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Singer/Songwriter/Actress Amanda McBroom wrote today's Great Song of 1980: "The Rose," made famous, of course, by Bette Midler in 1979 the movie of the same name.
It wasn't written specifically for the film, and that came into play later. but first things first: "The Rose" was loosely based on the life of Janis Joplin, and was sung by Bette over the closing credits.
When it was released as a single from the Soundtrack album, it climbed straight to #1 on the Adult Contemporary Charts in both the US and Canada. On the Top 40, it reached #2 in Canada #3 in the US.
And here's where it gets weird: Because it wasn't written
specifically for the film, "The Rose" didn't qualify for the Academy Award for "Best Original Song--even though "it had never been recorded by anyone prior to the soundtrack.
Basically, it was robbed due to a technicality.
The good news is, Because the Golden Globe Awards didn't have that rule, "The Rose was not only nominated for "Best Original Song," It won!
And to further cement its" Great Song status, in 2004, the American Film Institute added "The Rose" to their "100 Years/100 Songs list.
The song has been covered by numerous artists, most notably by Conway Twitty, whose 1983 countrified version topped the Country Charts in both the US and Canada.
"The Rose" by Bette Midler, and later by Conway Twitty: definitely a Great Song of the '80s!
Tomorrow: Bruce cashes in his US Bonds.
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