One artist who does have staying power, that butt-baring “Mask” mommy Cher, was shooting a video for the title track of 1989’s Heart of Stone 13 years ago this week. In the clip, directed by Marty Callner, the singer is surrounded by images of the people and events, both personal and historic, that have formed the backdrop of her life.
“I said, ‘Marty, I have this idea,’ and he said, ‘Well, I have an idea too. … You tell me your idea first.’ So I said, ‘I feel like I wanna do this … ‘ When I finished telling him, he said, ‘All right, we’re not gonna do my idea. My idea’s nothing like that. I wanted to put you in a boxing ring and do some weird stuff.’ ”
As the video attests, Cher has seen a lot in her life.
“One time Bette Midler and I were … doing a special with Elton John and Flip Wilson, and Bette was at my house and Mick and Bianca came over,” the diva dished. “We’re all sitting around, and Bianca was acting very strange and she turned the light off, and we’re all sitting around having a party. And so Mick said, ‘You’re really rude. Turn the lights back on. This is really stupid. … You know, sweetheart, you and Bette would really get along because she hates men too.’ Bianca looked at him and said, ‘No, darling. No, I just hate you.’ And she got up and left. I went, ‘Well, this is really interesting. They’re a fun couple. We should have them over more often.’ “
