Bette Midler‘s flexible and interestingly toned voice would alone have been sufficient to propel her to popularity, but the “divine Miss M” reaches the masses with another device – the use of tasteful music that has an appeal to all, regardless of which side the generation gap you may falL Her music is not new or in any way innovative.
Rather, it seeks to entertain with its own unique character, a slightly tongue-in-cheek aura of nostalgia for the glamour of the female singing stars of the 40’s and the 50’s.
She has surrounded herself with the starlet’s mystique, becoming an untouchable red-flamed goddess to be worshipped from afar. And, with an eye on album sales, it seems to be working.
The new album is entitled simply BETTE MIDLER. As acknowledged on the cover, the Divine Miss M has become to her early followers “The Divine Miss Fink.”
Labeling aside, the music on BETTE Midler is extremely listenable, making little demands on the listener.
” Skylark” arbitrarily opens the album which has no definite side one or two marked with a soaring arrangement of the Hoagy Carmichael and Johnny Mercer song using only a single piano and the remarkable intense thread of Miss M’s vocal. “Drinking Again” is done in the same way, and it points out both in theme and atmosphere her early days of nightclub signing.
“Breaking Up Somebody’s Home ” is a change of pace with its infectious rhythm and funky guitar backup.
“Surabaya Johnny” manages to be melodramatic with a part monologue, part song cry of protest from a young woman haven been used by a slick traveler who came through from Burma. Miss Midler overacts deliberately to make the song an amusing farce of similar songs of its type. The side is finished with a moving arrangement of Bob Dylan’s ” I Shall Be Released.”
A medley of “Optimistic Voices” ‘which reminds me of the Munchkins chorus in “Wizard of Oz” and “Lullaby of Broadway” starts the second side. Miss Midler is overdubbed to become a trio like she was in Boogie-Woogie Bugie Boy,” in the medley, as well as in the next song, “In the Mood.” She and Barry Manilow have added lyrics to the old hit, but have kept its original flavor. Another medley follows of “Uptown” and “Da Doo Run Run” which is the least memorable track on the album.
“Twisted” is told in song by a “crazy girl” to her gossiping friends about her experiences with the psychoanylist. The Low key humor is in abundance in the song which runs true to Miss M’s slightly satirical nature. Finally is “Higher and Higher (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) ” in which she unleashes the full intensity of her voice for a satisfying conclusion to the album.
Even though BETTE MIDLER is revivalist camp, it makes for good all around listening. And there stand the full measure of its worth.
