Bette Midler

by Mark Bego

  The week of June 15, 2001, Bette’s latest single, a disco remix CD of “In These Shoes,” reached Number 8 on the Billboard magazine’s Dance/Club Play charts. The single featured seven different dance remixes of the song. The funniest one is called the “Sound Factory Vox Mix,” which has a unique Midler performance. As the rhythm section begins the song, Midler frantically announces, “Gentlemen, gentlemen, gentlemen, please, please, please: SHUT THE FUCK UP! I’ve got something to say! Why isn’t anybody listening to me? This is really starting to get on my nerves. Pay attention!” That Bette, always the lady!

  On June 18, 2001, Bette and her husband, Martin, were on hand to attend a screening of the bio-pic James Dean, produced by TNT Cable network and co-starring and directed by actor/director Mark Rydell. It was Rydell who had directed Midler in both of her Oscar-nominated roles, The Rose (1979) and For the Boys (1991).

  It was announced on August 31, 2001, that the Record Industry Association of America (RIAA) had officially certified Bette’s album Bette of Roses as having achieved Platinum status. This marked her fifth album that had logged sales in excess of a million copies in the United States (joining her other Platinum albums: The Divine Miss M, The Rose, Some People’s Lives, and Experience the Divine).

  The events of September 11, 2001, were so frighteningly horrific that the whole world—and especially New York City—was in a state of shock. When terrorists hijacked four jet liners on suicide missions and brought down the World Trade Center in a matter of hours, killing thousands, the planet watched in awe. That act, combined with the attack on the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and the downed plane in Pennsylvania, made that date the single most devastating day in U.S. history in over a century. The site once known as the most architecturally soaring in all of Manhattan was reduced to a twisted pile of rubble, now dubbed “ground zero.”

  Ten days later, Bette Midler, actress Candice Bergen, boxer Joe Frazier, and promoter Don King were among the famous people who received a guided tour of “ground zero” on the 21st of September. The visit was the idea of New York’s most famous recent mayor, Rudolph Giuliani. He felt that the teams of rescue workers at the site could use a morale boost by his inviting some “star” visitors.

  On Sunday, September 23, 2001, a crowd gathered at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx to pray, praise, cry, and bid public farewell to the thousands who had lost their lives on September 11. The event was entitled A Prayer for America, and it featured prayers from many denominations, including Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, and Hindu. Hosted by Oprah Winfrey, the performing guests included operatic tenor Placido Domingo, patriotic country singer Lee Greenwood, and Bette Midler. Before a crowd of approximately 30,000 people, the inspiring Miss M sang her song of hope “The Wind beneath My Wings,” bringing the crowd to tears.

  What strange irony it indeed is, in retrospect. The image of the World Trade Center had very oddly been in so many of Midler’s films. It was behind her in the heliport scene in The Rose and in films such as Oliver & Company and That Old Feeling, in what is known as an “establishment” shot of the most famous skyline in the world. Now Bette was called upon to help the public properly mourn its demise—and to salute all of the innocent people killed in this horrific attack.

  Three days later, Bette was to deliver a similar emotion-filled memorial performance in Boston, the site of Logan Airport, where the two fatal World Trade Center–bound flights originated. It was her desire that her appearance not be publicized, for fear that celebrity-followers would come to Boston to see her and not to pay their respects to the victims of the tragic flights. However, both the New York and Boston newspapers got wind of her forthcoming appearance and leaked the news to the public. The knowledge of Midler’s appearance did not upset the touching effect of her appearance in Massachusetts.

  On October 21, 2001, Bette was one of the high-profile acts to perform in Washington, D.C., at RFK Stadium as part of the fundraising concert United We Stand: What More Can I Give? Over 48,000 tickets were sold to the all-evening event, ultimately raising over $2 million. What had been intended as an eight-hour event stretched out to twelve hours, and the stadium was not properly stocked to accommodate such a long event. They ran out of food, they ran out of drinks, but they certainly didn’t run out of talent that evening. Among the acts on the bill were the Backstreet Boys, James Brown, America, Destiny’s Child, Rod Stewart, Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson, and Pink. That night Midler sang her sentimental classic “From a Distance” and her patriotic “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.” As she was getting ready to sing “The Rose,” Miss M said to the crowd, “I want to sing you a song not of sorrow but of hope” (193). A two-hour special was cut from the twelve-hour event and broadcast on November 1, 2001. However, Midler and several of the other older acts were omitted from the ultimate broadcast, in an effort to capture a younger TV-viewing audience. What an insulting and stupid move on the part of that TV network~

  Speaking of all the rescue efforts and fundraisers, Midler said at the time, “The number of charities and charitable events has absolutely mushroomed beyond all belief. There’s hardly any social life anymore outside of that. In this town, in New York, people go from benefit to benefit to benefit” (194).

  On November 24, 2001, it became official that All Girls Productions was no more: Bette and Bonnie Bruckheimer decided to amicably go their separate ways. The company’s last film production, Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood, would not be affected by this news.

  Bette was one of the stars whose voice was used in the HBO holiday television special ’Twas the Night. She was heard singing the Jewish song “Chanukah, Oh Chanukah,” alongside Doris Day’s “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song,” Los Lobos’ “Feliz Navidad,” Macy Gray’s “Winter Wonderland,” and Frank Sinatra’s “The Christmas Waltz.” The special was largely animated with cartoons, based on classic Grandma Moses paintings, and it combined the celebrations of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.

  January 1, 2002, Bette had the honor of singing “The Star Spangled Banner” to kick off the inauguration of New York City’s new mayor, Michael Blumberg. The event was held outdoors in freezing cold temperatures, on the steps of Manhattan’s City Hall, only blocks from “ground zero,” before a crowd of 4,000 invited guests that included former mayors Ed Koch and David Dinkins, outgoing mayor Rudy Giuliani, and New York state senators Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer. Midler sang the National Anthem in a lower key than usual, giving the song a sense of both sadness and hope, which was apropos, considering what the city had been through in the last several months.

  There are so many talented people in the diva’s past who have made the Bette Midler saga so full and fascinating. Barry Manilow has naturally gone on to become a hugely successful superstar and as big an international name as Miss M herself. Barry’s own multimillion-selling albums have yielded such hits as “Mandy,” “Could It Be Magic?” and “Copacabana.” Melissa Manchester has also had her own highly successful run in show business and in the recording world. Her catalog of hits includes “Midnight Blue,” Whenever I Call You Friend,” and “You Don’t Know How She Talks about You.” Former Harlette Linda Hart holds the record as Bette Midler’s most frequent movie co-star. Linda has been in the Midler films Divine Madness, Stella, Get Shorty, and Gypsy. Katie Sagal found post-Harlette TV fame in the hit series Married with Children. Jenifer Lewis had her first move role in Beaches and went on to have a varied acting career that included What’s Love Got to Do with It, The Temptations, The Preacher’s Wife, and starring as Jackie Washington in Jackie’s Back—in which Bette made a guest appearance as herself. Ula Hedwig is Midler’s most recurring Harlette in the recording studio, appearing most recently on the Bathhouse Betty album. Charlotte Crossley lives in Los Angeles and still shows up on records from time to time. Sharon Redd went on to record several dance hits on her own in the 1980s, including “Beat the Street” and “Can You Handle It?” Her work was compiled on the 1996 album
The Very Best of Sharon Redd. Sadly, she died of cancer in 1993. Moogy Klingman, who wrote “Friends” and produced most of Bette’s Songs for the New Depression album, still lives in New York City, is a frequent performer in nightclubs, and has worked on musical projects with Robert Downey, Jr., and Michael Anthony Hall. Musical collaborator Marc Shaiman has become known in Hollywood as a talented songwriter and was nominated for an Oscar for the song “Blame Canada” from the South Park film. Bruce Vilanch, who has written jokes for so many stars, became known as a frequent guest on the TV show Hollywood Squares in the twenty-first century.

  Unlike a lot of divas of Midler’s stature, she has not forgotten her friends when they need help. One of the friendships Bette has kept the strongest has been with songwriter Buzzy Linhart.

  By the late 1990s, Buzzy had fallen on hard luck, having moved out to Berkeley, California. In 2002 he was confined to a wheelchair. Speaking of Buzzy, Moogy Klingman explained, “He has problems with his bones, he can’t really walk. His arms don’t work too well. He is still a good singer, but he can’t play his guitar anymore” (36).

  Describing his predicament, Linhart says, “The problem is that I was injured in a car accident, and then assaulted shortly after, and it really, really hurt my knee and chest. . . . Then it took a MediCal operation that left my knee not functioning even as well as it did before. And I found out to my horror when I tried to tell Social Security and MediCal about it, their response was to call the doctor. And he said, ‘Oh, he’s fine. I don’t know what he said. He’s fine. Maybe he’s psychiatric’ ” (37).

  Finally, he convinced California social services that he did indeed need a wheelchair. However, he explains, “What MediCal sent was not right for me. First of all, I’ve got an injured leg. I can’t have like a scooter with my foot hanging down all the time. I need one that can lift me up, and lean me back, because it chronically swells. What they sent is not even for my size person. I am a 200-pounder, so that sits in the corner and waits for me to give to someone else” (37).

  The wheelchair that he did need, however, he could not afford. “A $10,000 chair that we were able to get, it was slightly used, and we were able to get it for $5,000,” explains Linhart (37). However, although a bargain, he didn’t have the money to buy it.

  Says a deeply touched Linhart, it was Midler who came to the rescue: “When Bette heard that we needed the money, she sent the whole thing about three days later. It was really exciting. It is ‘The Bette Midler Chair.’ I just feel so closely connected to her” (37).

  Of all of the people in Bette’s past, one of the most interesting ones is her former manager, Aaron Russo. He now lives in Nevada and has been pursuing a career in politics. In February of 2002 he was written about in the Las Vegas Sun, as considering becoming a candidate for governor of that state. In Nevada he had previously run—unsuccessfully—for the U.S. Senate and campaigned for the legalization of marijuana and the creation of a state lottery. Viewing this list of high-profile lives and careers that have spun off from Midler’s own creative camp makes her not so much a star as a cottage industry for creative talent.

  On April 2, 2002, Bette Midler was one of the stars present at the Boathouse in Central Park in Manhattan, to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Paul Newman’s Own food line, with the proceeds going to charity. Present that night at the event were Michael J. Fox, Rudy Giuliani, Tim Robbins, Tony Randall, and Harry Belefonte. The festivities were kicked off by a performance by Carole King and finished with Bette Midler singing a song written for Newman’s Own line of food. How fitting to have Ol’ Redhair serenade Ol’ Blue-Eyed Newman.

  In May of 2002, when TV talkshow hostess Rosie O’Donnell was about to end her six-year run on the air, she had several high-profile guests on the program during her last weeks. As one of the guest stars, Bette serenaded O’Donnell with a song she had never performed publicly before: “I Wish You Love.” While chatting with Rosie on camera, she offered her “four words of advice.” Comically, they were the profound words “Don’t do a sitcom!”

  What’s next for Bette Midler, musically speaking? It’s hard to tell, given the unpredictable nature of her recording career. Many of the producers she has worked with in the past would love to record with her again.

  If Brooks Arthur were to go into the studio with her today, what direction would he take? According to him, “Well, you might think I am out of step, but I know I am in step. The first thing that I would do to bring back her record career, and it has to be well coordinated as a two-step kind of a deal. I would do an album of classic standards—a real album of ’40s and ’50s kinds of tunes. And then I would find songs either from Broadway or something from a movie. The next album after that one would be an album of songs that [have] the depth of ‘Wind beneath My Wings.’ That’s what I would do. Her strength is the ballads, but you’ve got to have some fun, too. . . . But that is what I would do with Bette right now. I would cut an album of like, ‘Love Letters (Straight from Your Heart),’ those kinds of tunes. I would cut those kind of ‘gems.’ And, maybe even have her do a duet with one of her favorite gals from the movies from the ’40s or the ’30s, or the ’50s” (77).

  Both Moogy Klingman and Brooks Arthur are dying for Atlantic Records to release some of the songs they cut with Bette while working on the albums Songs for the New Depression and Broken Blossom. Both of these talented men claim that their best work with Bette is still “in the can” at Atlantic. In fact, there is at least a double-album’s worth of recorded Bette Midler material still “in the vaults.” In addition to a dozen Klingman-produced songs, there is Brooks Arthur’s “Someone That I Used to Love,” Ashford & Simpson’s tracks with her, and those she did with Hal Davis. There are also several songs that Bette recorded for her films, which have never been released except as part of these films. This list includes “I Put a Spell on You” from Hocus Pocus, “One More Cheer” from Stella, “You Do Something to Me” from Scenes from a Mall, and “A Cowgirl’s Dream” from Jinxed.

  She could also team up with Barry Manilow, and he could produce her singing all of the songs they used to perform together, which she never recorded from her days at the Continental Baths. That list of songs includes “Wheel of Fortune,” “Sha-Boom Sha-Boom,” “Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe,” “Honky Tonk Woman,” “Lady Madonna,” “What a Difference a Day Makes,” “My Forgotten Man,” “Ten Cents a Dance,” “Come Up and See Me Sometime,” “Love Potion Number Nine,” and “Great Balls of Fire.” Now, there’s a hot album idea!

  During her four decades as a multimedia star, Bette Midler has had an amazing career. In addition to her artistry as an actress, a singer, and a stage performer, she has also managed to have a rich and full personal life. Her marriage to Martin and life with her daughter Sophie have only added further dimensions to her life experiences.

  Bette Midler is someone who totally enjoys her celebrity stature. She also enjoys her privacy from time to time. According to Brooks Arthur, “One day I was at the airport, and I saw a few friends I knew getting off a plane. I ran over and said, ‘Hey, Bette!’ She said, ‘Don’t call me “Bette,” you’re gonna call attention to me. Call me “Dolores.’ ” ” (77).

  She is also very devoted to her family. She is a dedicated wife and mother, and she does her best to make sure that her daughter Sophie has as normal an upbringing as possible. When you are the Divine Miss M, that isn’t always possible, but Bette keeps Sophie grounded.

  As for close relatives, the only family Bette has left are her sister Susan and her mentally handicapped brother Danny, who live together in New York City. Susan teaches retarded children, and their relationship works out perfectly. Bette feels that Danny has taught her so much about what is important in life. “Being Danny’s sister has made me different from everyone else. I wouldn’t trade it in,” she stated with conviction and devotion (8).

  Would Bette like to rewrite the scenario of her own life story? And, if so, what parts would she like to “edit” or �
�delete”? According to her, “I’d like to have a little red pencil to scratch out some of the scenes in my life. I always wished . . . that my chest was smaller . . . that my hair was thicker . . . that my eyes were bluer . . . that my IQ was higher . . . that my shoe size was smaller. I never thought I was too pretty most of the time. I used to spend a lot of time turning my nose up in front of the mirror, you know, thinking, ‘Well, maybe you should have a nose job.’ Now I think I can live with it” (8).

  It’s hard to believe that Bette Midler was once an “ugly duckling” teenage Jewish girl growing up in the center of a Samoan village. She always felt that she didn’t fit in, because she was “different.” But she was determined to turn “different” into “special.” She dreamed of stardom while she was packing pineapples in Hawaii, so she packed her bags and went after her dreams. In doing so, she has subsequently become an inspiration to many.

  She’s come a long way from that frightening first night at the Continental Baths—the night when almost no one paid attention to her. By the time she left the “tubs,” her ability to transform songs into theatrical vignettes had made her a star. She became known for being brassy, outspoken, and sexually liberated. In the 1940s or 1950s, she would have been the type of woman known as a “broad.” And what a talented “broad” she has become! She conquered Broadway, she recorded million-selling hit albums, and she became a movie star.

  Despite all of her bawdy behavior and her dirty “Soph” jokes, she has always been a gifted singer who could sing emotional ballads better than anyone in the business. For all of the dozens of songs she has recorded, she will most be identified with “The Rose,” “The Wind beneath My Wings,” and “From a Distance.”