Without question the best version outside of Babs.
Popjustice Battle of the Legendary Divas - THE CHER SHOW!!!
- Thread starter Baby Clyde
- Start date
Without question the best version outside of Babs.
D
Deleted member 29256
Guys... I just saw Cher live for the first time.
I know it's cliche, but I can die happy now.
I know it's cliche, but I can die happy now.
I kneel in front you as an act of worship!
I’m so thankful you are doing this and passing on your knowledge. And not only to The Next Generation (by Neneh Cherry), but also to us others slightly less young! I’m not exactly a spring chicken myself and have quite a library of pop trivia in my head, yet I’ve learned a tonne of stuff. A tonne! This really is one treasure trove of a thread and I plan to visit often in the future when I need info on these timeless divas.
Oh and extra thanks for the laughs I got from ”people eulogising here about the legendary careers of Dua Lipa and Jess Glynne”. Cackling as I type.
#45
Stoney End (1971)
High Score: 9.5 @Disco Blister
Low Score: 5 @Riiiiiiiii
Average Score: 7.605
With 6 entrants in this competish it's amazing that Dame Babs is only now losing her first one. And what a tune it is.
By 1970 Barbra Streisand was the biggest female entertainer in the world. She'd won 4 Grammys, 2 Golden Globes, an Emmy and a Best Actress Oscar for her first ever starring role (Which we'll come to later) but the times they were a changing and it became apparent that her particular mix of Great American Songbook favourities, Broadway standards and comedy shtick was not going to continue to fly in the era of rock and soul and singer songwriters. It was determined that Babs needed to give herself a more contemporary image. It was time to drop the MOR albums for the parents and aim to make pop that the kids would buy.
Her first attempt in 1969 hadn't gone well. The album What About Today featured songs by the likes of Lennon/McCartney, Paul Simon and Jimmy Webb but her Broadway origins can't be disguised and she flounders with the contemporary material (So say the critics. I own this album (Obvs) but haven't played it in forever. Meant to do so before I wrote this but ran out of time. I'll revise that tomorrow and report back). It flopped only reaching #31 becoming her first ever album not to be certified either Gold or Platinum.
Her next attempt was far more successful. Stoney End released in 1971 was a collection of songs written by some of the coolest new talents in the industry and importantly produced by the young hip Richard Perry who went on to be one of the most successful producers of all time (I mean he gave us THIS). From Joni Mitchell, Randy Newman, Gordon Lightfoot and especially Laura Nyro who wrote the title track and 2 other featured songs the whole package was a triumph. It went to #10 and sold over a million copies.
The song had had quite a long history before finally becoming a hit. Originally recorded by Nyro herself in 1967, the impossibly gorgeous actress Peggy Lipton (Rashida Jones' mum) and young future Legendary Diva Linda Ronstadt with her band The Stone Poneys but it took Babs to take it into the charts.
The single reached #10 becoming only her 2nd Top 10 hit ever and redefining Streisand as contemporary popstar.
She went on to rule the next decade with five #1's three of which are featured are here but how much longer will they stay in???
Love this song!
Fun fact: Even Diana Ross had recorded Stoney End before Barbra when putting together her first solo album in 1970. However her Bones Howe produced version didn’t make the album when Ashford & Simpson took over production duties. Instead it stayed hidden in the Motown vaults until the 2002 rerelease of the album. Being very pure pop it wouldn’t have really fit on that album, but would’ve been a highlight on the following Everything Is Everything, so it’s strange they just forgot about it. I’m guessing when Barbra had released her version and taken it to Top 10 Diana didn’t want to be seen as the one following Babs – there have been rumours about the icy relationship of the two divas for a long, long time.
In the same sessions Diana had recorded even a second Laura Nyro song, Time And Love, with Bones Howe. That too went unused and that too was snapped up by Streisand and put on her Stoney End album!
Double post.
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Absolutely not.
Martine has never done anything that is less than iconic.
Apart from Echo Beach. We don't talk about that.
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#42
Strange Fruit
High Score: 10 @WowWowWowWow
Low Score: 5 @Riiiiiiiii
Average Score: 7.682
Chart Placings: US #16
If you'd asked me at the beginning which song was going first this would definitely have been my prediction. A metaphorical condemnation on the evils of racism and lynchings sung in the Jazz idiom is not your exactly PJ friendly. In fact it could only be worse if it was sung by a man. A white man.
The fact that it has only just missed the Top 40 is miraculous. Even the forum's #1 Billie stan didn't give it a 10???
Originally written as a poem by school teacher Abel Meeropol horrified after seeing pictures of an infamous Indiana crowd lynching. It was put to music and introduced by his wife, singer Laura Duncan in 1937.
Billie first sang it at New York nightclub Cafe Society in early 1939 it was an immediate sensation and mainstay of her set for the next 20 years. Provoking both awe and outrage in equal measures, patrons were known to walk out in disgust. Her usual record company refused to release it but it did become the Relax of it's day when recorded for a smaller label. Banned from many radio station (Reportedly including the BBC) and with some nightclubs refusing to allow for it to be sung on the premises it caused controversy throughout the country but still reached #16 on the charts.
Much like Billie herself I can appreciate the artistry but would never choose to play this. I mean tbh it's a total dirge.
Billie is now out but what will be the last song eliminated before the Top 40???
Other than Ella I didn't check for any Legendary Diva covers because let's be honest the no one is crying out for a Lulu's version. So here's very near entrant Nina Simone (She was dropped at the last minute)......
But this is my favourite version. It should be all kinds of wrong but it's AMAZING!!!
Strange Fruit
High Score: 10 @WowWowWowWow
Low Score: 5 @Riiiiiiiii
Average Score: 7.682
Chart Placings: US #16
If you'd asked me at the beginning which song was going first this would definitely have been my prediction. A metaphorical condemnation on the evils of racism and lynchings sung in the Jazz idiom is not your exactly PJ friendly. In fact it could only be worse if it was sung by a man. A white man.
The fact that it has only just missed the Top 40 is miraculous. Even the forum's #1 Billie stan didn't give it a 10???
Originally written as a poem by school teacher Abel Meeropol horrified after seeing pictures of an infamous Indiana crowd lynching. It was put to music and introduced by his wife, singer Laura Duncan in 1937.
Billie first sang it at New York nightclub Cafe Society in early 1939 it was an immediate sensation and mainstay of her set for the next 20 years. Provoking both awe and outrage in equal measures, patrons were known to walk out in disgust. Her usual record company refused to release it but it did become the Relax of it's day when recorded for a smaller label. Banned from many radio station (Reportedly including the BBC) and with some nightclubs refusing to allow for it to be sung on the premises it caused controversy throughout the country but still reached #16 on the charts.
Much like Billie herself I can appreciate the artistry but would never choose to play this. I mean tbh it's a total dirge.
Billie is now out but what will be the last song eliminated before the Top 40???
Other than Ella I didn't check for any Legendary Diva covers because let's be honest the no one is crying out for a Lulu's version. So here's very near entrant Nina Simone (She was dropped at the last minute)......
But this is my favourite version. It should be all kinds of wrong but it's AMAZING!!!
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She definitely gave it her best shot.
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That's because there wasn't space to post these Legendary Broadway Divas doing their own inimitable versions....
D
Deleted member 26234
So another of my 10s has left: Barbra Streisand's Don't Rain On My Parade ...
I believe Barbra has the best voice in the world ever. And I have to admit I really don't like many of her songs. But this rate has assembled most of the songs I like :). Thanks @Baby Clyde.
My grandmother made me watch Funny Girl because she was in love with Omar Sharif (I can't relate...) and I really loved it. This is one of the best musical songs I know.
I'm quite sad that you've cancelled it so soon.
I believe Barbra has the best voice in the world ever. And I have to admit I really don't like many of her songs. But this rate has assembled most of the songs I like :). Thanks @Baby Clyde.
My grandmother made me watch Funny Girl because she was in love with Omar Sharif (I can't relate...) and I really loved it. This is one of the best musical songs I know.
I'm quite sad that you've cancelled it so soon.
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I agree with every word of this.
Apart from the not liking many songs bit obvs.
Apart from the not liking many songs bit obvs.
D
Deleted member 26234
But I loved Yentl. The movie and the soundtrack. This was the best she ever did.
I understand that male vocalists won't be too popular in this thread, but I've always loved what Bobby Darin did with the song.
Out of the male crooners, I always felt he was the one who knew how to have fun.
Out of the male crooners, I always felt he was the one who knew how to have fun.
This is weird. Both overly enunciated and slurred at the same time.
We have a winner......
At playing Tiffany in Eastenders maybe.
All will be revealed later this evening but what do you want to lave before the Top 40?