Posted on 09/21/2005 1:47:31 PM PDT by SkyPilot
Edited on 09/21/2005 4:37:30 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
New Orleans descended on New York for two concurrent concerts, dubbed From the Big Apple to the Big Easy, Tuesday night to raise money for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Big names such as Dave Matthews, Simon and Garfunkel, and Elton John filled the bills of the shows held at Radio City Music Hall and Madison Square Garden, but New Orleans acts from the Meters to the Neville Brothers were the focus of the evening's entertainment.
Piano player and studio whiz Allen Toussaint led the house band for the first segment of the MSG concert, alongside Late Show With David Letterman bandleader Paul Shaffer. Together they hosted a rotating panel of guests that included Lenny Kravitz, Elvis Costello, Paul Simon, Jimmy Buffett and New Orleans soul queen Irma Thomas, who performed her classic "Time Is on My Side," famously covered by the Rolling Stones in 1964. Aaron Neville joined Toussaint for a chilling take on Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come," sung against a backdrop of horrific images from flood ravaged New Orleans.
Political chatter was kept to a minimum at both events, with performers mostly sticking to the program: championing aid for New Orleans. But a few artists angrily denounced government officials for their slow response to Katrina's devastation. "I Wish New Orleans was dry and Washington was underwater," said Tom Waits. Bette Midler had even stronger words: "I got a letter from the Republican Party the other day. I wrote back, 'Go "f" yourself.'" She then added, "George Bush is a fan of mine -- he came to see me in the Seventies. His coke dealer brought him."
There was nothing but love for one former Oval Office resident, however: Bill Clinton's surprise appearances at both concerts were greeted with long standing ovations.
I thought Midler died of some form of pig cancer. Oh well, must have been wishful thinking.
No, she suffers from the professional whore virus.
Ahhhh yessssssss...
'The DISEASED Ms. M'
"...a rotating panel of guests..."
Remove the "a" from 'rotating' and it reads better.
Getting dumped by Geraldo is apparently as traumatic as getting dumped by Michael Douglas.
Once a pig, still a pig. All narcissists, all the time, with the supreme narcissist, Clintoon, to lead them. What a pig anus he is.
Classy. Then they stand up and cheer for a lying rapist who never gave a thought to anything other than where his next bj coming from.....
Old farts don't die, they just stink up the joint.
Whoa! Maybe her coke dealer cut her off!
This rabid political opportunism is out of control. It's time for closet Republicans, in Hollywood and all points beyond, to dust-off the mothballs of intimidation and apathy and speak out in support of this fine President and administration. I'm fed up with the level of importance given to all these simple entertainers and their knee-jerk uninformed opinion.
Of course - he's one of them.
Oh my! How daring and shocking of Ms. M to say the F word in an artistic public performance. One hardly ever hears that word on the streets of New York.
Gee Bette, I wonder if his coke dealer was named Roger Klintoon or Friend of Bubba Dan Laseter?
But I know she doesn't have absurd double standards or anything.
Stick her with a fork...she's done.
Good Lord!
She looks like my late Aunt Lilly of sainted gigantic girth!
Whatever, Bette. Whatever.
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