Last night’s Oscar program was horrific, we know, yet there were two events which are good reminders about why our culture is worth fighting for: the performances of Dame Shirley Bassey and Adele. In an evening overflowing with rank sexism, and example after example of the decline of culture, here we have the 76 year-old Bassey, completely commanding the stage, and 25-year-old Adele, performing brilliantly the song which garnered her the Oscar. It might be a good idea for poseurs like “Beyonce” to watch these two women to see how true artists don’t need to lip-sync.
Brava ladies, and thanks for reminding us what artistry is all about. Forgive the video quality here, both were apparently taken from televisions. For a better clip of Bassey visit Mediate here and for Adele click here.
speechless x 2
These two performances were wonderful. I loved both songs and both artists put on a show. On the other hand, Streisand left her voice in Malibu. She sounded scratchy, whispering most of the time through “Memories.” A pity, because in her prime she sang it beautifully. You can check it on YouTube. People are making excuses for Babs, saying to give her a break because she’s 70: come on, if you can’t sing, don’t. Look at Dame Shirley: 76 and her pipes are still rocking! Even Julie Andrews who had that unfortunate incident with her vocal chords sounds amazing at 77.
Thank you Tammy for posting this. I can remember going to the outdoor movies and watching Goldfinger, back in my high school years and the voice of Dame Shirley Bassey was then, and still is incredible.
Class acts, both. BTW – was looking for the picture shot Tammy mentioned on the show today of the look on Charlize Theron’s face during that horribly sexist exhibit of songitude from the very classless act. Was it put on the twitters?
cactuswren
As incredible as those two performances were,it is even more incredible that Dame Shirley Bassey has been snubbed by the Oscars since 1964. “Goldfinger” was not nominated in 1964 as well as “Diamonds are Forever” in 1971 and “Moonraker” in 1979. But who can forget that wonderful toe tappin tune that won in 1964 from Mary Poppins. What the?
In case you forgot, it was “Chim Chimeree Chimeree Chim Chim Cheroo”. Everybody Sing !
Mark Steyn post about Bill Buckley being able to interact in a broader cultural sense than today’s conservatives. I’m thinking of making, ‘cocked a snook’, my new catch phrase.
“Jonah, re Alvin Felzenberg on the “void Bill Buckley left,” I agree there’s plenty of funny guys around. What I think Mr. Felzenberg is getting at is an urbanity and wit that gave him a luster way beyond politics. See here, for example: Bill with Brigitte Bardot.
I’m not sure who the 2013 equivalent of Bébé is, but I can’t see whoever she is being thrilled to be photographed in a nightclub with you or me or even John Podhoretz. And, in some vague unquantifiable way, I think that’s a bit of a loss. You notice that the lefties don’t mind Rush being on his own show or turning up on Fox News, but they go bananas when he judges Miss America or does a guest shot on “The Family Guy.” They want a world in which the price of avowed conservatism is exclusion from the broader culture: Bill Buckley cocked a snook at that, very stylishly, for half-a-century.”
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/341830/re-void-mark-steyn