Liza Minnelli Preforming Losing My Mind At The 89 Grammy Living Legends

The problem that I have with the performance is that it looks more like choreography lifted from Michael Jackson.

I think this comes in an odd time in Liza's career. For the entire 1970s, she spent her career trying to get out from under the shadow of her mother. Once she did that and created her own style and stage personality, she seemed not to know what to do. And I think this from that struggling period where she didn't know what direction her career should go.

This performance of the same song, same year on UK tv was hugely superior to the Grammies routine.

It’s called Losing My Mind, not Sane and Sober.

Great song choice, LiZa!

It’s from an album produced by the Pet Shop Boys and it is really fantastic. I still listen to it all the time. She sings “Love Pains” on it, plus some other great songs.

[quote] and it seems not a natural performance, you can see she is thinking her way through it.

It's because she's losing her mind!

The pop arrangement of this (done by the Pet Shop Boys) was pretty hilarious. SPY Magazine used to refer to her thereafter as "hep rock star Liza Minnelli."

I only had two hipsh then.

What do I think? I think I now know why she had two hips replaced.

God damn I loved that album. Bought it on cassette in 89. Listened to it non stop in my red escort driving to and from the gym in south Minneapolis b4 I moved to ny. 19 then. 48 now but I pass for 60. I’ve aged better than the song.

Oy!....no she di-int...

I was molested...watching that performance.

Was she a great success in the US ? Apart from 'cabaret' and the song "New-York New-York 🗽 'it seems she never knew what to do with herself. I saw her once live in Paris. She was fantastic. It was a double act with Charles Aznavour, who was really tedious. So the audience kept falling asleep with Aznavour and being woken up by Minelli. She broke the house down, unfortunately I was seated 2 chairs away from the first lady, then Mme Danielle Mitterand, and noone dared cheer wildly and wolf whistle like the rest of the audience ( palais des congrès must sit over 5000). Did she sell a lot of records?

r12, Liza was known as an "entertainer" in the US. During the 70s, she was famous for partying at Studio 54. The gays made her a diva and everyone else knew who she was, but it wasn't like she was Madonna or Michael Jackson on the concert circuit, selling out venues. She was successful as a public figure but it wasn't like her concerts were in huge demand. And everyone thought of her movies like they did Barbra Streisand's, she turned in a good performance as "Liza" but the characters she played were always versions of "Liza" rather than an actual person.

Thx R13. That was kind and considerate of you. Barbra Streisand is a very big star in France, very well known and quite legendary. Her film ' the way we were' is a classic. Prince of tide, mirror has two faces are shown on tv a lot. Her record 'woman in love ' was an enormous hit. Minelli is only known for cabaret and being Garland's daughter. She didn't have successful records here. That's why I was asking. Most famous american movie stars from her era are Jane Fonda, Mia Farrow and to a lesser extent, Faye Dunaway. ( Natalie Wood is considered old hollywood movie star, although she was probably in the same age range, and is more famous then the three aformentioned).

I was born after the Liza zeitgeist and I’ve only seen Cabaret...and wow, was she good in it. Not just the singing and dancing but also the acting. Heartbreaking, bittersweet performance.

Sterile Cuckoo r15.....

ummm, R13.....Minnelli's three-week stand at Radio City became the highest-grossing concert in venue's 59-year history and was the highest-grossing single concert appearance anywhere in the United States that year. She sold out plenty of venues and her tours did very well. Even as far into her career as Minelli on Minnelli at the Palace in 95 or o 96, she was setting sales records

[quote] This performance of the same song, same year on UK tv was hugely superior to the Grammies routine.

So in other words you prefer that she barely move, aside from a few shimmies, while lip synching ,

[quote]Minnelli's three-week stand at Radio City became the highest-grossing concert in venue's 59-year history and was the highest-grossing single concert appearance anywhere in the United States that year.

Oh my, three WHOLE weeks. You do realize that three weeks is nothing compared to tours of major stars? Even her contemporaries like Cher and Bette Midler do more performances than that when they do sitdowns in Las Vegas.

Shitdowns in Vegash

I wish there were a way to connect all the FABULUSH Liza threads. As an Eldergay (a DL'er since '97) the Liza posts are creative, insane, and very funny. The Besht! That is all.

That is one of the most 80's things I've ever seen in my life.

anyone who disparages Liza needs to be hunted down and slaughtered!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She was such a hottie back then.

I'm shocked to say this but Liza was actually hot in the OP's video.

Also, how different is the 1989 Grammy Awards to what it is today? Just a woman on a more or less bare stage. No Pink on a trapeze or Lady Gaga in a meat dress or Gwen Stefano on skates. Then again, that's when singers actually sang.

Yesh R23. How dare they dishparage my mushic, my talentsh!!!

Juscht a woman on a more or lescht bare schtage.

The shun comesh up, I shink about you! The coffee cup, I shink about you! I love you sho, it'sh like I loshing my mind!

In 1991, I was watching the Freddy Mercury tribute concert and for the finale, they introduced Freddie's favorite performer -- Liza! She gave a fantastic performance.

Here's a clip but I remember it was more dynamic than this (the clip is slower for some reason)

Agree she was a hottie.

-a different lesbo from the one above

Here's the music video of the song -- so 80s!

I had never seen thiis performance from the Grammys (always loved the song.) It was definitely odd. I was afraid she was going to moonwalk- but If she had I would have supported her. She’s a wounded bird- I have nothing unkind to say.

Results really is a fantastic album I remember playing the cassette to death in '89 but hiding it from school friends because they would know I was gay if they knew I listened to Liza Minnelli.

That album has aged really well. The Pet Shop Boys are great producers.

Maybe it was ahead of its time but it didn't really do much for Liza's career but it remains a fan favourite.

I think this was a great period in Liza's career. Her 1987 Live at Carnegie Hall album, Results and her Radio City Music Hall Show on CD and DVD (with the 'Demon Divas') show Liza in great form. Her dancing is sensational in the RCMH show.

She looked her best during the Results era. Interesting how she looked better in her forties than she did in her twenties.

Didn't the Pet Shop Boys originally want to make this album with Madonna?

No r35, they wanted to make the album with Lucy. But, Gary talked her out of it.

Their back-up plan if Liza fell through was to get Bea Arthur. That would have been something to hear.

r36 wins.

They wanted and wrote for Madonna the song Heart. Which is a great song but I guess they were kind of scared of her.

Liza does look great and moves well there but her voice isn't made for pop music. It just doesn't mesh. She is broadway baby, that's it.

"Results" is a great album, DL should do a thread dedicated to it. Liza's version of "Tonight Is Forever" is magnificent.

I remember seeing that closing number with Liza singing We Are the Champions at the Wembley Stadium Freddie Mercury memorial show and thinking, damn, those Queen guys are cool, and being moved at the love from the crowd and her fellow musicians.

Another time, years later, when Dame Shirley Bassey slayed 'em at Glastonbury, I felt a similar reaction.

Those Brit rock fans can appreciate a Diva.

I thought this was interesting. I have always thought Liza worked her ass off with movement, gesture and all the stuff that seems to come naturally to a great performer, but in her case always seems contrived. Her Mom mesmerized and moved like no one else- but it was natural, appropriate really. I have never seen Liza in concert- I have a feeling that is her forte- but then I never had a desire to because her voice lacks musicality in my opinion. At 21 she kind of sounded like a bad night of her Mom- wobbly vibrato, speak-singing- if not loud. She was great in Cabaret, but even listening to the soundtrack, I think- might be a great song, but it sounds unpretty- only way I can express it.

There is a reason she never had much of a recording career; her voice just does not do it. Perhaps live and in performance and in character-kind of like Merman who never sold records.

I agree with r42's assessment, but I would call her studied rather than contrived. I saw her in concert in Chicago in 1979, twice. The second performance disappointed me at first because every spontaneous giggle or gesture was exactly the same as in the first performance. I began to appreciate her studied approach to her performances but now every giggle, shriek and gesture is just a giggle, shriek and gesture. But I really think she was an extraordinary performer in her day and in some ways is underappreciated.

I also think her encephalitis left her a bit brain damaged.

Enschephalitish my assh!

r42 listen to Liza's Live At Carnegie Hall Album.

Results is a fantastic CD. I bet I’ve listened to it a million times.

I saw her live one time, maybe around 1989 or 1990, at SPAC in Saratoga when she was doing a big summer tour. I was about halfway back on the lawn, back in the days when you could carry food and drinks into an outdoor venue, and smoke anything without fear of interference. Ironically, I was the only person without a date on our blanket, among a group of married (straight) couples who apparently wanted the gay boy to explain Liza to them. We all got stoned and drunk.

She danced her ass off, played lots of classics but also some contemporary stuff, and sounded great.

I was youngest in my group, maybe 19 or 20. But there were lots of young and old gay men on that lawn. Hookups may have ensued over the course of the evening and night.

Hook upsch

Great song, and great song for her voice. The choreography is bad though; she's a better dancer than she looks from this piece. Isn't she?

Results is one of my favourite pop records. Liza looked really good and I think her Losing My Mind music video is one of the best produced videos I've ever seen. It really is like a little four minute movie, just superb!

Liza’s Losing My Mind was an anthem in NYC gay clubs. When the first few beats would play, all the boys would scream and rush onto the dance floor. Good times.

Liza recorded that song because she desperately wanted to have a pop chart hit. She was very jealous of Streisand, who had gone from Broadway songstress to pop star in the 70's. Liza always thought she was more talented and was disappointed when she didn't have the same pop chart success as Streisand. She loathes her to this day.

Great music video. One of the best of the 80s.

Liza (NOT lip-syncing) performing the song live on The Arsenio Hall Show.

and So Sorry I Said - LIVE

the Arsenio Hall interview

Sche looksh SCHTUPENDOUSH!!!!!

In the music video in R31, the man in makeup at the beginning and the end of the video is the man she's singing about? So he transitioned? This may be a video about her 2 (and 3) marriages to men she found out later were gay. Sad.

Shad my assh!!

R18. No that's not the clip I was referring to, but still very good. Like the camera work, close ups and the exuberant audience.

As in the USA Losing My Mind was very popular in Euro clubs as well. I recall hot summer nights dancing to it with my new bf on the beaches near Venice (Italy) . Best time of my life.

Can Liza say "Chinese Space Station"?

He wasch transchischioning.

[quote]I have nothing unkind to say

How dare you! How very dare you. What in the world are you doing on DL?

"This may be a video about her 2 (and 3) marriages to men she found out later were gay. Sad."

Peter Allen

Jack Haley Jr

David Gest

Thats at least three.

Homoshekshuals.

I wasch lusching my mind!