I love everything she stars on I look forward to seeing her on reruns of The Carol Burnett Show and in Annie. A long time ago they showed her on a childrens television show. She was talking about how she hated riding the bus going places, another child told her " Just take a Taxicab." She.was also on a dramatic Children's show along with Richard Thomas.
This rendition of the song is VERY well done and - to me - Miss Peters is singing it as if the realization/truth has JUST occurred to her. She's in shock. She's numb. She's not sure what to do next. It's almost sung expression-less but there is TONS of emotions going on underneath the exterior. The eyes are the give away. I don't think you could sing or present this song any better than how Bernadette sung it here. WOW!
I agree. It's a definitive performance. I tracked it down (don't remember how/where) and uploaded it because I never forgot it after having seen it only once, when it originally aired, maybe around 1970 (?).
@@allmusicservices I did a little digging and found the original air date for that show: February 16, 1974. Pretty mature performance for a mere 25 year old.
Your analysis of Bernadette Peters' interpretation of the song is wonderfully shrewd & perceptive. I've loved her version for years & for the very reasons you wrote about, so it was startling to read my very thoughts so simply & clearly expressed! And certainly better than anything I could've written. I got goosebumps reading it, & couldn't tell whether it was your comment or her performance that brought them on so quickly & intensely. Probably both. Bravo! Wow, to be sure.
Micheal Mascioli Many, many thanks for sharing this with everyone. A quiet evening in the 70s watching the Carol Burnett show, and she announces a young singer named Bernadette Peters singing a slow tune called "Blame It On My Youth." After a few bars I started to get goose bumps. Wow ! What a beautiful song, what a moving delivery. The only other time I was so bowled over by a "pop" song and a "pop" singer was "The Man That Got Away" in that long, iconic take by Judy Garland in "A Star Is Born." Owning the DVD of the movie means I can watch Judy sing Harold Arlen /Ira Gershwin any time I choose. I'd given up on ever again seeing Bernadette sing Oscar Levant and Edward Heyman's masterpiece. I did recently discover Keith Jarrett's amazing, soulful piano reading. Superb ! Now, having access, after 45 or so years, to Ms Peters artistry with an 85 year old song, my hopes are fulfilled. Thanks again !
David--So glad that you are delighted to have found this. At this point I can't recall where I found the footage--online somewhere. I, too, saw it once on TV and never forgot it.
I just love this song, and I have always been a very big fan of Bernadette Peters. I love anything and everything she does. I first heard this song 40 years ago sung by John Davidson on his very first album "the young warm sound of John Davidson". Please check this record out. You won't be disappointed. His version of "blame it on my youth" is excellent! 🤗👍
Marcus, I have too. I remembered watching her sing this when it originally aired on CBS and have been checking in periodically for it. One of the best renditions ever!
This is one of my favorite songs of all time. I wonder what inspired Levant and Heyman to write this. It's also one of those songs that the story of the song just seems so different from singer to singer, especially between genders.
What a beautiful song. I had it on another person's post earlier and they had it so speeded you couldn't understand the words. That was wonderful. I always have lived hearing Bernadette sing a aong.
As JG said (below) a haunting melody from 1934 by Oscar Levant + Edward Heyman's bittersweet lyrics. Sung with lost innocence by Bernadette Peters : Also by Andrea Motis, Sant Andreu Jazz Band, RU-vid.
I felt the same way--and a couple of other people have said the same thing here. It's amazing--the kind of thing you saw once and never forgot. That's how stunning it was (and probably how mature we all were for our young ages, since it was a very adult performance of a very adult song :-) ).
