Midnight at Mabel Mercer's and a glass of Guiness

September 15, 2007 5:15 PM

Unfortunately there is not much on the web about the greatest cabaret singer who ever lived, the wonderful Mabel Mercer. So I am adding this new animated Guinness commercial made for the Rugby World Cup to pad out this post.

Be sure to read the description beside the Google video - it sums her up nicely

The "bel" link has Tony Bennet explaining how influential she was.

click play game white in the lower left hand corner to start the rugby animation

posted by vronsky (6 comments total)

This is a kind of singing that's pretty much died out, isn't it? At least, I can't think of anyone who's now doing that sort of vibrato-y, crooning warble. And her enunciation, of words like "too", it has that certain, what is that? Finishing school? Classical drama coaching? Very of-the-time upper crust. I can't help but be reminded of the character actress Margaret Dumont, who appeared in so many of the Marx Brothers films, the matronly, dignified society lady who Groucho was always messing with.

Your Ma link, those lyrics are priceless! "Experiment!" Or, I should say, "experrrrriment!" She rolls her "r"s like nobody's business! Again, a really arcane kind of delivery.

And how interesting that Tony Bennett held her in such high esteem. She was apparently very highly thought of by lots of folks. Her musical persona and style, they don't really move me, exactly, but, different strokes and all...

And with the inclusion of the completely unrelated Guiness ad, you may have ushered in a new era of the "What the hell, let's toss this in as an extra!" FPP.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:39 PM on September 15, 2007

Her versions of Poor Pierrot and My Shining Hour never fail to give me chills.
posted by vronsky at 5:44 PM on September 15, 2007

This FPP is brought to you by Tab®
posted by dhammond at 6:57 PM on September 15, 2007

I love Tab:)

"those lyrics are priceless" Cole Porter.
posted by vronsky at 7:19 PM on September 15, 2007

"those lyrics are priceless" Cole Porter.

Well, there you go. Clever fellow had a way with words!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:58 PM on September 15, 2007

Three cheers for Captain Spoulding !!!
posted by nola at 11:27 PM on September 15, 2007 [1 favorite]