Well, that's just incredible. I saw Bette Midler live 4 or 5 times in her raunchy tour days, and I may read this through 4 or 5 times, too. You are on target on every point, of course, not least the very gratifying Barbra Streisand comparisons, at least for those of us who value authenticity and exuberance. I used to think of what Midler did in those live shows as a kind of Kabuki theatre, and you have brought that feeling back. I thought she was good in the strange The Politician, too, and I love her current posts trying to get on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, reminding us of Down & Out. She knows what "reality" is.
I could not say it better than Bernard Welt, what a superb article, and all accurate! I have been a Bette fan since I first saw her as a teenager (me, not Bette) on Johnny Carson singing Leader of the Pack and then Hello In There, show on me over. I have seen her live every show I could from 1973 to Divine Intervention and ALL in between. The best live performer I have ever seen, I feel so fortunate to have followed her career as she has brought me such joy. Thank you for putting it all in writing Mr. Dan Callahan.
Well, that's just incredible. I saw Bette Midler live 4 or 5 times in her raunchy tour days, and I may read this through 4 or 5 times, too. You are on target on every point, of course, not least the very gratifying Barbra Streisand comparisons, at least for those of us who value authenticity and exuberance. I used to think of what Midler did in those live shows as a kind of Kabuki theatre, and you have brought that feeling back. I thought she was good in the strange The Politician, too, and I love her current posts trying to get on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, reminding us of Down & Out. She knows what "reality" is.
Very happy you enjoyed, Bernard...I will never forget it, you know.
What a GREAT write up about the Divine in all her gore and glory....she is certainly one of a kind and the greatest entertainer of our time
I could not say it better than Bernard Welt, what a superb article, and all accurate! I have been a Bette fan since I first saw her as a teenager (me, not Bette) on Johnny Carson singing Leader of the Pack and then Hello In There, show on me over. I have seen her live every show I could from 1973 to Divine Intervention and ALL in between. The best live performer I have ever seen, I feel so fortunate to have followed her career as she has brought me such joy. Thank you for putting it all in writing Mr. Dan Callahan.
we truly are so very fortunate to be alive and to have witnessed and experienced her brilliance