| Author | Message | ||
  Largo161 (largo161) 1-Arriviste Username: largo161 Post Number: 1 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 205.142.0.75 |
Here's an advance review of the show from www.eurweb.com: Apr. 5, 2004 *We assume that before you see the "Motown 45" TV show on ABC next month, they will have done something about the God-awful flat notes that came out mouths of some of the performers. If they don't they won't have much of a show. The worst offender was Kelly Rowland. Yes, the same Kelly from Destiny's Child. She sang in a mock-up group of the Supremes with Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong and later she came back to torture our ears with Lionel Richie on "Endless Love." However, we were told by other reporters that she sounded good at rehearshals. Well apparently, rehearsing didn't matter when it came to doing it before an audience. Anyway, we digress. (If ever Diana Ross was missed, it was last night.) We can't but help to ask who thought it would be a good idea to pair Rowland and Richie on that song. In fact, why was she even there? Anyway, we can't Lionel off the hook either. When he opened the show, surprisingly even he couldn't quite stay on key. But, three-quarters into the song ("All Night Long") he got it together and it was all good from then on. On the other hand, we would be remiss if we didn't mention the outstanding performance of Gladys Knight. She did "Neither One of Us" and "Heard It Through The Grapevine" and it was just like the record, if not better. By the way, Cedric The Entertainer -- who was the co-host along with Lionel Richie -- and George Lopez, joined Bubba Knight to become her honorary background group, The Pips. "Motown 45" is scheduled to air May 3 on ABC. In the meantime, look for more stories about this event here in EUR. (Message edited by largo161 on April 05, 2004) | ||
Soul Sister (soul_sister) 1-Arriviste Username: soul_sister Post Number: 7 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 65.43.144.46 |
Largo; Thanks for the run down, I'll be looking foward to Gladys' performance, she is so awesome! S.S. | ||
NYC Diva (nyc_diva) 1-Arriviste Username: nyc_diva Post Number: 2 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 4.231.239.113 |
I had read that article the other day and I was shocked. Someone REALLY didn't like the show. But I've seen several articles on the web that were similar...I think people were thinking, "How could you have celebration of Motown without Diana, Stevie, MJ, the Tempts, etc..." but even still I will still be watching!! | ||
janebse (janebse) 1-Arriviste Username: janebse Post Number: 2 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.63.6.8 |
I understand the Tempts will be on the TV version to be aired. Apparently they were taped on Friday night at a special showing. They had a previous scheduled concert and could not be present on Sunday. | ||
Sue (sue) 1-Arriviste Username: sue Post Number: 3 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 152.163.252.166 |
I've heard from others, it sounds like the show is a huge mess. | ||
Shawn1 (shawn1b) 1-Arriviste Username: shawn1b Post Number: 3 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 65.30.15.198 |
Some people were saying the show was a hit .Maybe some people are just biased because their favorites weren't there but from the people I've heard it it's a great show !I will cetainly be watching as my favorite was there .Yes I keep hearing great things about Gladys,You Go Gladys! .Shawn | ||
BankHouseDave (bankhousedave) 1-Arriviste Username: bankhousedave Post Number: 14 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 195.93.33.10 |
I don't know if Stone Love made it over to the new forum, but having been there throughout the taping he reckons it was a great show and the stuff from the article is some kind of sour grapes. I'm going to watch it for Gladys (if someone has the decency to transmit it to the old country). I'm sorry the divine Ms Ross was a no-show, but I'm looking forward to seeing Mary and Cindy and, contrary to the article, Stone Love reckons Ms Rowlands was great. When I were a lad (just after the Romans left) you didn't go to a live gig to hear anything worth hearing. You went to put some flesh on the bones of the people you had heard on the wax, and to tell them in person how much you appreciate what they had done in the studio. Most live gigs were dire back in the 60s. Sound systems were awful, local pianos unplayable (I once had to transpose the parts for our group when I discovered only the black notes worked on the grid iron I was issued with), and acoustics in old mausoleums were a joke. I'm gratified when the sound is recognizable as something close (American Idol) and delighted when it is brilliant (SITSOM), but I'll watch 45 even if it sounds like some of the sessions recorded for the BBC when even Motown acts had to use tired members of the UK musician's union to avoid 'needle time'. My point? I hear you ask. I forget. Happy Easter everyone on the forums (fora?) old and new. I think I see the nurse arriving with my medication. | ||
Michael/Cleoharvey (cleoharvey) 1-Arriviste Username: cleoharvey Post Number: 1 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 206.216.60.25 |
I have talked to several people that have seen the show and there is differing opinion. One loved the show (including Kelly with Mary and Cindy) and the other thought it was a mess. I believe that we will have to wait and see. The eventual Motown 25 show was not the show that was seen in the auditorium (I was there). The powers that be can edit a viable show before the airdate. I have seen several pictures of Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong from rehearsals and the show and they look wonderful. Perhaps Diane will see them and feel nostalgic.... or maybe not... LOL!!! | ||
Juicefree20 (juicefree20) 1-Arriviste Username: juicefree20 Post Number: 16 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.161.34.190 |
I've got a feeling that we'll have to reserve judgement for ourselves on this one. | ||
Shawn1 (shawn1b) 1-Arriviste Username: shawn1b Post Number: 15 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 65.30.15.198 |
I was at M25 too and to be honest with you after the way Martha Reeves and Mary Wells were treated as if their contribution were nothing it dammpered the the show for me .I just spoke with my uncle who is a camera man in LA and he said the show to him was a hit he thought everybody came to perform and the audience seemed to really enjoyed the show .But your right we'll have to see for ourselves .Shawn ps To honest I can't wait ! | ||
stone love (stone_love) 1-Arriviste Username: stone_love Post Number: 3 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 24.30.124.189 |
I WANT TO SAY AGAIN MOTOWN 45 WAS A GREAT SPECIAL.BELEAVE ME ALL THE PEOPLE THAT I TALK TO FEEL THE SAME WAY I FEEL ABOUT MOTOWN 45.ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT STEVE WONDER WAS MISSED BUT HIS MUSIC WAS THERE.ALSO THEY(MOTOWN 45)WILL SHOW SOME THINGS ON THE TV THAT THEY(MOTOWN 45) DID NOT SHOW THE AUDIENCE.REMEMBER WE CAN'T GO BACK TO MOTOWN 25(AND IT WAS GREAT).MOTOWN 45 IS RIGHT THERE WITH MOTOWN 25.I LOVE THE MUSIC. | ||
Michael/Cleoharvey (cleoharvey) 1-Arriviste Username: cleoharvey Post Number: 3 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 206.216.60.94 |
Stone Love: I cannot wait to see it. And no matter what the carping about how Kelly Rowland "sounds" I will be delighted to see Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong together. It has been a long time. Even the pictures that I have already seen of the two ladies, they represent what "Supreme" embodies. A friend of mine who was there said that the audience was shocked to see how great Cindy Birdsong looked (at 64!!). She has lost weight and is about 10-15 lbs away from the height of the Diana Ross and the Supremes days. | ||
stone love (stone_love) 1-Arriviste Username: stone_love Post Number: 4 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 24.30.124.189 |
YES CINDY BIRDSONG SOUND GREAT.AND YES CINDY LOOK LIKE SHE DID IN 1970s.SOME PEOPLE HAVE IT.MARY WILSON HAS IT.KELLY ROWLAND ALSO SOUND GOOD SHE(KELLY)LOOK SUPREME.WHEN KELLY SING ENDLESS LOVE WITH LIONEL RICHIE TI WAS BRILLIANT.I THINK KELLY HAS MORE TALANT THEN EVEN SHE KNOWS.YOU GO KELLY. SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO KEEP UP MESS.YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE. | ||
Soul Sister (soul_sister) 3-Pundit Username: soul_sister Post Number: 47 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.73.160.101 |
David Ritz just left my house, he was at the show, he told me they didn't even have tickets for the first two women who were on Motown, Mabel John & Claudette Robinson, so he arrainged to get tickets for them to go. They sat on either side of him! Awww---David, that was so sweet! Can you imagine? No tickets for the first women of Motown?? How insulting is that! S.S. | ||
BankHouseDave (bankhousedave) 2-Debutant Username: bankhousedave Post Number: 24 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 195.93.33.10 |
Sis: This is all too often the case now - that things like this are farmed out to PR companies with 14 year old staff who (how would they?) know nothing about the etiquette or the history of the people involved. I guess that's what happened. From reports, the producers wanted to do a good job, but they didn't have someone with sufficient knowledge on the case. No one would purposely offend (or omit) such important artistes. | ||
Juicefree20 (juicefree20) 3-Pundit Username: juicefree20 Post Number: 45 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 151.205.165.186 |
Hi Sis. This just comfirms everything that I posted on this thread in the old forum regarding this "production". When all is said & done, Motown simply isn't Motown anymore. Motown exists in our hearts, minds & memories. That corporate comglomerate that calls itself Motown is, in my opinion, an illusion, based on the smoke & mirrors of our hearts, minds & memories. Tell me, over the last 10-15 years, what has Motown that reaches out & grabs you by your heart? Within that time frame, what has Motown produced that you could truly call classic or magical? The producer of that show had no interest in the origins or the unsung heroes. In my opinion, todays Motown is a lie. To many of us, it hasn't been Motown for years & it didn't have to be that way. Most of us have more of an emotional attachment to Motown than most of those corporate suits do. For sure, Harry loves Motown & truly cares about Motown. I fear that for most of the other suits, Motown is another of their holdings to be used to their benefit & not for the edification of their true fans. The bottom line is the dollar sign, isn't that the corporate way??? Let them prove me wrong for a change, I bet you that they won't. Peace Juice | ||
Jimmy Mack (luke) 2-Debutant Username: luke Post Number: 21 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 152.163.252.166 |
Well then the producers should have just hired a Motown expert. TV shows have technical consultants (like doctors who give input for ER). It is ridiculous to present a show on Motown and not have a knowedgeable person giving input. Why do a possibly half assed job-its just stupid. Motown 25 was a smash(and even Disco Ball too) becuase people knew about Motown and the public loves it. And I am not complaining about the show-havent seen it. | ||
stone love (stone_love) 1-Arriviste Username: stone_love Post Number: 5 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 24.30.124.189 |
I SAW CLAUDETTE ROBINSON MABEL JOHN AND DAVID RITZ AND THEY REALLY LIKE MOTOWN 45.BELEAVE ME NO ONE WAS GONNA LET THESE LADIES(CLAUDETTE AND MABEL)STAND OUTSIDE(MOTOWN 45)AND NOT LET THEM IN. THE PRODUCERS WAS ON THE MONEY.IF THEY(THE PRODUCERS)KNEW A MOTOWN ARTIST DID NOT HAVE A TICKET THEY(THE PRODUCERS)GAVE THEM ONE.I SAW THAT WITH MY OWN EYES.SHOULD HAVE COULD HAVE.WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE MOTOWN 45(YOU ARE GONNA LOVE IT) I UNDERSTAND HOW SOME PEOPLE FEEL.BUT I WOULD RATHER HAVE MOTOWN 45 THEN TO HAVE NO MOTOWN AT ALL. | ||
mike s (mike_s) 1-Arriviste Username: mike_s Post Number: 1 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 195.93.33.10 |
Hey it's only a show for tv audiences. Better to have the publicity and something on air than NOWT. Berry and the originals were not involved so we can't expect the producers to have the same interest and involvement. Anyway, a few artists seemed to get so-so treatment at the Motown 25 concert too. | ||
MagyarEd (magyared) 1-Arriviste Username: magyared Post Number: 2 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 209.163.98.81 |
JF20, I agree with your thoughts, with the exception of "today's Motown is a lie." Today's Motown is a business, just as you describe. Our attachment doesn't translate into $$$$ to them. So our complaints and our concerns and our reasonable arguments don't mean s*#t to present day Motown. We have to get used to it. | ||
Juicefree20 (juicefree20) 3-Pundit Username: juicefree20 Post Number: 50 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.161.34.164 |
Hi MagyarEd. That's exactly the point. You are 100% dead on here. I still think that it doesn't have to be that way. However, I think that your last sentence says it all. Peace Juice | ||
MagyarEd (magyared) 1-Arriviste Username: magyared Post Number: 3 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 209.163.99.35 |
I hope you're correct Juice and that some where down the road there will be a time and a place to acknowledge those Motown artists that have influenced our lives (and not just those that the suits think are currently cool and may draw rating numbers) while they're still with us!!!! Wouldn't that be revoluntionary? (now I'm getting angry :-) My betting money is with yours - ain't gonna happen. Nevertheless, I'm hoping for a Motown 45 show that we can enjoy. Details to follow.... | ||
Soul Sister (soul_sister) 3-Pundit Username: soul_sister Post Number: 56 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.73.160.101 |
David, told me that Gladys tore up "Neither One Of Us" and took it to a whole new level. I wish I could have been there soley for her dynamic performance! I'm sure it was chilling to the bone!! S.S. | ||
Jimmy Mack (luke) 2-Debutant Username: luke Post Number: 24 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.198.48.201 |
Of course it is thrilling that the show is going to be on and it may be wonderful,but as Motown fans we are going to have thoughts and opinons. It still seems stupid not to have a Motown expert advising and u have to wonder when Ms's Horton,Robinson,John,orignal VAndellas,MArvelettes et al arent invited or sitting in front row, and the Supremes get a side stage. | ||
Shawn1 (shawn1b) 2-Debutant Username: shawn1b Post Number: 20 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 65.26.97.112 |
I am just glad that the show will be seen and that the people who were there did well .I am most looking forward to see the Mary and Cindy!Gladys and My Diva Martha Reeves !!!!!!!!!!I didn't expect Diana to the show and fact Stevie and Micheal weren't their didn't bother me at all as Motown was never just them it was a whole bunch of FABULOUS artist .I do wish that Gladys Horton had been invited .Does anybody know why she has not been invited to ANY of the Motown events ?Shawn | ||
JoBeth (jobeth) 1-Arriviste Username: jobeth Post Number: 1 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 69.104.20.113 |
Well the TRUTH is, Kim Weston was there, and why couldn't they let her sing "It Takes Two" instead of those 2 untalented imposters! And what happened to the Marvelettes? Gladys Horton is still alive and performing! And why coudn't Scherrie Payne sing with Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong instead of imposter Kelly Rowland? Scherrie was there! This show was "A TRIBUTE TO MOTOWN" not "MOTOWN 45." I am sorry. PEOPLE WAKE UP!!!! | ||
Michael/Cleoharvey (cleoharvey) 1-Arriviste Username: cleoharvey Post Number: 6 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 206.216.48.95 |
I am not sure of the answers to your other question. However, although Scherrie Payne is wonderful and loved by all (even Mary Wilson likes her) there has been far to much bad blood going on between Former Ladies of the Supremes and Mary Wilson to have Scherrie and Mary perform together as The Supremes. The lawsuits have taken their toll on Mary. Mary and Scherrie are cordial at events they find themselves at but they WILL NOT perform together. The better question is: Why wasn't Jean Terrell asked? There is no problem between Jean and Mary and the fans would have been over the moon with a Jean, Mary, Cindy reunion (since they had their own top ten hits). | ||
Shawn1 (shawn1b) 2-Debutant Username: shawn1b Post Number: 23 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 65.26.97.112 |
Mary has stated there will be no JMC reunion until there is a DMC reunion which we know will never happen so I guess that says it all .I do wish they would give Gladys Horton some play and I agree Kim could have performed as well Brenda Hollaway .Shawn |
