It’s hard to believe that Bette Midler, one of the golden lights of show biz for more than 40 years, has never sung at the Academy Awards, but there’s a first time for everything. Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, the out super-producers of this year’s ceremony have announced the Divine Miss M. has finally relented to give up her Oscar-performing cherry during the global broadcast on March 2.
“We are thrilled to have Bette perform on the Oscars for the very first time,” the two said in a statement. “We believe she will make our Oscar telecast an especially moving evening.”
No doubt. Midler, who has twice been nominated for best actress for her dazzling musical turns in 1979’s electrifying The Rose and in 1991’s sentimental For the Boys, can wring inconceivable amounts of pathos from any number. The entertainer, who is also overdue for the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award that’s handed out to industry do-gooders such as Angelina Jolie and Elizabeth Taylor, for her many years of charitable work, tweeted a note to fans asking for song suggestions.
Now that the news is out, what shall I sing at this years#Oscars? http://t.co/t1v4r0zOaR
— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) February 19, 2014
Her movie anthem “The Rose” is a too-obvious choice. “The Wind Beneath My Wings” during the In Memoriam reel is just too maudlin. Since the Academy has already announced it will honor the 75th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz during the broadcast, how about a Bathhouse Bette-spin on “(Somewhere) Over the Rainbow?” Tell us what you think she should sing in the comments section.
yaoming
Doesn’t it have to be an Oscar-noinated song?
dougmc92
n@yaoming: there might be some god awful musical tribute that wastes 10 minutes….Suprised to hear she didn’t sing The Rose- that was nominated and she was there as an actress nomanee….
Raymond59
I think Bette should sing “Under the Same Sun” by the Scorpions. I think she could put her own unique style to the song.
Robert333
I would love to hear her sing Over the Rainbow – my favorite song
jckfmsincty
I’m still upset that she didn’t win the Best Actress Oscar for “The Rose”.
Bob LaBlah
I hope she sings “Everything’s coming up roses”. She did a tv movie version of Gypsy in 1991 and was good in it. Too bad it has never been shown in rerun.
Merv
Does she still bash same-sex marriage? I haven’t paid any attention since then.
Geoff B
Die! Die! My Darling! By the Misfits. Got some serious side-eye from the fiancee when I mentioned that at home. I think I’m gonna have to take him someplace nice for dinner tomorrow night to be forgiven. Apparently that’s blasphemy in our house.
dougmc92
they are doing a Wizard of Oz tribute- she probably will be singing Over the Rainbow
dvlaries
No objections to “Over The Rainbow,” but on her 1977 “Broken Blossom” album she also did a sincere and immaculate version of “A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes” from Disney’s “Cinderella,” that fit her as perfectly. Whatever she sings, I’m now out of excuses to skip the Oscars.
jwrappaport
“You’ve made a long journey from Milan to Minsk – Rochelle Rochelle!”
balehead
If she is still against gay marriage rights then She should sing….”Some gurls are better than others”…
Bob LaBlah
If she is against gay marriage she should sing Mary Hopkin “Those were the days my friend” and have a bathhouse theme on stage with her.
Hope you guys enjoy this nice piece of nostalgia:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVdOQvx379Y
mlbumiller
Otto Titsling
bottom72
What ever she sings it will be fabulous. I know I will be in tears.
SteveDenver
Let her choose anything! Her rendition of ONE FOR MY BABY on the Johnny Carson’s final show was beautiful and fitting.
jar
@Bob LaBlah: It is available on DVD. I disagree about it being good, but it is still Bette.
jar
She should either sing something new (as in something she hasn’t recorded) or something from her early songbook to expose a new generation to her early work. I would disagree on Over the Rainbow as it would come off as a Bette impersonator doing a Judy tune. I hope she doesn’t sing to accompany the obituaries; if so, we’ll get a doleful tune and won’t get to see much of her actually singing.
Actually, I think Skylark would be a great choice.