"Memory" from CATS (1981)

Jennifer Hudson

Buckley, hands down. Streisand’s version is lovely on its own terms, but Buckley’s haunts me—I can see that cat cast out on the streets.

Betty Buckley absolutely

Op is DJT on the can

R3, you need to follow your own link before you post it.

J.J.

I like Elaine Page best. Her style seems more desperate and her voice more warm.

Buckley acted the song the best. She gave it structure.

I just recently saw ALW on some tribute to Buckley and he said her version was definitive.

Hudson sounded like Grizabella... in that nanosecond of reaction before the tire forced her guts through her nose.

Betty Buckley's performance of Memory at the 1983 Tony Awards was absolutely astounding.

I prefer Betty Buckley's version.

Love me some Babs and Elaine but Betty sings the FUCK out of that song.

I normally don't like Paige's voice but she's clear and pure here. I give Buckley best Norma.

I do like Sara Brightman's version in Italian. Not the best, but quite beautiful.

Too bad Patti LuPone never recorded it.

R14, convince her to put on a catsuit with Tabi heels and tail. She’s a pro; one of those heels has to reach behind an ear.

Those cats sneaking up on you before the show started put me off straight away. Greta Garbo scared one away with her walking stick. GTFOH.

Betty and ALW on Merv’s show.

It's Betty's song. Elaine can have it in the West End.

Nothing better than Betty Buckley's version.

You jaded American Eldergays really don't appreciate Elaine Paige.

I'd love to have heard Judi Dench's version of it. She's not really a singer but her version of Send In The Clowns is one of the best and what she falls short on range she makes up with emotion.

[quote]Buckley, hands down. Streisand’s version is lovely on its own terms, but Buckley’s haunts me—I can see that cat cast out on the streets.

MARY!!!

Buckley has such a sharp and clear voice and I would totally go for her version as number one had Barbra’s version not been the first I ever heard thanks to my mom’s copy of “Memories” or, as people called it, “Greatest Hits Two and a Half”.

The British reality tv shows to find new theatre stars were a big success in the late 00s (Elaine Paige hated them) and the show to find a new Nancy for Oliver produced some major talent including an Oscar nominee.

This was the semi final, where Rachel Tucker and Samantha Barks had their "sing off" to join Jodie Prenger and Jessie Buckley in the final. Rachel was in her late 20s and has gone on to an amazing career. One of her performances was As If We Never Said Goodbye, and she got to play Norma a few years ago as the alternate for Nicole Shitslinger.

And Samantha Barks was 18 and got the Les Mis movie gig from this.

Datalounge would have loved those shows. Except the ITV Grease one was dreadful.

It's called MEMRY, not MEMORY.

Streisand for her Pop version AND Buckley for being in character.

Interesting American producers apparently thought they couldn't make a success of a similar Broadway contest.

Does anyone remember the Barry Manilow single released in the summer of 1982 ? It was constantly on the Top 40 radio in my area (it was just before CATS was opening on B'way that Fall) but I don't think it made an impact on Billboard's Hot 100 (I'm too tired to Google).

Buckley sings it like the character should.

Everyone else sings it like it’s a nice song

[quote]I can see that cat cast out on the streets.

Usually they go into real estate, don't they?

Patti did sing it when she toured with an Andrew Lloyd Webber show before she got into a huge fight with him during Sunset Blvd.

That seems so out of character for Patti r30!!

The world would be poorer without Patti LuPone's huge fights.

R20. I would have also loved to hear Dench singing it. I am still waiting that, one day, maybe a tape will surface. I remember reading that Trevor Nunn said that Dench sang Memory for her audition on the Her Majesty's Theater and that it was the most magical moment of his life (or something like that). One day, a tape will surface, hopefully.

Here's Judi... she's.... no Glenn Close when it comes to dulcet tones.

Cleaner audio... I don't know it's better or worse.

[Quote] Patti did sing it when she toured with an Andrew Lloyd Webber show before she got into a huge fight with him during Sunset Blvd.

Although I don’t like this version, Lupone would have made a fantastic Grizabella. Her voice has the exact tartness the role needs

Didn’t know about Patti’s version. Pretty great.

I thought Judi never sang Memory as it wasn't in the show yet until after she left

I really like this version

What's Barry Manilow's version like?

Manilow released this single from his 1982 album 'Here Comes The Night', in early fall of 1982, about six months after Streisand's single (which peaked at #52). He released the album shortly after. The single did better than Streisand's, peaking at #39 for one week in January, 1983.

[quote] I thought Judi never sang Memory as it wasn't in the show yet until after she left

I remember reading on an ALW forum years ago (it's now defunct, I believe) that 'Memory' was originally written for Norma Desmond in his proposed musical 'Sunset Blvd' which he had been working on in 1979-80. He had written a few songs for the musical as he was watching the movie, and wrote 'Memory' for when she arrived at Paramount Studios.

He never finished the musical, and started working on CATS - and when he needed something for Grizabella to close out ACT 1, he pulled out his song originally written for 'Norma', and tweaked it a bit. When he went back to 'SB' years later, he replaced 'Memory' with 'As If We Never Said Goodbye'.

According to discussions on his forum, this was common for him. He started many projects and wrote music for some of the scenes he envisioned, but wouldn't finish right away - so he'd set it aside for a while. If he needed a song, he'd go back to his unfinished work and pull a song to tweak.

The original poem...

Apropos of nothing, I recall being a small child when my parents bought a 1985 model Ford which came with a cassette of all the latest hits, including this song. I think it was the Streisand version.

[quote]R20 You jaded American Eldergays really don't appreciate Elaine Paige.

Well, it doesn’t help that she looks like a squat housewife.

R39 I love Heather Headley’s rendition! Very unique.

I'm waiting for the Celine Dion version.

I love Heather Headley’s rendition! Very unique.

Unfortunately not unique. It's the standard American Idol overdone performance. At times she looks like she is having a seizure.

It’s so interesting hearing Betty Buckley tell how she arrived at her interpretation of the song. She was on the verge of being fired before the song finally fell into place for her.

Go to [bold]15:00 mark

Betty is always almost getting fired (or is fired)

Ask:

James Lapine for Into the Woods

Graciela Danielle for Elegies

The creative team for Blood Brothers

The creative team for Tales From the City

Sarah Michelle Gellar for Simply Irresistible

The creative team for Brothers and Sisters

The creative team Chess

[quote]You jaded American Eldergays really don't appreciate Elaine Paige.

Excuse me, r20, excuse me. I had Stages!

R49, Thank You! Beautiful story.

[quote]r50 Betty is always almost getting fired (or is fired.) Ask: James Lapine for Into the Woods, Graciela Danielle for Elegies, etc. etc. etc. etc.

LESSER artists, who cannot handle a strong WOMYN!

When did Betty B start talking like a Valley Girl?

God, that was a long fucking story, Betty Lynn.