Cheap Bette Midler's Art or Bust (Video) (Bette Midler) Price

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Customer Reviews of Bette Midler's Art or Bust

One of Bette's best bets; no bust! *****
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I had the great privilege of seeing this concert ("De-tour") performed twice when Bette was touring with it in 1982-83. Both performances were outstanding and unforgettable, yet each was quite different. Having seen every Bette Midler national tour since 1972, I was expecting a typically bombastic evening of entertainment from the Divine Miss M, but I wasn't prepared for the incredible evening of theatre that she presented here. It was simply amazing.

The first time I saw this show live was early in the tour, at the Golden Gate Theatre in San Francisco during the Christmas season. Bette was amazing as usual, and the show knocked my socks off. However, the second time I saw this concert was the following summer at an outdoor venue in northern California, called the Concord Pavilion. There was a full moon that night, and the most incredible moments in theatrical history occurred as Bette sang a softly languorous version of "Everyone's Gone to the Moon" while leaving the stage and walking among the audience under the starry indigo sky with the gigantic (real) full moon as her backdrop. It was stunning, and you could have heard a pin drop. Pure magic, as is rarely experienced in a concert. In the immortal words of the late Sophie Tucker, "I will NEVER forget it, ya know...!"

The stage was painted with color, gorgeous lighting, and artistic backdrops, and the effect of the beautiful artificial stage set competing with the gorgeous natural outdoor environment of this particular venue, complete with giant full moon, was overwhelmingly beautiful. I think the moon had some strong effects on Bette that night, because she gave one of the most magically moving performances I have ever seen. It was a moment in time that I wish could have been frozen for all eternity. This video is the closest thing anyone can ever have to remember that evening by.

This VHS version of the show is the closest anyone can get to experiencing the magic that Bette brought to the stage during this tour. It's an atypical concert for Midler, more over-the-top artistically than anything she'd done before or since, yet it still contains all of the essential Midler magic that one comes to expect from the Divine one.

The only flaw with this video presentation is the inclusion of some vintage video clips from early in Bette's career that tend to disrupt the momentum of the concert. The clips are long, and viewed in the context of the overall production, they are annoyingly superfluous. Viewed on their own these vintage clips give the viewer an invaluable glimpse of early Midler in one of her first concert venues, the Continental Baths of New York in the early 1970's. The clips should only have been presented at a different point in the video, either at the very beginning or the very end, keeping them separate from the actual concert presentation. Putting the clips in the midst of the concert was an unwelcome intrusion. It's kind of like touring the Louvre Museum and stopping to read a comic book in the middle of the tour!

Long story short: This is a great way to experience or to relive some of Midler's magic from over 20 years ago. This video is a sure bet for any fan of Bette, or for anyone who wants to see just what makes Miss Midler so divine!

(Oh, and I am one of the very few surviving fans from the very early 70's who was actually present when Bette fired off the infamous "Taco Joke" during a different tour! If you were ever to hear it, you'd understand why she never repeated it again! It's shocking, even for the occasionally potty-mouthed Miss Midler!)

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Better than Divine Madness
For those of you who have seen Bette's 1980 release, Divine Madness, this is much better than that performance which was marred by Bette's sickness and a dark coloring. THis concert is mainly a redeeming video of Bette as I call it which allows her to clear up the somewhat failure of Divine Madness. Here Bette sings many songs off The Rose soundtrack as well as her 1983 album that had just come out at the time the concert was filmed called NO FRILLS. Bette sings well here and the 1980s New Wave feel can be seen here as there are many strange elements to the performance. However, Midler does sing and perform well i.e. The Rose and a cover called LORD, HERE COMES THE FLOOD which is worth buying the video on its own terms. Better than DIVINE MADNESS but not as good as her 1997 HBO concert DIVA LAS VEGAS.

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BETTE, THE SONGSTRESSES SONGSTRESS!!!!
Bette is truly an international icon!! She is spectacular in "Art or Bust". Bette is captivating, energetic, and fantantic!! You'll go on a roller-coaster of emotions while watching this immaculate piece of art. This video should be renamed "Excellence of Bust". And, of course, she never busts.