Betty Buckley: "Memory" (Merv Griffin Show)

Here is a clip from the Merv Griffin show of Betty Buckley singing "Memory" (from Cats) with, of all things, Andrew Lloyd Webber on the piano. According to IMDb, this would be the episode aired 19 August, 1981 (which is doubtful as the Streisand album wasn't released until November that year...so even if this was filmed before Cats opened on Broadway Oct 1982...it's doubtful)

[@briandelpiano3864]

This is a breathless performance. I don't even think I blinked, I was so taken with every second Betty sang. Just beautiful. So Much meaning.

[@pamelabuczkowske7294]

I have heard many a singer sing this song, but the only one who does it real justice is Betty Buckley.

[@edwardgarrity8516]

This is to today’s ( singers ). This is pure talent. You all should thank god you don’t follow her on stage

[@patrickseeburn8161]

This is a wonderful example of a singer leading the pianist

[@sandrakellstrom8097]

this woman is so EXTREMELY gifted, her voice makes me cry.

[@myronmadey3040]

Breathtaking!! Aways loved Betty's voice!

[@swaingles]

I think she re-shaped the mould this song was sung firstly, with the whole due respect for Miss Page. Miss Buckley should have started the song first.

[@dunbud]

Betty's version has always been number one. Page is the next best.

[@mommy648]

She is simply amazing.

[@oncnurse8709]

Hi gionmusic! Thank you for posting - BLB's version of "Memory" is truly the most beautiful and meaningful. (P.S. this may have been the 11/2/1982 episode - researching something else and it came up in my search :) )

[@anxiousarsonfrog600]

This is much more than incredible, thank you for posting this recording

[@greggriffin8020]

This woman is a national treasure!

[@LillyLaRose]

Absolutely amazing! Awesome, wonderful gem of a clip! Thanks for posting!

[@pallafox]

Andrew may have chosen Paige to sing the song first for the west end, but in the end you can tell he preferred Buckley's version of Memory as anniversaries come having her sing the song.

[@carlstpeter]

i love how her voice can be so fragile and old but then suddenly so incredibly powerful!

[@swaingles]

Can anybody explain to me what technique she uses to achieve such "Touch me . . . " ? Betty Buckley owns both the song and the character

[@daviddavis6171]

Soul. I took a class with her this summer. The woman has so much soul it is undeniable. I remain amazed. Technically,from my amauter singer perspective,she has a very high chest 'belt' ,but whatever,it's the resonance throughout her whole body that carries those notes to the heavens.♥️

[@BenDGrimm]

Technically speaking, she has an absolutely relaxed larynx and open throat. There is no “push”, like many younger Broadway singers use to get a poppy, bright sound. Her vowels are bright because her larynx is so relaxed and her sound is “placed” so far forward (not literally; this terminology can be misleading since she’s not actually moving anything).

[@BenDGrimm]

Now, as for how she can maintain such perfect vowels in that register, that’s just her natural gift

[@estee3305]

@@daviddavis6171 Whitney Houston level belts

[@nancysmith4398]

Lungs and chords, and their depth and stretch thereto. So...free ocean divers have deep lung capacity but (potentially) don't sing; Party Sally at our local dive bar can hit certain notes but then pass out from literal exhaustion; and Pitchers can match any note thrown at them but have no real melody/rhythm. All exaggerations obviously, but few can do all at once for any length of time. If you can hold that air intake, release it strategically on pitch and note...and for the love of God up or down pitch for any amount of time...you are a Betty. Or a Freddie Mercury. Or...the holy grail of "what is happening?" - Steve Perry.

[@nancysmith4398]

So...understandable blank face on the Babs mention (though probably a legality mention), because this song IS Betty Buckley. Personal note...I saw CATS at a young age, and decades later I still feel this song with every elderly cat I see, esp strays who I can't help. People, spay/neuter your pets. Meanwhile, Mr. Webber is known for notoriously chaotic melodies, and Betty's right there...even "Touch me..." can't be hit by anyone but Betty. Thanks for the....Memory.

[@nickbigd]

ALW almost always has a blank face, Anyway, he wanted Streisand to sing Memory! What a fantastic way to promote his show

[@j.j.bennett661]

Fabulous.

[@janhoke7796]

Such wonderful perfection! ♥️Xxxooo

[@kathleenkishkabibbles2759]

Wow amazing. What a voice!

[@officialmichaelcarrasco]

The sound of a generation

[@estee3305]

Sweet and powerful at the same time

[@mariejames3670]

Go Betty

[@daviddavis6171]

Thank you!!!!

[@fatherbewithme]

❤️🙏

[@spendlove69]

Hannah Waddingham also does a superb live version of Memory - effortless.