BS: Judy Garland remembered

Subject: BS: Judy Garland remembered
From: Slag
Date: 11 Oct 08 - 01:15 AM

I remember when I was 17 or 18 waking up out of a sound sleep, very alert. I reached over and turned on the radio and they were just breaking the news that Judy Garland had died. This, the waking from a sound sleep and hearing that bit of news, was one of those uncanny incidents that I have never been able to hang a reason on. I, of course, had been in love with Judy from the first time I watched The Wizard of Oz, but I don't know of many children who were NOT in love with her at a young and tender age.

Nonetheless, that infatuation had long ago evaporated in favor of the lovely creatures more at hand. The thing I DO recall was that she was touring Australia at the time. If this is incorrect please straighten me out on this point. The reason being that I got to thinking about it the other day and the irony of Judy dying in "OZ" was strong on my mind. Oh, and were the Aussies referring to wonderful country as "OZ" at that time, ca 1965-66???

Subject: RE: BS: Judy Garland remembered
From: Ebbie
Date: 11 Oct 08 - 03:17 AM

According to this, A Fan's Site , she died at her home in London. Interesting article.

Subject: RE: BS: Judy Garland remembered
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 11 Oct 08 - 03:20 AM

I remember it was not too long after her tragic 'appearance' on 'Sunday Night At The London Palladium' (UK TV show). We tuned in with huge excitement, expecting to be blown away by a superstar's performance but, very sadly, all we got was very real and shocking evidence, if it were needed, of Judy's slide down the slippery slope of alcohol and drug abuse.

Judy was a perfect example of a truly great talent brought down by her personal demons, a unique individual ruined by her own success. It's very sad.

IMHO of course. May she Rest In Peace.

Subject: RE: BS: Judy Garland remembered
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 11 Oct 08 - 04:11 AM

Listen to an interview with the author of new book about the influence of Judy Garland on her life -

My Judy Garland Life: for anyone who's held a candle to a star by Susie Boyt Do you recall a time when you felt your favourite artist was singing just for you? We can probably all identify in some way with this. But what if you were to identify so strongly with a celebrity that your life becomes somehow enmeshed in theirs? Writer Susie Boyt, the great-grandaughter of psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, believes her life has been enriched beyond imagining by her obsession with Judy Garland.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Judy Garland remembered
From: Genie
Date: 11 Oct 08 - 05:04 PM

I know it's not "folk," but shouldn't this thread be in the Music section?

Subject: RE: BS: Judy Garland remembered
From: Slag
Date: 11 Oct 08 - 06:46 PM

Same thought occured to me as I wrote it. Garland was in a class by herself but with certain songs...! What was she? Jazz singer? Yep. Show tunes singer? Undoubtedly. I don't think there was much that could have bee classified as folk but as stated above, she had the ability to touch people where they live and in the heart. My main question was where was she when she died? I wanted to perhaps correct a faulty recollection, that's all.

As for my waking up as I did, I must tell you I am not, nor have I ever been a "morning" person. This was highly unusual to say the least. It MAY have been co-incidence or it may have been some sort of esp thing. I have had many such instances that go far beyond the realm of probabilty. But as to "why" and what meaning it could possibly have, I have no idea. Just tangentially in the music category.

Subject: RE: BS: Judy Garland remembered
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 12 Oct 08 - 02:56 AM

Always loved Judy's voice on this,,,she owns it....However, I was blown away by this version, as well!..Good thing Judy's version was first. Listen to it all the way through...(a capella, too!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5T6gyCPDvM&feature=related

Subject: RE: BS: Judy Garland remembered
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Oct 08 - 03:56 AM

She had "something" and I suppose the best word we have for it is talent......but it was so much more than that. Here's a funny way I measure hers.........................

I love Fred Astaire, another great talent. Fred was capable of making any partner look good (including a hatrack). Truth is though that no matter what partner nor how great they might be, I always find myself watching Fred. But when Judy was his partner it was different. I watch both of them and probably more time watching Judy. In other words, she was just so damn great that she could take on anyone at the top of their form.

Her endgame was both tragic and probably inevitable. Sadly, its hard not to remember seeing her during that period when the main image is of the vivacious and youthful girl bursting with talent and energy. She wass the epitome of bittersweet and certainly one of a kind.


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Judy Garland remembered
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 12 Oct 08 - 04:51 AM

I remember not long after my Mum died we took my Dad on holiday with us. I took a few cassettes along - one of which was a Judy Garland compilation.

We were all sat there in this caravan/chalet thing in St Ives and Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas came on cassette player. That line came up, '...one day soon we all will be together, if the fates allow'.

We were all misssing my Mother so much, and she would so loved to have been with us - that the line just gripped us all for a moment and we were literally frozen with emotion.

I said, Good singer, eh?

And my Dad said, the best!

One of the few times we agreed about anything.

Subject: RE: BS: Judy Garland remembered
From: Slag
Date: 12 Oct 08 - 09:14 PM

Yes, what an amazing talent. So much in hand and yet alwaqys little-girl-lost. The casting director for The Wizard of OZ must have sensed this at some level and realized that Judy was perfect for the role, fated, you might say. She brought such joy to so many folks. Unfortunately she lived in that age where the cure for anything and everything was just another pill away, legally! The medicoes of that era truly believed that "science" was conquering all!


A few times in one's life time does such talent come along, more often now with the greater populations to draw from, but even so, those unique talents are just that! Unique. There was only one Judy Garland.

Subject: RE: BS: Judy Garland remembered
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Oct 08 - 09:43 PM

I have never understood why Judy Garland is so closely related to gay men.
What am I missing?

Subject: RE: BS: Judy Garland remembered
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 12 Oct 08 - 11:05 PM

Perhaps, Sinsull, it was the androgynous clothing she wore in her later career. Perhaps it was because her first husband was a gay man (or at least bi).

Many, many highly performers have serious esteem and substance abuse problems...do we know of any to day? Ans. Is the Pope...well you know. In Garland's case, her problems were the result of the studio trying to keep her looking like a little girl, demanding she take pills to control her weight, etc., then needing downers to allow her to relax. It seems the MGM pharmacy was as busy as the MGM commissary.

Also she had a very controlling second husband, as I've heard, which exacerbated her problems.

Mickey Rooney once said he should have married her and saved her from all those problems. Hmmm, he's been married, what, eight times? I think he'd been taking some of hers.