I turned down a gig to see it (Ok a lousy gig). here's IMHO:
show opens w/a ballad!.amazing. TB is singing "Smile",
with marvelous expressiveness...then..spell is broken: spotlight goes on Streisand, who is not singing with him, but up on a pedestal, and she takes over most of the rest
of the song..she still has great pipes, and still is boring, and it's really offensive that the network felt they needed
to have the godess effect to get it rolling..really insulting.
Then Tony did some duos w/various famous singers, none of whom are remotely in his league artistically, especially that wannabe ratpacker Bublé, but it was all pretty nicely done, w/excellent choreography and a wonderful trumpet interlude from Chris Botti. The next to last number was
absolutely ecstatic, however. One of the greatest musical
moments on TV, ever..TB and Stevie Wonder sang "For Once in my Life" together, and each nonpareil brought out the best in the other..absolutely goosebumps when it got
near the crescendo ending..incredible! Then Christina A.
did her song/dance turn w/TB and she was quite good.
The truly amazing thing is this: as background to the
out credits they played a record of TB singing "This Could Be the Start of Something Big". It must have been from
30 or 40 years ago, when he was in his 40's or early 50's, when most singers have their best years- and he sounded great. BUT: he sounds twice as good now at 80!!!!!!!!
his pipes, his high notes, his drama, his phrasing...
kiddies, we will never see his like again. Appreciate!
Miami Mo

Mo, I didn't get a chance to see it because of the TV system down here in Mexico, however, through your very descriptive post
I feel as though we were watching it together.....thank you for sharing....you didn't by any chance happen to tape it did you??? If you happen to see it show up again anywhere, please post where and when.....Thank you again...
TR
Oh, BTW, Happy Thanksgiving....


[This message has been edited by Tony Rome (edited 11-22-2006).]

I thought it was terrible.....I turned it off......TB should of done it ALONE those singers ruined it with him.....the man is a class act and needs no one to sing with....I thought the same of the Sinatra whom I adore... "Duets" project .....
Please let LEGENDS BE LEGENDS!!!

Amazing, my wife and I just finished watching TB. We have TIVO and recorded it last night and watched it this evening. I enjoyed it and for us it was just a primer.

Donny we get the real deal Friday night we have tickets to see TB at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut. Seats are 8 rows back from the right of the stage.

Tony Rome I seem to remember somewhere at the end of the show they mentioned a DVD, I'll have to check on that to be sure, but you may be interested in this link:
http://www.nbc.com/Tony_Bennett/


[This message has been edited by Stephenm52 (edited 11-22-2006).]

Stephen.....Ya man, thank you so much for the link...I really enjoyed the video.... I'll look for a DVD....he is one of my all time favorites and had a lot of influence on my music and my career....again
thank you for the link.....
TR

Oh man have a great time Steve tell us all about it when you return please have a ball !~

I totally agree that he sounds better now than ever before.
We, in UK, had the great privilege of seeing and hearing him on the "Parkinson" show a couple of weeks ago, when he was also interviewed by "Parkie" who is also nearing TB's age
Tony sang, of course, I left my Heart in San Fransisco, and his diction and drama were still perfect and the high notes were superb.
In fact, in the interview Tony said that he would always be grateful to Frank Sinatra for a couple of tips ! One of which is very obvious in his performances - always vary the tempo of your phrasing, don't stick rigidly to the timing. If you listen to him again you will hear this personal phrasing in its glory.
It was a great evening of reminiscences.
cheers
Eddie Johnson



------------------
Eddie from Rotherham
Skype:eddiefromrotherham
www.yamahakeyboards.info

I think Target stores are offering TB Cd and dvd of show...

was thinking about how only a handful of the greats ever
got better after age 55 or so...Bing, Frank went downhill, Ella, Sarah, P.Lee, just about everyone..seems only TB. Mel Tormé, Rosemary Clooney kept getting better. TB has maybe slipped just a tad in last 5 yrs..but still better than he was at 55. Best-kept secret: there's another 80-yr old
famous singer out there who is better than she ever was,
and although never really thought of as a jazz singer
before, more a cabaret artist/actress, she is now as good a jazz singer as ever there was, and is still a raving beauty! Care to guess????

Frank will always be #1 Fugettabouttit !

http://www.franksinatra.com/




[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 11-23-2006).]

then why did Frank say Tony was the best, and that was
30 yrs ago, when TB wasn't near as good as he later
became..no Frank was the best up through the 60's..
then he definitely declined, and Tony ascended far beyond
Frank artistically, if not in terms of stardom..

Eartha Kitt

BRILLIANT!!!!and so is she, saw her aug 2005
at litchfield Ct Jazz Festival..her own band was more swinging than any of the jazz groups, and her pipes,
her humor, her swing, her phrasing, her show, her body..
unbelievable..

Interesting topic. Tony is truly a legend that has bridged several generation gaps. I can't think of another singer in his or her 80's that is still doing the college circuit.

Several other super-stars,past and present, who have very distinctive voices who I admire:
George Jones
Earth Kitt (previously mentioned)
Ray Charles
Willie Nelson (although some of his timing bothers me.)
Joe Cocker
Gary Diamond (just checking to see if you are paying attention.)
Tina Turner
Etta James
Diddy (NOT)

I am sure there are others, but these are the first that come to mind.

Eddie

Must have been quite the show. A week or so ago she was on the Today show being interviewed by Lester Holt. I swear she made him blush with her mannerisms.