Michigan Live
Bette Mider mixes music and comedy for Metro Detroit audience
By Edward Pevos | epevos@mlive.com
on June 11, 2015 at 12:30 AM
AUBURN HILLS, MI – One word can describe Bette Midler in concert: Entertainer. She’s been putting on a show for her fans in many different ways for more than 40 years.
The 69 year old four-time Grammy winner and two-time Oscar nominated actress put on a high energy non-stop show in front of more than 10,000 people at the Palace of Auburn Hills on June 10th, 2015.
Show start time: 8:23pm
Midler took the stage backed by a large band which included a piano player, multiple backup singers and a full horn section with not one, but two saxophone players.
She led off with “Divine Intervention” set on a Broadway type stage with backup dancers following her every move. What Midler did next shows why she’s not just a singer, she’s a pure entertainer.
Set to the tune of “I Look Good,” Midler spent a few minutes doing a comedy routine, of sorts. It looked reminiscent of a one woman Broadway play.
“How many of you drove here tonight? Glad so many of my fans can still drive at night. I don’t know if I should sing to you or tell you about the benefits of reverse mortgages.”
Midler’s show continued with a number of songs from her latest album called “It’s The Girls” featuring covers of many classic hits. She tackled “Tell Him” by the Exciters, “Bei Mir Bist Du Schon” by the Andrew Sisters and “Waterfalls” by TLC. Her rendition of “Waterfalls” is a slower, more elegant piano ballad which works very well.
Midler shocked the crowd by talking about sex tapes and how she could have kicked herself for not having the brains to monetize her sex life. She then showed a number of hilarious photoshopped pics of her in bed with a variety of famous people, including Richard Nixon, Vladimir Putin, Chris Christie, Tom Brady and Bruce Jenner.
Speaking on Brady: “I was the first to suggest that he might want to deflate his balls,” and of Bruce Jenner, “We had the most perfect evening. We watched “Beaches” and painted each others toenails.”
Midler went through numerous costume changes throughout the show. She received a loud cheer when she came out dressed as a witch from her 1993 movie “Hocus Pocus” singing “I Put a Spell on You.” In her spooky witch voice, Midler joked “I’m going to take the fizz out of your Faygo.”
Midler and her backup dancers changed into chicken costumes for her next performance of “Bird In The Hand” where she cracked a number of raunchy jokes which had the audience laughing out loud.
Delores Delago
The attention then turned to the big screens where fans were treated to a montage of Midler’s alter ego character Delores Delago from over the years. At the end, it read “RIP Delores Delago 1980 – 2014.” Apparently Midler has retired her mermaid self.
Midler then sang a nice rendition of the Rolling Stones hit “Beast Of Burden” followed by “Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most” by Ella Fitzgerald.
Then she gave the crowd what they had been waiting for. Emotional renditions of two of her biggest hits, “The Rose” and “From A Distance.” She received standing ovations for both.
Midler finished her show with a huge encore. “Wind Beneath My Wings,” thanking the crowd for making it a huge hit and a big success.
She ended the night with the song that started it all for her, “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.” She, along with her entire band, backup singers and dancers sported “I (heart) Detroit” t-shirts.
The performer received a long standing ovation from the Palace crowd for putting on a very entertaining and energetic show.
Show end time: 10:15pm
Length: 1 hour 52 min.
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