Josephine BAKER - 1927

• Video
Tout le film "LA REVUE DES REVUES", 1927 avec la musique originale TARANTA BABU !
All film "LA REVUE DES REVUES", 1927 with original music TARANTA BABU !
"Сначала я танцевала, чтобы согреться, а потом поняла, что рождена для танца. Жить для меня - значит танцевать".
В 1921 году 15-летняя Жозефин уже была известной комической танцовщицей и исполняла сложные акробатические номера.
Юная Жозефин блистала в Берлине, Брюсселе, Вене и Копенгагене. В парижском театре "Фоли Бержер" она произвела фурор, когда выскочила из-за кулис, прикрытая лишь гроздью бананов.
Знаменитые художники и модельеры создавали для Жозефин безумные костюмы из перьев и блесток. Пуаре придумывал для нее расшитые бисером, сверкающие цилиндры. Иногда платья кроились из полотна, расписанного модными тогда кубистами........
Жозефин всегда притягивала к себе неординарных людей. В 1926 году Эрнест Хемингуэй впервые танцевал с Жозефин: "Было жарко, но она куталась в манто. Мы танцевали весь вечер, но она ни разу его не сняла. Только когда клуб закрылся и мы вышли, Жозефин призналась мне, что под мехами у нее не было никакой одежды". Первая жена Жоржа Сименона, Регина, вспоминала: "Мы ходили в ее ночной клуб почти каждый вечер. Разумеется, Сименон был с ней близок. Но в то время я об этом не знала".

[@themarbleking]

She looks so happy she wasn’t in America! In Europe she was seen as a human being and could go to the finest restaurants and stay in the best hotels.

[@tomjomes4271]

whites are racist everywhere, nice try

[@arianbyw3819]

No. Europe then was more appreciative than the US

[@lettiegrant9447]

👍👍

[@dominicksebastien2254]

It's true. But, who could've guessed that a decade later it would be swept under waves of racism so vile and so maddening in the form of nazism that would dwarf anything done in USA.

[@sakurakou2009]

Europeans are the one who put africans and indegious people in human zoos 🤡

[@deekid311]

you cannot help but smile when you see this woman dance... unbridled, spontaneous passion.. she didn't care if she looked silly or weird.. whatever naturally manifested in her movements was just what it was.. that's an element that most of today's dancers will never have.. everything is meticulously choreographed and "in formation".. and nothing's wrong with that, it just lacks that chaotic soul that makes dance so enjoyable

[@TheMorganVEVO]

I agree 100%. You took the words right outta my mouth.

[@thomast7748]

The producers certainly asked her to look silly because of her skin colour unfortunately so i can’t agree on that.

[@deekid311]

@@thomast7748 seriously?! I had no idea about this.. 🙁 I genuinely thought this was just her own self-expression

[@KrMees]

@@thomast7748 There's a bit more nuance to that. Her silly looks work because the audience enjoyed and recognized these racial stereotypes. However, she was personally involved in a lot of the artistic choices in regard to her performances, so you could also argue that she weaponized hostile elements of society to her own advantage. So yes, the silly looks were a product of racist thought in society, but she was not entirely a victim in this scenario.

[@thomast7748]

@@KrMees Yes, she was not a real victim because she got money for that. The victims was the black peoples.

[@cittaromap4163]

Amazing footage ❤ I had the immense privilege and the honor to have worked with Miss Baker in 1975 @ Bobino. I was the youngest dancer in the cast . The show was called “ Josephine “ It was based on her life story celebrating her 50 years in show business from her humble beginning in St Louis to her triumphant comeback to Bobino. She used to call me “ her little page “ (Son petit page )cause of my age ! I just turned 18 th on April 1st 1975. luckily for me I have tons of memorable pics from the show as well as unforgettable stories of this short but amazing run. ! She was extremely engaged with all of the dancers .Wanting to know everyone ‘s names .Josephine really truly care about people She was a true legend immensely talented beautiful ,elegant ,generous , humble and compassionate. Josephine had many lives and reinvented herself many times throughout her long career. Miss Baker had the perfect combination of charisma and humanity . She would bring oranges for the entire company saying “ My children you need lots Vit C for strength and energy “ She was so right cause the rehearsals were long and grueling ,,,. Bobino ‘s stage was too small to accommodate a cast of 8 boys 12 girls 3 comedians 1 little girl who played young josephine and 1 gorgeous dancer who perform the famous banana dance ! So they had to transformed the stage by expanding it including moving the orchestra to the balcony and putting additional seats in the theater and building brand new dressing rooms to accommodate such a big cast all while we were practicing in the lobby of The theater for at least 10 days ! It was bit chaotic to say the list and quite cold being mid -February But no one seemed to care it was so exciting to be part of this legendary show ! Even though None of the big Paris music ‘halls like Le Casino de Paris ,Le Moulin Rouge or les Folies Bergère wanted to take the risk producing Miss baker mostly for insurance purposes There were already rumors circulating of her failing health but a small theater by Paris left bank called Bobino took a chance ...Josephine liked to rehearsed late at night after we were done practicing. She even enjoyed having her favorite dish Spaghetti bolognese around 1 am at a restaurant right across the theater. I was one of the lucky one to have diner with her and only few members of the cast at Jean-Claude Brialy ‘s restaurant called L’ Orangerie where Josephine would reminisce on her career. Saying humbly “Well I was lucky I just had a great body and nice smile “ !!! I Could believe how down to earth she was. I will never forget the very first time I saw her performing once the stage was finally ready. That night She was in the audience watching us dancing with huge smile on her face applauding many times throughout being so proud of the cast. After all she was watching part of her whole life story in front of her eyes. ... In fact during the promotion of the show a French journalist asked her. “ How does it feel to see your life story being played in front you and starring in your own life musical ? She replied “ it’s wonderful At least i will see what they think of me when I am still alive !!!! I When we were done the director Andre levasseur said “ josephine c ‘ est a vous “ she jumped on stage and belt a song from the Brazilian number called” Que c‘est bon de vivre” She seemed to be completely possessed by the rhythm of the Afro Cuban sound very reminiscing of “Princess Tam-Tam “ all those years earlier ...Her moves were so unbelievable. Her body was in perfect shape specially in her Chanel suit !!!! There is No way you would have guessed that this beautiful lady was in her late 60 ‘s. A goddess still !!!! What thrill for me. A true master CLASS ,,,,,, My very first contact with Josephine was when she almost fell from the stairs for the folie Bergere number. I was there to catch her hand very tightly and she gave me a nod and huge smile. Right after she came in the wing and asked my age ? I replied I am 18. She asked does your mom know you are here. I said “she surely does and she is so proud that I am dancing with you “ !!!!!! We rehearsed the show for about 1 month and half . We actually did more than 4 performances. We started with one week of previews on March 25 th special Press night on April 2 Nd. to glorious reviews ! We had another full week of performances with a big opening gala on April 8 th with stars like Grace Kelly’s Sophia Loren & Alain Delon. We had another performance on the 9 th but She felt into a coma on the 10 th and past in the early hours on the 12 th. I was invited to her funeral at l ‘eglise de la Madeleine The service was extremely beautiful and so very emotional I went to Monaco cemetery recently to pay my respect for this Grande Dame 46 years later. Josephine paved the way for the Diana Ross Madonna Beyoncé and many other artists. A true legend. Unparalleled. ❤️❤️❤️. La Bakair Forever. 🍌 💃 🕺

[@THE-HammerMan]

Your comments and memories are fantastic! Thank you.

[@cittaromap4163]

@@THE-HammerMan well thank you so much Matthew. It’s so very kind of you to write a little note. Josephine was larger than life with so much humility Humanity and dignity. Be well. 👍

[@THE-HammerMan]

@@cittaromap4163 I'm sure a lot of Josephine rubbed off on to you! God Bless.

[@nednottage1184]

Bonjour monsieur, mon francais c'est ne pas parfait, mais j'adore Miss Josephine Baker!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Je suis americain et je connais la histoire de Josephine Baker de 1906-75. Actualment, je suis Josephine Baker. Oui, c'est vrai. Alors, j'ai l'esprit d'elle.

[@cittaromap4163]

@@nednottage1184 Bonjour. Thank you for the kind message about divine Josephine. I was very lucky to be near this Legend for 3 months. It was an incredible master class. Specially for a very very young dancer ! I will never forget her kindness towards me her humility and humanity. Be well.

[@therealzilch]

Josephine Baker was a gift to humankind.

[@domenicv7962]

to mankind, too

[@laurencaulton103]

The music put to this just shows that she was a hundred years ahead of her time. She'd dance anybody off the stage today. She looks like she owns the world.

[@giulio76ful]

name of the first song.. fuk.. please..

[@rjules1083]

Beyoncé tries to imitate Josephine Baker.

[@domitype]

Galet - not finding a track name, but the music is by Babu Taranta (or the other way around.) There are a few other youtubes by him/them. I think they are Turkish, but not finding much info.

[@foxlisas]

@@rjules1083 she did a tribute to her 100th anniversary of birth w/ her single ‘déjà vu’ back in 2006

[@321snoot]

@@rjules1083 There was only one Josephine Baker, never to be duplicated.

[@elianeabaa9583]

My back and legs hurt just by Watching... outstanding dancer !

[@lulolasammuel5586]

😂😂😂😂

[@Rachel-fi4sc]

That footwork! Those isolations! What a dancer! She moves like her bones bend, and she makes it look so effortless and joyful.

[@BlueSkyCrystals]

There’s so much to love about her dancing. Personally I love her facial expressions the most, and I’m amazed she’s so beautiful even when she contorts her face! 😂 I’m so happy I have heard of her now but I wish I knew of her sooner.

[@briancrowley6413]

I love how she mixed sensuality, sexiness and different styles of dance and still had time to wink at the camera

[@bidennumbskull7613]

The roaring 20’s… One hell of a time!

[@TigsDenStudio]

OMG the second half of this was hilarious! She was dressed like a little girl and danced. Toddlers often don't know how to dance very well, they try to mimic how their parents dance and end up falling on their butt or swinging their arms wildly. She even crossed her eyes and goofed around. The band broke into smiles when the song was over. I'd love to see more comedic stuff from Josephine.

[@wallacemays4842]

She was gorgeous, had style and class!!!!

[@wingsofspirit6392]

Very very bold for the 20s. She was awesome and walked in her own expressive power.

[@lettiegrant9447]

Only in France. No way could she have been able to dance as freely as she did if she had stayed in America. She never would have become the star she became. Only in France could that have happened. Sad, but true.

[@ninam.6781]

@@lettiegrant9447 That's perfectly understandable.

[@alidabaxter5849]

She's amazing - it's as though she had no bones or joints. What an incredible talent.

[@auroradvm]

I think she must have also had a fab sense of humour and wit as well as talent and originality

[@TheDblairwitch]

Definetly NOT the music from the original. Good to see Josephine doing her thing!

[@giulio76ful]

name of the first song .. please..

[@TheMatrixofMeaning]

This music sucks beyond anything I've ever heard Except maybe Nickelback

[@domitype]

Jean, you maybe need to get out more ;-) There is a world of music that crosses all borders between jazz and ethnic/folk styles that is exciting and adventurous. Maybe you will hear it on some college or community radio stations, or on the internet. Explore!

[@321snoot]

@@TheMatrixofMeaning Huh?!? You're joking, right?

[@TheMatrixofMeaning]

@@domitype @321snoot I listen to and compose many different styles of music so when I say I don't like a certain sound I mean that. We all can't like everything.

[@simmieautomatic8353]

3:59 was incredible. Nice popping and locking and to the beat of the banjo too!

[@johnfulton4921]

I would love to see a broadway musical about this lady

[@Poisson4147]

Me too, but who on earth could re-create even half of those moves? 😁😁

[@imilliemedina666]

There was. It was "Josephine" but as the previous commenter stated, who could recreate La Baker?

[@bidennumbskull7613]

I’ll tell you this,… The head dress in the 20’s was stellar!

[@SadieLeeSketches-jd3nj]

I LOVE this woman! Every time i see her, she makes me smile

[@kindell1]

I could watch her all day. Not too many performers I feel that way about

[@ladarciferrera1906]

She was a Game Changer, One of My Favorites! Shake It Josephine!!!

[@Tressco]

I've just come to realize that Josephine Baker maybe invented every possible dance move, a body can ultimately express, without smashing your brains out and/or go life-long paraplegic afterwards, hands down.

[@ChristianSouque]

Elle était si jeune déjà au top, elle aurait été mon idole de suite si j'avais été de son temps. Quand elle est morte, je ne la connaissais pas mais j'avais perçu là que nous avions perdu quelqu'un de grand, une star éblouissante, un talent merveilleux que l'on ne reverra plus et tout ce que j'ai appris sur elle depuis m'a conforté dans mon intuition, au point qu'elle est à présent et jusqu'à ma mort, mon idole absolue.

[@elisalatinijesi]

è MERAVIGLIOSA ... UN'INNO ALLA LIBERTA D'ESPRESSIONE

[@spectralmelodies5979]

I am blessed, BLESSED I tell you, to get see such an artist.

[@catmom1322]

I'd like to have even 5% of her energy!

[@stephaniejohnson6538]

One of my favorite lady performers and activist.

[@alphaomegaforce]

combination of hiphop struts moon walk etc gosh she is so amazing..

[@user-ll5ik3fm6f]

This is not hip hop. Although she was a trained dancer as a ballerina, African Dance and many other forms the industry did not allow her to show all of her dance knowledge.

[@tiana1017]

@@user-ll5ik3fm6f i see breakdancing moves here, some of the moves she did were done in the 80s 90s and today, she was ahead of her time, i was astonished of her moves

[@tiana1017]

@@user-ll5ik3fm6f 3:59 was incredible. Nice popping and locking and to the beat of the banjo too, this is a comment from someone else who also recognizes the moves that people ended up doing many years after

[@user-ll5ik3fm6f]

@@tiana1017 Hip Hop begun in 1973. I am a dance educator. I am a dance historian and getting my Ph.D in dance in 2025. My dissertation is about Ms. Baker. I'm in our government on Capitol Hill with access to America's most accurate documents of her work on film in dance. This is ministerial sideshow style dance with a hint of burlesque but if you know her body of work she would sneak in other forms of dance and get in trouble. She took baffonery and bamboozled it but showed how insulting it is, but she had the power to re-interpret it. No one dances like this in the 80's or 90's I grew up in that time and my late brother was a NYC street dancer that one competitions in hip hop and other forms...

[@user-ll5ik3fm6f]

@@tiana1017 those are Black-Jazz movements. I could see why you think that hip hop music samples jazz but it's still a distinction between hip hop dance and "street jazz" and Black-jazz.

[@jackarmstrong7403]

She was an extremely talented performer in all ways! She was also an extremely important spy for the allies in world war 2 - her fame and travel to entertain gave her cover to move around Europe and carry info...

[@bellini7verdi]

ELLA ESTABA VIVA...............................MAS VIVA ..........QUE LOS DEMAS......................POE ESO ES EL RITMO EN PERSONIFICADO..INCLUSO HASTA EN LAS CADENCIAS MAS ROMANTICAS Y SENSUALES................SIEMPRE FUE Y ES LA MEJOR EN TODAS LAS EXPRESIONES ARTISTICAS..........COMO CANTANTE Y BAILARINA.......Y EXPRESIVA....VIVIA LA VIDA...EN TODAS...SUS FACETAS..............AL LIMITE....................HASTA EL DIA DE SU MUERTE..................UNA MUJER SIN IGUAL...............................................

[@gloriahanes5338]

Love, love, love Josephine Baker, and her statue makes me smile whenever I look at it.

[@destinymagic7694]

🤣🤣😀😀😀 Wow! Too just dance like that! ☺️😊 with such freedom and Joy! And, not care what anyone else around her was thinking ... 🙂

[@anaguimaraes6143]

Esse vídeo é uma relíquia. A Josephine ‘causou’ com essa e outras danças 👏

[@davidives7997]

Imagine the decadence at this time. "Outrageous " She's so 😍 cute

[@giulio76ful]

the "twenty"... aaahh fuk.. such a legendary days..

[@adsmith364]

the quirky faces she makes while performing are hilarious! I I wonder why she made those faces.

[@adsmith364]

***** Sweet!!!

[@jasminec1280]

She was making it funky😂

[@btinsley1]

because its comedy

[@lucyflorey9152]

It's like she was saying to all the ridiculous people with their boring pretentious white folks dance moves " in your face"

[@chrisedwards3214]

@@lucyflorey9152 drunk

[@user-yx2rj7ox5d]

Нда... Надо ей отдать должное. Без комментариев,ибо это потрясающее зарождение искуство в этой теме! Бони М не зря про неё спели.

[@Ivan_Zanicchi]

Fantastic Josephine!

[@MatimoreAgain]

Pure entertainment. Not an ounce of vulgarity. Genius!

[@user-co7jb1ws5r]

فنانة لن تتكرر أبدا ..

[@papillonsplendide113]

Elle avait une façon unique de danser. Des jambes tellement dynamiques et une très grande souplesse. Au service de la musique quel que soit le rythme 🎩👏

[@someonegetsteve]

Really? I found it mesmerizing, there's "something" about it... just intoxicating.

[@DVV011]

Это было тяжелое время... Мы развлекались, как могли...

[@ChrisHoward-ky8pv]

Best thing I've seen in a while. Absolutely love Miss Baker, would that I could have seen her dance her stories for real.

[@williampowell8973]

Currently reading a book by author Damien Lewis ‘the flame of resistance’ about her wortime work with the French Deuxieme Bureaux and British SIS(MI6) during WW2 . What a story you really couldn’t make it up. C’mon Hollywood, someone take it on 👍🏻

[@321snoot]

That's a great idea!

[@purpleperegrine7295]

What a legend. This woman rocks!!!

[@user-bp3se7zm2x]

Nobody can bend or erase Her glory.Even if blow histrical storm.

[@mullajonovamasturaxon4399]

Какой талант и обаяние - Супер.

[@angosciacronica6287]

sono d'accordo con te.Lei sente la musica nel sangue e il corpo liberamente,ma con armonia,si esprime

[@amparoospina562]

❤ excelente

[@educationalquoteslifewisdo3528]

An outstanding personality who died far too early. Josephine Baker captivated with her charisma, determination, willingness to perform and humanity. She was a visionary, a trailblazer who ventured into untrodden territory. Until her death, she prepared a path for other women, and of course especially for those who were discriminated against, for all to follow.

[@Poisson4147]

Well, she was 68 when she passed away - and accomplished more than most people could in 2 or 3 lifetimes! Even back then 68 wasn't especially old, but I'm also thinking of contemporaries like Dorothy Dandridge or Billie Holliday who were cheated out of decades.

[@elemileTLDR]

Those 20's were nuts and brilliant. These are grim in comparisson.

[@simonadoffini3637]

Bellissimo video👏👏👏

[@DenelsiaWalker]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@carlamonsalve8773]

She is a really dancer!!!!

[@man975dog]

The Jazz Singer from 1927 was the first soundtrack movie in America, but not in France since the French were the inventors of photography. They had everything with photography like sound movies and colour photography, long before we had them here in America.

[@hollymauk8008]

She was way before her time. Amazing woman

[@TreeBug88]

Thank you

[@sspicmi]

when you see Michael Jacskon periodically crossing his eyes and goofing around, this is where it's coming from ;-)

[@mrs.jackson5872]

He’s not creepy tho. This is but girl can move lol

[@labandera2445]

waw! she is incredible!

[@carmenvelezgarduno2382]

Adelantadisima a su época!!!!❤

[@quedugar408]

Gorgeous!!!

[@PinKSmOke420]

I absolutely love her❤ she lived one hell of a cool life 😄

[@francis_actuel1924]

she was incredible, during her life she also campaigned against racism and was resistant during the second world war, in France

[@mysticwing4912]

wow does are some damm crazy moves ○-○

[@MegaMaxiepad]

The woman was hypnotic. Her facial expression is delightful. There's even hints of Michael Jackson in her moves (well, the other way around). Naturally, if she were to perform her famous Banana Dance today, she would be called a racist and get cancelled in the US.

[@gagecarty4290]

She understood who she was performing from, dressed like that she would've never been able to be taken seriously

[@Choices2aa]

Before Marilyn Before Madonna There was Josephine Baker and she had class and she was an amazing woman and she lived her life and Lynn Whitfield played her in The Josephine Baker Story I have it and I love this woman b/c she had something... and she was amazing. She was also in Moulin Rouge and she was the real woman who really moved and had class about her performances and she knew how to shock audiences especially with her bannana dance, she could burn the floor when she danced. I wish I could have met her and seen her perform back in 1920's. I wonder what happened to her children.

[@ellisjahfinelcraddock]

Braavoo josephine braavoo. So awesome & unbelievable. 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

[@jacquelinecarvalho5007]

She was amazing!!! When she's dieng i was borning. But i love!!! 👏👏👏🌼🌼🌼🌷🌷🌷

[@soniakirei4428]

Забавно.. Спасибо!

[@user-vd2bf2fw5z]

Восторг!

[@gilly0992]

Wao Miss Josephine Baker meravigliosa ❤

[@BlueSkyCrystals]

The shuffle at 3:50 😮 Amazing!

[@tonyablount6332]

Thats right girl show em how its done.

[@buttcheeksmcgee4272]

Cocaine is a hell of a drug...... LMAO

[@dahliafully]

well, technically, commercially available synchronized sound came out with the Jazz Singer in 1927. But previously there were a handful of different sound techniques. It's more than likely that there is documentation on where and when exactly this performance was filmed. And it's likely that it was originally synched with sound. Or at least there is documentation of what song she was performing. This is a lit set, not an actual cabaret. It is a clip from The Revue of Revues.

[@pasqualebifulco6882]

Artista. Straordinaria.

[@luciensantana7596]

Super dame BRAVO

[@galelynmcelroy9716]

Check out the dance of Josephine dancing the banana dance. Its about 1 &1/2 minutes.

[@chrisedwards3214]

She did some breakdancing moves

[@JulioHernandez-zs5pb]

Mujer espectacular!

[@carlamonsalve8773]

Wowwww

[@tammymiller3862]

Queen of Art,,,Dance..before her time

[@gabiionescu1899]

Perfecta.

[@dbrown9495]

Reminds me of me!!

[@bonacker7496]

I agree... but there was no sound film in 1927! So who knows what the specific original music was?

[@domitype]

There were records, and they sounded nothing like the backing track! However, the music is interesting in a "hundred years later" way, and it is fun.

[@aharris8684]

Play it on 0.75. Just. Stunning.

[@milicaivanovic9459]

She loved Olivera Katarina!

[@user-kd4ty9uy6i]

Удивительно, столько энергии без остановок, и всё достаточно сложные движения. Не сказать, что красиво, но экзотика большая.

[@frankshuffitt3925]

This beautiful lady had some cradio.

[@jesusalbertogarzagarcia8131]

Tenía un talento muy grande para bailar

[@angosciacronica6287]

bello il brano, che sballo lei !

[@giulio76ful]

la musica non è quella dello spettacolo originale.. se fai una ricerca su youtube troverai lo stesso video di J.B. ma con un altra musica,, l'originale fa parte di un film ed è protetta da copyright penso.. poi grandiosa cmq.. non era quello il punto.. ;)

[@cynthiapickett7403]

Baker was a vaudeville performer in the beginning.

[@esthermendoza6665]

Qué hermoso baila

[@ladylibrum7145]

If you slow this to .75 speed, she just looks like a very flexible and funky lady having a good time dancing.

[@persogermania1832]

wooooooooow 😲😲😲😲😲😲😲 👍🏽 👍🏽 👍🏽

[@dahliafully]

thank you for emphasizing the advances France had technically. what was the first commercially available soundtrack movie in France? Do you know if The Revue of Revues had a soundtrack? I'm genuinely interested. Thanks.

[@adrianagalli7504]

A pop icon

[@amgmoraes783]

Realmente, ela estava muito à frente de seu tempo....