Earlier I posted an audio snippet from a concert by the legendary Etta James during which she voiced her displeasure about Beyonce singing her classic hit “At Last” at Barack Obama’s inauguration.
Miss James obviously didn’t vote for Obama and she was very displeased that Beyonce chose her song to sing during the Obama’s first dance.
“She gon’ get her ass whupped,” declared the feisty Miss Etta as the mostly white audience roared its approval.
Some of you Bey Stans said the audio was a fake, but a loyal reader sent me proof that Etta James and her accompanying band The Roots did in fact perform at the Paramount in Seattle, Washington on January 28, 2009.
According to the music critic for the Seattlepi.com website, Miss Etta did utter the verbal tirade at Beyonce.
This proves that you Beyonce Stans were wrong (as usual) about the voice on the audio not belonging to Miss Etta.
Thanks to loyal reader London Linda for the tip and the link!
Morning all!
Let me get this straight, you weren’t invited to sing at the Inauguration. The person who was invited elected to sing the song you recorded decades ago and now you want to go to blows? Are you upset you didn’t get your 4 minutes? Is it really that serious? Ms Etta needs to sit down somewhere and drink a V8
Morning Fam!
Miss James obviously didn’t vote for Obama…Did she tell you that herself Sandra?
Well, to be honest B really had no right…and str8 up thats disrespectful! I bet’chu Bey wouldn’t want some lil young wipper snapper coming up sanging her shyt at an inauguration ball she wasn’t even invited to 30 years down the road. Come on nah….Beyonce would not have tried Diana Ross like that cuz she know diana already waiting to sue dat aZZ. O well Mrs. Etta don’t hold it against her, shyt like that comes back around to people 3 times hard, TRUST.
LISTENING TO IT SOUNDS LIKE SHE’S HITTING THE PIPE AGAIN..SHE SOUNDS HIGH!! THEY JUST COULDN’T TAKE THAT CHANCE OF HER NOT SHOWING UP BECAUSE SHE MIGHT BE BACK ON THAT STUFF!!! LOL..SHE’S A BITTER WOMAN.SHE DID THAT TO HER SELF IN THE BEGINING!! POOR ELLA!!SHE BETTER LEAVE SASHA ALONE!!
BEY JACKED HER!! SHE BETTER TAKE IT UP WITH HER PARENTS …THERE THE SAME AGE.I KNOW THE KNOWELS ARE LAUGHING AT HER!! I KNOW I AM!!
Good Morning All!!
Give me a break. Etta don’t have enough endurance to “whupp somebody’s azz!! Sit down and shut up. From the looks of the pics she looks like she’s a fiesty something. She can’t stand up to the new breed. Leave well enough alone Etta and enjoy the fact that someone thought well enough of you to even sing your song.(sigh…rolling my eyes)!
WHO CARES ABOUT WHAT THIS WOMAN THINKS? OK SO SHE DOESN’T LIKE BEYONCE AND SHE’S ENTITLED TO HER OPINION BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY WHY NOT? BECAUSE SHE WAS ASKED TO PLAY HER IN THE MOVIE CADILLAC RECORDS? WELL SHOULDN’T SHE BE UPSET WITH THE PRODUCERS? OR BETTER YET LET’S ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF A WOMAN HER AGE CUSSING AND FUSSING, MAKING THREATS, AND WHO CLAIMS THE “PRESIDENT” THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN ONE AT THAT ISN’T HER PRESIDENT.
YEAH YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER WHOSE TALKING TO BEGIN WITH BEFORE YOU WEIGH IN ON IF WHAT’S SHE IS SAYING GARNERS ANY MERIT TO BEGIN WITH-AND IN MY OPINION HELL NO
IT’S AN OBVIOUS “HAS BEEN” POOR ATTEMPT TO SOOTHE HER DELICATE EGO BY BASHING SOMEONE WHO SHE OBVIOUSLY WISH SHE COULD BE LIKE OR HAD OBTAIN THE SUCCESS BEY HAS…IN LAMEN TERMS ENVY…….
IT’S OBVIOUS PEOPLE ARE JUST JUMPING ON THE ETTA JAMES BANDWAGON SIMPLY FOR THE FACT SHE IS DISSING BEYONCE-WHICH OF COURSE ENVIOUS PEOPLE SPECIFICALLY WOMEN LOVE TO DO
Good Morning Neighbor’s
Am I dreaming or wasn’t this posted yesterday? Been hearing this all morning. This lady is clearly bitter and a drunk.
BIRD WHERE ARE YOU I NEED TO KNOW IF ITS TRUE THE GAME ISN’T COMING BACK NEXT SEASON!!!! Please say it aint so. Or is BET really picking it up?
Bey didnt sing the song live it was a recorded track, how disrespectfully is that biash didnt even sing live, Etta James version sounds waaaay better
@ice
I heard that BET might be picking it up if this is true then we have nothing to worry about…
@Isc Malik (cant think of his real name) said in an interview last week that he didnt think they were coming back next season. So sad I know.
I have loved Etta James since I first heard one of her songs when I was 9 (thanks to my daddy who also loves her).. I find no fault in what she says. I feel the same way. Just because Beyonce played Etta in a movie (which Bey executive produced and would most likely not have gotten the role if someone else produced the movie) does not give her the right to hijack that woman’s song. Etta is still alive and kicking. She is also quite capable of singing her own song.
Props to Etta for putting that theif on blast!! Its about time someone called her out. I thought Ms. Tina Turner would have done it, but instead Ms. Tina just showed her up when they performed together.
OK.. i am done with my rant on the overblown and overplayed Beyonce… I can’t lie though.. I might not like Beyonce but I do enjoy Sasha Fierce.. At least the Sasha Fierce side of the album!!
@Mizz BET will be picking up RE RUNS not new shows.
etta is officially on my SIT YO BLACK AZZ DOWN list!
If this true F the CW! They are forever cancelling black shows and blaming it on ratings when its obvious that we are watching.
LOL @ KAT!! I TOTALLY AGREE! SIT YO AZZ DOWN!!
Hell I thought she was dead….nuff said.
Lol I knew it was Etta by her voice.First step is denial lol.PS, that’s not Etta song she just made it popular.It does not mean it’s hers.
I think out of respect Bey should of have asked her if she could sing the song…….Bottom line
Bey did not put the song on the map Etta did and when people think of that song they dont think of Bey they think of Etta singing the song…
Man come on…drunk or on crack thats still her sonG!! Thats just like Rhianna going up in there singing one of Whitney’s songs without even asking for a blessing or anything….u shouldn’t do people like that period. Whitney would have dug off in somebody’s aZZ! Just because they were on drugs and alcohol you just gon take somebody’s life work and parade it around like its yours cuz you can…that ain cool. Its like she is totally disregarding this woman, and yall think its fine because of her what, MISTAKES?? Who doesn’t make those…so! I know B played her in the movie and all, but it would not have hurt her to pick up the phone and call this woman to be courteous and say a few words about performing HER song…thats a damn shame that yall don’t find anything wrong with that??
She always doing that to these older women who paved the way for her…you can’t disrespect people because their old! What type of honor is in that….I hope she doesn’t think that she will remain young and on top forever, someday a younger talented female like herself will HAVE to take her place, like she took theirs…she would be better off setting an example to respect other artist, cuz they are “sensitive about their shyt”
@intensemocha
“BECAUSE SHE WAS ASKED TO PLAY HER IN THE MOVIE CADILLAC.WELL SHOULDN’T SHE BE UPSET WITH THE PRODUCERS?”
Fenix6376 Says:
“Just because Beyonce played Etta in a movie (which Bey executive produced and would most likely not have gotten the role if someone else produced the movie)”
I hope you have your answer.
Yes Beyonce was invited(my god she was throwing herself at them Remember when Beyonce stated something to the fact whatever they wanted she would be there?)….
I think it was very disrespectful for them to have Beyonce saying the song, when Etta James is alive and able.
I didn’t get a chance to read yesterday’s blog and wound up voicing my opinion on TMZ. I had never questioned the authenticity of the audio. I bet cash money that if Miss Etta voted at all she DID vote for Barack. Right now she is just a diva with a bruised ego. I bet her diva ego was real proud to have the beautiful Beyonce play her in the movie. But that is a far cry from her singing Miss Etta’s signature classic song at a historical inauguaration. Was Miss Etta even invited? Beyonce is going to have to start learning diva protocol. I personally think it was foul for her to sing someone elses song while that person is alive at a event the original artist probably would have killed to attend and be a part of.
Lord, this is such a non-issue. Maybe Barack and Michelle requested the song. This is the same mess Jennifer Holiday pulled when Jennifer Hudson sang “her” song.
I mean, I get it – the older artists made the song famous, classic, etc…BUT they does not mean no one else can sing the song or has to ask them permission to sing it. I guess if Etta was dead, the she would have risen out the grave to whoop Beyonce for singing “her” song – give me a freakin’ break!
Does she know how many bad wedding singers have sang that song -she gonna whoop their asses too?
A song a is a song. I feel like if mutha mofo’s can sing that shyt at a karaoke bar and don’t need her approval than it is what it is. I mean shyt I would feel honored that someone chose a song that I preformed to sing to the president. And lets be clear she wasn’t the one who wrote nor sang the song 1st.so yes she can sit her azz down. I hear that Ensure comes in all different flavors.
@ The Divine Ms. K
Co-sign
Good Morning all!!!
Ms Etta needs to sit down somewhere and drink a V8
^^^^^^
CO SIGN to the highest degree & YES Ms. Etta did say those things. Bey actually did a great job at the inauguration anyway. And nothing is entertaining or family oriented about this post SANDRA.
Is it really that serious. She should have been mad when the song was FIRST remade by Beyonce. She did a great job and naturally she would be asked to sing it at different places. That ole’ lady needs to get over it.
The Divine Ms. K Says:
Lord, this is such a non-issue. Maybe Barack and Michelle requested the song. This is the same mess Jennifer Holiday pulled when Jennifer Hudson sang “her” song.
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When did that happen? Jennifer Hudson and Jennifer Holiday performed the song together and brought the house down. That’s showing respect. I’m a B lover. She’s alright, by me, but wrong is wrong. She (or is it Matthew) are notorius for jacking people’s material and passing it off as B’s and they have the lawsuits to prove it. We can talk crap about these ladies all we want, but give them some respect. We have seen diva behavior from Miss Ross, Miss Turner, Miss Franklin, Miss Houston, Miss Carey and many others. So at least THEY should know how to respect each other’s space. Beyonce pretends to be this nice girl and not a diva which I guess allows her to break all the rules. It would not killed her to have called Miss Etta and said, “Miss Etta, after much begging and pleading I have been invited to perform at the inauguration during the president and first lady’s first ball dance. It would be an honor if you would allow me to sing your oh so appropriate At Last.” What would have been so hard about her doing that? B was wrong on this.
@Bird I guess you missed etta diss B when it was annouced she would be playing her..lol She had to go back and clean up her initial response.
@ Bird – Jennifer Holiday was on record – I think it was in Essence – that she was pissed Jennifer Hudson was singing
“And I Am Telling You” . It was along the lines of “I sing that song – it’s my signature – I have to eat too and make a living.”
Jennifer fired back – also in Essence – that you basically shouldn’t make an entire career out of one song. Obviously, they made up, but it was an issue.
I mean, I get respect, but I don’t have a high tolerance for “divas” and the “diva” mentality so I may be biased on this. I mean, it’s a damn song – you made it famous and people are ALWAYS going to think of you when they hear it – you are established – get over yourself and it. Your ego is bruised – get over it. At Last will always be considered Etta’s “song” – so why is she so insecure or riled up??
And even if B is a “jacker” – well, duh, we all know she couldn’t pass of “At Last” as hers because – we know it’s Etta’s.
Again – low tolerance for divas and drama, so take what I said with a grain of salt.
It does not matter if Etta was drunk or high respect is respect. This lady is old enough to be someone’s grandmother or mother and calling her out of her name is not called for. What if someone called your grandmother or mother out of her name… Older people deserve respect regardless they have been on this earth and have enough wisdom..
Good Morning….. Daisy
Question: Did Ms Etta write this song? Does Ms Etta own the copyrights to this song? If not, this track is fair game. IMO, anyone who is somebody can sing this song. It is what it is. Bey doesn’t have to ask MS Etta for NUTTIN!Folks and their bruised egos……
“Miss Etta, after much begging and pleading I have been invited to perform at the inauguration during the president and first lady’s first ball dance. It would be an honor if you would allow me to sing your oh so appropriate At Last.” What would have been so hard about her doing that? B was wrong on this
THATS RIGHT BIRD….Etta would have given Beyonce all praises due had she just been respectful and let her know what the plan was…there is nothing wrong with that.People get OLD…we get tired of them walking slow in front us when we are in a hurry, we get aggrevated with them driving slow az hell in traffic, but at least we respect them enough not to shoot em birds, curse em out, push em out the way, knock em over…we might not want to do it at all times but we were always told to RESPECT our elders. Beyonce just Knocked po ol’ Etta out of her way,shot her a bird going pass and told her “make way bytch IM HERE NOW”….just don’t even care, thats a shame.
Hey Snooty
I could care less I just think its funny espcially since B doesn’t like any negative press at all.lol
I guess Miss Etta’s son was lying in the NY Daily News article below. I wonder if she cursed him out.
Etta James classic sung by Beyonce is smash hit at President Obama’s ball
At last, her signature song will take its place in history.
Sitting in her California home and chatting on the phone with her son, an emotional Etta James watched Beyoncé serenade the First Couple on inauguration night with the love song she made famous.
“She thought it was great,” said Donto James, 40, who stayed on the phone with his mom throughout the couple’s first dance of the evening. “She’s gotten emotional, just like everybody else.”
In what is sure to become one of the enduring images of Inauguration Day, Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, danced cheek to cheek as Beyoncé belted out the soulful ballad, “At Last.”
Donto James said his 70-year-old mother heard several days ago that the famous song, her version of which was released in 1961 – the year Obama was born – would play a pivotal role on the historic day.
“She was looking forward to seeing it,” he said. “She was honored.”
The singer was moved by Obama’s victory but was too under the weather to go to Washington, her son said. James has suffered complications from a 2003 gastric bypass surgery that helped her lose 200 pounds.
“She was a little down that she wasn’t well enough to be there,” Donto James said.
“At Last” was written in 1941 by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren and performed by Glenn Miller and Nat King Cole. But it was James’ sultry rendition that made the song a classic – and earned her a lifetime achievement Grammy and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
@ Bird please see comment #8.
I don’t know why Bey would need permission to sing this song. @ Etta’s age shouldn’t she be worried about other things. Life is so short. Why waste it hating on a woman who is young enough to be ur granddaughter. Shyt before Bey brought this lady from the grave and revived her career she probably wasn’t even able to get work to pop smack in front of an audience.
@#33, you took the thoughts right out of my head, I still don’t see what the big deal is.
Well I for one never thought the audio was fake…that sounds like something Etta would say all the way.
But Sandra you and your assumptions…how do you know she didn’t vote for Barack? Just cause she’s salty that he didn’t choose her to sing “At Last” at the ball doesn’t mean she didn’t vote for him prior to that.
@ Bird – Jennifer Holiday was on record – I think it was in Essence – that she was pissed Jennifer Hudson was singing
“And I Am Telling You” . It was along the lines of “I sing that song – it’s my signature – I have to eat too and make a living.”
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And thats very true…don’t go taking people shyt like that, let that lady make her little bit of paper, young folks like Jennifer and Beyonce have plenty of hits to sing, these older women, thats all they have left…ya know thats fukked up to be so selfish. Let them perform their own songs or at least be respectful of their shyt, and Beyonce got A BIG EGO…too! Thats alrite though she’ll know what it feels like one day if she’s LUCKY she’ll get old and live to see somebody tell her story on the big screen and it’ll all come back around. Yall would not have taken up for anybody who jacked Luther’s song when he was alive…yall would’ve wondered why Obama ain let Luther perform his own SHYT!
“If not, this track is fair game”
Yall some COLD MFs!
In fact, look for me on youtube singing this song at karaoke this coming Friday. And I ain’t askin Etta or Beyonce for NATHAN before I post it.
…And in regards to the other post…make up your mind. One minute you are trying to associate Obama with the muslims, the next you are saying how they are pissed at him…pick an argument…if you are going to be biased at least don’t flip flop wit it.
After begging to be a part of the big event B had to sing At Last because there’s very little in her catalog that isnt a shake yo booty/net wig waving song. Still I was raised to respect my elders it can take you a long way and the least she could have done was give a little (lttle mind you) respect. Girl getting to big for them booty pads.
lol @ etta’s son! well he sure did contradict everything that etta is saying! maybe she was drunk when she said that…..i mean, i still don’t see what the big deal is that bey sang the song…even after reading all of your opinions. it seems as though etta would have been honored for real, in my opinion.
and one more thing, if etta knew beforehand that bey was going to perform the song, why didn’t she speak up about it then? why wait until weeks later to have a pissy fit about it?
Lucy Says:
After begging to be a part of the big event B had to sing At Last because there’s very little in her catalog that isnt a shake yo booty/net wig waving song.
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That’s what I was thinking. My guess is B is really starting to look at her catalog with a side eye. She has yet to create even one classic like every other true diva. Being the consumate professional that she is I have no doubt she will start working on that. I’m sure she would have rather sung one of her songs so she could truly own the moment.
iscream
Sorry I kept forgetting to answer your question. I don’t know if The Game got cancelled. I only reported what I read on another blog where the blogger (one I’ve learned to trust) stated that a source at CW told them the comedy division was getting chopped. BET has acquired the reruns, but sources close to BET say that the network is talking with CBS behind the scenes to pick up the show for new episodes. I personally think there is no way in heck BET could afford the show.
@ The DIvine Ms. K
Yeah but the difference is that J Hud can sang, girl… And she sang the crap out of Jennifer Holiday’s sang. Bey is an entertainer that has a fantastic PR machine (aka daddy) but she isn’t really a great singer and listening to her sing At Last is like listening to nails down a chalk board. On top of that, Bey IS NOT A GOOD ACTRESS. Sorry, that too is like watching a train wreck. Only difference is that I refuse to give my money over. Cadillac Records is a great story,and based on Bey’s lack of movie hits (excluding Dreamgirls cause the Bey just played a version of herself and the rest of the cast KILLED it) who in their right mind would waste their money after seeing those clips?
Bey may be part of the new breed but what exactly is that a new breed of? Some marginally talented individuals that have massive studio backing who thinks that the majority of us are freaking sheep? I’m sorry, but I have to side with Etta on this one… Regardless if she has issues with the drank and the smokey, she still KILLS it when she sings HER material.
I agree that it would have been tasteful if Bey had at least personally let Etta know (and we’re assuming that Bey didn’t) that she was invited to sing the song.
But what was Bey supposed to do if Etta said she didn’t want her to sing the song? Was Bey supposed to bow out? Change song selection? The Obamas didn’t ask Etta to sing, they asked Bey even if Bey asked them to ask her. I don’t know who chose the song, but I’m assuming the First Couple approved the choice. Was Bey supposed to tell them what she was gonna sing?
In summary, I’m not sure what the protocol was on this situation and who is wrong, but Beyonce was not obligated to get Etta’s permission to sing At Last, and even if Etta is salty as hail she shoulda kept her BIG MOUTH shut!
Is Etta back on heroin? WTF?? How can her deliberate, public tirade be justified??
@LiseyC,
But the issue was not whether someone could sing or not – it was someone having the audacity to sing a song that someone else claimed was hers – that was the issue w/ Jennifer Holiday and the one with Etta James. Not that the women who redid their songs couldn’t sing – but that they sang “their” songs.
And though I don’t drool when Beyonce sings – I mean, she’s not Sanjaya – the girl can sing, though she tends to over do it sometimes – but then again, so do a lot of other artists. If I had to pick artists who are out there due to a good PR machine and who possess only marginal singing talent, Beyonce would not be at the top of the list.
Some are Sandra’s favs, so I will leave that list alone!
Thanks Bird..
That really makes me angry.
I thought about the whole Bey catalog. She really doesn’t have a song that would have fit the occassion. Not even dangerously in love. Gesh Bey
“At Last” was written in 1941 by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren and performed by Glenn Miller and Nat King Cole. But it was James’ sultry rendition that made the song a classic – and earned her a lifetime achievement Grammy and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
IF SHE HAD WRITTEN AND COMPOSED THE SONG I WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE INCLINED TO SIDE WITH HER. IT’S NOT HER SONG, SHE WASN’T THE FIRST TO RECORD IT NOR SING IT. THIS SONG HAD ALREADY MADE IT ON THE BILLBOARD CHARTS BEFORE SHE EVEN CAME IN CONTACT WITH IT. I KNOW ALOT OF PEOPLE DON’T CARE FOR BEYONCE BUT COME ON.
mjoylaw Says:
But what was Bey supposed to do if Etta said she didn’t want her to sing the song?
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Then she would just say, “I’m so sorry Miss Etta. I hope you know I mean no disrespect, but I feel that At Last is so fitting this historic event that I have to sing it. I didn’t want you to find out about it in the street. Know that I’ll be thinking about you and channeling your energy the whole time I’m there.”
Just pay respect. That’s all. And don’t get me twisted. B sang the right song and she did a beautiful job. But don’t be acting like other diva’s don’t have egos just as big as yours. Since you want people to respect your position then you should definately respect theirs.
what??!! man its sad how yall can come up with every excuse on earth to justify Beyonce’s arrogance. I guess she’s too good to be humble enough to call someone out of respect and tell she will be jacking a classic they won a damyum GRAMMY for because someone else wrote it. huh? Beyonce wasn’t thinking bout doing no damn “At Last”, until she THOUGHT she would finally get an oscar for playing the role of Etta James in cadillac records!!!!
If he does practive Islam, I hope he declared a Jihad on you.
@ Divine Ms. K..
Ooohh… You wouldn’t be talking about the one from the islands.. teehee…
True about the song for Jennifer Holiday, but, J Hud was singing a song that was an integral part of Dreamgirls. It wasn’t like she had a choice and she didn’t really go around to any shows to promote the movie singing that song. IT also wasn’t like Jennifer Holiday was asked to reprise the role that she made into a broadway smash for the movie, she was to old for that. IT seems to me that J Hud did give respect to Jennifer Holiday by not covering her song for exposure for herself. I could be wrong…
Now, Bey, on the other hand, has been on award shows singing At Last and then to add a cherry on top, she sings it at the inaugural ball. I get the Bey doesn’t have a song in her catalog that would be considered a classic. But to think that Bey and her massive pr machine didn’t push for her performance is laughable. Bey and her pr machine are always looking for exposure and with the poor ticket sales for Cadillac Records, please believe that the thought went around that her performance might give the movie another push at the theatre. Didn’t work cause you can’t fix bad acting.
Don’t get me wrong, I respect what she has accomplished. That is a lesson in hard work and determination. What I don’t like is the continual theiving of others (uh, If I Were a Boy comes to mind) and the attitude that she displays as though she has the right to jack others as she is keeping them relevant. Ms. Tina did the right thing in showing her who the Queen was and always will be.
Just my little old two cents.. lol…
I’m late….but I agree mostly with bird. I really doubt Barack and Michelle wanted Bey to sing that song….since they didn’t invite until she begged and pleaded. And the obamas look like folks who would of requested the original singer. I think bey choose to sing the song…and then didn’t even do it live, which prob pissed off ETTA more. Etta didn’t write that song, but lets be real….she made that song.
The cool thing about old folks is they don’t bite their tonogue. I agree with everything but what she said about the prez.
and the attitude that she displays as though she has the right to jack others as she is keeping them relevant.
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THANK YOU. Thats what im saying thats the attitude she carries everytime she gets caught up in some shyt. Yall blaming it all on Matthew, but remember Beyonce did the B-Day album in one week and didn’t even have promotion in order…thats when Matthew stepped in. Beyonce does most of this BS on her own, and people are always covering up for her….its just like the statement about says, she acts like she has the right to jack people shyt, but to me she does it as if she feels she is the only one who can do it justice, as if she is the only female in the industry with worthy talent. She acts as if people should be honored she stole their shyt??!!! She’s SELFISH, and GREEDY. I mean she my girl, but When ya wrong ya wrong thats just that. She just takes shyt to far.
As old as this old azz sow is she should know a whole lot better than these comments. Those directed at Presidnet Obama AND those directed at Beyonce!
She honestly should be. At her advanced age (and supposedly being Black – but based on the dripping nastyness of her comments towards Obama, I doubt she considers herself Black) she should know one or two things about the exhibition of class!
Even if she didn’t like the young sister singing “her” song, she still should have a modicum of dignity. Seeing crap like this, is it any wonder other groups tend not to have any overall respect for Black people???
HOW CAN SHE JACK A SONG THAT ISN’T EVEN ETTA’S TO BEGIN WITH? I AM NOT TRYING TO JUSTIFY ANYTHING AS SOME WOULD SAY. SURE ETTA’S RENDENTION OF THE SONG IS CLASSIC, BUT SHE COVERED AN ALREADY KNOWN SONG JUST AS BEYONCE DID. THERE WHERE 10 INAUGURAL BALLS THAT NIGHT, THEY DANCE TO AT LAST AT ALL OF THEM, SO EVIDENTALLY THAT WAS THEME FOR THE NIGHT. SOME OF YOU ARE JUST SO NEGATIVE TOWARDS BEYONCE YOU DON’T EVEN SEE LOGIC WHEN IT’S SITTING IN YOUR FACE. BOTTOM LINE STILL AS THEY MENTIONED ON THE TODAY SHOW, ETTA SHOULDN’T BE FIGHTING WITH BEYONCE OR ANYONE WHO REDID A SONG SHE REDID IN THE FIRST PLACE. SHE SHOULD BE HAPPY FOR WHOMEVER IS SINGING IT AT THE MOMENT AND THAT WHOMEVER WROTE IT SHOULD BE HAPPIEST OUT OF THE BUNCH SINCE THEY’RE APPARENTLY STILL GETTING PAID FOR IT, AND IT AIN’ ETTA JAMES, IT’S MACK GORDON AND HENRY WARREN OR THEIR ESTATES IF THEY HAVE SINCE PASSED ON.
I don’t even see you in here unless something gets posted about this girl….are you SOLANGE MUNCHO?
NOPE, UNLIKE SOME OF YOU, IF THEY DON’T INTEREST ME I DON’T WASTE MY TIME POSTING NEGATIVE COMMENTS. I DO POST IN OTHER TOPICS IF INDEED IT IS SOMEONE I CARE ABOUT. I POSTED WHEN SHE ASKED WHO WAS THE DANCER IN TRINA’S VIDEO, WHICH WAS MY GOD SISTER, AMANE JOY. I PICK AND CHOOSE, I DO ALOT OF DRIVE BY READING. THANKS FOR THINKING OF ME KRYSI J. I AM SURE SOLANGE WOULD BE HAPPY YOU THOUGHT OF HER TOO.
NOW MY REASON FOR COMING BACK IN HERE WAS TO POST THIS.
Etta — “At Last” She’s Been Exposed as Hypocrite
Posted Feb 5th 2009 11:35AM by TMZ Staff
If Etta James thinks she should beat down Beyonce for covering “her song,” then by her own logic, Etta has a couple of ass-kickings coming her way too — ’cause Etta’s version of “At Last” was a cover too!
Etta went on stage in Seattle last week and told the crowd she’s gonna lay the smack down on B for “singin’ my song” at Obama’s Inauguration Ball. But not only did the 71-year-old not write the song, she wasn’t even the first — or second — to record it!
Glenn Miller did it first in 1941, followed by Nat King Cole in 1957. Etta got around to recording it in 1961. In fact, Glenn’s version ranked higher on the Billboard Pop Singles chart than Etta’s ever did.
FYI — neither Miller nor Cole ever threatened to beat Etta’s ass — although it’s about time someone knocks some sense into that lady.
“THANKS FOR THINKING OF ME KRYSI J. I AM SURE SOLANGE WOULD BE HAPPY YOU THOUGHT OF HER TOO.”
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girl ain no need for that LMAO!, ain nobody trying to pick no fight on a fukking BLOG with you, I just asked boo…carry on…….LOL! I loves it! Stans always have a legitimate excuse for taking up for Beyonce, the so called HATERS (people who do not wake up at 4:30 am for morning Beyonce worship and prayer) opinions however, are never given justification.
Well if he isnt her president, why would she have wanted to sing at the inauguration. She needs to be happy she became relevant again after Cadillac Records.
Bey has probably opened Ella up to a new generation. I know after seeing the movie I was more intersted in Ella’s music.
I don’t blame Ms. James for being a little salty about it. and like someone said before, Ms. James may not be the one who wrote that song but she MADE that song it is today. Outta repsect, he should have asked her to sing it. “At Last” is a classic and it’s just one of those that you just don’t let anybody sing. Ms. James version is way better than Beyonce’s IMO.
Beyonce is not the first nor will she be the last to remake a dayum song. Some people will be some wont. Shiiiiiiit I know, I’m still mad Brittany remade My Perogative and that lil white girl (cant remember her name) remade SWV’s weak.
now THAT’S DISRESPECTFUL
LOL @ Candycane!
HAD THIS BEEN THE OTHER WAY AROUND, THE MAJORITY OF YOU WOULD BE SAYING BEYONCE WAS WRONG! NOW ETTA IS SAYING SHE WAS JUST JOKING. YEAH RIGHT!
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_etta0206.2062c3a.html
One of the most popular ballads in the canon of American music has started a cat fight — or a comedy show.
The song in question is “At Last,” made famous by Woodcrest resident Etta James and recently brought back into the pop culture limelight thanks to Beyoncé’s performance for the first dance at President Barack Obama’s inaugural ball and the 2008 film “Cadillac Records.”
James talked about Beyoncé’s version on stage in Seattle Jan. 28, according to a report in The Seattle Times and also at a concert in Coquitlam, British Columbia on Jan. 31 in an audio clip from Crown City Media, said she would “whip” the pop star for singing her song, in language that would warrant at least a PG rating. She also poked fun at Obama’s ears and said he “ain’t my president.”
Gossip sites such as TMZ have labeled it celebrity feud, but James said she was just trying to make people laugh.
“I’m a comedian besides a singer,” James said in a telephone interview from her home on Thursday morning. “I wasn’t doing it to be hateful.”
In the audio clip from the Canadian show, the audience can be heard laughing at James’ comments before she goes into “At Last.”
James said her comments were meant to be taken as, “She’s up here singing my song, now what am I gonna do?”
Beyoncé’s representatives had no comment on James’ remarks.
The singer has never shied away from speaking her mind on stage.
“I think I’m funny and she’s not the only one I’ll say something about,” she said.
A self-admitted critic, the 71-year-old said in a December interview that she liked the film “Cadillac Records” and Beyoncé did a good job portraying her.
However, James takes a lot of pride her signature song, and would have liked to have an opportunity to sing the song at the inaugural ball, where Beyoncé performed.
“She got up there and sang it and didn’t give me a chance to sing ‘At Last,'” James said.
In the audio clip from the Canadian concert, James said, “He ain’t my president, he might be your president.”
James said she was just talking about his ears and said, “He’s the United States’ president.”
Yea but imagine Jo Jo or Britney performing the song at the inauguration of the 1st BLACK PRESIDENT…mind you Etta had to endure performing on the chittlin circuit and probably even a few Jim Crows…..before the artist who made the song a hit??…..And she couldn’t even call that lady, dang.
DID YOU KNOW THAT AT LAST WAS ALREADY A HIT AND ON THE BILLBOARD CHARTS BEFORE ETTA OR NAT KING COLE RE MADE IT? DID YOU KNOW WITH AT LAST ETTA WAS ABLE TO CROSS OVER TO POP? I REALLY LIKE HOW PEOPLE ARE FOCUSING MORE ON THE BEYONCE COMMENTS MORE SO THAN THAT THE OF THE PRESIDENT. I WILL SAY IT AGAIN, IT ISN’T ETTA’S SONG, SHE DON’T OWN THE RIGHTS TO IT, WHY SHOULD HAVE TO ASK ETTA? SHE MUST HAVE GOTTEN THE CLEARANCE FROM GLENN MILLER’S ESTATE TO RECORD AND DISTRUBUTE HER VERSION, WHICH SHE SANG, HER VERSION.
Call her and say, can I remake the song you remade the best? It dosent matter to me one way or the other. I think she and eveyone else it taking this way too far. It’s just a dayum song. That Etta didnt write, or even sing first.
bottom line, etta didn’t like beyonce playing her in the movie and THEN beyonce turns around and sings etta’s song (ok, etta didn’t sing it first but her version is the one everyone knows) at the inauguration. from the audience comments, etta is past her singing prime–she was raunchy and didn’t hit her notes at the venue where she spoke out about beyonce–but beyonce only made cadillac records (the movie) to be a producer and try to score a grammy with a song from the movie. it’s not like beyonce really CARES what happened back then. that’s why there is no respect behind closed doors.
in terms of not speaking about what etta had to say about barack, nobody really cares. is it a sin for a black person not to like him? i’m more surprised that sandra didn’t make the barack quote her headline. personally, i think etta likes barack but is just mad at him. she’s BEEN calling out bey though.
http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/02/05/2009-02-05_etta_james_truly_miffed_about_obama_snub.html
Etta James truly miffed about Obama snub, but was kidding about disliking Beyonce
BY Carrie Melago
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Updated Thursday, February 5th 2009, 6:37 PM
Singer Etta James says she was only trying to get a laugh when she said she “can’t stand” Beyonce and made fun of President Obama’s ears during a concert in Seattle.
James told the Daily News Thursday that she meant no harm when she poked fun at the president and ripped Beyonce for her performance of James’ hit “At Last” during the inauguration.
“I didn’t really mean anything,” James said. “Even as a little child, I’ve always had that comedian kind of attitude. …That’s probably what went into it.”
Still, James acknowledged being miffed that she wasn’t invited to perform her signature song for Obama’s first dance with his wife on inauguration night.
James was “feeling left out of something that was basically mine, that I had done every time you look around,” she said.
And while she said she liked Beyonce’s performance, when asked if she thought she could have done better, James answered, “I think so. That’s a shame to say that.”
James made the controversial comments before performing the song at a concert in Seattle last week. She began by saying of Obama, “You know your President, right? You know the one with the big ears?”
She went on to say about Beyonce, “I tell you that woman he had singing for him, singing my song, she gonna get her ass whupped.”
Thursday, James said she kept the insults rolling only because the crowd was laughing so hard, a reaction that can be heard on a recording.
“Nobody was getting mad at me in Seattle,” she said. “They were all laughing, and it was funny.”
She said the jokes were “not from a vicious place.”
James pointed out that she posed for a picture and spoke with Beyonce last year before the premiere of “Cadillac Records,” in which the young singer portrays the 71-year-old legend.
As for Obama, James said she “always thought he was handsome and he was cool.”
“I still had my joke about him,” she said. “That might be horrible. The president might not ever like me in life.”
She questioned how upset Obama could possibly be about the barb: “He’s got other stuff (to worry about) besides Etta James.”
@ MUNCHOSGIRL…thanks for stating FACTS!
the rest of y’all are funny as hell. since so many of you know Beyonce on such an intimate and personal level, were involved in every business meeting to know positively without a doubt that she begged to sing at the inaugural ball and haven’t based your opinion of her on gossip or innuendo in the least bit, i’m sure she’s absolutely CRUSHED to know you all feel this way about her. **drippin w/sarcasm**
since y’all know EVERYTHING, can a sista get tomorrow’s MEGA Millions numbers??
ETTA JAMES IS A SHI-TTY MESS! And folks that stand behind her are too. She should be honored somebody want to sing her shi-t. Old as-s got the nerve. I think its that crack talking though…she grew up in a time when a black man could have never been president…and she want to say some mess like that. But like I continue to say…”everything that is wrong is right on this site.”
LMAO……Re Re Re Re Re Re Re Re Respect….JUST A little bit, just a little bit.
O well, whats done is done, and some how I know that we will be hearing a similar story told when Beyonce gets older and people start remaking shyt she actually WROTE, and PERFORMED…lets hope that BIG EGO will be HONORED.