Josephine Baker Olympia 1968

[juliolazzagonzalez]

lastima q EEUU nunca aprecio su gran talento, ademas de su generosidad

[MsKelleys]

Her costume and performance reflect the drama of the music hall. She was beautiful and so talented.

[starfyre05]

love the dress,,this was not before lady gaga,jb puts lady gaga to shame

[PurpleFlame3]

Her movements are so graceful and stylish. It's amazing that she could keep a straight face while being dressed as a turkey - somehow that look never really caught on.

[PoekieFientje]

@PurpleFlame3

Don't be mistaken. First of all, in the French revue feathers always have played an important part of the costumes. Then Josephine would never have worn something she would not have liked. She was famous for het feathered costumes and proud to be famous for them. And finally, the feathers in the opening act are the very expensive, rare, so called "aigrettes". They're from the silver heron and since long not allowed to sell or buy.

[stuffledtoy]

@PoekieFientje not to mention that the feathers are creating an illusion that shes moving her tushie more than she actually is. quite a clever idea since at that age she probably wasnt in any condition to do the moves that she used to.

[GeishaMisha]

Got goosebumps and almost cried...I love her so much :)

[halliezmandy]

she was in her 60s here

[smartblonde07]

@halliezmandy And still stunning. (:

[1Nbillion817]

This woman was inspiring

[juliolazzagonzalez]

HERMOSO, JOSEPHINE DIOSA!!!!

[Handiman544]

Make no mistake, Europe is more sophisticated than America but they have their prejudices...who doesn't. Josephine was talented and talent opens doors that otherwise would remain closed. She paid her dues in America and reaped the rewards in Europe. Bravo Josephine!

[miceypoo]

@Handiman544 Is this suppopsed to be irony...an American trumping the sophistication of "Europe" which is a continent compared to the US, a country. Sophistication how? We are all human, we get influence from everyone regardless of skin color and political boundaries which are merely social divisions. Please stop marking regions as superior and inferior, its the same hate spewed by the news when talking about "civilised" nations.

[grenadian11]

Delightful!

[juliolazzagonzalez]

hermoso tema

[starcharm]

she was gorgeous even in her old age

[SoulGuy25]

a true DIVA!!!!!

[catizzlefunfun]

she looks great at 62

I'm so glad I'm doing my language arts project on her

[cbrun67176]

Are u kidding me Europeans are as fond of other races as Americans are

[xXOphan]

@cbrun67176 yup. Actually she wasn't accepted by most of America at the time, she gained most of her fame in Europe and particularly France

[christiandior1947]

Josephine Baker was seen as a threat in the 20s and 30s because she was the first black superstar who was just as glamourous as any white superstar. Not only that, but, like Lena Horne and Dorothy Dandridge later, she openly dated outside of her race (and, in her case, allegedly within her sex) and had a large white gay following. She DEMANDED equal treatment. She "didn't know her place", as was it was put by racists/bigots at the time.

[shellshockkd12]

62! Are you serious!!!

[elleretnahc]

Fantastic! I didn't know this footabe existed and I'm so happy to see this. Thanks for posting it!

[ssballs]

Glamour!

[wolfenzero70]

in france in her early career! she was like madonna ,! cher, the complete Diva ! of her day or now its sLady Gaga breaking records ! by storm ! i would not doubt her fame in france either ! she was loved all over europe except her own racial country in the 20s and 30s

[prjr1973]

My GODDESS!!!!!!!!!

[saxonfield]

She is sensational even at 62. Wow what a great lady.

[rome71rome]

well how come white people over here in america so fillled with hate when other European countries arent.

[DoYouSmokePaul]

Insecurity. Their heritage is of a land that they're not actually indigenous to. Its ironic really, so much hatred for those who are different in a country that their race was never from.

[StopFear]

you're wrong. it seems like there is no hate if you only look for hate against blacks, there are fewer blacks in Europe. But you got plenty of hate on toward Jews, Arabs, Gypsies, and various hate between the nationalities with a country

[lepoetress]

I had no idea she was 62 and doing the damn thing like that!! This came out the yr. I was born. I'm so glad to see her in her full glory. I've seen snippets or the banana dance, but nothing like this. She was rockin' it like that, at 62 ..... she was truly amazing!! God bless and rest, La Baker!!!!

[vbeboy]

Watched the documentary last night on BBC4-fantastic!!!

[grai]

oh god that gown is so glamourous!!

[aaliyah365]

can someone translate? plz

[kasiahitch]

Please check BBC iPlayer for documentary called " Legends : Josephine Baker the First Black Superstar " . . towards the end you will find this song with English subtitles . . enjoy K

[creolelady182]

34 years after her death, her performances still enthrall me. She always kept that figure even in old age. What a magnificent performer!

[alta1961]

no other to compare avec classe !!!!!!

[frogz6873]

62...Amazing! Is she not a real superstar in every sense of the word? This woman lived last century and the ripples of her talents are still spreading long after she has gone, like a stone dropped into a deep pool. God bless you Josephine. I was born the year when this footage was taken.

[cookiesavoy]

The real queen of france..

[KittraKittra]

Mercy. 1/2 of her body is legs.

[OooB00MBOXooO]

that happens when you're a Josephine >.>

--josephine :]

[bluenote200]

Pure Class God Bless Her

[missjanet88]

62 years old and she was still in such great shape.

[jjconfucius81]

That woman's legs went on forever!!! Jokes aside, she had a very powerful voice she was a one of a kind entertainer.

[ccaammiiittoo1]

Her voice took on a stronger timbre as she grew older. And her French improved in proportion..

[knifecut]

AMAZING!!!!!

[befreitburma]

KLASSE!

[sexyd143]

her voice is so beautiful

[bellapauldegi]

amazing women -beautiful lady world class -josephine you are an angel in paradise but your spirit is with us forever xxx

[TOLIME]

That's what I call talent and personality...

[Jr0ckAkuma]

Notice that her costume is covered her like, entire body.

[dacanceruwishuwere94]

this is truly and exquisitely beautiful. her makeup and costume are so intact with who she is. the song is simple yet it catches my heart with a wonderful sense of vivacity. josephine knew how to work a stage and work it the way she wanted to do it. 62 years old and dancing around in heels on an Olympian stage is only one of the many beauties that josephine baker is. viva la baker!

[nancydrew5]

Thanks to someone here, I bought that dvd, chasing the rainbow, the josephine baker story!

[MondoBeno]

She sounded better singing in French. Maybe her voice was better suited to vowels?

[blkchk]

THANK GOD FOR YOUTUBE! Or wonderful, historic performances such as this would be lost to the general public!

[blssnare]

exactly

[budooo]

Yes, America lost a mega-talent because of racism. She was a great singer and dancer and yes, she did get better as she aged. During World War 2, she worked for the French resistance and after the war France awarded her the Legion of Honor.

[leplaq]

exactly right and i think she was the original diva her stage presenace and costumes remind me of the lavish style of people like cher and etc. but unfortunantly black entertainers were more popular back then in europe and even now Tina turner ids more popular in europe than the us it is ashame. your either too black or not black enough.

[louthebody]

I agree, she also opened an orphanage with her own money for kids of all races, who lost their parents during the war.

[louthebody]

Correction, she adopted 12 children of all races. She became their mother. According to her bio on Answersdotcom she was born in 1906.That would make her 62 years old and still very beautiful when she did this performance.

[toro2525]

It is indeed a travesty how America, during thge time period of over segration and racism, wanted nothing to do with her. It was America's loss and France's gain, as she became one of France's biggest icons.

[nancydrew5]

Her voice actually got better with age, and her body was amazing!

[prjr1973]

With age she got better and better. I totally love her shows as an older woman. She was and still is magnificent.

[gadzooks63]

for the real story on this lady . . seek out wikipedia . joesphine baker . .truly an amazing bio . .a true phenom . .

[PaulinaRena]

Josephine was a ground breaker for sure. She not only looks good but has a really great voice. I, too, wish that some of today's female entertainers would use their voices and their own style rather than going the route of the four B's (boobs, booties and belly buttons). It takes little or no talent to be an exhibitionist as some are. I love this video and hearing Josephine sing the song in French is a real treat. Thanks for this video. - Paula

[sheffboialex]

im doin a project on art deco at college an just lukd on here 2 see if there was actually any vids antheres loads!

she wah great her lol

wish i cud find the performance she did wiv chiquita

=[

[PoekieFientje]

And would you believe that this show was completely restorated and in perfect condition! It was only shown in Paris on behalf of her 100 birthday. It belongs to INA a French company wich owns most of the French broadcastings. It's a shame!

[MsLoramunoz]

encore des accapareurs de patrimoine a des fins comerciales

[caradecaballo]

What a class act! she is in great form here.

Ms. Baker

[motorcitymiguel]

Was just watching some Mary Wilson videos, now I understand why she + The Supremes loved Josephine Baker.

Divas like this there will never be again.....

[mrstmccoy]

yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa boyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeee­eeeeee

[Angelicalfenix]

Hace meses busco la letra en francés de esta canción, de Coquatrix, Hornez y Betti, pues me parece una síntesis perfecta de toda una época y Josephine la interpreta en varios videos, fabulosamente por supuesto!!, a quien me la acerque, gracias!!!!

[prjr1973]

Wow!!! Now THIS is a STAAAARRR!!!! So dramatic and so classy and beautiful. Nowadays we have trash like Britney Spears. How disgusting. Long Live the TRUE divas, like Josephine, Diana Ross, Barbra, Marlene, Eartha, ect.

[ValyHxM]

And let's not forget she has been in the resistance while the WW two. A hero!

[prjr1973]

that's right!!! This woman did it all, and she did it her way.

[talented10thguy]

I dont' speak french and i'm interested in what she has to say. What a performer. And we're giving Grammy's to people who can't even sing live. lol. artist today are jokes.

[stylecollective]

Even the young girls who are vocal powerhouses today (such as the Beyonces, Aguileras, etc.)...I would LOVE to see them use the art of subtlety for once. They've already proven that they can do the vocal gymnastics, I just wish we could stop hearing them drown us out with all that melismatic screaming once in a while, or seeing them do the shakebooty moves, and sit or stand elegantly for once and sing...with dynamics and not as if was their last breath...

[starfyre05]

she was turning it,wow,i wish other singers were like her,they are too sexy and no talent,she is a tru diva

[SELEITHIA]

The Grand Diva! I'm loving this outfit, the hair, the voice...I am she Reincarnated!

[ddin1]

Damn - True DIVA !!- makes me sad to see the bad performers of today!!