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Showtune Sunday: A diva singoff: “I’m Still Here”
Many of our biggest female stars have belted out I’m Still Here which is from the Stephen Sondheim show Follies.
To me, the definitive version is Shirley MacLaine’s. Not because it’s technically the best but because it is performed in such an important scene in the 1990 film Postcards from the Edge and it tells us so much about MacLaine’s character and her relationship with her daughter (played by Meryl Streep).
But that doesn’t mean I don’t love Elaine Stritch’s knockout performance or Elaine Page’s from the most recent revival. Here are those and some others including Polly Bergen whose I had not seen until now – wow! Let me know your favorite. (the last clip is a little snippet of Lauren Bacall singing part of the song – I’ve included it because she turns 88 today!)
Shirley MacLaine "I'm Still Here" by graduate
Comments
(All comments are reviewed before being published, and I review submissions several times per day.)
Garrison says:
These were fun to see. Of course, the original version by Yvonne DeCarlo was stunning, but Ann Miller received standing ovations for her performance at PaperMill Playhouse in NJ. I was there, and it was electrifying. The video doesn’t do it justice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYn_wDC3mKA
gordon Miller says:
Carol Burnett also does a wonderful version of this song
Gaspar Marino says:
Theatrically Polly Bergen’s was best. As far as sheer vocal power…no one beats Shirley Bassey. She is one of the greatest singers of all time!
hampton says:
So miss Yvonne DeCarlo enters from stage right in a very 50s styled mink coat with shawl collar…Then she starts..the dress was gold off the shoulder–
‘i’ve beeb thru breadlines-I’ve been thru Beverly Hills–it was a cold and snowy night in New York but she lit up the theatre…afterward we all went aross the street to Jack Dempseys cafe..I saw it 6x and she is still the best-even Elaine will tell you so and you know her opinions. Gregg, go to utube and watch her sing..I realize you are too young to have seen her or Lauren in Applause.
Noel Fitz says:
Hi all
Has I’M STILL HERE ever been officially released by Shirle on record?
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