Lena Zavaroni sings It's Only A Paper Moon

[Utubeifuwant]

This makes me smile.

Another song Lena made her own. I love Lena so much.

The Ella Fitzgerald version is nice also. Two different styles, both charming.

[vonFalkenstein77]

@Utubeifuwant

Yes, that´s true. Two different generations too..

[delorme42]

What did she die from? Very cool rendition.

[vonFalkenstein77]

@delorme42

Brush up your wiki..

She had a terrible fate, that´s why we ought to love her even more..

[RiRahl]

Ich wünschte, ich könnte die Zeit noch einmal für genau 28 Jahre zurückdrehen und dann auf Endlos-Schleife legen...

[bhoopah]

it's so sad what worries of appearance can make you do.....she had such a presence and a very nice voice!

[Vendetta4avril]

I just want to know what shes looking at to her right...

[ComradeDragon]

@Vendetta4avril Me.

[Janvierireland]

Interesting you should mention Tatum O'Neal who was born the day -or maybe less than 24 hours-after Lena Zavaroni .As you know Tatum O'Neal was also a child star who had problems in the teenage years upwards.(I know,random and maybe silly information.)In my opinion when Tatum was 10,she looked a bit similar to Lena at 10 years of age but she doesn,t look like her now.

[rexel666]

Lena, you had an enormous talent and are greatly missed.

[BladeSlipper]

Wow! What a performance! What a voice! What a beauty. Fantastic Zavaroni!

[shymermaid1]

This is my most favorite version of this song. Something in the expression make me believe that if we believe in her, a papermoon will be more than a papermoon :)

[paulj0557]

A rather rare successful attempt at capturing the cutesy spunk of the 1930's. Actually her voice is a little closer to 50's style, but she pulled off the mannerisms to a T. I've yet to see anybody do a convincing 1930's gal. They were all over the screen from lead actress to chorus girl, being adorably innocent all the way to adorably brassy. What a special time that was. I can't go a month without watching Ginger Rogers sing ' we're in the money' in Gold Diggers 1933. How bout that Ruby Keeler?

[tzoyia1]

First time I hear about Lena. What a voice, sad to find out about her death.

[AnElectricApple]

She's so cute.

[COMMOGSE]

Died of anorexia in 1999 at 32 kilos.

[zaftra]

@COMMOGSE She died, i believe, of an infection following a lobotomy to try and help with her depression.

[zaftra]

@zaftra just checked, pneumonia three weeks after the operation.

[thatlovelydayy]

@zaftra She never had a lobotomy. She died of Anorexia.

[zaftra]

@thatlovelydayy actually she died of an infection three weeks following a rumoured leucotomy which is a form of lobotomy to help with her crippling depression.  Try a google or wiki search

[JubalCalif]

What a gifted performer! Never heard of her before now. How sad that she's no longer with us. THANK YOU very much for sharing this delightful clip for us to enjoy! This has always been one of my faorite tunes of yesteryear.

[MurkyMike]

Miss you Lena

[elvin17ner]

i perfomed to this song at my school drama troupe thi year....

i love this version better :D

[satchidananda]

she's so pretty

[vonFalkenstein77]

Great song, great performance. It´s just magic!

[Scotsbell]

Good grief, it's a love song, nothing else LOL!!

[cynthiacher]

This song has a cute little melody but I always found it kind of creepy. The lyrics seem to indicate some kind of mental instability; a "paper moon" wouldn't be "make-believe" if "you believed in me." That's very...weird. And in "A Streetcar Named Desire" Blanche DuBois is frolicking and singing this song in the bathtub, while outside the door Stanley is telling a horrified Stella that her sister's life is ruined (by him). And Blanche is oblivious and singing "Paper Moon." Creepy song indeed.

[wilhelm1407]

@cynthiacher I think you're over analysis it a little bit.. >.>

[cynthiacher]

@wilhelm1407 That's probably true. I know the song is not meant to be taken seriously, but I read other things into it. I think Lena is very good here; I guess the show had a "music from the thirties" theme.

[lisa8220]

@cynthiacher No matter what the dramatic use of this song or any song, the song is a respite, an uplifting moment of joi de vivre. Allow anyone to sing it at any time without being creeped out.

[JeepGuy27605]

This is great. What some of the commentors need to realize is that the song itself is supposed to be exaggerated. So go watch something else and leave her alone. K?

[dancebandleader]

I have to confess I had never heard of her until now. Apparently she never

performed here in the USA> Great voice nice personality. Where we part

company musically is in some of the rock ballads she did later. Although

her perfomances can't be faulted, the tunes are essentially shallow

and perfomed with an emotional force that is not needed. The results on

those tunes were strictly "over the top".

[newagemisfit]

@dancebandleader

I suppose you could say she never performed in the USA, but you would have to discount the following performances:

Tonight Show with Johnny Carson

The Cher Show

The Mike Douglas Show

The Carol Burnett Show

The Merv Griffin show

The Jerry Lewis Telethon

The White House for President Ford

Oh, and appearing in Hollywood with Sinatra and Minnelli.

[dancebandleader]

@newagemisfit thanks for infiormative reply. Too bad she didn't live longer.

[cynthiacher]

@dancebandleader She did perform in the U.S., but only early in her career, when she was still a little girl. She never caught on in America. She was a fine singer but was poorly managed. Obviously somebody taught her the exaggerated facial expressions and the silly hand and body movements. With the right guidance she would have been popular anywhere. But a show business career too early and anorexia killed her. I've never heard ANYTHING bad about her as a person. She was a sweet, nice girl.

[Mastergenius00]

great

[Skatedatbake101]

Streetcar named Desire!!!!

[SigneRobertson]

Wow.

[Rosamorrable]

Blanche!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bemusedcapybara]

oh gosh, it's blanche dubois @.@

[winchesterick]

I remember Lena winning 'Opportunity Knocks' in the 1970's. I was at primary school and Lena was immensely popular. I remember people trying to imitate her singing in the playground, especially the 'growl' in her voice.

[bertwindon]

I'm 62 - just - and find it impossible to believe that all those years have gone by. Not only that, but I discovered only today, this wonderful woman singer. Very sad to learn that she is no longer here on Earth, when did she die ?

[Thundergee]

what a star singer, nothing was impossible for her to sing, any music,any song...lena simply excelled

[GWFKing]

that's what i said.

[DrMabuse2006]

Huh. 1981. Looks more like the '30's maybe '50's.

[dkmckinney1]

She was fantastic. (The orchestra's not too bad either.) Thanks for the great post.

[mhpeters121]

She won an early version of an American Idol type show when she was 11 and went on to a very successful career as a recording artist and host of her own show on the BBC. She died in 1999 from a combination of pneumonia, anorexia ans depression.

[sweeetxfire]

how sad, considering how genuinely happy she seems

[Some1bor3d]

these people could really sing..

[MrStartrek5]

good

[zombiedreams]

oh my god how adorable she is!

[jadasmiles]

cute~

[friscolobo]

Adorable and what a voice!

[IanErc]

Surprisingly good. And the song was 1933

[Dingalingring]

This is amazing. Flawless. She was great.

[888rania888]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH­AHAHHAHAHAHA that was great : )

[wenglishsal]

This seems to be '1920's ish and poking gentle fun at a bygone age, beautifully done, and with so much expression too... Lena was a 'wee Scot's lassie' with a huge heart and fabulous cheek grin... R.I.P Lena..

Glad Lena's songs are on here to enjoy :0)x

[Scotsbell]

@wenglishsal yes it's a 1920's song when songs were indeed innocent and beautiful, unlike the rubbish of todays so callec popular stuff.

[60sto80s2]

i remember this song while reading a book called "street can named desire for english"

[greenfordgirl99]

lool yeah im doing the coursework for that right now

[Thundergee]

well said missdebates, truly fantastic singer..wish i could sing like lena

[tess10880]

she is ssssoooo cute!

[sedraopamp]

Linda canción. Linda voz.

[aflockofmadeleine]

She's adorable but her voice just isn't spectacular. It also couldn't sound more put-on. And it's a shitty thing to say, but maybe she really only had something to offer as a child star.

[snipedsniper18]

isn't spectacular?

Have you seen Going Nowhere? She sang it the same year. And if that isn't her most spectacular performance i don't know what is.

[ravendofthemist]

sing to the moon inside my heart, forever.

[inscrutablebloke]

Missdeebates - I totally agree with you - let us not expatiate so much upon Lena's illness - she would not like that. No woman would like that. She displays so much happiness in her performance. I have listened to all her songs available onhere - no-one can match her fabulous talent and unassuming personality. Rest in Eternal Peace, Beloved Lena.

[inopioveritas]

Wow! That Was Great! Uh, Who Is This Again? And What's It From? And Does'nt It Kind Of Scare You That She Died So Young? Really Good Voice. Love 'Paper Moon'.

[SmallButStrong93]

um....ok then

[Luindriel]

Love it!!!! :)

[missdeebates]

I have spent all weekend viewing the utube clips over and over , have definitely fallen in love with Lena and am truly heartbroken by what happened to her , it is time this fabulous talent was better recognised , and she should be remembered for her talent and inspired performances , not her illness.

[glenburnwitch]

what more can i say about lenas voice..so adaptable in her range of songs...could listen all day to her.......john from manchester england...originally from paisley scotland....going listen some more xxx

[missdeebates]

again Lena proving what a class act , absolutely perfect, What a talent , sadly missed, when given the right material this lady shone with the brightness of a million stars a unique talent , I think I have fallen in love with her xxx RIP Lena forever in my heart xxx

[LaVerne37]

Agree 1,000% I simply could not take my eyes off Lena during this performance. She really got the 30's feeling perfect!!! Her gestures, her voice, what an incredible talent. I too am falling in love with Lena. May she rest in peace. Heaven must have a beautiful choir!!!

Wayne in Texas.

[228ANDY]

Broadway is calling us !!

[kim0923sara]

i need to do this songg for the hifgh school string quartet

[zatzibaby07]

when she says "hangin over a cardboard sea" its actually suppose to be "sailin over a cardboard see" hehe she said it wrong

[CaptainOats33]

i have to sing this song in jazz band at school!!!

[StarsInMyHands]

Unmatched Charm and Charisma.

Very reminiscent of Marilyn Miller here.

[jogschneider]

Ahoy, '09 Maties and Pirates(some went down w/ the booty. What a class Act, beautiful and delightful. Perfect,even and all the better to make my point w/ mon ami,eh? OneFineDockRocker and card carrying member of MdDS, googleit.

[rgteddie]

From the costume to the gestures, and of course, a clear, expressive performance, a first class performance of a terrific tune. Thanks for posting this.

[cleareyed132123]

I love the song, I guess you could say im a little old fashoned.

[karmahitme66543]

That's fine. Only people with no common sense don't like the old songs.

[somersetdc]

Very nice singing--and so very sweet--Lena's personality shines brightly through.

[jeangeniex3]

how adorable!!

[humitaclown]

I begin to know to Lena. She is wonderful!! Thank for the video

[tez1111]

I wish I could have met Lena. She seems to have been such a lovely down-to-earth person. Dawn xx

[PeaPod333]

haha what a awesome lady

i love her facial expressions and hand movements

shes a great singer :)

woo hoo

[isthisnametook]

I believe in you Lena

Gorgeous

[sch4tj3]

Delightful!

[ithinkyrfibbing]

what a great voice

Thanks for posting