soon it will be morning...

I am a huge Betty Buckley fan. I've seen her in concert 4 times (all within 6 months) and am always blown away by her incredible vocal prowess and her underrated talents as an actress. This now-famous video of her singing her signature tune, "Memory" (from Cats) at the Tony Awards, was my first introduction to her legendary singing pipes. Now, make fun if you will, but Memory is a stunner of a song and though it's been sung to death, it still has the power to move me...especially when La Buckley is singing it. The first time I saw her sing this song in person, may very well be the most thrilling experience I've ever had at a concert. She really and truly did become Grizabella at that moment - and the fact that it was probably the 2,083rd time that she'd sung the song and still imbued it with such freshness and spirit is a testament to her talent.

This particular performance here is famous for her belting in the line, "Touch me, it's so easy to leave me..." and rightly so. Everytime I hear her do it, it sends chills up my spine. And notice that it doesn't appear to be any strain on her whatsover....that difficult note comes out as naturally as a sigh.

I always wonder what audiences at that time (1983 I believe) thought of Betty's sudden stardom on the Broadway stage. Because she had recently ended her 5-year stint on the TV show Eight is Enough as the warm and sympathetic step-mom, Abby Bradford. I just can't imagine watching an actress you've only known as a lovely TV mom suddenly come out and perform like this. She was on Broadway before, but not quite at this level.

Anyway, I could go on and on...Betty rocks!


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