Popjustice Battle of the Legendary Divas - THE CHER SHOW!!!
- Thread starter Baby Clyde
- Start date
I’ll post one when we get to the Top 25 which will be happening #soon.
Last edited:
#26
Big Spender (1967)
High Score: 10 @Maria @Filippa @Reboot
Low Score: 5.5 @Eric @Butterfly
Average Score: 8.252
Chart Positions: UK #21
In the 60's Dame Shirley made a habit of taking show tunes from the Broadway and West End stages into the higher reaches of the charts. From As Long As He Need Me from Oliver (#2 1960) to Climb Ev'ry Mountain from The Sound of Music (#1 1961) and Tonight from West Side Story (#21 1962). Whilst not the biggest hit for her by far the most successful recording was Big Spender from Sweet Charity which became one of her signature songs which she has continued to perform live for the next 50 odd years.
Written by Dorothy Fields and Cy Coleman for the 1966 musical Sweet Charity the number introduces the taxi dancers trying to hustle up some business from the hoped for big spenders entering the establishment. Sung by Thelma Oliver and Helen Gallagher in the original stage production the songs most famous incarnation is from the 1969 film. Director/Choreographer Bob Fosse's had Broadway legend Chita Rivera and Paula Kelly leading the girls and introduced his iconic choreography to a wider audience. The film flopped horribly, but this scene in particular has stood the test of time......
Dame Shirley has done wonderfully in this rate so far. With two stone cold classic Bond Themes left can they both crack the Top 20???
LEGENDARY DIVA COVERS
Peggy had a #9 hit with it on the Easy Listening Charts....
But this Tina version is all the evidence you need that 70's variety shows rule!!!
Big Spender (1967)
High Score: 10 @Maria @Filippa @Reboot
Low Score: 5.5 @Eric @Butterfly
Average Score: 8.252
Chart Positions: UK #21
In the 60's Dame Shirley made a habit of taking show tunes from the Broadway and West End stages into the higher reaches of the charts. From As Long As He Need Me from Oliver (#2 1960) to Climb Ev'ry Mountain from The Sound of Music (#1 1961) and Tonight from West Side Story (#21 1962). Whilst not the biggest hit for her by far the most successful recording was Big Spender from Sweet Charity which became one of her signature songs which she has continued to perform live for the next 50 odd years.
Written by Dorothy Fields and Cy Coleman for the 1966 musical Sweet Charity the number introduces the taxi dancers trying to hustle up some business from the hoped for big spenders entering the establishment. Sung by Thelma Oliver and Helen Gallagher in the original stage production the songs most famous incarnation is from the 1969 film. Director/Choreographer Bob Fosse's had Broadway legend Chita Rivera and Paula Kelly leading the girls and introduced his iconic choreography to a wider audience. The film flopped horribly, but this scene in particular has stood the test of time......
Dame Shirley has done wonderfully in this rate so far. With two stone cold classic Bond Themes left can they both crack the Top 20???
LEGENDARY DIVA COVERS
Peggy had a #9 hit with it on the Easy Listening Charts....
But this Tina version is all the evidence you need that 70's variety shows rule!!!
I went to post another elimination but realised I don't actually have the next results. I'm sure @berserkboi will send them overnight so instead I've done lots of housekeeping. All the links on first page are now up and running correctly.
Here's your Top 25. All killer, no filler.
Aretha Franklin - 2/6
Respect
I Say A Little Prayer
Barbra Streisand - 1/6
Woman In Love
Cher - 4/6
Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves
Take Me Home
If I Could Turn Back Time
Believe
Dionne Warwick - 3/4
Walk On By
Say A Little Prayer
Heartbreaker
Dolly Parton - 3/5
Jolene
9 to 5
I Will Always Love You
Doris Day - 1/4
Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)
Dusty Springfield - 3/4
I Only Want To Be With You
You Don't Have To Say You Love Me
Son of a Preacher Man
Edith Piaf - 1/3
Non, je ne regrette rien
Gladys Knight - 1/4
Licence To Kill
Judy Garland - 1/3
Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Peggy Lee - 1/3
Fever
Shirley Bassey - 3/4
Goldfinger
Diamonds Are Forever
Tina Turner - 2/6
What’s Love Got To Do With It
Goldeneye
With only 1 song left each which of these Legendary Diva's will be next to go?
Barbra
Doris
Edith
Gladys
Judy
Peggy
Here's your Top 25. All killer, no filler.
Aretha Franklin - 2/6
Respect
I Say A Little Prayer
Barbra Streisand - 1/6
Woman In Love
Cher - 4/6
Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves
Take Me Home
If I Could Turn Back Time
Believe
Dionne Warwick - 3/4
Walk On By
Say A Little Prayer
Heartbreaker
Dolly Parton - 3/5
Jolene
9 to 5
I Will Always Love You
Doris Day - 1/4
Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)
Dusty Springfield - 3/4
I Only Want To Be With You
You Don't Have To Say You Love Me
Son of a Preacher Man
Edith Piaf - 1/3
Non, je ne regrette rien
Gladys Knight - 1/4
Licence To Kill
Judy Garland - 1/3
Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Peggy Lee - 1/3
Fever
Shirley Bassey - 3/4
Goldfinger
Diamonds Are Forever
Tina Turner - 2/6
What’s Love Got To Do With It
Goldeneye
With only 1 song left each which of these Legendary Diva's will be next to go?
Barbra
Doris
Edith
Gladys
Judy
Peggy
#25
Whatever Will Be Will Be (Que Sera Sera)
:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-11914216-1524651102-6250.jpeg.jpg)
High Score: 10 @Reboot @Filippa @Riiiiiiiii
Low Score: 3 @abael
Average Score: 8.258
Doris' most famous tune has stuck around a lot longer than I'd anticipated but finally bows out at #25.
Written for the 1956 Hitchcock film The Man Who Knew Too Much it became a worldwide hit reaching #2 in the US and #1 in the UK. Rather than just being dumped over the closing credits, as is the usual fate these days, Whatever Will Be Will Be.. is cleverly incorporated into the film with Doris singing it at a crucial point in the plot. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for celebrated song writing duo Jay Livingstone and Ray Evans.
Apparently Doris didn't think much of the composition and when she finished recording, as she was leaving the recording studio, she said, "well, that's the last time you'll ever hear that song". Obviously she was wrong.
Becoming her signature song Doris continued to perform it for the rest of her career. It was reprised in 2 of her later films and became the theme tune to her hit sitcom The Doris Day Show. A 1965 cover version by Normie Rowe done in a Merseybeat style became the biggest selling record of the 60's in Australia and the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. It even became a famous football chant in England.
Interestingly the saying 'que sera sera' is essentially meaningless. Assumed to be either Spanish or Italian it's ungrammatical in both languages and seems to hark back to an English mistranslation in the 16th century.
How did this bit if saccharin nonsense get so far? It's pleasant but entirely insubstantial compared to some of the wonders that have already departed.
Anyway Doris is now a goner. Que sera sera Miss Day.
What will be next? The future's not ours to see unless you're @berserkboi who knows all the results
Whatever Will Be Will Be (Que Sera Sera)
High Score: 10 @Reboot @Filippa @Riiiiiiiii
Low Score: 3 @abael
Average Score: 8.258
Doris' most famous tune has stuck around a lot longer than I'd anticipated but finally bows out at #25.
Written for the 1956 Hitchcock film The Man Who Knew Too Much it became a worldwide hit reaching #2 in the US and #1 in the UK. Rather than just being dumped over the closing credits, as is the usual fate these days, Whatever Will Be Will Be.. is cleverly incorporated into the film with Doris singing it at a crucial point in the plot. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for celebrated song writing duo Jay Livingstone and Ray Evans.
Apparently Doris didn't think much of the composition and when she finished recording, as she was leaving the recording studio, she said, "well, that's the last time you'll ever hear that song". Obviously she was wrong.
Becoming her signature song Doris continued to perform it for the rest of her career. It was reprised in 2 of her later films and became the theme tune to her hit sitcom The Doris Day Show. A 1965 cover version by Normie Rowe done in a Merseybeat style became the biggest selling record of the 60's in Australia and the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. It even became a famous football chant in England.
Interestingly the saying 'que sera sera' is essentially meaningless. Assumed to be either Spanish or Italian it's ungrammatical in both languages and seems to hark back to an English mistranslation in the 16th century.
How did this bit if saccharin nonsense get so far? It's pleasant but entirely insubstantial compared to some of the wonders that have already departed.
Anyway Doris is now a goner. Que sera sera Miss Day.
What will be next? The future's not ours to see unless you're @berserkboi who knows all the results
Last edited:
Because it is an insanely catchy tune that every single one of my colleagues can whistle along to, even if they are not interested in Doris Day, or old movies, or gay icons.
He/Him
The closest language where this may make sense is French. If it is spelled Qui Sera, Sera (As was the French translation - it means Who Will/Should know Will Know) still a bit clumsy but hey, at least it means something lol
As a surprise to no one who knows me - there is interesting trivia here! Guess who replaced Doris at #1 in France with their debut breakthrough?? None other than another legendary diva of course!! She even kept her song at the top spot for 39 weeks, a world record she still holds for longevity :D
Also @Baby Clyde, you can thank @Disco Blister for finding one of these two key Dalida songs with English subtitles for your enjoyment of fantastic lyrics :D
This one is especially heartbreaking as it recounts a love affair she had with a younger man, though in real life an abortion after the relationship left her unable to have children.
This was the farewell single released after her suicide
As a surprise to no one who knows me - there is interesting trivia here! Guess who replaced Doris at #1 in France with their debut breakthrough?? None other than another legendary diva of course!! She even kept her song at the top spot for 39 weeks, a world record she still holds for longevity :D
Also @Baby Clyde, you can thank @Disco Blister for finding one of these two key Dalida songs with English subtitles for your enjoyment of fantastic lyrics :D
This one is especially heartbreaking as it recounts a love affair she had with a younger man, though in real life an abortion after the relationship left her unable to have children.
This was the farewell single released after her suicide
It definitely catchy and of course incredibly well known but the rest of the lightweight stuff from this era went yonks ago.
Bambino was apparently released 62 years ago TODAY!!!
I want Dalida's hair. It's amazing. She's like a French Veronica Lake or Rita Hayworth....
#24
Walk On By (1964)
High Score: 10 @berserkboi @Riiiiiiiii @Disco Blister
Low Score: 6 @Butterfly
Average Score: 8.264
Chart Positions: US #6 UK #9
Written by Bacharach and David for their muse Dionne Warwick Walk On By became her 2nd Top 10 hit in the US and one of their most famous recordings ever.
The song was originally the B-side of "Any Old Time Of Day." It didn't really get played on the radio until Murray the K turned the record over after holding a contest for which side the listeners preferred, and they chose "Walk On By."
Covered on dozens of occasions by everyone from Isaac Hayes and Kiki Dee to The Beach Boys, The Stranglers and Ronan Keating. It reached the UK Top 10 twice more with versions by Sybil and Gabrielle.
Whilst every track is a classic from now on #24 seems way to early, especially as Dionne has 2 track left in which I assumed would go before. I think every cut from now on is going to be painful.
LEGENDARY DIVA COVERS
And here's should have been Legendary Diva - Florence Ballard!!!
Walk On By (1964)
High Score: 10 @berserkboi @Riiiiiiiii @Disco Blister
Low Score: 6 @Butterfly
Average Score: 8.264
Chart Positions: US #6 UK #9
Written by Bacharach and David for their muse Dionne Warwick Walk On By became her 2nd Top 10 hit in the US and one of their most famous recordings ever.
The song was originally the B-side of "Any Old Time Of Day." It didn't really get played on the radio until Murray the K turned the record over after holding a contest for which side the listeners preferred, and they chose "Walk On By."
Covered on dozens of occasions by everyone from Isaac Hayes and Kiki Dee to The Beach Boys, The Stranglers and Ronan Keating. It reached the UK Top 10 twice more with versions by Sybil and Gabrielle.
Whilst every track is a classic from now on #24 seems way to early, especially as Dionne has 2 track left in which I assumed would go before. I think every cut from now on is going to be painful.
LEGENDARY DIVA COVERS
And here's should have been Legendary Diva - Florence Ballard!!!
These last ones will all be losses, yes. Or most of them. Personally, as much as I love Cher, I’m thinking it’s high time Take Me Home went home. Sure it was another good comeback for her, not even the first but one of the first and one of many, many more to come. That woman’s career truly is one of the kind! Anyways the song is good enough, but not quite the fierce disco classic worthy of her persona. It’s a bit too easy listening for my taste. I much prefer Bad Love and Hell On Wheels. Give it to us, roller mama!
But the real gem of her Casablanca albums for me is Holdin’ Out For Love. Cher was a bit late to the disco party, and you can kinda hear it on those two albums (even though especially Prisoner is actually much more rock orientated than disco). But Holdin’ Out For Love sounds fresh and is looking to the future, it’s almost new wavish.
As for the other songs that might go dare I say If I Could Turn Back Time. Sure it’s a stone cold classic, but Jesus I’m just so sick of it by now! Strangely enough I still haven’t got tired of I Found Someone, that must mean something.
Goldeneye... Yeah, good one, but maybe not top 20 worthy.
Oh, and Dionne’s I Say A Little A Prayer is still in the running too? That’s interesting. I might even prefer it to Aretha’s version, but let’s face it Aretha made it her own.
Aretha reminds me that there are quite a few songs left that were very hard to rate, because it was hard to tell if you should rate the song according to your personal taste, the song’s cultural impact or just their classic status. Respect, Somewhere Over The Rainbow, Fever, Non je ne regrette rien. Let’s see how they do.
But the real gem of her Casablanca albums for me is Holdin’ Out For Love. Cher was a bit late to the disco party, and you can kinda hear it on those two albums (even though especially Prisoner is actually much more rock orientated than disco). But Holdin’ Out For Love sounds fresh and is looking to the future, it’s almost new wavish.
As for the other songs that might go dare I say If I Could Turn Back Time. Sure it’s a stone cold classic, but Jesus I’m just so sick of it by now! Strangely enough I still haven’t got tired of I Found Someone, that must mean something.
Goldeneye... Yeah, good one, but maybe not top 20 worthy.
Oh, and Dionne’s I Say A Little A Prayer is still in the running too? That’s interesting. I might even prefer it to Aretha’s version, but let’s face it Aretha made it her own.
Aretha reminds me that there are quite a few songs left that were very hard to rate, because it was hard to tell if you should rate the song according to your personal taste, the song’s cultural impact or just their classic status. Respect, Somewhere Over The Rainbow, Fever, Non je ne regrette rien. Let’s see how they do.
I agree with every word of this. Cher's career has been a continuous series of comebacks from the early 70's onwards.
I Found Someone is easily my favourite Cher song of that era.
Goldeneye is a racket.
I'm shocked that Dionne's Say A Little Prayer is still in. I never saw it outlasting Walk On By and thought Aretha's version would beat it by about 30 places.
All of the above were hard to score along with many others. Some are such classics you feel the need to overscore out of respect others are so overplayed you're become immune to their charms. I have a feeling the winner maybe something that manages to fall somewhere in the middle.
LEGENDARY DIVA ELIMINATIONS
#13 - Doris Day
The One That Got Away
Some of Doris' most famous songs were never actually hits. This classic is the theme tune to her most famous film from the peak of her movie career. On top of being a Legendary Diva she was also arguably the most popular female movie star of the sound era ranking in the Top 10 of Quigley's Box Office Poll 10 times between 1951 and 1966. She ranked #1 on 4 occasions. For Pillow Talk garnered her only Oscar nomination as Best Actress.
Baby Clyde's Favourite
As a middle ages homosexual if in doubt I'll always go with a musical number. This one is a cracker - literally!!!
Let's throw in this sensational as well where Doris proves she's a triple threat by showing off her excellent dancing skills....
#13 - Doris Day
The One That Got Away
Some of Doris' most famous songs were never actually hits. This classic is the theme tune to her most famous film from the peak of her movie career. On top of being a Legendary Diva she was also arguably the most popular female movie star of the sound era ranking in the Top 10 of Quigley's Box Office Poll 10 times between 1951 and 1966. She ranked #1 on 4 occasions. For Pillow Talk garnered her only Oscar nomination as Best Actress.
Baby Clyde's Favourite
As a middle ages homosexual if in doubt I'll always go with a musical number. This one is a cracker - literally!!!
Let's throw in this sensational as well where Doris proves she's a triple threat by showing off her excellent dancing skills....
Last edited:
#23
Heartbreaker
High Score: 10 @KamikazeHeart @Reboot @Disco Blister @WowWowWowWow @Baby Clyde
Low Score: 5 @Maria
Average Score: 8.300
Chart Positions: US #10 UK #2
Having ruled the charts for much of the 70's, the failure of their 1981 album Living Eyes sent The Bee Gees behind the mixing desk to write and produce for others. Many of our Legendary Divas were the lucky recipients of their talents.
Barbra started the trend but we'll be coming to her (Much) later I hope. Dolly teamed up with Kenny Rogers for the Bee Gees Islands In The Stream and her second #1, Diana had her last ever US Top 100 hit and a UK #1 smash with Chain Reaction and of course Dionne stormed the charts around the world with Heartbreaker. Her biggest ever hit in the UK, it's said to have sold 4 million copies around the world.
Arranged by legendary music mogul Clive Davis when he bumped into Barry Gibb at a wedding, reportedly Dionne was reluctant to record this song (???) but knew the Bee Gees would be good for her career. Obviously they were as the album it was taken from sold an estimated 3 million and produced another UK Top 10 hit with All The Love In The World.
This success lead directly to Dionne teaming up with her legendary friends Elton, Stevie and Gladys to record That's What Friends Are For the biggest selling song of 1985 in the UK and the Grammy winner for Song of the Year. It raised over raised over $3m for AIDS research and prevention.
I love these all star 80's spectaculars that were always on back in the day. You Tube is full of them. No idea what this one was for but look out for legendary divas Lesley Uggams, Nancy Wilson, Mary Wilson and Lena Horne joining in at the end!!!
I'm not sure if I was already aware of her earlier work but as an 8 year old I have vivid memories of Dionne appearing on TOTP's to sing Heartbreaker and remember beinbg really impressed that she had grey hair. I adored this song and thought she was super cool. Can't imagine it happening these days can you? Toni Braxton isn't going to be storming the charts anytime soon with a middle of the road ballad that your mum loves is she......
LEGENDARY DIVA COVERS
I don't think there are any but any excuse for a bit more Dolly!!!
Heartbreaker
High Score: 10 @KamikazeHeart @Reboot @Disco Blister @WowWowWowWow @Baby Clyde
Low Score: 5 @Maria
Average Score: 8.300
Chart Positions: US #10 UK #2
Having ruled the charts for much of the 70's, the failure of their 1981 album Living Eyes sent The Bee Gees behind the mixing desk to write and produce for others. Many of our Legendary Divas were the lucky recipients of their talents.
Barbra started the trend but we'll be coming to her (Much) later I hope. Dolly teamed up with Kenny Rogers for the Bee Gees Islands In The Stream and her second #1, Diana had her last ever US Top 100 hit and a UK #1 smash with Chain Reaction and of course Dionne stormed the charts around the world with Heartbreaker. Her biggest ever hit in the UK, it's said to have sold 4 million copies around the world.
Arranged by legendary music mogul Clive Davis when he bumped into Barry Gibb at a wedding, reportedly Dionne was reluctant to record this song (???) but knew the Bee Gees would be good for her career. Obviously they were as the album it was taken from sold an estimated 3 million and produced another UK Top 10 hit with All The Love In The World.
This success lead directly to Dionne teaming up with her legendary friends Elton, Stevie and Gladys to record That's What Friends Are For the biggest selling song of 1985 in the UK and the Grammy winner for Song of the Year. It raised over raised over $3m for AIDS research and prevention.
I love these all star 80's spectaculars that were always on back in the day. You Tube is full of them. No idea what this one was for but look out for legendary divas Lesley Uggams, Nancy Wilson, Mary Wilson and Lena Horne joining in at the end!!!
I'm not sure if I was already aware of her earlier work but as an 8 year old I have vivid memories of Dionne appearing on TOTP's to sing Heartbreaker and remember beinbg really impressed that she had grey hair. I adored this song and thought she was super cool. Can't imagine it happening these days can you? Toni Braxton isn't going to be storming the charts anytime soon with a middle of the road ballad that your mum loves is she......
LEGENDARY DIVA COVERS
I don't think there are any but any excuse for a bit more Dolly!!!
#23
Heartbreaker
High Score: 10 @KamikazeHeart @Reboot @Disco Blister @WowWowWowWow @Baby Clyde
Low Score: 5 @Maria
Average Score: 8.300
Chart Positions: US #10 UK #2
Having ruled the charts for much of the 70's, the failure of their 1981 album Living Eyes sent The Bee Gees behind the mixing desk to write and produce for others. Many of our Legendary Divas were the lucky recipients of their talents.
Barbra started the trend but we'll be coming to her (Much) later I hope. Dolly teamed up with Kenny Rogers for the Bee Gees Islands In The Stream and her second #1, Diana had her last ever US Top 100 hit and a UK #1 smash with Chain Reaction and of course Dionne stormed the charts around the world with Heartbreaker. Her biggest ever hit in the UK, it's said to have sold 4 million copies around the world.
Arranged by legendary music mogul Clive Davis when he bumped into Barry Gibb at a wedding, reportedly Dionne was reluctant to record this song (???) but knew the Bee Gees would be good for her career. Obviously they were as the album it was taken from sold an estimated 3 million and produced another UK Top 10 hit with All The Love In The World.
This success lead directly to Dionne teaming up with her legendary friends Elton, Stevie and Gladys to record That's What Friends Are For the biggest selling song of 1985 in the UK and the Grammy winner for Song of the Year. It raised over raised over $3m for AIDS research and prevention.
I love these all star 80's spectaculars that were always on back in the day. You Tube is full of them. No idea what this one was for but look out for legendary divas Lesley Uggams, Nancy Wilson, Mary Wilson and Lena Horne joining in at the end!!!
I'm not sure if I was already aware of her earlier work but as an 8 year old I have vivid memories of Dionne appearing on TOTP's to sing Heartbreaker and remember beinbg really impressed that she had grey hair. I adored this song and thought she was super cool. Can't imagine it happening these days can you? Toni Braxton isn't going to be storming the charts anytime soon with a middle of the road ballad that your mum loves is she......
LEGENDARY DIVA COVERS
I don't think there are any but any excuse for a bit more Dolly!!!
I often think about the genius lyric that is "Why do you have to be a heartbreaker / When I was being what you want me to be?".
We've discussed this before I think. I'm still perturbed by the change of tense.
he/him
As Dionne was 42 at the time of “Heartbreaker,” the only tangentially comparable recent example I can think of is Sia, who had just turned 40 when “Cheap Thrills” went to #1.
Which is crazy when you think about the late 90s/early 00s when Madonna, Cher, Annie Lennox, Sheryl Crow, Gloria Estefan, Shawn Colvin all had major hits in their fifth or sixth decades on the planet.
Anyway some people kindly went ahead and put all the “Maya Rudolph playing Dionne on Kimmy Schmidt” clips on YouTube.