“Pink Paper” Interview (UK)

Mister D: Thanks to Orrie for sending this to me, or Miss Orry And I have to give the UK press a Standing O for the great interviews they get out of Miss M. Hands down better than in the US.

“That’s why I’m Divine ”“ because I can do it and other people can’t!”

Pink Paper were the only UK gay press to cover The Showgirl Must Go On in Vegas and the only gay title to be granted a personal audience with The Divine Miss M. Darren Scott manages to not mention Beaches once as he speaks exclusively to the legendary Bette Midler.

Darren Scott
Pink Paper Magazine
3 October 2008
www.pinkpaper.com

Bette Midler is in the loo.

This wasn’t quite how I imagined an interview with the living legend that is The Divine Miss M would begin. To be fair, were this happening in her native America I’d have to start the interview with “Bette Midler is in the restroom” as she’s only really gone to wash her hands, excusing herself and leaving me to nervously look around the very plush hotel room we’re sat in. On the table in front of me is the Divine’s gold Rolex, next to a vase of cream roses.

Oh God it’s Bette Midler’s watch! Oh God it’s a vase of roses in Bette Midler’s suite!

But then she’s back and normality and professionalism resumes.

She’s tiny, but having met her briefly once before this comes as no surprise. She sits close ”“ I’m told she likes to look people in the eye when talking to them, which is surely just good manners that everyone should have, no? But Ms Midler is old school, a breed of performer ”“ and possibly person ”“ that has been usurped by those seeking 15 minutes of fame and barely managing five.

Her career however has spanned four decades, during which she has made over 20 movies and albums, received four Grammys, four Golden Globes, three Emmys and a Tony ­”“ not to mention being nominated for an Oscar twice.

So no pressure then.

In fact there’s none at all. Dressed in a dark orange cardigan, slacks and a scarf, she kicks off her high heels and curls her feet up under her as we chat. Before I begin, I ask if they’ve told her I’m from a gay publication.

A mischievous smile spreads across her face, her eyebrow arches and ”“ like a scene from one of movies ”“ she deadpans. “They didn’t have to”¦”

Ms Midler is in town for a mere three days to promote her new album, The Best Bette. It’s not a greatest hits as such, she explains when quizzed about what’s not on it rather than what is. She pulls another comic face when I note that some of her biggest gay anthems are missing.

“Which ones?” she asks, and I mention I’m Beautiful and To Deserve You. “I didn’t even know that anybody liked them! How many records did I sell?” she laughs. “About three or four!”

“Well they’re not in the show,” she explains, referring to her current Vegas gig, the Showgirl Must Go On. “The record is supposed to be sort of a reflection of what’s in that, the show is a kind of a distillation of my career. I have a couple of songs from the movies, I have a few songs from the early days and a couple of songs from my Rosemary [Clooney] and my Peggy Lee CDs. I wanted it to reflect the show because I don’t have a live version of it.”

She reveals though that plans are afoot to make a live recording, but that fans hoping for a DVD edition shouldn’t hold their breath.

“It seems to me that my DVDs would be subject to being copied and handed around. It just seems like it’s a much better idea to keep it in the theatre and have people walk out with a memory of it rather than be able to play it time after time.”

As though suddenly realising what lies ahead she adds: “Plus I just started. I’ve got a year and a half to go, so I wouldn’t want to have it out and have people say ”˜I don’t have to come to Las Vegas for it’, I’d much rather that they came. It’s a fun town, you know? It’s really a resort town, no matter what they make of it, it’s still a resort. It’s good food and massages and God knows what else. I would like for them to come and see it. It really looks good on a stage and I’m very proud of it.”

Speaking of things she’s proud of, I ask which song and album from her vast back catalogue are her favourites.

“I like Hello In There. It has a very strong memory. I remember where I was when I first heard it and I remember cutting the track and I remember the people who were on it. And I think it has so much atmosphere in the production, I think that it’s a little theatrical gem. I really like it a lot. Even though I made it 30 years ago ”“ more than 30 years ago, 1972″, she laughs. “It still feels like I could have done it yesterday.”

When it comes to albums, she notes a few but picks out 1990’s Some Peoples Lives as her first choice. Her least favourite production remains the same, however. I remind her that in one interview she remarked that a particularly camp number entitled Knight In Black Leather was the worst thing she ever recorded. She laughs the moment the song is mentioned.

“I stand by my word,” she smiles and laughs when I, slightly mortified, ask why. “Because it was such cheese! Oh god”¦ I guess it was pretty funny but it’s one thing to make a joke and another thing to have people sort of wave it at you as the years go by. Everyone has something that embarrasses them, that’s mine.”

I suggest that there could be worse things. She gives a knowing grin. “There could be much worse”¦”

It wouldn’t be a Pink Paper interview without asking what the gayest thing she’s ever done was. She laughs as she repeats the question. “Oh my God, I have so many gay things. I guess I’d have to say a song called Bad Sex, that’s pretty gay”¦”

I interject, just how camp is her Bette Shop in Vegas?

“Very. Wouldn’t you say it was pretty camp!” she laughs loudly. “I think it’s a riot!” She taps her finger on the table to punctuate as she stresses: “I chose every item!”

But there’s yet more campery to be discussed, with Ms Midler parodying a certain 50-year-old female singer in a new internet video, where copies of her album grow on special shrubbery and sales of which “help fund orphans whose names you can’t pronounce”.

Talking about the video “Bette Midler, not Madonna”, I tell its star that I quite liked her bush. Looking spooked she leans forward. “Pardon me?” I repeat the compliment and she roars with laughter. “Oh thank you,” she hoots before completely fooling me into thinking she has one in the next room. She quickly plays down any talk of a feud with Madge though.

“Oh no! My God, no, not at all. I think it’s not bad for her. It’s amusing.”

Pushing it slightly further I propose that a lot of what she was doing as a performer 30 years has been completely ripped off by other female performers since.

She nods in resounding agreement. “Yep! I would say so.”

When I ask how she feels about these people she gives me a sly look and a cheeky smile. “Which people are you talking about? None of them talk. And none of them are funny. None of them make even a little attempt to be amusing. I feel like I’m on my own, I do what I do and they do what they do.”

Talk turns to the energy that the 62-year-old still has as she throws herself around the enormous Vegas stage every night.

“That’s what I do. That’s why they love me. That’s why I’m Divine. Because I can do that and other people can’t,” she laughs. “Human energy is a fantastic thing to have. Sometimes you can’t even fall asleep you’re so excited with life, and that’s great isn’t it? A lot of people try to drug themselves and not pay attention, but you know what? Life has a lot to offer. Go to a park,” she shrugs.

I mention that there was a time when she would have taken drugs. Presumably she’s given that up?

“Oh yeah, a long time ago,” she nods. “I don’t smoke at all. I don’t smoke marijuana, I don’t smoke cigarettes either. You know, I had my share of drug experiences but it really wasn’t for me. I couldn’t handle it, I was paranoid, I didn’t like going into the black abyss of self-hatred and self-loathing so I don’t do it, and it’s been great.”

Another slightly surreal experience also looks soon to be over, as I ask whether she thought she’d still be dressing up as a mermaid in her 60s.

“No I actually didn’t,” she replies. “And I think I’m done.” Seeing that I’m about to fall to my knees, raising my hands skyward shouting “noooo!” she apologises. “This is her biggest production and I have how many people in it?” she says of her lavish character Delores Delago’s most recent OTT routine. “I have 24 people in it. That’s enough,” she says with a mock sigh. “It’s always a challenge and a play within a play. This time it was so outrageous because there were so many people, and the Harlettes [her backing singers] in mermaid tails and wheelchairs. I think they were just blown away by the scale of it.”

Speaking of the Harlettes I decided to take my chance and ask what I’d have to do in order to sign up.

She looks at me with that same mischevious smile.

“Shave.”

The Best Bette is out now on Rhino Records. For details of The Showgirl Must Go On see bettemidler.com.