nothing beats the recorded version. and what's with that cutesey shit. i blame the guy at the piano for taking the rawness from Miss M and creating this vanilla singer. just name me a hit from "hairspray" ? and his lover created the worst of lupone's cds and a lousy carnegie hall performance.
don't get me wrong, i love bette, but this is just O.k. the superior version would be that of miss linda ronstadt off her 1984 album "lush life" the second release of three lavishly produced albums she created with the late ,great nelson riddle. if you want to drift back in time, when this sound was all the rage, i highly recommend you purchase ronstadt's trilogy of the big band era! her voice is as smooth as a pearl, and the selections she chose to record are outstanding!!
She's the greatest. I'm an old guy. I come from a long line of big mouth Jews from New York. I've always thought of Bette as the little sister I never had. Followed her since the sixties. This is Sophie Tucker rediviva. If Sophie were alive today, she'd be Bette. God bless both of them.
I like Ella Fitzgerald and Dinah Shore's version waaaay better than this version, she out of key terribly, maybe because of her 'nerves' but she has a nice voice though
@iwritethemsongs You can like whichever versions you want, but you are completely wrong about being "out of key". That's not a topic for debate. She sang it perfectly and sounds ridiculously awesome on it. I'm a huge Ella and Dinah fan, but I love this as much as nearly anything either of them have done, ballad wise.
I am bothered that she didn't give a passing thanks to her accompanist who was very professional. Perhaps he was introduced earlier-if so then this complaint is moot. If not she should have given the pianist some credit after all she said she was nervous and that meant the accompanist had an extra load. People think an accompanist "follows" a soloist -if that were true the accompaniment would always lag behind. One has to anticipate not follow.
@dinnerpianist Her pianist is Marc Shaiman and he was very well known in the 80's--he played for a lot of singers. He probably didnt need an introduction at the time--most people would have recognized him from his tv work. But still, hey--it's nice to be acknowledged!
In jazz, people don't play the melody just as it is written on the page, they embellish it and make it their own. She does a great job here, and I think this is really borderline jazz. Songs aren't intended to be sung the same way every time.
Yes I can understand that you're a bit perturbed that she didn't sing the melody as written. I like it! It's like Midler went out there and improvised the whole thing, and I mean that in a good way. She's feeling that awesome Mercer message and Hoagy's melody can be heard somewhere LOL!
@damone77 the song is quite odd in the abrupt transition back to the chorus and doesn't work for me in spots so I too change it slightly. The lyrical message is quite lovely. Dinah Shore's 78rpm version is very straight and she sings it exactly as Hoagy wrote it as one would expect from Dinah Shore. Both approaches are viable.
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Just plain lousy. The definite version of this song is by Linda Ronstadt. Beth should stay away from the classics. Her nasal vocalization just doesn't work with this material.
BTW. the original is good and has been sung by many great singers. but until Bette did this version the song was a "good" song she turned in to a great, powerful song.
Anyone who says to me 'how can you take her seriously??' I play "Skylark" and "Drinking Again" from the same album and it never fails to astound and convert
I once came home to a friend of mine who was staying with me and he'd been playing all my Bette Midler albums while I was out and as I came through the door he says 'I've just discovered why youre so crazy about Bette Midler'
@grai - I never really took notice, in a serious way, until after she was doing movies, and I had read more about her. The first thing you notice about Bette, if you're looking, is that she is a very serious person, extremely disciplined, and a force of purpose and talent....and she's one of the rare performers that shows her compassion to the world, by being active in it, and doing what she can, to make a difference. I love "Rain" "Hello In There" and "Tragedy" too, sad songs, full of heart.
@grai I must agree with you. Bette's version of "Drinking Again" really conveys the message. She can sing a torch song as good as anyone and better than most. I hope she continues to make recordings for a long, long time.
I hope this clip remains on YouTube forever! It's my favorite ever performance of one of my favorite songs. I heard it took the lyricist over a year to get the words "just right." Hoagy Carmichael is one of our great songwriters; they don't write 'em like that anymore.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer, one of the best ever. But it would be nice if Ms. Midler actually sang the melody that the great Mr. Carmichael wrote. She's close, but...
This is one of my favorite Bette performances. Her voice sounds amazing. I also love Johnny's compliment to Bette ("you can always tell the really fine singers when they can do something like that with just the piano")
the last of the Great Ones
MegaGum1 1 month ago
An amazing version!
jorgecabal08 2 months ago
nothing beats the recorded version. and what's with that cutesey shit. i blame the guy at the piano for taking the rawness from Miss M and creating this vanilla singer. just name me a hit from "hairspray" ? and his lover created the worst of lupone's cds and a lousy carnegie hall performance.
mzmiller52 3 months ago
Bette is a joy - a tiny person FULL of talent.
camelia516 3 months ago
Bette Best Beautiful Ballad.
BerryVamp 4 months ago
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Over done and too much. As usual from Midler.
JhonathanFree 4 months ago
Over done and too much. As usual from Midler.
JhonathanFree 4 months ago
don't get me wrong, i love bette, but this is just O.k. the superior version would be that of miss linda ronstadt off her 1984 album "lush life" the second release of three lavishly produced albums she created with the late ,great nelson riddle. if you want to drift back in time, when this sound was all the rage, i highly recommend you purchase ronstadt's trilogy of the big band era! her voice is as smooth as a pearl, and the selections she chose to record are outstanding!!
Likeadiamondsnake 6 months ago 2
On of my favorites! The Divine Miss M was one of the first albums I ever bought.
She is one of the greatest talents of our day, and a national treasure.
jaypea51 7 months ago
Blusy isn't off the note,she is ,was and always will be astounding.xxxxxx
Breffni44 7 months ago
ﾍﾞｯﾄ･ﾐﾄﾞﾗｰが歌う､古曲"ｽｶｲ･ﾗｰｸ"が好きだった､ｾｶﾝﾄﾞ･ｱﾙﾊﾞﾑでの圧倒的歌唱だが､これはｼﾞｮﾆｰ･ｶｰｿﾝ･ﾃﾚﾋﾞｼｮｰよりダ!
blackandtanful 7 months ago
She's the greatest. I'm an old guy. I come from a long line of big mouth Jews from New York. I've always thought of Bette as the little sister I never had. Followed her since the sixties. This is Sophie Tucker rediviva. If Sophie were alive today, she'd be Bette. God bless both of them.
Ygrec23 10 months ago
@Ygrec23 -And bless you too boychick.She is awesome for sure.
paulostroff99 4 months ago
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BETTE MIDLER - Skylark (1985) / Arthur Comedy
popstar598 11 months ago
love love love this song and her version of it
IH8Monkeys 1 year ago
I like Ella Fitzgerald and Dinah Shore's version waaaay better than this version, she out of key terribly, maybe because of her 'nerves' but she has a nice voice though
iwritethemsongs 1 year ago
@iwritethemsongs You can like whichever versions you want, but you are completely wrong about being "out of key". That's not a topic for debate. She sang it perfectly and sounds ridiculously awesome on it. I'm a huge Ella and Dinah fan, but I love this as much as nearly anything either of them have done, ballad wise.
Souperbass 7 months ago
Bette is a force of nature. Thank you.
conchaperez 1 year ago 2
I love her second album where Skylark was the first song. I "discovered" it ten years ago and played the cd almost non-stop for months at work.
UandMeKid 1 year ago
Gotta Love Her!!
bronxboy47 1 year ago
she is SO FIERCE
BrandonTJones69 1 year ago
I am bothered that she didn't give a passing thanks to her accompanist who was very professional. Perhaps he was introduced earlier-if so then this complaint is moot. If not she should have given the pianist some credit after all she said she was nervous and that meant the accompanist had an extra load. People think an accompanist "follows" a soloist -if that were true the accompaniment would always lag behind. One has to anticipate not follow.
dinnerpianist 1 year ago
@dinnerpianist Her pianist is Marc Shaiman and he was very well known in the 80's--he played for a lot of singers. He probably didnt need an introduction at the time--most people would have recognized him from his tv work. But still, hey--it's nice to be acknowledged!
vanessafabulay 1 year ago
damn, she can sing!
Relda999 1 year ago
Fabulous! A great reminder why she is called Divine Ms. M... I found this about three weeks ago and have watched a dozen times since.
Cindersootie 1 year ago
In jazz, people don't play the melody just as it is written on the page, they embellish it and make it their own. She does a great job here, and I think this is really borderline jazz. Songs aren't intended to be sung the same way every time.
Souperbass 1 year ago
the actual melody is better than the garbage she's making up.
DeweyMaxx 1 year ago
yuk
kristinlee 1 year ago
Train wreck....
lhasaboys 1 year ago
Train wreck....
lhasaboys 1 year ago
bonita voz muy sensual
guiuliani7 1 year ago
Could she be any more beautilful?! Damn she looks great! Am I the only person who thinks she is very pretty?
hubvanbeaoh 1 year ago 3
Music by Hoagy Carmichael
Lyrics by Mercer.
Yes I can understand that you're a bit perturbed that she didn't sing the melody as written. I like it! It's like Midler went out there and improvised the whole thing, and I mean that in a good way. She's feeling that awesome Mercer message and Hoagy's melody can be heard somewhere LOL!
damone77 1 year ago
@damone77 the song is quite odd in the abrupt transition back to the chorus and doesn't work for me in spots so I too change it slightly. The lyrical message is quite lovely. Dinah Shore's 78rpm version is very straight and she sings it exactly as Hoagy wrote it as one would expect from Dinah Shore. Both approaches are viable.
dinnerpianist 1 year ago
why didn't she sing the melody?
griffinsemple 1 year ago
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Just plain lousy. The definite version of this song is by Linda Ronstadt. Beth should stay away from the classics. Her nasal vocalization just doesn't work with this material.
littlelouie11 1 year ago
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Carson was a self-absorbed jackass
BernardProfitendieu 2 years ago
man the 80s were not the best decade for fashion
bsauced 2 years ago
yet it has influenced so many 'fashionable' trends today.
mysweetsmile23 2 years ago 2
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where are the notes that the composer wrote?
sirdaveo 2 years ago
This is Bette's wonderful interpretation. It's her trademark.
stphncrmr 2 years ago
Just Joy. Blessings to ALL
tubetoad 2 years ago
I liked this version, but I like the version that Nancy LaMott sang, better.
astoria25 2 years ago
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helluvagun 2 years ago
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@astoria25
I don't know about Nancy LaMott. And this is just another "entertainer version"!!!
Listen to Maxine Sullivan's versions, done with true jazz feeling. The way Hoagy Carmichael, himself would have liked it!
helluvagun 2 years ago
THANKS!!..for sharing that,,,didn't even know she ever sang that song and it's good quality.
SJA1949 2 years ago
@SJA1949 It's the first cut on her second album "Bette Midler"
butterbackfly 2 years ago
80's are good.
redfoxbennaton 2 years ago
BTW. the original is good and has been sung by many great singers. but until Bette did this version the song was a "good" song she turned in to a great, powerful song.
Ercalguy 2 years ago 3
Can someone confirm that Barry Manilow wrote this arraignment of Skylark for Bette. Manilow produced the album along with Arif Mardin
Ercalguy 2 years ago
yes
on the album track its Barry Manilow accomanying her on the piano to his arrangement
its incredible
grai 2 years ago
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Hoagy Carmichael wrote great music for this song. Too bad Midler can't sing it.
everybodylovesmybaby 2 years ago
You're kidding, right? This is amazing. It blew Johnny Carson away.
stphncrmr 2 years ago
wrong melody. give us a break.
pianomays 2 years ago
It's called being creative. Do you think Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday stuck to the melody?
skullyj2002 2 years ago
Have you heard Aretha's version? YIKES - I love Aretha, but....
bearometer 2 years ago
gorgeous. man, i love this woman!
rebelprince26 3 years ago 2
how many times was she on this show?
Lowensteinova 3 years ago
She's kind of cute.
scottvanska 3 years ago
From the album that made history. I love it!!!
Xorlon 3 years ago
she's one of the most talented people of our time
The album version of this is a piece of High Art
Anyone who says to me 'how can you take her seriously??' I play "Skylark" and "Drinking Again" from the same album and it never fails to astound and convert
I once came home to a friend of mine who was staying with me and he'd been playing all my Bette Midler albums while I was out and as I came through the door he says 'I've just discovered why youre so crazy about Bette Midler'
grai 3 years ago 25
i love this
stphncrmr 3 years ago 4
@stphncrmr true!
grai 1 year ago
@grai - I never really took notice, in a serious way, until after she was doing movies, and I had read more about her. The first thing you notice about Bette, if you're looking, is that she is a very serious person, extremely disciplined, and a force of purpose and talent....and she's one of the rare performers that shows her compassion to the world, by being active in it, and doing what she can, to make a difference. I love "Rain" "Hello In There" and "Tragedy" too, sad songs, full of heart.
Alvin4NY 1 year ago
@grai I must agree with you. Bette's version of "Drinking Again" really conveys the message. She can sing a torch song as good as anyone and better than most. I hope she continues to make recordings for a long, long time.
nemo227 1 month ago
This is an amazing performance and the vocal is better than the album version.
Zencat24 3 years ago
This is great,
But you know when she says "my nerves", it reminds me of the grammys when she gave the award to Stevie Wonder, she said the same thing,
GREAT!!!!
Hayley xx
XHayleyX08 3 years ago
I hope this clip remains on YouTube forever! It's my favorite ever performance of one of my favorite songs. I heard it took the lyricist over a year to get the words "just right." Hoagy Carmichael is one of our great songwriters; they don't write 'em like that anymore.
billyguns2 3 years ago 2
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Lyrics by Johnny Mercer, one of the best ever. But it would be nice if Ms. Midler actually sang the melody that the great Mr. Carmichael wrote. She's close, but...
hmengland41 3 years ago
Fantastic Clip.
ScottJMNY2008 3 years ago
The reason why she is known as "The Divine Miss M!" WOW!!!!
llfan2006 3 years ago
This is one of my favorite Bette performances. Her voice sounds amazing. I also love Johnny's compliment to Bette ("you can always tell the really fine singers when they can do something like that with just the piano")
stphncrmr 3 years ago 3