Betty Buckley - Memory

[MsDivvie]

both of these women put the soul into the song and bring it to life... Emotion beats a perfect note every time...

[phangsl100]

yes i admit she sang the song well but this song isnt just about singing the right notes the song is almost like a plea so it needs emotion which this woman im afraid (in my opinion) was empty

[mattemitchell]

I cannot believe how good she is at this point in her life after going through a whole life of belting. Such well trained and disciplined talent.

[norway69]

OMG it's amazing you are putting down the first to sing it on broadway, and so many years later she still does it justice, so please appreciate the great vocal talent

[AutumnRaeRocks]

There are so many parts that I can't really hear her words here. Autumn Rae learned it off a Barbara Streisand video...but the words seems to be different depending on what video you watch???And now that she is starting with a voice coach the song is being cut by a minute... Anyone know what is up with that??

[lite7761str]

What a letdown, coming here after Elaine Paige's truly touching performance of "Memory". She's incomparable. Her singing and acting talent are the so very obvious reason she's the First Lady of British Musical Theatre. Just unbelievable emotion & range of voice. I adore Susan Boyle's fantastic voice as well.

I saw "Cats" on Broadway with Laurie Beechman and she, too, was wonderful and tops this version with no problem. A tragedy she had to depart this world so young.

[noodle0912]

@lite7761str Did you even SEE the video on here of her performing at the Tony Awards?

[noodle0912]

@lite7761str Go watch Betty's Tony performance and be prepared to eat those words.

[KevinIsPretty]

@lite7761str

I adore Elaine Paige's version too, but to say that Betty Buckley is incomparable is absolutely incorrect in my opinion. Betty gives the performance that plays the emotion on a subtle and realistic scale, ESPECIALLY in her tony performance. Elaine, although a superb singer, overacts the song and throws emotion at us on a beautiful but unrealistic scale. And to give Susan Boyle any merit as a contender for the performance of this song is just asinine.

[TheWhopdedo]

sorry but this is far to happy. the song is about reminiscing about times past, younger, beautiful as sung by someone in the twilight of their life.

I do not get that felling from this performance. She sings well but I don't get the same emotional response.

[thefuzzbuzzmuzzcuzz]

I wanted to kill the pianist. Makes it sound like some jazz piece, speeds it up.

[UndercoverCracker]

What a shitty version. She should stick to the real Cats version!

[ValtronW]

Really takes on a whole new meaning when sung by someone who is, indeed, old.

[ForgottenCavalry]

seriously guys, just search youtube for beechman, she did memory utterly perfect

[Lalo18m]

TiEnE UNA VoZ SENSaCIoNaL!!!

[seymourbbest]

Either the voice mic should have been upped or the piano mic lowered. The piano was too loud at times. And really if the person singing this isn't wearing a cat costume I just don't feel it.

[my3cents]

A little too over the top, which distracts. Agree with Macrogue, but still unique and lovely. Prefer Elaine Paige however, despite the obvious talent.

[jonwiley]

hard to believe this incredible talent once starred on "eight is enough." just shows real talent endures

[Macrogue65]

I really think this is far too stylised. Where is the character? Lost. it's so 2 dimensional. And far too thin.

I really do like a lot of BB's music. But not this.

[Paul3689]

This may sound odd, I know nothing about Betty Buckley other than that she's amazing, but in the end section of that song (i.e. the belt) I just got every piece of emotion and suddenly felt every pain she's ever experienced.

Now THAT is a performance.

[tess1312]

What the heck ! this piano thing..it is out of tune! it destroys the beauty of the song!

[wwonka2]

They should have shot the pianist. A capella would have been better than that lounge-act travesty of an accompaniment. So insensitive and unmusical given the song and how she was singing it.

[NikkihermosaTHColomb]

LOVELY!!! (the piano was kind of annoying though...it felt like they werent together...his fault)

[happyllama131]

i think that they all do it differently and we just need to respect that each of them make the song their own, and they are all amazing

[horrorfreek0734]

Where did you get this video from? I want it so badly.

[wiz337]

FUCK ELAINE PAIGE! Betty Buckley sings and interprets the song the BEST. Her talent is untouchable. Paige wishes she had such skill. #TeamBettyBuckley

[markpcampolito]

Very good version

[glenndkessler]

First time I have really enjoyed this cliche of a song. She seems wise enough to actually be reflecting on the past.

[theforeman118]

i wish i could sing :(

[tenorlovesasoprano]

LOVE Betty's singing. But if I may ask, what in the hell is going on w/ the piano accompaniment?

[inlovewithJLT]

I love the way she says "I was beautiful then" in this performance. It's like she's trying to convince herself and remind herself that it's true.

[Sillyshev]

I love how she's so calm..then her voice comes out of absolutely no where!

[AtLastOnTheGround]

I love this New Age spin she does on it -- Very sentimental and touching.

[MrAronyomusical]

the piano is really distracting, but sorry betty, i think elaine was better.

[JoshuaMars99]

i don't like the phrasing at all

and conspicuously absent from youtube is Elaine's version from '81. That is an untouchable version.

[fosse225]

Pat Benatar can still hit all her high notes. I go to her concerts every summer, and she sounds fabulous! When was the last time you people saw her in concert?

[fosse225]

Karrezza- Pat Benatar can DEFINITELY hit all her high notes. Have you seen her in concert lately? I go to her summer concert series every year, and she still sounds fabulous! What are you listening to???

[msr48]

I like this version of this song. They are both improvising and doing a wonderful interpretation of this song. I have seen her sing this song several times over the years and every time was a completely different arrangement with a completely different set of musicians. She always performs with top notch musicians. I respect her very much as a musician....not just somebody that regurgitates popular songs note for note.

[brendaj1964]

Love Betty Buckley.. but, the piano was awful... sounded like someone in a club just ad libing... very distracting to the performance.

[bigdanoc]

I saw Betty Buckley at Feinstein's in NYC in February of 08. She is AMAZING. Her voice is still amazing, in some ways I think even richer and better than ever.

[karrezza]

Yeah I wonder when i listen to Pat Benatar, Don McLean and Joan Jett never hit their high notes again... I guess gonna be a singer, put the freakin smokes away,, it extends your career and voice

[macgillacuddy]

LOL, totally true.  But stage performers train their voices and know how to conserve it. They work at it and most pop singers don't know how to control their voices. Like Billy Joel who hasn't been able to sing the high notes for years, he abused his voice because he didn't know how to use it properly.

[Katsoulinos]

She's actually "acting" at this song... and it's great!

[DaviiziiThooO]

i don´t like this version, i prefer to elaine paige....

stroinado has reason... elaine paige puts more feeling to the song

[NarutoUzumakis]

true that elaine puts more emotions,but this is definitely the best voice ive hear for this song,its flawless and perfect,its better than celine's,barba's and elaine's version for sure

[keriah17]

@NarutoUzumakis hell no it is not vocally better than Elaine, are u crazy?

[glennsa10]

This is one of those recordings that captures every fibre of musicality. She tells the story with these lyrics like none other!

[GEORGIAYAJ]

Betty Buckley is older now, yes, but she is definitely one of the best vocalists in Broadway history. She comes from the era when stars performed without mics.

Yes Elaine Paige is also one of the greats.

Look up Buckley singing when she was younger. incredible.

Also check out Ethel Merman

[TheCoryChannel]

her better days are behind her

[flatpenny13]

you are an idiot

[cdmsinger]

well of course she was better when she was younger. obviously.

the fact that she can still perform this song, and not only perform it - but perform the hell out of it - is astonishing. she is INCREDIBLE.

[TimKoopman10]

i love the piano but it doesn't fit with the song :c

[GrandsStylin]

I agree with stroinado. Betty Buckley is good, but Elaine Paige has a much more powerful voice, and puts more emotion into the song.

[goodlookingkrenz]

totally true.... but that says nothing agianst Betty Buckley.. she is still amazing!

[DropBtsNotBombz]

<3 herr. the first note just hooks you

[stroinado]

i still prefer Elaine Paige - i think she puts more feelings into the song...my opinion! love the piano BTW :)

[kksouthernyankee52]

Betty Buckley does this song with so much passion....awesome.

[philajockboi]

Absolutely chilling.  Cannot wait to see her in NYC in two weeks!

[Bunnierebel]

Fantastisimo, bella de Tejas!!!

[MyDancer4life]

Wow, she has aged nicely! A handsome woman at her age. I hope I look so nice when I am older.

[screaminPirate]

i got chills :)

[spokeshole]

The Best!

[serchelizalde]

i love the piano..

i love betty

i love memory

[jophelps]

INCREDIBLE!!!!! gives me chills! she puts SO much into this!

[iwantyoutofeedme]

other than WOW (and i thought CÉLINE sang this the best and am not puzzled), is there really anything else to say?

ok, again...WOW!

[StarryNight713]

This whole concert is on crack.

[centdixhuit]

ur comment is horrible, but a thumb up for making me laugh lol

[iristacrat]

shoot the pianist

[itsik577]

Streisand is so much better

[Museleaders]

she is so amazing....

[runbaby1163]

Betty was on the original Broadway cast recording that I listened to a zillion times in high school. I always think of her as Grizabella...but those other ladies are amazing too. ;-)

[OneoftheImmortals]

Barbra Streisand, eat your heart out. When Betty sang this one New year's Eve on Johnny Carson . . . she ripped my heart out.

What a SUPER TALENT!!!

[caitlinkriv]

I think she and Elaine Paige are two of the few people that really do this song justice. They are just amazing.

[TheComplainer]

I agree, I think Barbara Dickson did a fantastic job, too.

[candleshoe07]

Listen to Laurie Beechman - she, in my opinion, has the definitive 'Memory'.

[MERLINMAGE9]

@caitlinkriv I totally agree

[ForgottenCavalry]

@caitlinkriv u never heard beechman? AbS_60VbF7g

[ReturnToTheSavoy]

still amazing after all these years. i'd love to see buckley, lupone and peters do a show together. who's going to write it?

[pavelreyes]

OMG you took out the words right out of my mouth! I couldn't agree with you more. It would be an event of a lifetime to see betty, patti and bernadette in concert! If I won the lottery I would pay everything to have them perform together!

[Museleaders]

you summed it up for me returntothesavoy! My top 5 actresses are Angela Lansbury, Bernadette Peters, Patti LuPone, Jennifer Holliday, and Betty Buckley!!!!

[jimacheson]

andrew dice clay?

[TheComplainer]

It doesn't matter the arrangement, interpretation, or maturity of Betty's voice. Betty Buckley can combine singing and acting with a truth and grace unlike any other contemporary artist.

[koolio669]

@TheComplainer Mhm, I think Elaine Paige takes the acting part to another level though.

[Woodsaras]

@TheComplainer I did not like her Grizabella i think that Elaine was far more superior in acting...

[lite7761str]

@Woodsaras -- Ohhhh, DEFINITELY! Elaine Paige's version is soooo beautiful, the voice and acting ability totally pure, reaching and touching the very soul.

Incidentally, what were they thinking with THIS video, ruining everything with the way they did the music; and the rhythm, all choppy and uneven. What have they done to this beautiful song???!! ! This is awful. Pls. go to "Cats Musical - Memory" & listen to Elaine Paige SING IT!!!!

[danylively]

very strong and powerful voice

[omnigeek13]

i have to say, i miss the familiar backround of this song. i dont know what is going on with the accompaniment, but i dont like it

[bettybern]

FABULOUS!!!!

Betty is Grizabella! What a treasure!!!!