything can be replaced..." Who? Liars...you can't replace your memory, and if you can't do that, it all sticks. As it probably should.
Alvin4NY 4 months ago
what amazes me most is that this song was current when she was singing this...just about a year old
jaiguruomdasji 8 months ago
wow, that some power in that song
jonny14u 10 months ago
I saw bette in london in 1978. she was very good and great to her audience/s, the night i went i was so excited, i nearly forgot to breathe!! (and didnt she develop performance of this song through the decades.)
likesdamoosic 11 months ago
Any incarnation of Bette doing "I Shall Be Released" in worthy of celebration, and this might be at the top of the heap.
fossefan 1 year ago
What a fireball of emotion, from the beginning of her career.....so much inside, just wanting to get out. I love you so much, Bette. You've been a constant source of inspiration, pure joy, and total comfort thru the years to so many.
Alvin4NY 1 year ago 3
Wow
NokkonWud 1 year ago
Nice rack
rvcrvc2 1 year ago
Barry Manilow the cutest piano man.....
ruthiemanilow 1 year ago
She's overrated.
stargate121 1 year ago
My cousin invited me to this place called the baths (never heard of it), I walk in and see a swimming pool, guys,...this is nuts I thought..don't leave my cousin said. Midnight, she sang this song, I was blown away and made it a point to be there every Sat. for the show. I anxiously waited, for months, the release of her first ablum and turned all my friends on to her. I knew I was seeing a star being born and did not miss any of her Broadway shows...how luck can I be!!
scoop8881 1 year ago 6
@scoop8881 i'm soooooh jealous I can hardly breathe
people like her giving performances like this are a once in a lifetime thing
grai 1 year ago 2
wow......what a performance..........
leopoldhoob 1 year ago
...every distance is not near... .... somewhere far beyond this wall, I see my light come shining from the west to the east.... any day now... any day now... I shall be released.
psychicpajamas 1 year ago
Holly shit, I was in this audience. This was the first venue where I saw Bette. She was totally AWESOME. And no, she wasn't gay just because she performed in a gay bath house.
thetopper1 1 year ago
Bette is definably one of the best talents the world has ever seen or produced. Amen
carl3french2 1 year ago 3
@carl3french2 I agree
one of most talented people of our time
grai 1 year ago
Bette is way better than bob Dylan with this song even it is was originally his. And if u thought that this was divine you should watch the finale to divine madness when Bette sings probably her best performance of this song.
rissleep 2 years ago
as a huge Barry fan, i love how he already plays piano in his style which is essentially his own, just as bette's voice is unique. the grainy, bad quality is forgiven because of bette's voice being utterly sublime. i'm so glad someone recorded it. wow her phrasing is so great at 0:58 and that voice just still blows me away. thanks for posting!
lisamj 2 years ago
Bette is such an icon - and she's still going strong - what a legend !
dathurling 2 years ago 2
WOW!
VespaVesna 2 years ago 3
Just goes to show: Bette can put on a great show anytime, anywhere.
greatestone00 2 years ago 8
We played this at my uncle's funeral last year...
It's because of fabulous him and my beautiful Mother that I grew up with her record with this song on it.
I still listen to it today to get me through all of life's days and trials....
It's my antidote.
Clap your hands. Stomp your feet. Feel the passion through your heartbeat.
and pass it forward!
gladecia 2 years ago 4
Comment removed
gladecia 2 years ago
i would kill to have been there. i mean im practically a gay man for godakes. bette is just absolute fabulous divinity at its best.
PeaceLoveSammy 2 years ago
my god, my god. where is her soul and intensity now?
only a few performances tie with this, streisand's "music that
makes me dance" and jennifer holiday's "i am telling you..."
we were all crying and screaming and applauding all at once.
time stands still. thank you so much for these old videos.
mzmiller52 2 years ago
That's Barry Manilow playing piano for her.
tgoddess 3 years ago
That's Barry Manilow playing piano there, isn't it?
tgoddess 3 years ago
yes, that's Barry Manilow
delagosis 3 years ago
@delagosis wow, that is cool. very good to know. this video was a real surprise. thanks for sharing.
funkandgroovin 1 year ago
@funkandgroovin you're welcome. glad you're enjoying it.
delagosis 1 year ago
@tgoddess yup Barry - towel and all - he got paid and a "room" for the night
dandbear 9 months ago
Comment removed
grai 3 years ago
Are you kidding? You have no idea how much fun it was being gay then - at least if you made it to the big city. An incredible party, incredible energy.
guydabord 3 years ago
Comment removed
grai 2 years ago
I qualified my comment by saying "if you made it to the big city" - the party was a state of mind. I was in Chicago and Boystown really was a lot of fun on a day to day basis. when my straight friends visited they were envious.
- anyway, glad Bette helped!
guydabord 2 years ago
I can't help but ask? Gay back then? And now? What changed? Seriously...I'm curious. :-)
andrewd104 2 years ago
Now That is LIVE signing!
Livingallalone 3 years ago
@Livingallalone - Live, and singing with all of her heart, at the Baths, with all of the intensity of a Madison Square Garden performance. She was ready, even then.
Alvin4NY 1 year ago
Belt it out, Lady Divine, gives Janis a run for the money, but Bette's personality best!
Finallybenunderstood 3 years ago 2
i like this song!!
thanks for this vid!
natatata88 3 years ago
Oh, thank you so much!!! I love Bette and I love this song. The version on Divine Madness is one of my all-time favorites. Where in the world did you get this video. Brilliant!!! Thanks!!
BLUESKYSONG 3 years ago
I love this song sooooooooo much! Thanks for posting!!!
KarenRoese 3 years ago