Author Archives: Mister D

Saturday, February 23, 2019

What Will Be The Watercooler Talk At Work After The Oscars? And I Hope It Is

Posted Feb 23, 2019 8:02 pm by Mister D

Breaking Drift
This week on The Score – Who will win this year’s Oscars?
By Rick Sincere
February 23, 2019

What Will Be The Watercooler Talk At Work After The Oscars?

This Sunday night, February 24, Hollywood presents the movie industry’s top awards, sponsored since 1928 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). I sat down with The Score’s film critic, Tim Hulsey, about who might win the Oscars and what we’ll be talking about Monday morning.

Our discussion bounced around from College of William and Mary alumna Glenn Close, nominated for the seventh time for her role in The Wife, and Rami Malek, nominated for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, to the surprising late-career first nominations for director Spike Lee (BlacKkKlansman, which Tim describes as the “wokest” of the Best Picture nominees) and screenwriter Paul Schrader (First Reformed). In between we talked about Lady Gaga and Sam Elliott (A Star Is Born), Olivia Colman (The Favourite), Black Panther‘s box office take ($1.3 billion and counting), and the nominees for screenplay and cinematography, and whether Alfonso Cuaron’s black-and-white memoir Roma, produced by Netflix, can win Best Picture or Best Director. ... Read More

Posted in Bette Midler, Marc Shaiman, Oscar Countdown, Oscars | Tagged A Star Is Born, Academy awards, Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, Mary Poppins Returns, Scott Wittman, the place where lost things gp | Leave a comment

Harlette In Distress! Our Beloved Charlo Crossley Fortier Needs Our Help! Please Help! (Special Video Included!)

Posted Feb 23, 2019 5:02 pm by Mister D

From Don (Mister D):

I’m glad I can help and will do more. Like my friend, Peter Blalock, says, it’s not often one gets to help someone who has brought one so much joy spanning a lifetime.

One of our most beloved Harlettes, Charlo Crossley Fortier, is in dire straits and needs our help if you can spare anything. She did not ask me to do this. Words can not express the effect that Bette Midler and the original Harlettes had on my life. I was a very unhappy teenager, college wasn’t great either, but I found myself through these women like Bette, Charlo, and Ula Hedwig. Yes, I found myself through the strength of these women, who broke down barriers in many ways. You have to go back to the ’60s and 70’s to understand. My life would never be the same again. I blossomed and learned to love myself, laugh at myself, look outside of myself and show compassion. Yes, I loved my parents, but sometimes you just have to be inspired by outside forces, too! So I can’t bear to hear this news. ... Read More

Posted in charlo crossley, Featuring The Harlettes, Fundraiser, harlettes, The Harlettes And Friends | Tagged Bruce Vilanch, Charlo Crossley, Hairspray (musical), Harlette Charlotte Crossley, I Know Where I've Been, Marc Shaiman, the harlettes | 6 Comments

Friday, February 22, 2019

Video: Bette Midler With Barry Manilow – Friends – Gay Pride 1973

Posted Feb 22, 2019 12:02 am by Mister D

Vito Russo On The Gay Pride March 1973 With Bette Midler & Barry Manilow

“The rally used to be a battleground for ideas and politics. I knew that the tensions would be running high that day because a group of radical lesbians were opposed to a couple of comic drags scheduled to be a part of the entertainment program. Drag was high on their hit list. So I began working on Bette Midler weeks in advance to come and sing to sort of calm things down. Well, the lesbians heckled the drag queens throughout their numbers, and when it was over, Jean O’Leary [the founder of Lesbian Feminist Liberation] got up and made a very angry speech in which she said that men who impersonate women for profit insult women. All hell broke loose in the audience between the men and the women, and Bette got up on stage and sang ‘Friends.’ She had brought Barry Manilow with her. Bette worked like a charm. It wasn’t that the issues were forgotten, but she provided a tremendously healing presence. It was a great thing for Bette, too. She said later that it was one of the great things she did, that she felt like she was Marilyn Monroe singing in Korea.” ... Read More

Posted in Bette Midler, friends, Video, Videos | Tagged Barry Manilow, gay activist, Gay Pride March, New York City, Vito Russo, Washington Square Park | 2 Comments

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Video: Bette Midler – Fire Down Below – The Rose – 1979

Posted Feb 21, 2019 7:02 pm by Mister D

Bette Midler singing Fire Down Below with the drag queens

Video: Bette Midler – Fire Down Below – The Rose – 1979

The first single to be lifted off the soundtrack was Midler’s rendition of Percy Sledge’s “When a Man Loves a Woman” which became a moderate chart hit, peaking at #35 on Billboard’s single chart. The studio recorded title track (written by Amanda McBroom) which closes the album however became a top 3 hit for Midler, and also a #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and today counts as one of her signature tunes. The alternate single version with orchestral overdubs was not included on the actual soundtrack but later appeared on hits compilations like Experience the Divine along with “When A Man Love A Woman”. One track featured in the movie, Bob Seger’s “Fire Down Below”, was omitted from the album but Midler recorded a second live version of the song later in 1980 for the soundtrack to her concert documentary Divine Madness. “Keep On Rockin'” was the second Sammy Hagar track Midler recorded, his hard rock track “Red” was featured on her 1977 studio album Broken Blossom. The Rose soundtrack also included one song that since its original release has become a mainstay in Midler’s live repertoire, Jerry Ragovoy’s despairing blues ballad “Stay With Me”. ... Read More

Posted in Bette Midler, the Rose, Video, Videos | Tagged Bob Seger, Drag queen, fire down below, Frederic Forrest, The Rose (film) | Leave a comment

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Audio Only: Bette Midler – Mambo Italiano (Mister D Dance Mix)

Posted Feb 20, 2019 8:02 pm by Mister D

Audio Only: Bette Midler – Mambo Italiano (Mister D Dance Mix)

Bette Midler

This song is by Bette Midler and appears on the album Bette Midler Sings The Rosemary Clooney Songbook (2003).

Mambo Italiano
(written by Bob Merrill)

A boy went back to Napoli,
Because he missed the scenery,
The native dancers and the charming songs.
But wait a minute, something's wrong.

Hey! Hey!
Now it's hey Mambo, Mambo Italiano!
Hey Mambo, Mambo Italiano!
Go, go, Joe, you mixed up Sigiliano.
All you Calabrese do the mambo like crazy.

And hey Mambo! Don't wanna tarantella,
Hey Mambo! No more-a moozzarella.
Hey Mambo! Hey Mambo Italiano.
Try an enchilada with a fish-a-barcalada.

Hey goombah!
I love-a how you dance rumba.
But take-a some advice paisano,
Learn how to mambo.
If you're gonna be a square,
You're never gonna go nowhere.

Hey Mambo, Mambo Italiano!
Hey Mambo, hey Mambo Italiano!
Go, go, Joe, shake-a like a Gioviano.
Hello quesadicha,
You getta happy in the feets-a
When you Mambo Italiano!

Shake-a baby, shake-a,
'Cause I love-a when you take-a me.

Hey Jagool!
You don't-a have to go to school,
Just make a little beef flambino.
It's-a like-a vino.
Kid you're good-lookin',
But you don't know what's-a cookin' till you
Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!

Shake-a baby, shake-a,
'Cause I love it when you take-a me
By the pizzeria down-a where I'm gonna be-a.
Don't ya tell your mama.
Mama's gonna tell-a papa.
There's-a nothin' to it.
Come on baby let's-a do it!

Hey Mambo, Mambo Italiano!
Hey Mambo, Mambo Italiano!
Go, go, Joe, you mixed up Sigiliano.
It's-a so delish-a, everybody gonna preshi-ada.
Mambo Italiano!

Do the mambo! ... Read More

Posted in Audio, Bette Midler, Rosemary Clooney | Tagged Barry Manilow, rosemary clooney songbook | Leave a comment

Oscars 2019: How to Watch and Stream the Academy Awards – And The Nominees Are…

Posted Feb 20, 2019 6:02 pm by Mister D

The 91st Academy Awards air live this Sunday, February 24th

Bette Midler and Lady Gaga to perform at the Oscars

Mister D: I didn’t know Lady Gaga’s song was nominated for an Oscar…you know, the one about her personality!!! My goodness me, Mama getting nasty! (I jest, I kid, I crack myself up!)

The 91st Academy Awards are finally upon us, and if you’re looking to stream the Oscarsonline, we’ve found a couple easy ways for you to watch the show for free.

Netflix’s Roma leads the pack with 10 nominations, including a Best Picture nod, while Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s A Star Is Born is up for eight Oscars, including Best Actor for Cooper, Best Actress for Gaga, Best Supporting Actor for Sam Elliott and Best Original Song for “Shallow.” Bohemian Rhapsody has five nods, including Best Picture, and a Best Actor nomination for Rami Malek, while Green Book earned five nominations as well. ... Read More

Posted in Bette Midler, Marc Shaiman, Oscars, Scott Wittman | Tagged Academy awards, ada, Adam Lambert, best song, Jennifer Hudson, Lady Gaga, Mary Poppins Returns, Oscar nominations, the place where lost things gp | Leave a comment

I Should Have Known: With Bette Midler, Never Say Never. Official Website Back Up

Posted Feb 20, 2019 3:02 am by Mister D

Bette Midler’s Official Website Is Back Up…Smart Move

Even though I was told Bette’s website was down for good, here it is back up, looking gorgeous, as ever. I should have known better. Even I’m known to change my mind, in a day!!!

So welcome back Bette. With all your upcoming projects, it just didn’t make sense.

Bette Midler’s Official Website

Posted in Bette Midler | 3 Comments

Saturday, February 16, 2019

Audio: Here’s The Song That Bette Midler Will Be Singing At The Oscars

Posted Feb 16, 2019 8:02 pm by Mister D

Emily Blunt Singing “The Place Where Lost Things Go From ‘Mary Poppins Returns

The Place Where Lost Things Go
(Songwriters: Scott Wittman / Marc Shaiman)

Do you ever lie
Awake at night?
Just between the dark
And the morning light
Searching for the things
You used to know
Looking for the place
Where the lost things go

Do you ever dream
Or reminisce?
Wondering where to find
What you truly miss
Well maybe all those things
That you love so
Are waiting in the place
Where the lost things go

Memories you've shed
Gone for good you feared
They're all around you still
Though they've disappeared

Nothing's really left
Or lost without a trace
Nothing's gone forever
Only out of place

So maybe now the dish
And my best spoon
Are playing hide and seek
Just behind the moon
Waiting there until
It's time to show
Spring is like that now
Far beneath the snow
Hiding in the place
Where the lost things go

Time to close your eyes
So sleep can come around
For when you dream you'll find
All that's lost is found

Maybe on the moon
Or maybe somewhere new
Maybe all you're missing lives inside of you

So when you need her touch
And loving gaze
Gone but not forgotten
Is the perfect phrase

Smiling from a star
That she makes glow
Trust she's always there
Watching as you grow

Find her in the place
Where the lost things go

The Place Where Lost Things Go lyrics
© Walt Disney Music Company ... Read More

Posted in Bette Midler | Leave a comment

Bette Midler will sing “The Place Where Lost Things Go” from “Mary Poppins Returns” At The Oscars

Posted Feb 16, 2019 7:02 pm by Mister D

Variety
Bette Midler will sing “The Place Where Lost Things Go” from “Mary Poppins Returns” At The Oscars
By JON BURLINGAME
FEBRUARY 16, 2019

Bette Midler will perform “The Place Where Lost Things Go” at the Oscar ceremonies on Feb. 24, Variety has learned.

Midler, a longtime friend of composer-lyricist Marc Shaiman, will sing the song originally performed by Emily Blunt in “Mary Poppins Returns.” The song, by Shaiman and his lyricist partner Scott Wittman, is one of five nominees for best original song.

The Academy teased this on Jan. 31 by tweeting, “SPOILER ALERT: It will be performed by a surprise special guest.”

This was in the aftermath of a Variety report about the original plan, which was to perform only two of the five nominated songs (“Shallow” from “A Star Is Born” and “All the Stars” from “Black Panther”). The backlash resulted in the Academy’s decision to perform all five nominated songs, including the one from “Mary Poppins Returns.” ... Read More

Posted in Bette Midler, Marc Shaiman, Movies, Oscars | Tagged Academy awards, Mary Poppins Returns, Scott Wittman, the place where lost things gp | Leave a comment

‘Wicked’, The Film Adaption, Coming In 2021: See The Rumored Casting

Posted Feb 16, 2019 1:02 pm by Mister D

10 Daily
‘Wicked’ Movie Gets 2021 Release Date
By CBS News
Fri 08 Feb 2019

Mister D: Looking around on the internet, these names have come up, too: Annaleigh Ashford, Arianna Grande, Nathan Lane, and my, oh my, Adam Sandler. I have never seen the musical, so I’m not really sure who’s suited to play whichever character. But I know a lot of BetteHeads who love ‘Wicked’ and anything to do with theater. If you want, tell me about all these stars and what role they should play in the comments below

The winds have changed — again — for the long-awaited film version of the smash-hit musical ‘Wicked.’

Universal Pictures revealed on Friday that the film will land in US theatres on December 22, 2021 — two years after its original release date. ... Read More