Liza Minnelli Celebrates Her 75th Birthday, Performing Ella Fitzgerald's 'Embraceable You'

"Ella Fitzgerald's "Embraceable You.""

That should be the Gershwin's Embraceable You, since they're the composers. The song was performed by dozens of singers including Ella and Sinatra.

Liza's on her way out, she looks like she's lost 75 pounds.

I prefer to remember her this way.

But I'm a total cunt.

This version is my favorite.

She’s got a Mae West quality about her. The dentures, the makeup.

I wonder if she did a couple lines of coke, for old times' sake.

She looks and acts much older than Streisand, Fonda and Midler who are the same age or older than her. What's up with that?

It’s shocking that she’s lived this long.

Drug and alcohol abuse, r6.

It's a shame she doesn't perform anymore, but I guess her motto is she'd rather go out with dignity than become an embarrassment.

I like the song "Am I Blue"

Embrashable you.

I was molested.

Oh, fuck the bunch of you....It's touching to see her singing this song at all.

I love Liza. And she's a reminder of that time when singers could do it all on stage. Sing AND dance their asses off without breaking a sweat.

i was glued to my seat during the zoom in to her feet, one in a shoe, the other sock. It held for a long time. I figured it was a cry for help - a secret message - LIZA IS LIVING IN NEGLECT AND HER OWN PISS - but the camera zooms out and Liza relises the situation and she kicks off the other shoe.

[quote]It's touching to see her singing this song at all.

Speaking of touching . . .

Liza is old and obviously in tough shape, but she is displaying something she hasn't had in many years....pitch!

I thought she did just fine.

Yes, it's ridiculous to call the song Ella Fitzgerald's "Embraceable You." The current habit of crediting songs to the singers and not the writers (unless the singer is the writer) is stupid. George and Ira Gershwin wrote "Embraceable You" for the 1930 Broadway musical, GIRL CRAZY, where it was introduced by Ginger Rogers and Allen Kearns. But R1, oh, dear! It should be the Gershwins' "Embraceable You."

Brought tears to my eyes. Oh Liza, I hope you can enjoy these days.

Embray-sh-able

R17, I agree. I have never been a Liza fan. I don't like her voice or the way she uses it but, in this clip, she was utilizing what little voice she has left well.

It must be tough for her, she can no longer walk without assistance and doesn't go out much, and most of her friends are now dead.

I think she's still close with Marisa Berenson.

She sounds more and more like her mother when singing.

R9, there hasn't been any dignity as you describe it since 1996.

There is a strange throaty quality to her singing that I never took to. Her vibrato is weird.

Poor dear. Aging sucks.

That was a perfectly lovely rendition. I'm happy we get to see her.

However Liza sings, well or not, she has such sincerity, you just believe it.

That's why she was so popular.

^ MARY!

She's still a great singing actor. I always loved how she really got into character as she sang.

Wow. I was going to say something mean, then I watched the video. Her whole body is trembling and twitching if you watch closely. Like her mom near the end, Liza is on the hard stuff now. That's not coke or booze. Sister Heroin.

She's sweet to get dressed and put on some sequins. She remembers her name.

It appears as though she has rheumatoid arthritis as well. She's seemed completely out of it for at least a decade. Age-wise, she's now outlived her mother by nearly thirty years. The drug and alcohol abuse will do a number one the body. But how are the genetics? I don't think they're that great.

Embraysh me, my schweet, embrayshable you....

R32, Liza is OLD, 75 years fucking old. She has massive arthritis, natch . She can't sing anymore, sure. She can't walk, okay. She's rapidly losing weight...well, that's like elder wasting syndrome, she's slightly young for that, but.....

Liza's health issues are the same as thousands of 75 year olds. I think she should be thanking her lucky stars that she's still ALIVE.

Did she also perform Georgia on my Mind?

Wet Ash Pusshy!

Plenty of women still look great at her age. 75 isn't old old.

The problem is that she did'n take care of herself and abused her health.

You're deluded R34 if you think that wasted mess called Liza is what the average 75 year old looks like. Poor obese people are in much more robust shape. Minelli destroyed her body and her health. Everyone knows what's she's been up to. It wasn't just pills and liquor.

If she didn't have that vulture Feinstein guarding her money - she'd give up. Lisa Minelli always was delusional and refused to face the truth. Thank god she knows enough about drugs that she doesn't have to live in too much pain. It would be nice if she were cognizant on occasion. But you can't have both. She's a fucking physical wreck. Neither lucky or unlucky. Just randomly alive. 🤞

...if not tomorrow, then the day after that. Go to the light Liza.

She's in sad shape, but as it's been said she's lucky to still be alive. After all the drugs and alcohol it's amazing she's still here.

It's my fucking song! They wrote it for fucking ME!

All of the following women are turning 75 this year. Liza is the only one who looks like she's on her way out. Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler, Susan Sarandon, Dolly Parton, Sally Field, Cher.

And Martha Stewart is 79.

I'd like to see Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg perform Embraceable You without breaking a sweat

"That should be the Gershwin's Embraceable You, since they're the composers."

People are so stupid these days. I would guess that there are a lot of people who don't even know who George and Ira Gershwin were, or are familiar with any of their songs. That's pretty damn sad.

I think she looks good apart from the tremor

R28, her "sincerity" has always read fake to me. Her limitations are forcing her to be more believable now.

So who is this Ellen Fitzgerald person?

"Ella Fitzgerald's Embraceable You"??? What kind of fucking idiot wrote this article? It's George and Ira Gershwin's Embraceable You.

Well you know, it's all about rewriting history today.

Ella Fitzgerald: singer, song writer and inventor of the Memorex tape cassette.

Good lord, let the Ella thing go and get back to Liza.

There are worse things than being in the same sentence as Ella Fitzgerald. Liza sure as fuck doesn't belong there. Michael Feinstein was there for the death of Ira Gershwin and held Rosemary Clooney's hand for the last few years too. He's either very loyal or soon to be investigated. Why won't Liza marry him?

Liza is not one of the great interpreters of the american songbook. She was never a great singer. But a great actress in song. And the old razzle dazzle. Long before my time. I've seen clips.

R38, too young to realize that people age differently?

She's unique for sure. It will be very sad when she's gone, but she's not long for this world at this point.

R38 Google 75 year old woman, not one that has had a shit load of plastic surgery or has access to world class skin care, personal trainers and chefs.

I have a 70 year old mother and 93 year old grandmother who still lives on her OWN, R53/R55. And lots of aunts and parents of my friends and my boyfriend. In their seventies and older. I don't need to google anything. I'm 38 and sexy as fuck. AND my mom is good looking too. She eats and drinks and occasionally enjoys an edible. Most 75 year olds are not in the decrepit shape of Liza Minnelli. And most all are mentally solvent. Lisa worked very hard at becoming that fucked up. For decades. Don't be such a baby old man @R55. Nothing is more repugnant than a weepy old man.

[quote]I have a 70 year old mother and 93 year old grandmother who still lives on her OWN

Liza was unable to live on her own when she was 25. What's your point?

r56 is DL's resident cancer, aka the "ancient white fags" troll. Put that piece of filth on ignore.

He deliberately trolls topics that are of interest to gay men of a certain demographic. He's a useless piece of shit.

LIZA was being gangbanged by dobermans while her "friends" looked on when she was 25. And that was just her pre show. She's a very dirty piece. Fucked up chick. Did a lot of damage along the way.

R58 is the poster formerly known as miss warwicke. That piece of racist filth is banned from Datalounge thanks to myself and many others. A dirty OLD white man who loves SHIT. He's also the SCAT scenario troll. Actually, it can't post anything without the word *SHIT* in it. So naturally he favors LIZA. A very dirty girl she was.

Lucie Arnaz tweeted that she was "kinda sad" that she wasn't asked to perform on the virtual "Love Letters to Liza" 75th birthday celebration for Liza. So many people participated, but Lucie is far more deserving than many of them. Especially since there is a Marvin Hamlisch connection with both Liza and Lucie. And as Lucie said, "Heck, Liza was nearly my sister-in-law." Lucie certainly should have been invited.

r59 You've claimed that before on here. where did you get that info?

R56 is either in his 70s, pretending to be 38, or he's legitimately a 38-year-old man who doesn't realize he sounds like a gay of yesteryear who puts his sainted mother on a pedestal while calling all other women whores.

Girls! Girls! You're both pretty!

Are Liza and Lorna on speaking terms?

I'm a Gen Xer so the peak of Liza's fame was a bit before my time, but I've always liked her. She's an entertainer of the old school that just does not exist anymore, and we're worse off for it.

Sad last days....for the last 25 years. Liza is animatronic with a shitty diaper. (that's for you R58!)

"Light me up Momma!"

Will she ever get a Kennedy Center Honor?!!

Is Feinstein Liza's 'Mark Harris', a fruit fly hovering around waiting for her to drop dead? I bet Lorna and Joey are suspicious of what her will looks like.

IMO, she looked and sounded better than I expected. We're lucky to still have her around. The guy at the piano was cute. Her left hand was shaking, maybe Parkinson's?

She's been a friend to the gays. She's never said a mean word to anyone.

Lisa sparkles.

My introduction to Liza.

I was mezmorized. Tell me this isn't a fabulous way for children to become acquainted with Liza!!

Liza used to lend Michael Jackson children. She loved MJ.

Circa 1995, I was assigned the press room at APLA's Fashion Benefit honoring Gianfranco Ferre at the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City. I was told to go stand on the other side of a door leading into the press room and to open it when they knocked. I found myself in the dark and deserted kitchen. A few minutes later I saw the outlines of a portly man guiding a woman with a cane. As they got closer, I realized it was Ferre and Liza. She'd had a recent hip operation, hence the black ebony cane with silver dog's head handle. It was wrapped in the same sequined fabric Gianfranco had created for her.

We stood facing each other about a yard apart. I didn't say a word as Liza was obviously in pain and we were told no gushing. But I watched in amazement as she slowly straightened her body and her head went back and LIZA appeared. A knock came, I opened the door, they went through. Ten minutes later, another knock, I opened it and they came though again.

LIZA disappeared and Ferre again helped her down the dark and deserted kitchen aisle. Such a surreal and intimate moment.

This is how people do you.

This is an anonymous message board where someone is posting she loaned MJ children and fucked dogs.

Where's the lie r76?

Liza never fucked a Doberman. That was Penny Marshall, at one of Cher's roller skating parties. The Seventies were nuts.

R34 Liza is OLD, 75 years fucking old. She has massive arthritis, natch . She can't sing anymore, sure. She can't walk, okay. She's rapidly losing weight...well, that's like elder wasting syndrome, she's slightly young for that, but.....

Liza's health issues are the same as thousands of 75 year olds. I think she should be thanking her lucky stars that she's still ALIVE.

STOP with she's 75 and that's what happens when your O L D defense.

CHER is the same age, and can still skip around the stage in her Turn back time outfit!

People are fucked up with strange little fantasies they can't separate from reality.

And they live to lie.

How did she get up into that tall directors chair?

Liza's main problem seems to be arthritis, which happens to people her age. I know several people in their seventies with terrible arthritis. She's lucky to be alive, as others have said. And she still smokes!

Liza and Carrie Fisher. Studio 54 ran out of coke that night.

They don't make stars like this anymore, baby.

Dolly Parton is also 75. Sally Field, Diane Keaton. Goldie Hawn. Bette Midler. Helen Mirren, Jaclyn Smith, Steve Martin! Carly Simon, Adrienne Barbeau. Susan Sarandon, Cher & Suzanne Somers are 74!!

Liza destroyed herself. It was a party to be near her.

who let the dogs out?

Love you, Liza!

Liza loves you too, Georgia!

[quote] Michael Feinstein was there for the death of Ira Gershwin and held Rosemary Clooney's hand for the last few years too. He's either very loyal or soon to be investigated. Why won't Liza marry him?

Because she's worried she can't keep up with his insatiable appetite for pussy.

She has arthritis, which affects a lot of people. There was nothing she could do about it. It's very common among people her age.

[quote] Liza never fucked a Doberman. That was Penny Marshall, at one of Cher's roller skating parties.

And here I had always thought it was Lillian Gish!

It was a good time.....

R42 and those women were at most recreational drug users. Literally comparing apples to oranges. She’s in shit shape, but given the decades of hard core drug abuse and pill popping, she’s lucky to be alive. She’s a survivor no matter how you look at it.

She’s already had her death auction. Now all she’s got to do is.........

Waaaay too late R9.

Liza Minnelli is a national treasure of the highest regard.

I have seen her in concert many times, She kills it every time. An unbelievable entertainer who gives it her all. The reason she has trouble walking now is that she knocked herself out dancing for years and years. She's not just a singer; Liza is an amazing dancer. Her performances were electrifying. Her knees are just giving out.

As for Ella Fitzgerald, she went on for too long as well. Should've stopped at least 10 years earlier.

Still, as painful as it is, she sounded better than Minelli at the same age, and she could stand by herself.

oops.

I worked with Liza once. She performed at a concert with the symphony with which I worked. I handled the publicity. It was an amazing night. I talked with her backstage for almost an hour after the show. She was lovely, chatty, gracious, funny and engaging. It was a night I will always remember.

"And as Lucie said, "Heck, Liza was nearly my sister-in-law." Lucie certainly should have been invited."

Liza doesn't remember Lucie Arnaz or her brief association with Desi Jr.

R70, please. Michael Feinstein is Liza's only friend.

[quote]STOP with she's 75 and that's what happens when your O L D defense.

You have to consider she came from really bad genetics. Her mother died in her 40s and looked twice her age. And it wasn’t ALL due to drugs and booze.

In addition, Liza's two aunts (the Gumm Sisters) - Jimmy died in her early 60s of heart disease. Suzy was an pill-popping alcoholic suicide five years before Judy. Not the best mental or physical genetics.

R56 apparently doesn't realize how "repugnant" his post is.

R56 = drunk

I'm more concerned with Michael Feinsteins hair color.

Bless her- very nice woman and in her prime a great entertainer- what a life. She’s had surgery on her knees, hip and back. I suppose hard living and dancing did it. The tremulous movement looks Parkinson’s, but who know.

Find Seth Sikes “Ring Them Bells” tribute. It’s very funny and he’s wonderful. Talent!

It's too bad Liza isn't on social media. Her drunken 2am ramblings would be wonderful.

[quote]And Martha Stewart is 79.

And so talented! She gave us so many memorable musical moments in the the theatre and on film. What a legend. Martha Stewart's performances will live on when so many others are forgotten.

Liza's drug-fueled, boozy lifestyle and career really just suited her so well. By all accounts she's a wonderful, fun-loving person and gave some really knockout performances. If she'd been sober her whole life, she probably would have been an uptight bore.

I don't even flinch each time I see

a seven-foot drag queen dressed like me.

I'm glad I'm not young any more!

[quote] It's too bad Liza isn't on social media. Her drunken 2am ramblings would be wonderful.

We do, however, have the pleasure of Miss Dionne Warwick's Twitter. (No drunken ramblings, though.)

I'm no superfan or stan, but we should feel grateful that people like Liza and Dionne are still alive.

It's a miracle they're both still alive. Dionne is 80 and still sucking down those Virginia Slims. 80!

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

I do think its cool that she ended up contributing a memorable character to one of television's greatest shows ever, Arrested Development. Even if they had to give the character vertigo so she wouldn't need to walk properly.

Doberman's won't go near her anymore. Ask Baryshnikov, Marissa, Colacello, Geraldo and Halston about Liza's Doberman performances. Or her balcony ganbangs. The studio 54 balcony was designed for fucking and easy cleanups. LIZA was a good tipper. She was never a great cocksucker though because of her receded chin and jaw, but boy did she love all holes filled at once! Three hole punch fest. Party for days. She loves to perform! Some of it is on tape. Every debauchery imaginable. Once a decade Liza would fall in love with some sensitive impotent sort. Just like mom. ❤️

She IS nice though. Not so lucky to be alive - but she's afraid to die. The truth will come out.

Liza has Feinstein, Billy Stritch and Jim Caruso to count among her good friends. She has a close group of gay men who look out for her and take care of her.

She was also very close to Tony Danza when she lived in NY. They would watch TV together.

Nobody needed to see this. She sounds awful and looks frail and addled. Just macabre.

Know when to walk into the sunset.

R118, Liza CERTAINLY DOES NOT THINK SHE'S frail and addled. CARRY ON, LIZA!

Liza IS frail and addled. And burning up with perversity. God Bless Michael Feinstein for controlling the dogs. RIP Lisa.

L*I*Z*A* also did not think that her mother was a drug addict or Michael Jackson was a child molester R119. Liza thought that Liz Taylor was a humble woman, a dedicated mother and good wife. Minnelli didn't believe that Halston was a nasty drug addicted self destructive bitch who wouldn't talk to her in his dying days. Lisa didn't seem to notice that she couldn't sing at all for the last 30 years! She fondly remembers the names of dogs and dear dead friends from AIDS. She believes Michael Feinstein would love her even if she were broke. Liza believes she is broke. Michael told her so. She's ADDLED as fuck.

Halston was a raging asshole, from what I've heard.

And shometimesh you get kicked in the shinsh

But the planet spinsh.........

Do her and Broosh Jenner have the same Dentisht? Did he work on Carrie Fisher, too?

[quote]In addition, Liza's two aunts (the Gumm Sisters) - Jimmy died in her early 60s of heart disease. Suzy was an pill-popping alcoholic suicide five years before Judy. Not the best mental or physical genetics.

Liza's maternal grandmother Ethel Gumm died of a heart attack at age fifty-six and grandfather Frank Gumm died of meningitis at forty-nine. Yikes.

Vincente Minnelli lived to his 80s and was a heavy smoker to the end. Liza must have his genes.

Any relation to Merrick Garland?

I can't listen to people badmouth Liza.

She's a sweet person who has always tried to entertain in her own vibrant way.

I recall this tv special "Liza With a Z" with Fosse direction/choreography being a smash when I was a child. Years later I saw it again (with Liza in attendance!) at the Ziegfeld in NYC. Here she is in her early prime. I get that her style is anachronistic, but if this doesn't change your mood, well Liza certainly tried!

Funny as a baby's grave, that Liza.

It is sad to see her in such palpable decline.

I’m amused at all the posts suggesting Michael Feinstein is waiting to abscond with her funds. Um, Feinstein has much more money than Liza at this point!

R124, Liza has what's known as ill fitting dentures.

That's all?

Liza is fine. Sure she's getting older and not her vibrant, mobile self from years ago, but her limitations now are mainly due to arthritis in her legs. Her mind and spirit are just fine.

How was the birthday show?

[quote]She looks and acts much older than Streisand, Fonda and Midler who are the same age or older than her. What's up with that?

Well, that's what comes from too much pills and liquor.

re: the Ella Fitzgerald's "Embraceable You"

On Twitter the other day, there was a headline about along the lines of "Brittany Howard and Chris Martin team for a version of Gerry and The Pacemakers, "You'll Never Walk Alone."

Here Liza sings.....I'll never forget this night as long as I live. She was an iconic performer. The Halston robe and wet hair, tender vocal moments leading to bursts of emotional POW. Her face a living caricature. She never had a pretty voice, but was once a very great presence. Made for the stage. But now she must rest. RIP.

Liza's "But the World Goes Round" on her Live At Carnegie Hall album is her best rendition.

^The eldergays always have to categorize EVERYTHING. That's why they are still in the DSM III. "Ego Dystonic Homosexuality"

Thanks for posting that, R137. Liza is a little bit before my time (my mom was a huge fan), but when I watch that, I see why people love her.

Not an eldergay r139 and everybody talks about the best rendition of a song a particular performer does. But you knew that.

R82 it's easier for seniors to use a higher seat It's the low seats that are a challenge (can't boost themselves out of the chair when seated).

Perhaps she forgot her house slippers?

I’m sure the moments when she gets to be “on” give her a needed dopamine rush that lasts a few days. In recent articles about Tony Bennett, whose family just revealed he has had Alzheimer’s since 2016, his wife said she arranges for him to rehearse/perform twice a week. The moments of being on improve his cognitive abilities afterwards.

"... but her limitations now are mainly due to arthritis in her legs."

One doesn't get arthritis in their legs, they get arthritis in their JOINTS. And Liza's hips and knees are metal. You can't get arthritis in a metal joint.

Many orthopedic surgeons today won’t even do joint replacements on patients that continue to smoke.

Even metal joints can decrease mobility as a person ages.

The silver lining is that when Liza "broke her knee" she began working with clay! She's overcome so much diversity.

That's very true, R145. But for those with money there's always an understanding surgeon.

[quote]She's overcome so much diversity.

Oh, Dear.

Wow, Liza is old and sounds terrible

r149 that's an old joke you fucking moronic cunt.

"Even metal joints can decrease mobility as a person ages."

Only Liza NEVER got properly back on her feet after all of the replacements, which is unusual. I'll blame the booze.

[quote]It's a shame she doesn't perform anymore, but I guess her motto is she'd rather go out with dignity than become an embarrassment.

Amazing how you worked so much weirdness and self-contradiction into one statement.

[quote]She looks and acts much older than Streisand, Fonda and Midler who are the same age or older than her. What's up with that?

Can this possibly have been an honest (but incredibly stupid) question, or do we think R6 was trying to be sarcastic?

Garland said Lorna had the best voice in the family. Liza was better at doing drugs.

^ what Garland really meant was that Lorna was the best LOOKING. She imagined Liza in the back in a chorus line.

No, Garland was right. Lorna had a far better voice then Liza and, yes, she was better looking. But Lorna didn't have Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse to create and style her.

I got my dreams from my father and hypodermics from Mama.

Liza turns 76 today! She suffers accelerated aging.

I feel marveloush! Marisha Berenshon wash over today and we talked about Shtudio 54!

Mama's voice was so bright and powerful at the Greek in 1965. She shot it sharp and sang out a bit much, but she was so funny and marvelous. The rumors of her demise were v e r y WRONG!!! Her medication was practically perfectly modulated that night. I'll never forget it. Rock Hudson was raised on some man's shoulders for most of the concert! Clapping and clap.

r7 Do you think she will reach the next milestone birthday of 80?

Yes R161. Liza should reach 80 by September.

r162 Pardon??!!!

Wait there's more! Liza sings em all night. Joan Collins and Michael Feinstein are fucking behind her back. I'm sure of it.

*Warning: this will make some of you sad.

[quote] That should be the Gershwin's Embraceable You, since they're the composers

Try saying that to the clueless keyboard warriors who attacked Dolly Parton when she made a harmless reference to Whitney Houston singing "my song". Parton had to eventually issue a sort of retraction and refer to IWALY as "our song" even though Houston had nothing to do with the composition in any way, shape or form.

r164 I hadnt realised that Liza and Joan Collins were such good friends until Joan was invited to her wedding in 2002. Was Joan a friend of her mother Judy?