60 SECOND REVIEW
Bette Midler in concert
By Shirley Jinkins
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
GRAND PRAIRIE – Oh yeah, she’s overblown, gaudy, loud and outspoken, but Bette Midler is — above all — lovable.
The four-time Grammy- winning singer-actress-comic brought her over-the-top stage show, Kiss My Brass! to Nokia Live on Tuesday to a capacity crowd that obviously doted on the Divine Miss M’s every dimpled grin.
“Oh!” she said in a star-struck voice after her sailor-themed opening set, “Grand Prairie! I made it!”
Midler wove routines from her Broadway shows, concerts, recordings and movies into a revue heavy on lavish sets, clever dances and offbeat nostalgia.
Most stylish was surely the Rosemary Clooney segment, with music from Midler’s recent tribute album to the late icon. But arguably Midler’s best moments were the final, no-nonsense renditions of her signature hits, The Rose, The Wind Beneath My Wings and the achingly beautiful From a Distance.
In an age of cookie-cutter musical performers, it’s a pleasure to spend an evening with an original.
GRADE: A
