Sooner or Later by Bernadette Peters

[thegingerbreadgirl16]

I love her little "thank you!" at the end!!

she's just so fabulous... a real treasure!

[49forthewin]

you make a gay man straight! 

at least for a while

what a doll u are!

[Spazzospades]

I saw Bernadette Peters in Into the Woods.... I thought her hair was a wig. Not that it isn't pretty or anything, but... DAMN THAT IS A LOT OF VERY CURLY HAIR.

[copyeditor1252]

W.O.W.

[futureboycolin]

Does anyone know what key this is in?

[strangersname]

Goddess

[Sepiaapama]

1:17 - Awkward cellist.

[stickstr8up]

Bern's version is so much more nuanced than Madge's. And Bern has curves in all the right place too...A stunning performance.

[defyingravitythruHim]

If she sang this song from Dick Tracy, why couldn't she have sung What Can You Lose?

[Nightwing20]

Bernadette Boobies!... I mean PETERS sings this song really well!!!  Man she has stage presence!

[BernadettePetersx3]

how is Bernadette a religous name ? \:

[oscarphile]

@BernadettePetersx3

St. Bernadette of Lourdes, patron saint of the sick.

[BernadettePetersx3]

wonderfully wonderful , i didnt care to watch this video , but i did & i loved it.

i have a secret gay love for Bernadette Peters -3333 btw - how do her boobs fit in that dress ? i hope i have nice boobs when im 63 (:

[shake5100]

Fantastic breasts Bernadette you are gorgeous

[NYG4LIFE123]

Bernadette Peters > Madonna! 

[theastroknott]

Pure. Perfection.

[Divinedancedivas]

Ok I admit, BP has never been my cup of tea, but this rendition just BOWLED me over! Tigress. Damn it, it gave me goosebumps!

[TheVanWales]

Yes yes yes yes!

[thisherecat]

Well of course it is sung well here. Peters has a lot of talent. Madonna is negligible.

[SVMainUS]

Madonna may have sung this well, but Bernadette knocks it all the way out of the park! Bravo

[morik1]

@SVMainUS Check Madonna performing this song at the 1991 Academy Awards show........NOTHING can beat that one woman showstopper.....

[almckinney1981]

Double stick tape, actually. Though if anyone in the theatre were to use something along the lines of duct tape for that purpose it would be gaff tape, which is more comfortable. Hotness. She is on both my husband's "list" of freebies if the opportunity ever presents itself, as well as mine.

[caterrachel]

There is now way this woman is over 60.

[rkcsam69]

OMG!! I just came

[gatorsinger]

She is amazing and halarious tooooo, and btw annother tip i have learned from my vocal coach--a supine postiion makes the chords more relaxed---- it is a technique!

[DirectorYou]

Outstanding, sexy version...this lady is fine indeed and knows how to carry a song! For sure!

[greta1853]

I've always liked her, but I have to say this was not sexy at all. Some people were meant to sing professionally and technically correct and boring and some people were meant to not have the perfect voice but have the perfect all around package. Just sayin'.

[greta1853]

I've always liked her, but I have to say this was not sexy at all. Some people were meant to sing professionally and technically correct and boring and some people were meant to not have the perfect voice but have the perfect all around package. Just sayin'.

[tenorstew]

AMAZING

[MzCharmedFan0214]

if people on here are saying how hot she is, you can only imagine what her husband thought! hahah :)

[adumb4ever]

I know this is terrible, but I'm not normally the biggest fan of Bernadette's tone. There's no arguing her talent, but the placement of it sometimes gets to me. That being said, she knocks this song out of the park! Fantastic. I love how she balances out the tone more (keeps it from being as forward as it sometimes is) and floats many of the pitches.

This video definitely gives me cause to listen to more Bernadette!

[iluvnola123]

@adumb4ever Is the way she sings 'fine' at 1:21 an example of floating?

[adumb4ever]

@iluvnola123 More so at 1:51 when she sings the word "settle" or at 3:50 when she sings "only" through the end. She also does it on holding my man. It's more so the straight tone, very light sound that she creates. I really like it. She also does it when she sings "Moonshine Lullaby" in Annie Get Your Gun.

[themis970]

I prefer Ruthie Henshall version. But i like Bernadette too

[WynnCreasyFineArt]

@themis970 I don't know how anyone can prefer Henshall, She is flat in pitch, sings like she has lock-jaw, never movers and has nNO personaity... but I guess to each their own. I'll take a real proven star like Bernadette over a flash-in-the-pan-import any day.

[ThePc2010]

I was just thinking the same thing about body tape!

Bernadette has the most beautiful boobs!

[mikey1941]

I recently saw Dick Tracy on television.

Interesting to compare the two versions of this song, this one by one of the great Broadway divas, and the other by some slag with about as much sex appeal as anal warts.

Give me Bernadette every time.

[0732jamie]

Thank goodness for body tape. Thats all i'm saying.  Terrific performer!

[settings99]

She should be a judge on American Idol instead of non singers who know nothing about singing.

[overthemoo]

I use to say this all the time but really, those aren't the kinds of talented people they want to make a star. They want pop stars one way or the other. Not the next Babs or Judy. But I'd totally love to make my own American Idol and look for those kinds of people and anyone who has actual writing talent. I see too many kids on AI sing a song but not really understand what they're singing. :\

[pippajeanette]

holy boobies.

[fludu1]

Amazing Performer

[musicccoverrr]

bernadette IS broadway

[wilsondylanmccartney]

What I wouldn't give to have sex with her :)

[SnuffyWuffles]

there goes my idea for a comment. Apparently she is also singing something here.

[iluvnola123]

Lol. Literally... the hottest woman EVER.

[AgaMbadi]

Yeah, all men have wished for that at one time or another. It's right up there with the proverbial "threesome", "twins", and "Swedish cheerleader squad" fantasies. I'd rather watch Bernadette sing like this and fantasize about that one than bang most of the women on this planet.

[Tetiktetik]

how can you not love this woman? i <3 her

[chaliceofchange]

SHe is an icon and just lights up the stage. SHe is gifted to do this for the delights of mortals!! She was great on Ugly Betty with Vanessa WIlliams, Trivia they both played the witch in Into the woods. SHe can love me!

[zalman595]

I like Bernadette's work and she is gorgeous and funny to boot, but if you want to hear this song absolutely nailed listen to the sublime Ruthie Henshall do it.

[jewel1210]

better than madonna!

[yougottagetagimmick]

She's got the breast muscles of a Greek goddess to keep that dress from sliding right off...:)

[nicktelecast]

Agreed. She is so sexy. I would give my soul to her in a second if she asked.

[yougottagetagimmick]

I know, right?

[iluvnola123]

@yougottagetagimmick LOL, that is literally the best quote I've ever heard! And she did play a Greek Goddess in the tv-movie of the Odyssey ! :-) Hehe

[jay18034]

funny because she played Circe in the 1997 movie the oddesy based off a greek myth

[ZackisDead]

Good lord I'd consider her a sex symbol at 100 years old.

[RebcaDUH]

she's actually the best thing EVER

[rosesredvioletsblue]

Absolutely amazing talent.

Thank you!!

5 stars.!

[uniqueattack]

The way it should have been done. The way it IS done. Go Bernadette!

[nostaglia90s]

Wow, that's Rita the Cat?!?

Awesome rendition of a great song.

[shakespeare007]

So instead of arguing about two entirely different styles of a great song...

This performance was lovely and I'm glad she sang it. It's awesome to hear a good song, sung in a variety of ways.

[Riverwide76]

good performance. She's reall great but in my opinion (mybe because I've listened to Madonna's version many times) she sounds a bit trying to show all of her skills in one track (vibrato, falsetto, etc). Madonna?s version, maybe because of her lack of singing skills comes across more powerful and "naked": i prefer it

[supersoniczzzz]

id really like to know how that dress stays up!! she doesnt even have to pull it up at all!! lol Shes a goddess

[MisstressFurter]

Yeah - but it's nearly falling off throughout the whole song! No wonder she changed into another dress for the second act. . .

[11777766]

At age 61 or now 63, .her boobs are amazing. But she always had plenty for any plastic surgeon to work with. Too bad her voice couldn't have become ageless, too, instead of .flat, Madonna's near lack of singing talent makes her film version more authentic and appealing, as Riverwide 76 (above) rightly points out....

[lava68]

duct. tape.

that's how the dress stays up. Oh, and uh, talent.

[EcuaRiquenoCuban]

Berns ending Thank You was an obvious copy of M's Thank You on her then album. Which was M openly copying Marilyn Monroe. Soft and almost powerless.

[CaptainAlice0]

She does such a good job with all of her music!

[bassocantante89]

What nuance!

[floralparkkid]

Very hot and sexy rendition. Bernadette is one of the all time greats!

[MihaiADB]

I like both versions. I love Bernadette and i think she is perfect. But Madonna did a great job in that movie, both acting and singing.

[arcangelkrlos]

Don't like it.

Just an opinion.

[karenpog]

So much better than Madonna. Madonna was always iffy on the pitch in the 2nd phrase and Ms. Peters is spot on. It's nice to hear this song the way Sondheim intended.

[ilovepattilupone]

how did you know how sondheim intended this song to sound? not trying to be rude.... just wondering.

[karenpog]

I guess I don't. I just assume that Bernedette Peters would closer too what Sondheim had in mind, because she is a musical theater performer with a trained voice and Madonna is a pop singer. Bernedette Peters has worked with Stephen Sondheim on a few of his shows (Sunday in the Park with George, Anyone Can Whistle, Gypsy) so I would trust that she is an accurate interpreter of his songs, otherwise he wouldn't want to continue to work with her. Educated guess, I guess. Maybe I'm totally wrong.

[ilovepattilupone]

i promise i wasn't trying to sound rude... i realized my comment probably came across super bitchy! i'm sorry! and i also saw lupone in gypsy (the day after christmas) she WAS quite fabulous!!!! best night of my life!

[karenpog]

No offense taken. I think Madonna did a nice job on the song. I just think performers like Bernadette Peters and Patti Lupone are on a different level than Madonna. Stage performers have to be so well rounded with acting, dancing, singing....I am sure you have an opinion about Madonna vs. Patti Lupone in Evita! While Madonna did a good job, Patti Lupone IS Evita.

[ilovepattilupone]

Personally, I couldn't even make it through the entire film version of Evita. Madonna REALLY got on my nerves. But I definitely agree with your comment about stage performers having to be so well-rounded.

[EcuaRiquenoCuban]

I'm not sure if it's because we've (I've) heard Madonna's version so many times or if I really think Madonna's is better, but I don't care for this version. I'll say this. Being a visual I do prefer the visuals that Madonna offers in each live setting. But I understand this was not meant to be that kind of act.

[SilverLocket95]

@karenpog You're amazingly right! She also worked with him on "Into The Woods" :)

[karenpog]

@SilverLocket95 :) Right! How could I forget about that show? Thanks!

[karenpog]

by the way, I saw Patti Lupone in Gypsy a week before Christmas. She was fabulous!

[Joseebus]

Nothing can touch Madonna's Oscars 1991 performance. This song was written with her in mind and I think that's part of the genius of Sondheim - he knew how to write a song to fit the singer. Decent rendition, but not the best.

[dccarrasc]

That's funny, I can't even listen to Madonna singing it.

[SaraTGinMD]

You`re kidding right?..First off Madonna lip-synched that whole number and secondly her body language turned a sensual song into a sleazy song...Don`t get me wrong I love most of Madonnas ballads but that particular performance you refer to just wasn`t close to this truly "live" rendition of Bernadettes

[PDC1987]

Madonna did NOT lip you idiot! You are not allowed to lip on the Oscars! And Bernadette sounds like a strangled cat in this clip.

[happylilsunbeam]

Ok when you seriously think that Madonna sang this song better than Bernadette you are completely hypnotized by the pop stars and videos. I did enjoy the Oscars Madonna version but she is quite obviously not a very talented singer.

[EcuaRiquenoCuban]

I know everyone is for Bern and I think she is brilliant, but she's not Madonna. And Madonna was indeed singing live. Strangled cat!..lol. LOL well it's her style, but yeah I agree with you and it's not my personal style. This song belongs to Madonna. This song IS Madonna.

[karena321]

I love Bernedette Peters! She's great!

[poosaypirate]

sorry, i love Bernadette and i love the song and and and, I AM FUCKING MYSTIFIED ABOUT HOW EXACTLY SHE IS ABLE TO CONTAIN HER BOOBS IN THE UPPER REGEION OF THAT RATHER INTERESTING GOWN SHE IS CARRYING THERE- WOAH!!

[charlieireland]

haha oh that did make me laugh :)

[SaraTGinMD]

Breast tape..Double-sided tape that sticks to both the skin and fabric designed for gowns just like this.

[jonesdidid]

"Although we both have religious names..."!! LOL! She is so awesome! :)

[manny2many]

perfection. what a doll.

[elphielover247]

Wow. One thing: That dress is slipping a bit wudnt ya say? lol

[Tigerlilym2]

lol bra tape.

[riffroof]

What a great rendition!

[MushroomLake]

Omg, shes hilarious.

I love her!!!

Wow shes just amazing!

[Samjew]

Wow... what year is this from?

[parkguy505]

Her breats are AMAZING! And she's very talented too! ;-)

[eilzomalzo]

lol wierd how the first thing you pointed out was her boobs

[elphielover247]

sicko

[mildredrogers]

way way way better than madonna could ever do!

[lutalice]

apples and oranges

[Corbyjane]

This is like the eighth time I've sat on youtube, watching this concert, awestruck by this woman. I think my favourite part is that she's so amazing and talented, yet able to have fun with her art...

[standardwud7]

Hello, Eric:

Thanks. What a voice.  What a babe.