Yes, it’s funny, as I was just a little kid at the time. In the little documentary thing you sent, it mentions that her style of singing was going out of fashion in the eighties, and I must have been (as in, was) one of those kids who would see the Lena Zavaroni show come on television, with the variety dance routines and so on, and not be at all interested. It was as if she was someone who had always been there, although, in fact, she had really only just arrived.I’ve found it fascinating to look again and see something of what was really behind the name. I would never have expected, from my memories of her, something like this.
I, too, was dismissive of Lena Zavaroni as a post vaudeville, end of the pier type of performer. Her life though was a Shakespearean tragedy by the sounds of it. The intensity and rawness of this performance, I think, carries that pain perhaps with her not even being aware of it.One of he Youtube comments is:”I’ve come back and played this clip several times and I’m still overawed by Lena’s intensity. It’s terrifying.”It is a Neil Sedaka song which challenges another of my prejudices.
I’ve now started in on the full-length documentary.I’ve also found this clip:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG4y6WCY1RAIn which a ten-year-old Lena sings The End of the World and the talk show host afterwards makes schmaltzy jokes about her also singing Help Me Make it Through the Night. Yeeeesss.
There is also a Frank Bough interview where he comments that her anorexia will at least keep down the restaurant bills. Hmmm.Also the song itself has elements of Larkins “This Be The Verse”. Very dark for Neil Sedaka.
R. Craig Porter writes:Haunting… and as peter said, almost unbearable. I came across this quite by accident, but it has kept me in tears… knowing of her death and all.I see a woman crying out, and in the deepest of her pain, she brings forth this mighty work.There is more depth to the human spirit that we will ever comprehend, and i think Lena’s performance here will stay with me the rest of my life.
Hello.Thanks for commenting. It’s just a terrible shame that she seemed unable to exorcise her demons through her art. The sad truth is, though, that many creative people who are in trouble, never get the help they need, despite it being clear through their work that they need it. Of course, there are plenty of other people who don’t get the help they need, either, but creatives are often publicly in trouble, and people clap and walk away.
R. Craig Porter writes:Quentin i agree whole heartedly. It is a brutal world, and quite unforgiving for those who choose to be seen publicly. Your comment about people clapping and walking away is a sad testiment to human nature. Lena deserved better.Thanks for replying.
Incredibly moving performance. Almost unbearable.
Yes, it’s funny, as I was just a little kid at the time. In the little documentary thing you sent, it mentions that her style of singing was going out of fashion in the eighties, and I must have been (as in, was) one of those kids who would see the Lena Zavaroni show come on television, with the variety dance routines and so on, and not be at all interested. It was as if she was someone who had always been there, although, in fact, she had really only just arrived.I’ve found it fascinating to look again and see something of what was really behind the name. I would never have expected, from my memories of her, something like this.
I, too, was dismissive of Lena Zavaroni as a post vaudeville, end of the pier type of performer. Her life though was a Shakespearean tragedy by the sounds of it. The intensity and rawness of this performance, I think, carries that pain perhaps with her not even being aware of it.One of he Youtube comments is:”I’ve come back and played this clip several times and I’m still overawed by Lena’s intensity. It’s terrifying.”It is a Neil Sedaka song which challenges another of my prejudices.
I’ve now started in on the full-length documentary.I’ve also found this clip:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG4y6WCY1RAIn which a ten-year-old Lena sings The End of the World and the talk show host afterwards makes schmaltzy jokes about her also singing Help Me Make it Through the Night. Yeeeesss.
There is also a Frank Bough interview where he comments that her anorexia will at least keep down the restaurant bills. Hmmm.Also the song itself has elements of Larkins “This Be The Verse”. Very dark for Neil Sedaka.
R. Craig Porter writes:Haunting… and as peter said, almost unbearable. I came across this quite by accident, but it has kept me in tears… knowing of her death and all.I see a woman crying out, and in the deepest of her pain, she brings forth this mighty work.There is more depth to the human spirit that we will ever comprehend, and i think Lena’s performance here will stay with me the rest of my life.
Hello.Thanks for commenting. It’s just a terrible shame that she seemed unable to exorcise her demons through her art. The sad truth is, though, that many creative people who are in trouble, never get the help they need, despite it being clear through their work that they need it. Of course, there are plenty of other people who don’t get the help they need, either, but creatives are often publicly in trouble, and people clap and walk away.
R. Craig Porter writes:Quentin i agree whole heartedly. It is a brutal world, and quite unforgiving for those who choose to be seen publicly. Your comment about people clapping and walking away is a sad testiment to human nature. Lena deserved better.Thanks for replying.