Ethel Merman Anything Goes

[@95KIPPIE]

We should all be so fortunate and grateful that Ethel brought all of these wonderful shows to us. All the standard songs that have held through the ages she was the first one to introduce them. Now they’re part of every day life! Thanks so much Ethel!!

[@95KIPPIE]

Just think what an honor for George Gershwin to say to Ethel if there’s anything in these songs that you don’t like I would be happy to change them. I can guarantee you he never said that to anyone else! And a half songs written for her, and shows written for her, what a privilege!!!

[@dancingzolins6782]

This particular song, "Anything Goes", was written by Cole Porter.

[@sublimeade]

Cole Porter

[@edwardgunyo3638]

Oh my, she was just that way. That was Ethel, I met her 45 years ago and believe me, that is the real deal. She lived next door to my cousin in CO, and believe me she sang and sang on practice and drove the neighbor's crazy. But what a voice.

[@allanegleston4931]

net story, memories.

[@roycethrash1556]

Ethel Merman is the epitome of showmanship with her impeccable stage presence and great voice.

[@lenwelch2195]

Half right,great stage presence.

[@patriciastauffer1085]

Ethan sermon songs

[@drostropod9794]

@@lenwelch2195 In the days when amplification was primitive, a voice that could carry all the way to the cheap seats and still be in tune was worth its weight in gold.

[@poppyo7770]

Watching this, then Patti LaPone, Sutton Foster and Jonathan Groff - it’s just so amazing. Such talent and the song really holds up

[@carlang4793]

I love how groffsause is in this comment

[@usukandidont]

Except Sutton Foster can actually sing

[@robsieger1886]

Patti LuPone can sing but when she sang "Anything Goes" at the Tonys lo those many years ago it was ridiculous. Couldn't understand any of the lyrics. Forbidden Broadway justly lampooned her. Elaine Paige is better but I still couldn't quite decipher all the lyrics. Ethel Merman, to quote Porter, was "the tops".

[@jamesnangle2079]

Johnathan Groff?! 😂😂😂

[@enodd_felix12]

@@robsieger1886 this has to be some sort of joke right ?????.....

[@Streisand70]

I have always loved Ethel Merman. But, do you not remember during the 1970s and 1980s how uncool it was to like her. People used her as a caricature of the bad version of 60s big hair and moo moos. I'm glad that is all behind us.

[@1Whipperin]

She f'ed over Ernest Borgnine

[@mggentry]

She just got to that age where you’ve changed styles so often you weren’t gonna update again

[@chipperhughes4755]

Hot take, any school kid is within grounds to make fun of you liking Ethel Merman, simply on the name alone because it sounds funny as a kid. That doesn’t diminish her talent but you don’t need to internalize the opinion of 11 year olds since they really aren’t a level playing field for arguments or thought. lol otherwise you grow up and people like what they like and I’ve never cared but it’s shitty if others have made you feel bad for your your opinion.

[@johnboys4697]

@@1Whipperin how?.

[@1Whipperin]

@@johnboys4697 She was a nut. Read his biography.

[@davidcawrowl3865]

Cole loved her loud, brassy voice and would compose subsequently with her in mind.

[@MrFalconford]

Merman only happen once in a lifetime, everyone knows that and so did Porter!

[@seattlebeard]

Her diction was so good. Does anyone sing with such clarity these days? I hope so.

[@ctruth6185]

This is the best version by far, I can actually understand what she's singing. Strong enunciation. This lady's pipes are strong & clear.

[@showtunestarpower]

I always marvel how Ethel performs her big numbers in new contexts. She is absolutely a joy in this performance - and the choreography is really fun. But, oh, how I wish they had given her a few more verses of the song.

[@betaboog]

do u think she's the best

[@madamerotten]

Without question, she is the best. I like Stefani Germanotta's interpretation, too, but many others who performed recent revivals don't even come close to either of them.

[@rebekahcomer2376]

madamerotten is that just a classy way of saying you like Lady Gaga singing show tunes?

[@madamerotten]

I never heard of Lady Gaga until just now.

[@jakeyjakes_]

madamerotten that was a joke right?

[@kevinhealey6540]

Was born in the 40s. I had heard about Ethel Merman on Broadway in the thirties and was a real thrill to hear her sing "Anything goes" and that alone was worth the price of admission back in 1934, in the Alvin Theatre which was renamed the Neil Simon Theatre.

[@AuntieMamie]

I always thought she was legendary. I’m 75. I also loved Sophie Tucker.

[@Donna-cc1kt]

What a voice and still one of a kind. Always glued be to the tv.

[@alfredbonnabel7022]

Miss Merman lived up the street from me on the same bldg as Van Johnson! Saw them both in the local supermarket❤❤

[@cherylullmann5603]

What was Van Johnson like? just curious.Ethel what amazing lady with a great voice and talent.❤😊

[@alfredbonnabel7022]

@cherylullmann5603 I didn't speak to him. He was tall, with his signature freckles and still had some of his reddish hair. Ethel Merman was shopping the frozen food aisle!

[@globalman]

This is pure, classic and sensational Merman at her best. She sill had the moves, energy and those blessed lungs that she already had at the beginning of her career. Thank you for this time capsule of brilliant and genuine natural talent.

[@globalman]

And for those that don't know Cole Porter wrote the music for this show "Anything Goes" 1934 especially for Miss Merman. She was adored by every song writer in America. From this show came numerous mega hits that all became her trademark songs. She was royalty of the musical theatre world.

[@donaldcrabtree6259]

This really brightened up the day. Great show, great Merman, great dancers. All bright and snappy.

[@standemain]

So great. I did some research on Perplexity. This is from a live performance on "The Colgate Comedy Hour" on February 28, 1954, marking her tv acting debut, as well as that Frank Sinatra. She was about 46. She was 28 when she did the movie.

[@Pondapple]

I'm sure I was watching this back then with my family.

[@SolitudeSometimesIs]

Only found this lady tonight what a voice, what a star ⭐⭐⭐ This song I'd heard my mother sing so to find this what a joy

[@dfirth224]

Ethel had a unique voice. Even if you didn't see her face, you knew it was her. So many Broadway shows she did.

[@christopherdavis80]

In the early 1960s, on our weekends off at Palm Beach and Whale Beach, we, Morson and Harold, Oliver, Ray, Mervyn and Christopher, listened with delight to Ethel. Gypsy enthralled us. Only Harold had been to New York then.

[@chrissmith3369]

It was my honor to meet Ethel merman in 1979, in the small town of blairsden California. Which was truly the Lost Sierras at that time. My late father had been a fan of hers and so was I. She was having dinner with her son and I introduced myself. She was extremely gracious and as it was my birthday she signed a napkin. Happy Birthday Chris Ethel merman 1979. If you knew blairsden in the early and late 70s it's the last place you would think you would find Ethel merman, but I got lucky, and I still have the napkin !

[@WGARVA]

Great story!!

[@randywatts6969]

She had a son? I didn’t know she had any children.

[@kag427]

@@randywatts6969She had two children with her first husband, William Smith. Her daughter Ethel was born in 1940 and her son Robert was born in 1942. However, the person she was dining with mentioned in the comment couldn’t have been her son as he died of a drug overdose in 1961.

[@davidparris7167]

Watching the unique, the absolutely wonderful Ethel Merman belting out a Cole Porter song is like going to heaven.

[@DStuart-s1q]

She's just a gift to humanity. Who couldn't love "The Merm"

[@madamerotten]

Nothing quite like Merman. 100% pure entertainment.

[@thewizfan7627]

madamerotten same !

[@elainesnow326]

Ethel’s voice was so huge she didn’t need a mic to reach the top rafters! Very few people are capable of doing that without sounding like they are shouting. Ms. Merman never shouted - she simply SANG. Huge, incredible voice.

[@nancypine9952]

When George Gershwin heard her sing her grabbed her hand and begged to never, NEVER take singing lessons. That's all pure talent.

[@vintagesubliminals3398]

@@nancypine9952 that’s amazing!

[@ElectrologyNow]

Cole Porter tunes ... always put a smile on my old face.

[@liberte5847]

Merci beaucoup from Paris France 👍 👍 👍 .

[@Bethi4WFH]

EM was like Shirley Bassey......a total 100% entertainer, always delivering!

[@dennett73mk]

Yes she was one of a kind. Saw her concert at Ocean State Theater in 1979. She was signing her autobiography the next day at the Harvard Bookstore. When my friend and I got our turn to say 'hello', my friend told Ethel that I could sing 'Rose's Turn' and asked if she would like to hear me. She replied "No thanks. No singing today, just signing!".

[@Salutimondo]

Yes one of the most annoying things you can do to a musical artist is sing their song in front of them. Everywhere they go there is someone wanting to spontaneously sing (mostly badly) in their face.

[@rnhealer6044]

The great Ethel Merman must have charmed Cole Porter with her rendition of this song. the dancing was wonderful. as well. She was a charismatic, terrific performer and a joy to watch.

[@magal55]

She sparkled like a gem in It's a mad, mad, mad world! And it was a star studded comedy.

[@jimmyr54701]

My favorite movie, and Ethel stole the whole show.

[@alexbatter8109]

She's my favorite character!

[@elderherrera2238]

She was the badass in that movie. I always get a special feeling seeing hearing her.

[@Bethi4WFH]

I’m a-coming Momma 😁

[@rick0e295]

There will never be another to compare with ETHEL 🎉. An American treasure! 🏆. 🌹 💐. Can only imagine her taking center stage in HEAVEN! 🎵 Curtain up! 🎵 Light the lights ✨! Cause🎵I had a dream ✨ there I was 🎶in St Peter's Office and he was saying to me SING 🎵 so I did 🎶 and it woke the Dead!

[@hakontvedt1405]

I belive this is the song used in the game Fallout 3.

[@stephenstephen1505]

The greatest star of musical theatre

[@JohnSmith-gr5qp]

The only things I'd seen her in was It's a mad, mad, world and Airplane!

[@kennethwayne6857]

Sadly, there's precious little of her work documented on film. Try to find the movies of "Call Me Madam" and "There's No Business Like Show Business".

[@roymackenzie-jy4lr]

​@@kennethwayne6857both those films exist un their entirety on KZbin

[@MerkinMuffly]

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom would have been 10 times better if Merman played the lead gal.

[@halewich]

She would have been great as Princess Leia in Star Wars too!

[@robsieger1886]

LOL. You should watch "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World", if you haven't already seen it.

[@benseattle8978]

Well, anyone is entitled to their own lame opinion but Kate Capshaw is gorgeous. And sings in Mandarin!

[@charlesross9260]

@@benseattle8978 Damn right. Boomer Vet

[@AlphaLackey]

Or even if Karen Allen had reprised Marion Ravenwood, who was the PERFECT foil and partner for Indiana Jones, instead of that.. insufferable 'damsel trope'.

[@arthurharrison1345]

Perfection. There is no equal to Merman.

[@elderherrera2238]

She's magic.

[@hollydrucker6360]

She was a belter of song. Never needed a microphone what range.

[@allanmoore4353]

Ethel Merman had a marvelous powerful voice of course, but perfect pronunciation also let you understand every word she sang as well, meaningful delivery of the lyrics as well, little wonder all those composers, Porter, Berlin, Gershwin, etc, she knew them all, loved her for making their music come alive.

[@mga2899]

The lady never needed amplification.

[@annbush1826]

I had a seat in the top row of the balcony for "Annie Get Your Gun" and her voice rang right in my ears!

[@the_gilded_age_phoenix8717]

It was her theatrical background. Had to provide your own amplification back in the day.

[@stvp68]

Look up her duet with Astaire which makes a whole routine out of her volume

[@AbbeBuck]

That’s how we were taught to sing!

[@jayzp6822]

2024 n this trio is STILL GOIN' STRONG both in memory n highlights... Beautiful Souls❤️🙏🏾❤️🙏🏾🪄🕊️✨🕊️✨

[@rowbygoren1830]

Merman is marvelous. And true to form once she started singing she rarely would glance at the other performers. She made certain she was the center of attention. A confident performer, well aware of her considerable talent, Merman deserved all of her fame. ...Rowby.

[@juliagraviet]

I have her autograph! I accidentally found it inside of a playbill from 1984 out of a box of Playbills that I bought at a thrift store.

[@eepanusstar5940]

She was wonderful-what a voice!

[@burleq]

I want to see this whole production!! The kinescope will do fine!

[@christianlederer5668]

Wonderful, simply wonderful!

[@elderherrera2238]

I love her. Just watching her gives me butterflies. Oh so heavenly

[@sandradix3974]

What a great performance!

[@olgitpicker6542]

natural musician born to sing

[@robertfurner1729]

that huge voice, loved it

[@jamespickett2687]

Oueen of Broadway. The beautiful Ethel Merman❤

[@franceswalker2986]

Magic and so was her singing There’s no business like show business. A unique voice. Smashing

[@hebneh]

By this time, she’d performed on stage in so many Broadway shows that doing a live national TV show like this was nothing that could phase her.

[@dave327ful]

Ethel Merman has such an indomitable spirit, she brightens the room by walking into it!

[@lenar6381]

I love how expressive she is with her eyes

[@CarmenDenker-ob9in]

This song applies more to today than ever!

[@MrDavey2010]

Wonderful. Simple but highly professional & effective.

[@meyyappanmeyyappan18]

Exact Chinese copy in Indiana Jones and the temple of doom.😂😂😂.beautiful song

[@bobchafin9868]

Great song wonderful entertaining

[@TheStarwarsian]

Lmao the intro is crazy

[@caponsacchi]

She was the favorite of the composers of "The Great American Songbook" (beginning with Irving Berlin). They trusted her to represent their best work both accurately and, equally important, clearly. In the days of awkward, outsized and dicey microphones, Ethel's elocution could deliver the goods even without a mic!

[@michaelshanks6932]

Actually, beginning with the Gershwins, then Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, and finally Stephen Sondheim. That pretty much says it all, doesn't it?

[@Huddie400]

There was absolutely no one like her!

[@davidcattin7006]

Listening from Cole's hometown, Peru, Indiana! We have a big celebration over his birthday in June! Come on down!

[@rogeragness226]

Bunker Hill here! Go MHS Braves!!

[@spencerbergquist781]

BRAVO.........Throwing roses !!!!

[@dennisbrezina6779]

Ethel and Cole - what a team!

[@floraf01]

It's interesting how many of us (viewers of this video), probably retro-stuff-lovers, are watching these actors in retro (20s) costumes.

[@ambrosejoseph4843]

At 3 in the morning.

[@eyerisdee]

i absolutely love her

[@PaulTesta]

No matter who sings this song, I'm ALWAYS reminded of the opening from "The Boys in the Band" (1970).

[@patrickhicks9880]

Incomparable

[@kristinemckeown1746]

Classic Ethel Merman! She's 'The Top'. :)

[@erichmutchler5643]

She killed it! Awesome 👍

[@arthurharrison1345]

This version: Times have changed And we've often rewound the clock Since the Puritans got a shock When they landed on Plymouth Rock If today Any shock they should try to stem 'Stead of landing on Plymouth Rock Plymouth Rock would land on them In olden days a glimpse of stocking Was looked on as something shocking Now heaven knows Anything goes Good authors too Who once knew better words Now only use four-letter words Writing prose Anything goes The world has gone mad today And good's bad today And black's white today And day's night today And those guys today That women prize today Are just silly gigolos So even out in high society You can forget propriety Goodness knows Anything goes The world is topsy turvey Unconventional Technicolor Hypertensional Love love love Is here to stay And Anything (The world is ever-ever changing) Anything (You have to do some rearranging) Anything anything anything goes Brother Anything goes

[@atmaximum]

Love this version, it seems to ride the "times are changing" theme as aomething positive, rather than the more resentful tone of the original lyrics

[@glowstoneunknown]

@@atmaximum the original lyrics seemed to me to be more of a satire of people claiming the changes are bad, with the overall point being, "the world is changing, and for the better". Though everyone is entitled to their own interpretation.

[@jadenwaz9585]

She reminds me of my great aunt.

[@kellymantoothisunfittobeaj1650]

Omg can you imagine if this song was updated how awesome it would be

[@joaopauloribas8495]

She’s so powerful I’m in love

[@jaydillo4962]

Emma Horton brought me here😎

[@susanp.collins7834]

She'd have made an amazing Mame!

[@Silvana716]

Why can't Ethel Merman reincarnate?

[@nathanielcraig3588]

Silvana716 She's the headliner in the after life. Legend has it on clear days if you listen hard enough you can hear her singing from the heavens.

[@davidmehnert6206]

How do you know she didn’t? Ask the Puritans! Plymouth Rock is on.a Roll! Midlife crisis? Pshh... defeat Isis!!! Moses supposes that, here in OUR day, things have a way of coming up roses. Until you’ve danced on Basin Street, you’ll never know how much it means, where the elite REALLY come to eat... Ask Ron and Nancy, ask Ethel, too - the truest riposte may not be so mete, but peanut butter is not quite ... jelly beans.

[@MegaHatLady]

Silvana716 She did: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmjKdmlmmJWirrc

[@elderherrera2238]

Nah. Ethel Merman is one of a kind.

[@MegaHatLady]

Elder Herrera A person can impersonate but of course she was one of a kind

[@timoconnor2866]

My grandfather gave me a werther's original on a train while humming this song anyhow he died last week. you would have liked him.

[@ssjwes]

I believe I would've liked him. Sorry to hear of your loss. RIP.

[@elconquistador2166]

she is a great singer

[@mggentry]

She wrote the script on musical theatre performance

[@rebeccalilys3855]

I guess if i were to compare a bit, Ethel Merman's voice reminds me of Bette Midler.

[@manueld848]

A veces despreciamos los comentarios tipo "da un like si estás aquí por tal o por cuál cosa" (normalmente una serie de Netflix o similar). Pues bien. Yo estoy aquí por "Indiana Jones y el templo maldito". Bien es verdad que en este tiempo transcurrido (casi 40 años) he podido conocer y apreciar a Ethel Merman en muchas interpretaciones, así como casi todo el cine musical y buena parte de las obras de Broadway, pero no deja de ser cierto que, al menos en este caso, mi motivación fue la que dije. Si hubiera tenido la posibilidad de escribir un comentario en 1984, no hubiera sido muy distinto de esos que criticamos. No perdamos la perspectiva y tengamos presente que los sorprendidos de hoy (por la razón que sea) pueden ser los aficionados de mañana.

[@evalevy2909]

This is what stage presence looked like

[@chrismedina54]

Shit slaps.

[@michaelbauers8800]

I like the cadence in other songs more. But it's nice to hear her version. My mom and I were talking about this, presumably from the Colgate Comedy Hour in the 1950s. Frank Sinatra was also in the show.

[@artistphx]

Broadway musicals were made for her kind of voice.

[@leemclaury6251]

She had HUGE arm jesters. She had those arms always swinging as she sung.

[@howardstrauss5337]

Big star from a lost world with a great big voice big heart big personality. Do you remember her playing a traumatised soldier who thought he was she? Just a brief cutaway in a classic 70's comedy airplane.

[@rick0e295]

Today, in this crazy 🤪 world, ETHEL and Cole Porter seem to be prophetic!

[@old.not.too.grumpy.]

Strange to hear the cleaned up lyrics 😂

[@Lovelyduck10]

I love her singing

[@johnfd0210]

Go look in a mirror.

[@Lovelyduck10]

@@johnfd0210 Epic roast

[@Mike-nt9sx]

Diggin' this flapper themed version.

[@Greatdome99]

Eat your heart out, Taylor Swift. Try singing this!

[@fromthesidelines]

Originally presented as a special episode of "THE COLGATE COMEDY HOUR" {February 28, 1954}.

[@bazcar22]

Oh the memories, diamonds for days and a dress that would blind a charging Rhinoceros... Fabulocity.

[@Briggette-B3M]

Excellent

[@CodyHomes]

This song aged too swell and is still extremely accurate.

[@ssjwes]

When she said "anything goes" she didn't mean it literally, Hollywood...

[@amberlantern9328]

Tho she was very sexually explicit lmao, she made Mitzi Gaynor roll on the floor with her surprisingly wild stories.

[@AbbeBuck]

The MERM!

[@OGRE_HATES_NERDS]

i only know her from mad mad world but man is she great in that movie

[@yeemawheaver1387]

I love the dress