Question about Nancy Walker's version of "I'm Still Here"

[chanel]

She sang it at the live concert/taping "Sondheim: A Musical Tribute" (1973). You'd never believe Nancy could have ever been a "sloe eyed vamp," but still, she did a great version, full of humor, pathos and zing. But here's my question: When she sings, "I've been through Brenda Frazier and I'm here," it gets a HUGE laugh from the live audience. It practically brings the house down. In 1973, I was young and had never heard of Brenda Frazier, a Depression-era socialite. Was her name still that much of a punchline in 1973? Maybe Nancy made some hilarious gesture when she sang that line? Maybe someone was there--and is still here, lol--and can report.

[chanel]

Adding weirdness to this: In 1977, I saw the revue "Side By Side By Sondheim" on Broadway. One of the songs done was "I'm Still Here," and when the singer got to the Brenda Frazier line, a young gay near me started screaming with laughter! He was the only one. No one else even tittered!!! I felt the guy must have listened to that Musical Tribute album and assumed, from that audience's reaction, that it was a huge laugh line, so he generously obliged with guffaws.

[chanel]

Correction: The line in question is actually "I got through Brenda Frazier, and I'm here."

[morosco]

Was it a surprise lyric to many at that time? Wasn't the original lyric, "I've Lived Through Shirley Temple"?

Or do I have it backwards? Which was first?

[amaklo]

"Brenda Frazier" was the original lyric, and it was a pretty arcane reference even back in the 1970s.  I have no idea why it got such a big laugh.  Maybe it was because the audience hadn't heard that name in 40 years?  

Not too long ago it was changed to Shirley Temple, probably so the audience wouldn't spend the rest of the song wondering who the heck Brenda Frazier was.

[PalJoey]

 

Are you kidding. Nancy Walker could get a laugh out of anything.

But Brenda Frazier is FUNNY.

 

[WhizzerMarvin]

I much prefer Brenda Frazier to Shirley Temple. I think it's the way you can single the word Frazier that's funny. Ann Miller cracks me up way she sings Frazier on the Papermill recording. Even if you don't know who she was, Miller tells you all you need to know!

[chewy5000]

WhizzerMarvin said: "I much prefer Brenda Frazier to Shirley Temple. I think it's the way you can single the word Frazier that's funny. Ann Miller cracks me up way she sings Frazier on the Papermill recording. Even if you don't know who she was, Miller tells you all you need to know!

This is very true.

 

[chanel]

If "Brenda Frazier" was intrinsically funny in 1973, it wasn't four years later, because as I pointed out, in Side By Sondheim, it got crickets (except for one giddy male). I suspect that Nancy Walker accompanied her great vocalization of the song with some priceless face and hand gestures.