On December 1, 1945, Bette Midler made her debut into the world in Honolulu, Hawaii. One of the reasons she enjoyed performing so much was because, when she was younger, she struggled with shyness. She was able to break out of her shy demeanour and become someone else as a result of this opportunity. Following her graduation from high school, Midler enrolled in the University of Hawaii to pursue a degree in drama.
After that, she made the decision to pursue her ambition and start a career as an actress on Broadway. She didn’t anticipate any more opportunities coming up after the success she had with “Fiddler on the Roof” in 1966, so she devised her own manner of performing instead. At first, she performed under the stage moniker The Divine Miss M while working at the Continental Baths. According to her biograph
y, people started to take note of her one-of-a-kind style.
After hearing her perform, Ahmet Ertegun, the head of Atlantic Records, decided to bring her to the label. In 1972, Bette Midler’s debut album, The Divine Miss M, was certified platinum, and the same year she won her first Grammy Award for Best New Artist.
What Was Bette Midler’s First Hit Song?
In 1972, Midler released her first single, titled “Do You Want to Dance,” which reached its highest position on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 17.
The 5 Best Bette Midler Songs of All-Time
1. Wind Beneath My Wings
This song has a lengthy history of being performed at ceremonies such as weddings and funerals. No matter how many times you watch it, a particularly heartbreaking sequence in one of the best movies of the 1980s will never fail to leave you in need of a box of Kleenex. This song was the best of a set of songs about friendship and the highs and lows of life, and it was featured on the album Beaches, which highlighted all of Midler’s various talents.
2. I Think It’s Going To Rain Today
When CC Bloom’s best friend Hilary Whitney finds out that she has a rare heart disease, it is one of the most heartbreaking moments in the film Beaches. The movie is halted in the midst of the conversation. Instead, the bad news is delivered in the form of a song that laments the speed with which a bad day can develop. Rain brings up feelings of melancholy and a focus on the here and now in most people. Another song from Midler’s library demonstrates the range and versatility of her voice through the bright orchestration and clear vocals of Midler.
3. The Rose
The film of the same name, which was in part based on the life of Janis Joplin, featured the song as one of its components. Amanda Broom allegedly penned the song in 1977 at the request of her manager, who wanted her to compose something that would assist her in being signed. Genius claims that this event took place. She decided to give herself a challenge by writing The Rose. When she started writing it, she had the idea that it was about love and taking chances. However, once it was released, the movie took on a more melancholy tone as a result of the fact that it was about a musician who was battling drug and alcohol addiction.
4. Miss Otis Regrets
This song by Bette Midler has the feel of a jazz romp in a smoky club, which was one of her earliest musical styles. Her tone of voice changes as she says the ridiculous words. The lyrics tell the story of a woman who became so dissatisfied with her life that she went hunting for her lover and ended up murdering him.
But rather than seeming like a mournful ballad about love gone bad, it sounds more like a song from the musical Chicago. It’s weird to think that someone might just go up to the door and be told this narrative on the spot. Nevertheless, it’s typical Midler, with all of her delightfully wild splendour shining through.
5. When A Man Loves A Woman
Midler sang a song by Percy Sledge that was released in 1966 on her debut album. She gives his version a bluesy sass and writes a song about what ladies wish the man they love would do for them to demonstrate how much he loves them. The song is about what women hope the man they love will do for them to show how much he loves them. Additionally, her singing style is reminiscent of Janis Joplin’s on the song “Take Another Piece of My Heart,” which is a ballad.