Fifty Percent - Dorothy Loudon 

I cannot imagine a more thrilling final performance. Ms. Louden looks beautiful and radiant, and she nails the song like never before. May she rest in peace!

This is such an amazing performance. Any performer on earth would be thrilled to have delivered a number so brilliantly. Ms. Loudon was 74 at the time of this performance, and she had not lost one ounce of her talent or charisma.

One of the greatest live performances you'll ever witness. It transcends time. It engages our hearts in a way that few other performances do. It strikes a chord and it hits the mark. Dorothy Loudon, my love and admiration know no bounds . . .

She starts slowly, takes her time and then builds it up till a climactic and dramatic end! What a stunning performance. We now know that this was probably one of the last (if not, the last) public performance by this gifted and wonderful performer. We also know how much this song meant to her both professionally and personally. She "lived" the song. Thats what made this performance so absolutely remarkable and amazing, and despite her ill health at that time. So much respect for her!

I just watched Dorothy's 1979 performance and then, not having enough of her, I watched her here, 20 years later. And her brilliant performance of this terrific song moved me in exactly the same places. What a brilliant performer was Dorothy Loudon. I miss her.

Most people don't have any idea how close to home this song was to Dorothy . For many years she had an affair with her arranger , norman . He was married and his wife wouldn't divorce him . When she finally passed on , Dorothy and Norman married . It only lasted about six years as he was diagnosed with Lung Cancer. Every night when she sang that song , and when she sang it at my piano in my living room , never failed to bring me , and her to tears , Imiss her still . There was no one like her !

This is superb! I can't imagine how euphoric she feels when the finale came! The emotions were strong, and her spirit was even stronger. Rest in peace, Dorothy Loudon. God bless you.

When she said "I don't wear his ring," and her voice cracked -- wow. This is an amazing performance. We need great, emotive entertainers like this again.

She lived this performance. She was so sick. Just look at her eyes! Amazing.

I can't stop watching it! Perfect union of material and performer. It doesn't get any better than this!

Everything, everything came together at the right time in the right place connecting this remarkable woman with this remarkable song. No one - no one, does it better or could hope to.

Just listen to that crowd at the end, they knew they had just heard something Awesome!

I admire her so much for her courage

So good to see that her performances are living on and can inspire others.

This is one of my ALL TIME favorite performances... she was so amazing...

Well, this is brilliant.

Beautiful lady, a beautiful voice and just one of her unforgettable performances!

This is a Master's Class gift to every young singer on how to put across the lyric of a song. Heartbreaking and exhilarating at the same time. Ms Louden is one of the most under-rated singer/actresses of all time. And to think this was taped so soon before her death -- we are so lucky that this performance has been preserved!

This was Dorothy Loudons last public appearance on any stage. She knew at the time that her cancer was incurable and advanced. A heartbreaking performance in every way.

wow...I'm so overwhelmed with joy...and a little tearful. What an amazing songstress, what an amazing woman. Such a beautiful classy song!

What a gem...a multitude of thanks to you for posting this!

I agree... she is so amazing in this... I saw it live and she made me weep!!!

Magnificent! there's no more to say.

I grabbed my tissue box at 3:24 and didn´t let go of it 'til the end! Wonderful performance!

Cant you just feel the collective GASPS? Simply amaZing!

I loved this show on Broadway! It was wonderful theatre. Thanks for this post.

gives me goosebumps... and I know for sure I won't be able to sleep now for another hour because I can't get it out of my head.

Fantastic! Thank you so much for bringing this back to youtube. Dorothy Loudon is so magnificent in this song. She was one of kind. Fifty Percent in Dottie's version gives me a lump in my throat every time I here it.

She was one of the GREATS! Her Miss Hnnigan can never be matched.

No one does it better, that is the best part about it. Thumbs up to you.

This performance always moves me. And one can see here that she really grew into this song. Compare this to her performance a few years earlier at Michael Bennett's Ballroom (at least I believe it was a few years earlier). Great performance, but the emotion behind it was nothing to compare with what came later in this rendition, IMHO.

There will only be one Miss Dorothy. And she is missed every day.

Just Beautiful...Brings Me To Tears Every Time I Hear This...Your Miss Something Fierce Ms. Louden Something Fierce, Indeed! There'll never be another you...

@mmontana I wish I could vote for this comment a thousand times. I got almost as many tears in my eyes reading it as I did listening to Dorothy sing.

I love this song. I never returned this Ladies of Broadway CD to its rightful owner, I just couldn't do it.

@Joeinps thanks for sharing that. It just adds to the song even more. How sad. But how lucky for you to have known her. I think anyone who wants to become a b'way or cabaret singer should be required to watch this clip. Not just to learn how to "sell" a song, but how to act it and put your own unique stamp on it. Brava!

Je ne sais pas qu'il était d'elle, mais elle ne l'a jamais perdu. Absolument parfait.

4:49 is absolutely amazing :)

Really beautiful, Thanks for posting.

Superb!

I Miss Dorothy so much

So sad yet so awesome. Here's to you, Dorothy.

@thumbun: "heart-wrenching performance", best definition.

@peerkbh So sad -- this is a remarkable and heart-wrenching performance. She was a treasure.

@ivisf There is a book of sheet music called "Life is a Cabaret" in which it can be found. However, as with most song, if you go to to musicnotes you can get it in whatever key you need it for a reasonable cost.

this always reminds me of my friend nathan at WVWC, i hope you are well my friend.

Just so tat everyone knows, this wasn't her last production. She appeared in a play on Broadway right before her death.

@peerkbh She briefly performed in Dinner at Eight a year before she died. I believe she appeared in two performances before she had to withdraw for health reasons.

@ruyona Thanks for this information. I didn't know that. Still, one cannot help thinking about how lonely her life must have been during those last years. The information from Wikipidea that "she left no survivors when she died" certainly gives you that feeling. I hope that wasn't the case. Someone should write her biography.

Can anyone tell me what this song is about? I know it's from "Ballroom" but I've barely found any info on it. What a beautiful song, though. And Loudon is SUCH a gem.

Both statements are false. Her last appearance was in a Broadway play in late 2002/early 2003. She left the cast about a week after opening due to her cancer. This was filmed in 1999, four years before her death -- I doubt she had any idea how advanced her cancer was.

Hannah Phipps The next Dorothy Loudon....

She also appeared in a musical called Over and Over one year later in 1999. It's totally false statement.

..even so much appearantly that I can't spell "hear" - sorry