If you love a good celebrity catfight–and really, who among usdoesn’t?–then congratulations, friend! This is shaping up to be a very good week for you. Read the full post.
Feb 5
2009
02:45 PM ET
Etta James vs. Beyonce: 'At Last,' the catfight you knew was coming
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Corporate America doesn’t care much about talent, just about bootie selling product. This is a case in point.
any day of the week. Still and all, it’s Etta’s karma to deal with the impact of her own behavior as a representative of American music.
I’ve spent years in the recording studion and onstage as a professional singer. With today’s technology, you can make anyone .. ANYONE!! .. who looks good enough to sell product sound good enough to sell it. (Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, etc.)
Don’t know the background here, and the bit about big ears is over the edge, but I’d say Etta could trounce Beyonce in a sing-off (and probably in an arm wrestling match, too … my sport of choice
“was sure as hell going to draw a lot more eyeballs to the TV set”
Maybe there should be other considerations than marketing and generating advertising revenue? Besides, if you look at it from a marketing point of view, the older “boomer” generation music fans, would be able to pick her out pretty quickly. The whole inauguration was one large publicity stunt of the ‘cult of personality’–complete with mimed performances, big-name entertainers and celebrities. There was hardly anything authentic about it.
Yep, keep them distracted and entertained otherwise reality might set in.
Honestly, was it that hard for her to hear someone else singing the song for the millionth time. No, it wasn’t she should be ashamed. She’s had her time to and now she needs to play the role that she carved out for herself. Although some may be tired of hearing Beyonce; but the President and his wife felt they wanted to hear her sing the song instead of EJ. Hell, had they not decided to tell the tale of “Cadillac Records” then people would still think EJ was dead. She needs to be thankful that she can still entertain and fill the venue she’s playing.
That was a lot of venom for such a classy, shall I now say, Classless diva. What a sour note at the end.
Stephanie said: “In regards to Ms. James’ comments on Obama, I’m sure no one would have a problem if she said them about a Republican.”
Let’s test that certainty. Would you have had a problem if she said them about a Republican? If not, wtf do you care?
Whine, whine whine; when any of them can do’Proud Mary’like Tina, then queen you shall be. Etta you are going GREEN in the wrong way.
Anyone who thinks a 71 year old Etta James could outsing Beyonce has obviously not heard what the last 40 years has done to Etta’s voice. Etta, Aretha, etc. are all real legends, but they have been unwilling to gracefully pass the torch to the next generation(s) of singers. I’m no Beyonce fan, but the girl can sing when she wants to. Really poor taste on Etta’s part.
Etta is understandably upset and I would be too. It must be difficult becoming older and lesser known with the younger generations. Someone commented that Etta has no rights to that song and I couldn’t disagree less. At last is her signature song. Etta sings it the best and will always sing it the best as far as I’m concerned.
Why do we need the wife of the king of gangster,thug,cop-killer music singing at a U.S. president’s inaugural ball anyway?
Did she write the song? If she didn’t she needs to give a rest, older sure isn’t wiser in this case.
I am sure Glenn Miller had a similar tirade when Etta James decided it was “her song.”
What Ms. James was annoyed about like the rest of us over 40 people was that the Obamas never danced to Beyonce’s version of this song. It only came out a few weeks before the President was sworn into office. Ms James should have at least been asked to sing, then if she wanted to turn it down she could have. Personally, I thought it showed poor taste on the Obama transition team that handled the proceedings. Many people did not vote for Mr. Obama and we’re not all Republicians…don’t make assumptions.
It’s ashamed that the partying only included younger entertainers and there was no real reaching out to older entertainers who bridged the way. But now everyone should be happy since we now have a bi-racial president, everything is right in the world.
Etta should be pleased with Beyonce for A. portraying her very well in Cadillac Records, and B. getting her name back into the public eye. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, Miss James.
BITTAH! Party of one! Your table is ready.
Frankly the Dunaway/Duff (Duffaway?) smackdown might just be as good as Rosie vs the Donald.
I think she just doesn’t like the big Zero and didn’t want her song sung. I don’t think it has anything to do with not being asked to sing it. I don’t blame her, he’s my President, but I can’t wait to vote him out of office. Right now he’s on course to make Jimmy Carter look like the mind of America.