June 10 is Judy Garland‘s birthday, so to celebrate the late diva, here are three of her best performances. When thinking about Garland’s impact on music and film, one tends to go straight to The Wizard Of Oz. However, her long career spanned many incredible performances. From movie musical numbers to the more laid-back songs from her variety show, here are just three examples of Judy Garland’s talent.
Videos by American Songwriter
“I Don’t Care” from ‘In The Good Old Summertime’
Not everything has to be about belting or over-the-top emotion. Judy Garland proved that with this fun number from the 1949 movie In The Good Old Summertime. Here, she’s breezy and loose as she sings the carefree song, proudly declaring “I don’t care!” While it’s not the most technically impressive number, it’s still a fun one to watch.
“We Could Make Such Beautiful Music Together” Medley with Liza Minelli
Judy Garland often sang with her daughter, Liza Minnelli, such as in this performance on her variety show. On this November 1963 episode of The Judy Garland Show, Garland and Minelli sang a medley beginning with the song “We Could Make Such Beautiful Music Together.” Minelli was only 17 here, but her talent was already on the level with her mother’s. From this performance, it’s abundantly clear that Minelli would go on to be one of the most recognizable voices in musical theater.
The medley includes a soft shoe dance before the two sit down again, with Minelli balancing her mother on her knee. She jokingly says, “I do eat my cereal, that’s why I got bigger than you.” It’s a sweet moment between mother and daughter, showcasing Minelli’s goofier personality but also what she could bring out in her mother.
“Get Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again” with Barbra Streisand
Often, Judy Garland was joined by famous friends and other performers on her show. In this October 1963 episode, Barbra Streisand joined her, and the two sang a duet of “Get Happy” and “Happy Days Are Here Again.” Garland opened the performance by joking around that she hated Streisand because she’s “so good,” but the two soon settled in to perform.
Streisand’s recognizable vocals take a softer tone when paired with Garland, and they blend naturally at the climax of the number. Sitting next to each other, holding hands, with Garland effortlessly belting alongside Streisand, the moment is enough to cause chills. Judy Garland possessed so much poise and grace in her performing, making singing look as simple as breathing.
Photo by Bettmann/Getty Images
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