The Merman Medley
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In the early 1950s, Ethel Merman began singing a special arrangement of a dozen or so of the classic showtunes she introduced on Broadway. Roger Edens provided the "Lady with a Song" introductory verse. This 1960 performance is updated to include "Small World" from Merman's current show, "Gypsy."
For technical reasons, Merman was required to lip-synch the medley for TV instead of singing live. However, this ten-minute traversal of "Ethel's Greatest Hits" does offer a sense of the performer's legendary onstage electricity.
Пікірлер: 30
There will only ever be one Merman WHAT A PERFORMER brilliant Todays so called superstars here is a lesson on how to do it in one shot Bravo.
What a treat on this yet another night home... pandemic world... such a huge timeless talent.
Orchestration was spot-on! Sadly today's television does not come close to that golden era. Thanks for the post!!!!!
In her prime, at her best, Miss Merman reminds us why her "tackle the tune and lyrics" made her a star. Incomparable!
She had to lip synch because no boom mike existed at the time which could follow her around. I believe the sets for this number were arranged in a circle, with the backs of the sets at the center and the camera moving around the outside of the circle and various components being moved in and out off screen. You can see why composers and lyricists prized her. Every word is crystal clear and she never fooled around with melodies. A true artist as well as a great star.
Ethel could sing all day and night to me...
I love how she can add a grace note to certain phrases.
She knew where to go for great material here, Roger Edens the man himself. The number is just amazing for all the reasons cited. She was above all focused and seldom made mistakes. Always graceful on stage and she said she never had stage fright. Her many famous understudies said she never got sick either.
Brava, Ethel. Brava!
Fabulous! Thank you!!
The technical expertise here , as duly noted below is really mindboggling -- no one except Garland could touch her for such perfection, and sadly, Judy had already begun to miss lyrics and vocal control, starting around this time. Merman went on brilliantly for eons--listen to her "What I Did for Love" from Chorus Line, 15 or more years after this--it's the most moving rendition of that song -- you know she's singing about what she gave up to be perfect onstage.
Absolutely Amazing! There's NO business like ETHEL Business.
What a GREAT treat - thank you SO much for uploading this. Ethel is "the top" in my book!
Great piece! Thanks!
What is this from?!?!?! This may be the most briliantly directed 10 minutes in Variety Show history!!! The segues from song to song, the visuals (some of which evoke particular shows and others which merely create a new mood) are EXTRAORDINARY!!!
Almost as impressive as La Merman's great voice & stage presence, is the flawless technical production work for 1960 live tv! Notice that 98% of this 9 min. continuous segment is shot with just one camera, and no edits (live)! Only 2 or 3 times you can notice a 'take' to camera 2. With 25 - 30 sets, wind machines, props, lights & walking a live dog on a leash, this seamless production is incredible! The stage must have been enormous. A rare gem; a must-see for all students of tv production.
wow
@ cavardossij, I believe the song you are talking about is a Cole Porter song from the 1933 musical Nymph Errant. Some of the lyrics are: Solomon, had a thousand wives And bein' mighty good He wanted all o' them To lead contented lives So he bought each mamma A platinum piana, a gold lined kimona And a diamond studded Hispano Solomon, had a thousand wives I hope this is the song you were talking about. Yesterday is NEVER gone, we carry it in our hearts!
В Советском Союзе, мы любим Mrs. Merman!
most of it is on a Merman live in Las Vegas CD
omg, i know.
Most of the stuff about Ethel's private life is pure bull%$#+. She was tough and vulnerable woman. She never let her true feelings out. If you were a friend, enemies had to watch out!
What a shame they didn't keep Merman as Rose in the movie "Gypsy"! Her greatest role, meant only for her (Nothing against RR) and no one else. I know because I saw her live in "Gypsy" in 1959!!!!!!!
@LJ-ht4zs
2 жыл бұрын
I saw Merman in Gypsy in 1959 too!!! Great, wasn't it?!
@MrTrackman100
2 жыл бұрын
@@LJ-ht4zs We may have been at the same performance--Ha! I was 18 at the time, a freshman in a NY college. The show was billed as "The Best Damn Musical" and it was!
it ain't the early 50's--she's singin You'll Never Get Away from Me (Gypsy, 1959)
Anybody know what show/special this was from?
Everytime I think we've made advances, society drags it's feet. We live in an imperfect world, with a lot of small minded people. It would seem the generation is getting less and less respectful too.
SOLOMON From the London Musical "Nymph Errant" (1933) (Cole Porter) Elisabeth Welch - 1933 Google this for lyrics and it comes up first: solomon, he had a thousand wives
Taylor who? Give mw La Merm any day!