Patti LuPone at Les Mouches - MEADOWLARK

More Patti from Les Mouches, 1980. Here, Meadowlark from The Baker's Wife, the failed Steven Schwartz musical she did with Paul Sorvino, the Boss from Goodfellas.

[@timothybouvier669]

she sang this right after playing Eva Peron for three hours. Nuff said.

[@diggerhoward4078]

For all wondering this is 1980 when Patti was still starring in Evita. Every Saturday night at midnight she would perform this show at Les Mouches. I am amazed because I cannot imagine doing 1 (possibly 2) performances of Evita and then doing this at midnight… and then waking up for a Sunday show?!? Truly amazing! BRAVA!!!

[@djmotise]

what?! is this true?!!

[@diggerhoward4078]

Yes!! It is insane!!

[@michellsmorgcycle4161]

Oh, she didn't do the matinee and the Sunday shows during the Evita run. Terri Klausner did those. Patti had Sundays off, so she did 6 shows a week rather than 8. (I don't think her vocal cords would have survived if she did all 8 shows per week plus Les Mouches!)

[@richardmayora1289]

@@michellsmorgcycle4161 And Klausner was so much better. This Evita bs was debunked in Vanity Fair years ago that the role required an alternate.

[@johnmichael1968]

Classic Patti: an untamed, erratic hot mess you can't get enough of.

[@Griffologee]

Wow! An early Patti not afraid of some head voice. Truly a masterclass.

[@TheatreFilmBuff]

This is probably one of, if not THE, best vocal performance of her career (this or the recording version)....it is also probably Stephen Schwartz best song.

[@richardmayora1289]

Nope. She learned to sing when she did Sunset Boulevard. Prior to that, she was soooooooooo filled with affectations which distracted from the song and her diction was appalling.

[@Pww642]

@@richardmayora1289 this is so off-base. She chews every single word in this song. Her enunciation is amazing, especially as fast as the tempo is.

[@netsurfer10024]

My friends Cary & John owned Les Mouches. The night Pati performed we took her to 12 West disco afterwards. She was a blast to dance with at 12 West.

[@mds1978]

There are not enough superlatives in the world to adequately describe the genius that is Patti LuPone

[@kryptonbear1]

I went to see her in this show with several friends. I believe it was 1979. It was the first time I ever heard this song and I distinctly remember her spoken "hunk" intro. Absolutely ASTONSIHING that this video should appear on KZbin 30 years later and that I would see it 14years after that.

[@KatradioNY]

I worked at Les Mouches during this time. Ms. Lupone brought the house down! Thanks for posting this rarity!

[@voceangelo]

I love these early, cocaine-fueled performances at Les Mouches! Do it, Patti!

[@pmurraymusic]

Robusta Capp really? she was doing cocaine?

[@voceangelo]

P. Murray Oh yes. Read her memoir. She pulls no punches in it.

[@pmurraymusic]

Robusta Capp hmm!

[@katinkafoxxworth2437]

no wonder she kept rushing lol

[@kipleitner6939]

She's definitely in front of the beat. But it seems consistent throughout. She's not really wandering around in the time. I'm a pianist/accompanist. I've sometimes encountered singers that do this intentionally to give really energetic songs a kind of "punch." Buddy Rich did this on the drums. He was always slightly in front of everyone else, driving the band. It's kinda weird to my ears, but you get used to it eventually. Or, maybe Lupone was just high that night!

[@jotheodorou]

She is incomparable...in a class of her own... a true Broadway diva.....I have goosebumps and can barely breathe when her performs.... she is like NO ONE ELSE... Now this is not to say there are not other superb versions of Meadowlark... but there is room for all...that is the nature of a great "tune"... Bravo Patti....

[@leciga28]

This is the BEST rendition of this song. What can't she do?

[@wilshawlr]

I LOVE this version of it. I always listen to it when I don't feel like listening to the awful quality of the actual The Baker's Wife cast recording. I just don't understand how people are saying that they can't hear the emotion in her voice! Seeing her live should be considered a wonder of the world in and of itself!

[@prestonessence9]

Patti is seriously one of the few who can like, belt higher than her belt lol...

[@bluetoothpick]

This is the first time i've heard this song and i'm moved to tears

[@showtunestarpower]

I just watch Alice Ripley's slow, full of pauses version. This version, with the tempo starting out right at the beginning is the version I'll always love - and, of course, this is one of Patti's greatest bits of material - in a career full of GREAT material. Brava Patti!

[@Pww642]

it's such a long song that you really need to keep it up-tempo. i love the momentum of this version.

[@jotheodorou]

She is incomparable....in a class of her own....

[@emily51805]

how about we say positive things about the person performing in the video we're watching and leave the comments about other people for their own videos? art is not a competition. it is beauty and acceptance. let's embrace talent- not weigh whether one person's talent is worth more than another's or claim they have none.

[@alexfulmer3259]

the spotlight is doing THE MOST

[@SweetAngelOfMusic94]

I love this song! And patti is just AMAZING!

[@amourah2003]

One of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. And Patti does it justice- almost unbearably beautiful. Though I prefer the original cast recording, this version is still awesome. Amazing.

[@vinceinelkins]

i love she sais hold on and straight up gives her nose a "coke scratch"

[@ers586]

I just bought this cd. It's amazing. What a talent.

[@ausfantony]

There are about twenty different Diva versions of this song on KZbin - Liz Callaway, Alice Ripley, Betty Buckley, etc, etc. THIS is BY FAR the best version you will hear. Aah-MAZING!

[@ilovepattilupone]

Wonderful! Perfection.

[@machinegunvibrato]

so young. so fabulous.

[@OldieMusicMan]

I don't know why, but when I hear Patti LuPone singing this, I see her as a woman entirely made to perform.

[@aavauxhall]

God, what a voice. No one comes close.......

[@Pww642]

LOVE HER CONSONANT ENDINGS! "meadowlarK" "winDUH" "blinDUH" "willUH"

[@golddustwoman]

omg i'm loving you for posting all of these!! this is one of my very faves

[@darrenkoe2007]

I was wondering the same thing. LOL and she always complains in interviews that she could not sing the role of Evita. Barbra Streisand did the same thing during her run in "Funny Girl" on Broadway. I honestly don't know how they had a voice left after the show!

[@richardmayora1289]

Funny Girl is the most ridiculously demanding role in musical theater. No role has so much singing with so many challenging songs back to back.

[@mjacton]

1979 most likely (definitely while she was in Evita).

[@chimfam04]

I love PATTI! But truthfully! Is she on speed in this video? After performing Evita 8times a week and then doing this cabaret show afterward...one has to wonder...

[@michaeldemarco7694]

I absolutely love her!

[@FierceEyes]

Such a beautiful song. :)

[@vintageglam521]

"right on!" god she's perfect.

[@jotheodorou]

No one like her! Love it!

[@angelafischettifitness]

Another wonderful version is by Betty Buckley.

[@uncletibs]

i saw it topal was in it with her .

[@paharrisonnc]

I know it's Stephen Schwarz but this sounds SOO Jason Robert Brown!

[@Keith_Petersen_Actor]

It does NOT!!!

[@CaffinatedLuv]

fiercefiercefierce.

[@АсяНемурзина]

КАК? КАК ВЫ ЭТО ЗАПИСАЛИ?! А потом они говорят, что путешественников во времени не существует!

[@powerfulpowerzz]

hey newnicktahoe, i was wondering if u had any clips of the song buenos aires (whether from les mouches or actual footage of the play) if u do pls post it

[@chino17]

Is this the audio used for the Les Mouches album?

[@Pww642]

i think some of the ending is different!

[@jotheodorou]

No one like her!!

[@coripixie]

life

[@boy-si4sh]

diction like no other

[@quickmix21]

What year is this

[@djmotise]

what is with that spotlight? creepy

[@AutieTeleDexBaBrBo]

Proper cabaret.

[@ragarast]

I love her and this song. But after enveloping myself into the song and stuff, I don't get any emotion from this. I feel like she changes the circumstances for this certain performance and I really don't like it. :/ I mean, she sounds great, I just don't feel it.

[@waynespeers]

hmm...

[@singsingsing22]

i love pattis voice!!!!! but i like the way Liz Callaway sings this song better

[@ShowtuneSampler]

Heaven forbid Ms. LuPone should act a song. It's not like she's an actress or anything.

[@djmotise]

Absolutely ridiculous tempo and delivery style. Yuck. It was good for awhile and then became manic, as if she is on speed or something. It was pure butchery in spots. Shame on the pianist for this encouragement and for the fast staccato unmusical playing in much of this.

[@Pww642]

disagree -- i think it makes the song! it's a long fucking song and she jams it. it keeps it from going on and on. and it matches the theme --- the song pours forth like a torrent of crazy love, which is what this song is about.

[@ughwhydoidothisendme8477]

Also technically she was doing cocaine back then so...

[@kipleitner6939]

@@Pww642 -- I once accompanied a Broadway singer on this song. She did it "up," just like this. The accompaniment for this song if freaking super-expert level. It just flies off your fingers -- an operatic accompaniment with crazy double contra-puntal octaves everywhere. It's the most exhilarating accompaniment I've every played. Had to freakin' practice the silly thing like I was back in music school. But it drives the song and the singer either gets the passion or doesn't. Brought the house down when we did it this way. This song is about a woman her ditches her cramped circumstances for the chance at the love of a lifetime. Just an incredible song about recognizing your shot at a glorious life and going for it !

[@rmutt4]

I've enjoyed Patti in the past, and even recently...but let's face it: she's a Liza imitator without the talent of a Betty Buckley.... and this video proves how she tries too hard to be someone who doesn't try too hard.