Bette's vocals in "Gypsy"

[marknyc]

Posted: 9/14/08 at 7:16pm

I've always been impressed that Bette Midler sang on set for her production of "Gypsy." But I've never been able to find much info about it. I'm curious whose idea it was, why they attempted it, how it was done (was there a piano on set or did she have an earpiece?), etc.

Is it written about anywhere? I'd love to know more about this rarely used technique.

Mark

[bwayfan9]

Posted: 9/14/08 at 7:17pm

whoa, we both posted gypsy threads at almost the excact same time! freaky

[alxscrz2]

Posted: 9/14/08 at 9:25pm

if you listen to the commentary on the DVD during rose's turn they talk about why she sang the songs live during filming.

[D2]

Posted: 9/14/08 at 9:54pm

"whoa, we both posted gypsy threads at almost the excact same time! freaky"

Gee, what are the odds of that happening!?! Especially here!

[marknyc]

Posted: 9/14/08 at 10:01pm

Thanks, alxscrz2, I will!

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 10:17am

LOVE and ADORE her in this role....

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 10:52am

She is awful in the film.

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 11:25am

she's fantastic, my personal favorite Rose. So much nuance she brings to the role - perfect for the small screen - and her vocals equal or surpass any of the other Rose's.

[philcrosby]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 11:28am

I think her Rose is a missed opportunity, since she really didn't get much direction in the role during what was a very compressed shooting schedule. The director Emile Ardolino (DIRTY DANCING) was very ill during filming and without a strong hand, Bette did what she would.

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 11:29am

I don't know if I'd say Bette was awful in the role . . . just not the right level for the medium. I fault the director on that. When I saw her perform songs from Gypsy in her tour prior to the show airing, I thought she was FAB. Her level was geared to the stage (which probably would have been a knock-out performance on Broadway). For TV, it was just to big.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 11:35am

She was my first real introduction to Gypsy, so her performance will always have a special place in my heart. I do love her singing, but there are a lot of points in the film where the action/story just sits there.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 11:40am

the movie and performance aren't great in every minor detail, but damn if you can't sense the great potential, and she achieves a lot. Sure beats out Roz Russell!

[Jon]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 12:16pm

Bette's vocals in Gypsy are a example of the star's idiosyncracies overshadowing the role. She stylizes too much, scooping up to notes and adding little riffs. It feels like Bette Midler in concert, not Bette Midler playing Rose. How about just singing the notes as Mr. Styne wrote them?

[elphiesmagic]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 12:33pm

"The director Emile Ardolino (DIRTY DANCING) was very ill during filming and without a strong hand, Bette did what she would."

There were other creatives there who had been involved in a few Broadway productions of GYPSY who did their best with her, but she steamrolled over everyone. She was an unruly tyrant on that set. It wouldn't have mattered who the director was.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 12:37pm

I don't have the answer, but I love that *no one* has tried to answer the OP's question.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 12:45pm

Just to make the performance more fresh and genuine.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 12:52pm

Bette's voice sounds wonderful in this recording.

[marknyc]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 12:53pm

I thought this might turn into a debate about Bette, but whatever you think of her version (and I was disappointed), you really have to give her major kudos for actually singing on set. When was the last time you saw that in a filmed production?

I've always wondered whose idea it was (Bette's?) and how it was done. Did she use an earpiece? Was the orchestra laid in after the fact or before? I've never been able to find out anything about the process. I'm getting the DVD from the library as was suggested, but if anyone has ever heard anything, please chime in...

[Gothampc]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 12:56pm

Didn't the movie version of The Fantasticks also sing on set?

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 12:57pm

i THINK you want to know more about Bette singing on set?

am I right?

taking a stab in the dark here...

[marknyc]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 1:49pm

TooDarnHot, do you have better advice on the best way to ask a question here?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 1:50pm

"She was an unruly tyrant on that set. It wouldn't have mattered who the director was."

And where do you get this information from, Elphiesmagic?

[elphiesmagic]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 1:57pm

What, you want me to name names? Would you, in the same situation? Believe me or not, it's what happened.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 3:44pm

I had friends who were close to Emile Ardolino as he was dealing with his HIV and directing that movie, perhaps not as well as he might have if he weren't dying, but those were difficult times.

He adored Bette and adored working with her and was close to her until he died.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 4:18pm

"Believe me or not, it's what happened."

If you are going to trash her, you may as well say who you heard it from. Other than that, it's just a rumor.