There are certain musical artists that appeal across different genres and attract an audience from all age groups. This is the case with Bette Midler, a singer and actress, with a long and distinguished career. Some Bette Midler songs have achieved classic status and she is known for her passionate delivery of ballads and up tempo numbers.
Her varied career has brought four Grammy awards, an Emmy and a Tony. She has also received two nominations for an Academy Award.
Barry Manilow formed a friendship with Midler when he accompanied her on piano. This led to him producing her first album in 1973, called The Divine Miss M, a title taken from one of her nicknames. Many singles and albums followed, boosted by her exciting stage shows and film and theatre performances.
Many fans would agree that the best way to hear Bette Midler songs is to see her live. The next best thing is a live album and Midler obliged with her 1977 release, Live at Last. This featured some great performances, including Bang, You're Dead, In the Mood, Alabama Song and Long Delta Blues.
In 1985, Midler joined other singers to make the single, We Are the World, the charity record for USA for Africa. The song was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and featured a wide variety of vocal styles, including Ray Charles, Willie Nelson, Steve Perry and Bob Dylan. When thinking of Bette Midler songs, most people would recall Wind Beneath My Wings. It was the theme song for her movie, Beaches and it was a number one hit and a Grammy winner in 1989 for Record of the Year.
One of the most successful greatest hits compilations features Bette Midler songs. Called Experience the Divine, it came out in 1993 and reached number three in the UK charts. Of course, Wind Beneath My Wings was present and other tracks include Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy and When a Man Loves a Woman. The theme song from her film, The Rose is also included. The single of The Rose had previously been number three in the US pop charts and had achieved gold sales.
The movie of The Rose gave Midler a chance to play a gritty role. Although not named in the film, it was widely acknowledged that Midler's character was based on rock star, Janis Joplin. She relished the part and gave a convincing performance as a singer, battling with alcohol.
Midler has constantly shown her versatility and showed it again with two tribute albums to iconic stars. They are Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook and Bette Midler Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook, both produced by old collaborator, Barry Manilow. Midler always manages to make every song her own and Bette Midler songs promise a performer at the height of her powers.
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