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This is the first time I've ever listened
to a whole "Bette Midler" album, and now I wonder what
I've been missing all these years. Sure, I've liked several of
her "big" songs over the years, after all, who could
forget "Wind Beneath My Wings" and "The Rose"
to name a couple. Well, this CD is going to wear out at the rate
I've been playing it! I've heard others say they aren't crazy
about "Bathhouse Betty" because there's too much variety.
WHAT??? That's the charm of this album! For once, every song
doesn't sound like the next one, which for me automatically raises
the rating a couple of points.
Besides having a wide variety of styles
and sounds, there really isn't a bad song on this album. From
the opening track, "Song Of Bernadette," to the closing
number, "Laughing Matters," the "Divine Miss M."
takes the listener to all points of the musical map.
One song in particular, "Lullaby In
Blue," in my opinion, is the next "Wind Beneath My
Wings" for Bette. This beautiful ballad (but not too slow)
is about a woman who gave up her baby for adoption when she was
17 yrs. old, but still thinks of ". . .the child I never
knew/ My lullaby in Blue. . ." every day. Adoptive parents
should receive accolades for raising these children, but this
song is, I think, the first I've ever heard done from the biological
mother's point-of-view. It does a terrific job of describing
being on the other side of the adoptive fence. I vote this song
one of my many favorites on the album.
Backing up a bit here, "Song Of Bernadette"
is the story of the French child who saw the "Queen of Heaven,"
but the underlying theme is that there is hope for all of us
who have strayed in some way, but try to make amends. For a TOTAL
change of pace, the next track, "I'm Beautiful," makes
me smile every time I hear it! This song is for every woman who
was/is ever dissatisfied with her appearance, and taking on the
attitude of believing "I'm beautiful, I'm beautiful, Damn
It!" The song opens with a guy yelling "That's it baby,
when you've got it flaunt it," then proceeds to list a dozen
things that are "supposedly" wrong with women. "Too
fat, too thin, too black, too white, too short, too tall, too
green, too red, too small," is the chant of the backing
vocals, but the "Divine Miss M." encourages all woman
to tell themselves they're beautiful. "Ain't this my sun/
Ain't this my moon/ Ain't this world to be what I choose."
By the way, this song is kind of a funky/rap/sung number that's
totally infectious. The message: "Love yourself!"
"Ukelele Lady" is probably my
least favorite on the album, but it's still a snappy number and
another 360 degree turn from the other songs. Of course it's
got ukelele music and a Hawaiian sound about the ". . .
peaches that bring their ukes to the beach at night," looking
for company. It's a cute song, but not quite the caliber the
rest of the songs on the album.
Moving into a jazz/swing number is "I'm
Hip." This one, for some reason, reminds me of smoky underground
clubs or coffee houses in Greenwich Village, even though it has
a big band sound to it. This one has Bette's trademark theatrics
thrown in with one hell of a smooth vocal. "I Sold My Heart
To The Junkman" opens with piano and a soft lounge band
sound. The title is pretty self-explanatory. The song is about
a relationship that didn't work out, and a broken heart, "So
I sold my heart to the junkman/ And I'll never fall in love again."
Changing pace, both lyrically and musically,
once again is "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show," opening
with some great horns. This is another jazz number, but with
an attitude. It's about a lover announcing one morning that he's
leaving, and the reply "I can't make you stay if you want
to go/ But it's high time you know/ One monkey don't stop no
show/ One monkey don't stop no show/ So if you want to go, go
ahead/ And I mean every word I said." The lover leaves ".
. .about 3:00 in the morning/ I had another man at 4!" Basically,
it's about a woman who's learned to assert herself, done to a
really jazzy beat.
"Boxing" is a bit of a strange
song, but you find it lingering long after you've listened to
it. The music reminds me of slowed down merry-go-round music
with a good downbeat. The story is that the person singing has
gotten too old to "get in the ring," and asking if
"Boxing" has been any better for the person listening.
The underlying theme is being scared, lonely, tired and a wash-up
at what they've been doing.
My absolute favorite song on the album
is up next, "Big Socks." I play this one over and over,
because I still can't believe this is a Bette Midler song. Totally
dance/soul sounding, I've had a great time playing it for my
kids and others and seeing if they can figure out who it is.
Nobody's guessed yet, and they're all shocked when they find
out who it is! Think "En Vogue," "TLC," the
girls from "Real McCoy" and some of the other modern,
irreverent, girl soul groups. The euphemisms about "big
feet" and "big socks" are most definitely about
what this bragging dude with an attitude has in his pants - which
sure doesn't "stand up" to expectations! The line "A
flea shouldn't have the nerve to be bragging . . . there's too
much space to be inside those jeans," just cracks me up.
"Bette Midler" has never been a singer who holds back
on subject matter or lyrical content, and this song is for sure
no exception. I get such a kick out of this song every time I
hear it, I really wish this one would end up as a single, but
I doubt if it will.
"How Love Moves" is another beautiful
ballad - and a complete turn-around from the previous song. With
kind of a cross between a R&B ballad and a gospel tune, this
is another nominee for the "Wind Beneath My Wings"
category. It also showcases the range in Midler's voice. The
lyrics on the chorus really catch the feeling of being on love:
"That's how works/ That's how love moves/ Like a river running
through you/ Sometimes it takes you as high as Heaven/ It consumes
you that's a given.
From the Motion Picture "One True
Thing" comes "My One True Friend." The sound on
this number is more typical of a Bette Midler type ballad, and
is a really beautiful song. The lyrics express all the wonderful
things about best friends, and what they mean to us all. After
the opening verse, a wonderful, almost symphonic sound backs
the vocals, meshing just the right sound and emphasis on the
lyrics to give them a powerful impact.
The final song, "Laughing Matters,"
kind of fools you at the very beginning of the song. With just
an acoustic guitar accompanying the not quite spoken lyrics,
and the final phrase before moving into the song: ". . .
and every day some brand new issue rears it's head to piss you
off," the music changes to the very late night, smoky, after-hours
bluesy sound, with some truly smooth vocals, and an orchestral
sound added in as the tune progresses. The music is the exact
opposite of the lyrics, which talk about the bad things the media
reports, optimism wearing thin, the kind of things that we usually
let go in one ear and out the other. Basically it's a call to
pay attention to things going on in the world that AREN'T laughing
matters, but that we need to realize that we have to shrug off
the "blues," because in life, ". . . laughing
matters most of all."
Unless you're not into putting a little
pizazz in your music collection, you HAVE to get this album!
It's fun, interesting, varied and, of course, a great example
of the "Divine Miss M." we've all come to know and
love.
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