By Michael/cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Friday, May 23, 2003 - 10:27 am:

After watching the concert last night from Las Vegas I have a few observations and I would love for you esteemed ladies and gentlemen of this forum to comment on them and the concert.

1. Mary J. Blige has come through a great deal and survived and is a talented lady (her No More Drama was one of the best things to come out of a studio by a female in the last couple of years) but... she does not sing on pitch and it drives me nuts when I hear her sing live.

2. Whitney and Bobby must stop the drugs or we have heard the last of Whitney's incredible former voice. Both Whitney and Bobby's chords were frozen from coke and she had no upper range. She is still beautiful and posseses diva charisma but the voice is a mere shadow of what is used to be. I am a singer and used to do coke and I know what it can do to the voice. You think you are singing.... but you ain't.

3. Chaka Khan, Chaka Khan, you still rock us Chaka Khan. The lady sang the walls down and showed what true chops are. She also has been through th drug mill, but it is obvious the demons are in check and she can still sing as she did 25 years ago... and I think because of her jazz inflections, even better.

4. Ashanti: I am still waiting for an explanation of her.

5. Beyoncé: I would love to hear her sing a song straighter but there is not doubt she is a beautful woman with the world open to her as far as her career.

6. Stevie Wonder: Somehow we have got to get Steveland Morris back to the top of the charts. His joy and unbridled enthusiasm for music is postively infectious. When he was on it was the only time (besides Chaka singing I'm Every Woman) that I got out of my seat and started to dance.

7. Queen Latifah: Although I am not fond of her singing, she is beautiful and does the big girls proud. It is about time America had a beautiful black woman of size as a star.

By Eli (151.197.170.60) on Friday, May 23, 2003 - 10:43 am:

Only one word for Ashanti.connections.
The people she is with, Murder Inc., are drug dealers and their drug money bought her radio time and other types of promotional tools needed to put her out there.
I guarantee you that her days are numbered.

Mary J. came a long way and I must give her props
for being a survivor.
Due to pitch correction devices her records sound great.if only she would use them live.
I do love her though.
Her version of Misty Blue floors me.
Beyonce needs to exit the vocal gym.
Her voice though, is somewhat ordinary and does not have a "stamp" on it.

Whitney..Billie revisited...sad indeed.
I knew her as a teen and I cant believe that it is the same person..sad.

Chaka..impeccable

Stevie..an Icon

Latifah.... motion picture star quality

By SoniT (209.193.174.164) on Friday, May 23, 2003 - 10:46 am:

I totally agree with everything you said.

Mary J. Blige - That's my girl but she sounded so "off" last night. Her pitch is terrible.

Whitney and Bobby - They were PITIFUL. Really sad. It's a shame what has become of Whitney's voice. I'm gonna keep them in my prayers.

Beyonce - I'm really proud of Beyonce. I think she is an excellent performer.

Queen Latifiah - I just love the Queen! I love her acting, singing, rapping. I just love everything about her.

Ashanti - Boring! She can't sing, can't dance, all she does is prance around the stage trying to look sexy. She did not need to be up there with the Isley Brothers.

Stevie Wonder - What can I say! I love Stevie Wonder. He's phenomenal. He's still got it! I'd love to hear something new from him.

Chaka Khan - My girl! I've been a fan since she was with Rufus. She can still hit those notes and she looks good too.

Overall, it was a good show. Beyonce, Stevie, and Chaka were my favorite performers.

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Friday, May 23, 2003 - 10:55 am:

I agree with everything all the above said but for the most part the show just didn"t impress me, Chaka & Mary J were the best tho'I've seen Mary J in better voice. Sad about Whitney, a great great talent lost, her & Bobby, sad to say looked pitiful. Only hope one day she'll turn it around.

By Nish (66.119.33.170) on Friday, May 23, 2003 - 11:13 am:

The only ones who did anything for me were Stevie and Chaka. Ashanti screwing up two legendary songs in an evening was too much for my poor heart to take.

Beyonce did pretty well on "Proud Mary" but, she's not the style of singer that I like. She does too many vocal acrobatics that are unnecessary and take away the emotional punch of the song.

By Handsome (170.118.157.133) on Friday, May 23, 2003 - 11:42 am:

Good Morning Everyone. Here are my thoughts on the program:

1) Michael: I agree with you about Mary J. Blige. Mary has come a long way, though she can become "Pitchy" (means off key) at times. I trust she will get better, if she stays on her path.

2) Whitney makes me sad to hear her voice now. What was once was a beautiful Soprano voice has now amounted to barely a tenor. I pray for her.

3) I still love Chaka. I wish her & Stevie had more time to sing songs together. Maybe in the future?

4) Ashanti-Well she's pretty...........

5) Beyonce'-I love her voice also, yet she makes me dizzy with all those roller-coaster runs. It's unnecessary in every song. Too much of anything can make you sick.

6) I still love me some Stevie!

7)Latifah-I love that mellow jazz alto voice, and she looked wonderful last night!

By stephanie (66.54.1.38) on Friday, May 23, 2003 - 12:30 pm:

Everyone is good with the exception of Ashanti like Eli said she is pretty and hangs out with the thugs. I think they buy her records..Mary J is talented and Im happy she overcame her drug problem.

Whitney needs to leave Bobby or its over. She may have money left over but I think she will go down the skids if she doesnt get some help she is a great talent and I want to see her around for the next twenty years....Chaka K and Stevie are the best.......I love Queen Latifah and she is a great example of what diversity can do for a career she has been in some great films and has taken the path that Cher took great move on her part...
Stephanie

By Greg C. (207.103.134.89) on Friday, May 23, 2003 - 03:02 pm:

Michael/cleoharvey.

I'm reading your comments and I'm loving it!

1. Mary J. Blige vocal range is extremely limited. The duet she did with Chaka Khan made it painfully aware that her vocal chops are not up to snuff. Chaka left her in the dust!

2. I couldn't agree with you more about Whitney's voice. I have theories about what's she doing but it's painfully obvious that it's taken a tremendous toll on her singing ability. Her voice is SHOT! That duet with Bobby Brown came off like an ultimatum she gave to the producers. "Either Bobby sings with me or you don't get me!" Should've passed on BOTH of them!

3. Chaka was great! The lady still has the pipes.
The duet with Stevie was great. Kind of event that makes you smile and think, "Well, alright!" That was a special moment!

4. Ashanti? Please...

5. Beyonce. That was a powerful song, I believe the title track from her forthcoming "Dangerously In Love" CD. A little over the top and heavy on the drama but she worked it...

6. Stevie Wonder. Still great! According to the Motown Records website he's working on a new CD which may be out sometime this year. Looking forward to it. Always enjoy new music from Stevie.

7. Queen Latifah. I like her and love her spirit.
She kept the ball rolling. I enjoyed her expression after her duet with Stevie. She extended her arms over to him to indicate, "The One." That was humble..

By Brother Love (12.65.145.41) on Friday, May 23, 2003 - 03:10 pm:

Where were the DIVAS? With out Chaka on the show there would have been no singing. The worst show I've seen in a long time. Please tell me this was all a big joke.

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Friday, May 23, 2003 - 03:14 pm:

Queen Latifah did look exceptionly beautiful last night stikingly so. Nice MC too. Stevie I didn't mention him before but what can one say Stevie is awesomely Stevie!

By Handsome (170.118.157.133) on Friday, May 23, 2003 - 03:24 pm:

Greg: I'm laughing at your #2...I couldn't agree with you more!

By C. Lingus (151.197.207.138) on Friday, May 23, 2003 - 03:36 pm:

Mark my words.Ashanti will be working at the local Burger King in no time.
A lot of those kinds of "artists" are not being paid as one might think.
The bling is only for the video watchers.
Murder Inc. are known drug dealers and thugs and they will get what they deserve.

Poor Ashanti...tsk tsk tsk...
Poor Ja Rule...tsk tsk tsk

By Handsome (170.118.157.133) on Friday, May 23, 2003 - 03:52 pm:

C.Lingus:Does that explain why Ashanti wore the same dress with the Turkey feathers 2 times in a row, where the other singers had other outfits? ha ha!

By Marv (205.188.209.109) on Friday, May 23, 2003 - 07:38 pm:

I will not comment on all the performances last night but just a few of the highlights in my opinion.

Beyonce finally made me believe she could sing with her performance of "Dangerously In Love" WOW!

Chaka? What can you say about a true musical goddess other than BRAVO! She stuck very close to the original lyrics and pacing of the recordings.

Was it me or did anyone else find it sad and ironic that the young lady that won the Diva Contest, Ms. Ransey, sang Whitney's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" and sounded great and immediately following her was Whitney herself sounding rather awful? I know she (Houston)knew she was not sounding good and it showed on her face. It was truly sad watching that performance.

I was impressed with Jewells duet with Stevie and how great Ron Isley still sounds , he is a true living legend and musical pioneer.

By Greg C. (207.103.134.218) on Saturday, May 24, 2003 - 09:02 pm:

I don't understand how Taralynn Ramsey won the contest for "amateur" Diva when she put out a gospel album a few years ago produced by Wayman Tinsdale. That hardly qualifies her as an "amateur." Hmmmm.....

By RD (63.188.33.123) on Sunday, May 25, 2003 - 02:25 am:

Is it true that Bobby Brown and Whitney got into a fight and Bobby bloodied her nose? A friend said he heard about it on some entertainment news reel television show. I'd never heard about the incident.

By Vickie (198.81.26.231) on Sunday, May 25, 2003 - 04:05 am:

Gosh!!

I wish I had seen this show

By fayette (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, May 25, 2003 - 05:48 am:

i saw a small portion of the show on tv.
bobby and whitney acting a fool, but mary
j,hmmmm she does great songs but her
voice appear to go flat sometimes.she did
a diva concert,where she was singing with
whitney houston on ain't no way(paying a
tribute to aretha).she voice was so off
pitch to me. i think she come a long way
through.destiny's child is not good in person.
whitney's voice is messing up, and she
not as pretty as she once was. i wish
someone could reach her and she can get
back on track.but i know it's a hard thing
to do especially when their's bad influence
around you.you gotta separate yourself
from the negative and surround yourself
with the positive. admit your fault,accept
to need a change.hopefully she will,because
she got a gift and it would be tragic loss
if she couldn't proform for us.

By Vandelron (24.44.20.172) on Sunday, May 25, 2003 - 03:22 pm:

Cant wait to see the show--Im sure VH1 will re-run it many times. Nothing can top when her royal highness Aretha kept Celine,Mariah, Carole,Gloria, et all in line a few years ago. Did anyone see the version where VH1 put captions on it always noting how Aretha kept the other divas in their place? I thought Id split a gut-and it all made sense! I too read about Whtiney going to an ear,nose and throat clinic with a bloody nose in Vegas--Bobby or cocaine? It said they seemed very very out of it.(NY Daily News I believe)

By RD (63.188.33.7) on Sunday, May 25, 2003 - 03:25 pm:

So my friend was right about the bloody nose; and I thought he was yanking my sausage.

By Greg C. (207.103.134.33) on Sunday, May 25, 2003 - 08:50 pm:

Read about the bloody nose incident in several papers and heard about it on the news. Snorting blow will do that...

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, May 27, 2003 - 07:02 pm:

Boy, from the looks of this Diva show I'm glad I spent the night packing my bags for Detroit....
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Tuesday, May 27, 2003 - 07:07 pm:

DID ANYBODY SEE THE PICTURE TODAY OF WHITNEY...BOBBY...AND ISRAELI PM...ARIEL SHARON???...THE BROWNS ARE IN ISRAEL...VISITING SOME "BLACK HEBREW" RELATIVES OF BOBBY...AND...APPARENTLY SHARON...WANTED TO DO A FEW LINES WITH THEM...OR SOMETHING!!!...STUBASS

By longgonelover (65.238.140.97) on Tuesday, May 27, 2003 - 07:47 pm:

Except for Chaka.....the Diva's were out to lunch. Mary J sounds like my dog when he see's the neighbors cat. Ashanti....Sounds like the cat! Whitney....who let her out of the crack house? Queen Latifah...looked great and has movie star potential. Beyonce....can dance....not sure about the voice...maybe less vocal gymnastics? A little of that goes a LONG way. Stevie...a legand.

By Julian (152.163.252.68) on Wednesday, May 28, 2003 - 12:55 am:

Beyonce is FOINE!!! If she barked like a dog I would buy the record!

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, May 28, 2003 - 10:03 am:

Geez,Folks...
Now I'm glad I didn't watch this special...Y'all make it sound like the worst thing VH-1 aired since the Milli Vanilli episode of "Behind The Music".....
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Michael/cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Wednesday, May 28, 2003 - 01:23 pm:

KevGo:

LOL!!!!!!!! It wasn't that bad but it sure was the worst of the specials. The word "diva" has been watered down by these specials. Question: Why oh Why has there not been one special with the incredible Gladys Knight. She would blow most of the so-called divas out of the water. Can you imagine an Ashanti/Gladys duet...... neither can I. LOL!!!

By drums (155.91.6.72) on Wednesday, May 28, 2003 - 01:26 pm:

Hello all,

I havent seen the VH1 duet yet, but from the way it sounds, I didnt really miss anything. I am really saddened at what VH1 considers a "diva" (a ridiculous term for anyone!)and with the state of the music industry today, more emphasis should be placed on getting good MUSIC out there!

All I am saying is that there are NEW people out there!! Give them a chance. Lobby for Clear Channel Communications to stop the 20 song rotation and let music on the airwaves again!!

I liked Whitney & Bobby in their day. But as we have learned from the past, you cannot change them. They have to want to change for themselves. But the unknowns need their spotlight too. I just hope the industry as a whole stops all of this "diva" nonsense and get down with some new funky stuff that should be getting recognized!

This concludes my rant for the day!!

Daren Metz
Sony/Studio 4

PS - The music that you are hearing on the radio is just the tip of the iceberg!!! Lobby to hear it all!!! I hear stuff that you guys wouldnt believe!!

By StingBeeLee (155.139.68.10) on Wednesday, May 28, 2003 - 03:13 pm:

I am now beginning to see why on Aretha's special she chose to stand away from Mary J. Blige. It was widely circulated that Mary was upset with Aretha and Mary stated "Aretha needs help". Aretha is a pro (in this matter, the same with Dionne Warwick); I don't believe they tolerate off key singing very well. I'm not saying what Aretha did was right, but if you're on my show, I would expect you to sing in tune.

By drums (155.91.6.72) on Wednesday, May 28, 2003 - 03:16 pm:

Why hasn't Patti done one of these shows?

Daren

By Common (209.2.55.169) on Wednesday, May 28, 2003 - 03:21 pm:

Hello everyone,

Doesn't Mary watch or hear herself when she is singing? It sounds like to me someone maybe just a little full of themselves. I'm not a Mary fan but a couple of her songs I do dig. But anytime Mary opens her mouth to sing, expect for the notes to be flat & off key. Actually, I don't blame Aretha for standing far away from her. I wish I would've caught this show after seeing all the comments posted here. It sounds like it would've been a scream. No pun intended! LOL!

By fayette (64.12.97.7) on Wednesday, May 28, 2003 - 03:23 pm:

stubass my personal opinion is the michael
jackson, whitney and bobby,along with
j lo and beyonce should all get matching
rocking chairs and sit down somewhere.
that's my opinion and i'm sticking to it
lol

By Reese (204.152.12.135) on Wednesday, May 28, 2003 - 03:24 pm:

Patti was asked to be on one of the earlier shows. However, according to Patti, she was asked only AFTER other acts refused. She didn't appreciate being seen as second fiddle and refused.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, May 28, 2003 - 05:19 pm:

Folks:
As much as I'm a fan of Mary J., she really needs to work on her tuning. She's lucky Aretha didn't snatch the damn microphone from her hand and tell her to get in tune.

Reese:
If what you're saying is true then it's a damn shame these folks at VH-1 wouldn't consider Patti Labelle first and foremost. If anyone remembers her TV special from Thanksgiving 1985 (guest stars were Luther Vandross, Amy Grant & Cyndi Lauper), she was dynamite in front of the camera and still is. VH-1's loss is BET'S/Don Cornelius' gain....

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Allen (24.165.82.46) on Wednesday, May 28, 2003 - 05:43 pm:

Whitney should have known better. I can look at Beyonce's legs all night, but I don't want to hear her sing one note. Mary J. sang all the secret notes. The ones only she knows.

Allen

By Handsome (170.118.157.133) on Wednesday, May 28, 2003 - 06:07 pm:

I would like to see a TRUE Divas special featuring Aretha, Patti, Gladys, Chaka, Nancy & Dionne. One thing I have noticed, Aretha won't sing with the sisters. I wonder why? Is she intimidated and feels better when she can check the likes of Mariah, Celine & Gloria? Or is it a personality conflict(s)? Just a thought. I know she was asked to do the Sisters in the Name of Love concert years back,(Roberta Flack also). Roberta couldn't do it because of a schedule conflict, and Aretha changed her mind at the last minute (not to do it).

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, May 28, 2003 - 06:43 pm:

Handsome:
In the early 1970s, Quincy Jones produced a TV special honoring Duke Ellington (the classic "Duke: We Love You Madly!"). According to Quincy's autobiography, Aretha Franklin was scheduled to appear with a few older jazz/R&B "divas" (who shall remain nameless but I will say these ladies were persons of color) who felt that Miss 'Ree was out of her league. Needless to say, when Aretha opened her mouth to sing she blew these ladies and the audience clear out of the water, much to Quincy's & Duke's delight.
Maybe this is one of the reasons why you don't see 'Ree sing with her fellow "sistas" too often (the Divas show honoring Aretha was an exception).
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By fayette (205.188.209.109) on Wednesday, May 28, 2003 - 07:02 pm:

i wonder if anybody saw the diva show
where tina turner whitney brandy etc
was on and whitney and maryj did
a tribute to aretha and sung ain't
no way. whitney(pre-crack days) were
blowing, but if you notice maryj was
so off key that she made me cringe.i
think mary j need a lil voice lesson
on how to controll her pitch. seems
like her voice is a little weak in areas.
but i can say she's got a little spunk

By rockfan (65.238.154.118) on Wednesday, May 28, 2003 - 09:37 pm:

Mary J was SOOOO off key and flat in person! It truly made me cringe. Couldn't they tweak her mike or something? How on earth did she ever get where she is? That girl can't SANG! Whitney spent too much money on crack. Her voice is shot. Thank God for Chaka! With the exception of Chaka....to use the word "Diva" is a travesty with this bunch.

By Vandelron (24.44.20.172) on Thursday, May 29, 2003 - 10:40 pm:

Miss Patti would blow everyone away--I think she is the only singer Aretha may be intimidated by. I saw a duet with Patti and Cyndi Lauper doing Imagine--I have never heard anything like it before or since. Incredible. One way a queen maintains her throne is to keep a regal distance from usurpers. Aretha is a smart woman as well as having a gift from God.

By drums (155.91.6.72) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 08:11 am:

Hi all again,

It is funny to hear everyone saying the truth about MaryJ's off pitch screaming!! But if you are ever around her and her entourage, you would laugh at how people tell her "Your singing is beautiful!" What a bunch of yes men and women!!

Anyway, I dont think that the singers could hear themselves that night! Any thoughts? Monitors were too low? Crowd noise? I am just trying to be the devil's advocate

Daren

By SteveS (209.219.207.3) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 09:16 am:

One of the few women I ever saw sing with Aretha and come off well was Bonnie Raitt. It was on a TV special a few years ago, but unfortunately, I don't remember any details (I think Gloria Estefan might have been one of the other singers, but she was toast, and highly forgettable). Unlike the others, Bonnie didn't try to imitate Aretha - she did her own thing - it was understated and really effective. I think the tune was Natural Woman. I don't know why, but it was quite a surprise to me that Bonnie sounded so good.

By drums (155.91.6.72) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 09:40 am:

I love Bonnie Raitt!! YEAHHHH!!

Istill think that drum beat for Nick of Time is great!! And it sounds like she is really heartfelt in her singing!!! She is definitely a great artist!!

Daren Metz

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 10:01 am:

SteveS; Bonnie is a good person as well, she's donated alot of time and money to the Rhythm & Blues Foundation, she's also sent personal checks to the artists she's admired or thought needed financial support, it was her way of giving back. Every year she sends Jimmy Scott a Christmas card with a large donation she's sent to some FOUNDATION OR CHARITY IN HIS NAME AND IN OTHER ARTISTS NAMES, SHE HAS A GOOD HEART AND ONE OF THE FEW ARTISTS WHO GIVE BACK IN THE NAMES OF THE OLD TIMERS, IN MANY WAYS. As well as a talent in her own right. She's quite a great individual in many ways.
Common; Far too many artists are full of themselves and it can hurt them, though they may not see it!
Drums; Every artist I've ever been around has people that just YES them to death and tell them anything they want to hear just to be a hanger-on. These people are there only for the limelite they couldn't care less about the artist health or wellbeing just as long as they can have a peice of them for that moment. Artists have a God given talent but they are no angels nor are they infallable, weather its a fan or a hanger-on, helping them to induldge in habits that can destroy an artistts health is horrendous behavior! These type people can are aiding in the distruction of or shorting the life of the very person they are claiming to admire so much. Artists are not Gods, they are human beings just like everyone else on earth! So Drums I know where your coming from I've seen it too, seeing the complete picture of what goes on on a tour is important. Thanks for your observations.
S.S.

By B-town (207.8.188.200) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 10:01 am:

1.As great a singer as Patti Labelle is she tends to over do it. Especially in the company of other Divas. She's much louder than Gladys, but Glady's is more soulful and earthy. If you saw Aretha Patti and Gladys on Oprah, Glady's performance was the classiest and best. Aretha did not try to sing everyone off the stage. Patti hollers so much and is often over bearing.

2. Aretha can sing with who she wants to. A Diva special with just all soul sistas is nice but where's the variety. Diva's come in all styles. I would like to see soft and sensual singers like Janet Jackson (an entertainer) on one of these Diva specials.

3. My only critique of the Diva specials is there's too much of the same singers all the time like Celine Dion (poor thing), and Mary J Blide (I like her but she's on too many of these shows). Also off key singing that's her voice and style.

By Chan (128.135.163.182) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 10:05 am:

Agree with everything you say.
Mary J needs to work on her pitch - I love her tho b'cos she is definitely a survivor.

Lord have Mercy on Whitney and Bobby. It's sad to see what has become of Whitney's beautiful voice. I can't watch her or hear her sing too long.

3. (((Chaka))) WITHOUT a DOUBT, I AGREE! one of the baddest vocals, strong vocals. Still got it from when I heard her back in the day - still waling! Ashanti and a few others need to take note...

4. Ashanit - I'm waiting with you. Pitiful...

5. Beyonce - Beautiful and yes she can sing. If she only would JUST SING.

6. I agree - but if Steveland Morris never hits another note or never writes another tune - he's still number one in my book. I wish he and Chaka would do more together.

7. Queen Latifah - Absoultely agree! She is beautiful and she can sing..

By Common (64.12.97.7) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 10:38 am:

Hello everyone,

Not meaning to go a litte off topic here, but I just finish reading a book about another singer who was a Diva before it became a word: Dinah Washington. Wow! I only knew about her two famous chart toppers, "What A Diff'rence A Day Makes" & "This Bitter Earth". Now I want to buy her box set to hear more of this great lady. I wonder what would've happened had she been alive & was on one of these Diva specials? I think she would've given them all a run for their money! (Watch out Mary! Dinah wouldn't of tolerated all that off-key singing! lol!).

Peace!

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 11:35 am:

Common:
First of all, Dinah wouldn't even set foot on stage with these so-called "divas" except for maybe Chaka Khan and Aretha Franklin.

Universal Music Group is releasing a series of "Divas" compilations including a "best-of" Dinah Washington CD (I have an advanced copy) which is wonderful. Now, if you REALLY want to dive into Dinah's work, check out these collections released on Mercury - "The Complete Dinah Washington on Mercury" (there are seven volumes, three CDs each). There are other collections and reissued albums on CD by Mercury and Roulette/EMI as well.

Good luck and happy listening!
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 11:44 am:

B-Town; I sure agree with what you said pn paragraph #1!
Common; Dinah"Queen of the Blues"Washington was truly something else! She is my favorite all-time female singer and every female vocalist after her wanted to sing like her but her voice was unique to say the least! She used to call on Jimmy Scott to sing in her place when she couldn't make a "gig", he won the Dinah Washingtin "Queen of the Blues"award for best male vocalist, the plaque has a tiera on it.
They both came up in Lionel Hampton's band.
The first time I ever heard her voice or heard anyone sing that tourch style was when living at the Jive Five crib in 1966 and Casey handed me the album "Drinking Again" and said check this out...well...it blew me away, its remained my favorite album of hers to this day, and I still have the same war-torn album Casey first gave me, another of the very few I managed to salvage from back in the day. Its soooo moving! Check it out for yourself on CD also check out her"Bluë Gardenia"CD. You'll be hooked! S.S.

By R&B (138.238.41.118) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 11:45 am:

HA,HEY KEV,WE KNOW THAT THE QUEEN OF THE BLUES WOULD'VE BEEN CUSSIN UP A STORM LISTENING TO SOME OF THESE DIVAS!

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 11:47 am:

HEAR ME COMMON Check out the ones I mentioned, they aer the deepest most emotional and real as it gets CDs!!!
In their day Dinah & Billie ruled!!!

By Sue (63.85.105.20) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 12:03 pm:

Dinah is very appropriate to this Forum -- she was married to Dick "Night Train" Lane, the great Detroit Lions player, and was a constant presence on the club scene here ...in fact, some people mistakenly think she's from Detroit just because she spent so much time here. When I met Natalie Merchant and she heard I was from Detroit, all she wanted to talk about was Dinah Washington ...

Can't wait for the new Universal set ...

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 12:12 pm:

Common; Forgot to mention Dinah's Drinking Again album was on Roulette.

By Common (152.163.252.68) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 12:22 pm:

Hello everyone,

Soulsister & KevGo: Thanks so much for the recommendations! Luckily, there is a full discography of her work in the back of the book. The book itself was published in the '80s, so the info you both provided is most welcomed! BTW, Soulsister, I was shocked to learn how many people Dinah discovered & helped throughout her career. I had no idea that she discovered the Dells! The book is chockful of information in terms of her recording sessions,whom she sanged with & her songs. Very good book. BTW, if anyone is interested, the name of the book is appropriately called "The Queen Of The Blues".

Sue: I, too, thought Dinah was from Detroit. I also didn't know Ruth Bowen was also associated with Dinah. I've seen Ruth's name of the MAA site, & had no idea that her career went back that far.

Peace!

By Sue (63.85.105.20) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 12:24 pm:

Dinah did live here on and off, especially when she and "Night Train" were a couple, but I'm not sure how long. I'm going to check that book out.

By Common (152.163.252.68) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 12:40 pm:

Ooops, forgot to give the name of the author: Jim Haskins. According to the book, they were only married 6 months before Dinah passed.

Peace!

By B-town (207.8.188.200) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 12:53 pm:

thankyou, Soul Sister.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 12:57 pm:

Common:
Ruth Bowen was a powerful booking and management magnate. She named her company Queen Booking in honor of Dinah.

Also, if you can find the video or the companion book to "Listen Up! The Many Lives Of Quincy Jones," there are photos of Dinah in the studio with the Mighty, Mighty Dells surrounding her. Classic photo.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 01:04 pm:

R&B:
"Cussin' up a storm" would only be for starters if (God help them) the VH-1 "Divas" were to face Miss Washington....If any of them started singing "What A Diff'rence A Day Makes" not even the entire armed forces could stop Dinah from throwing a fit...

Sue:
The "Divas" series on UMG features "best-of's" by the following:
Dinah Washington
Billie Holiday
Sarah Vaughan
Anita O'Day
Blossom Dearie
Astrud Gilberto
Carmen McCrae
Ella Fitzgerald

Now, imagine a show with THIS line-up...

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Sue (63.85.105.20) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 01:08 pm:

Kev,
I've got the Ella and Billie, for sure, can't wait for the upcoming ones.

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 01:46 pm:

Common; I forgot that peice of trivia, the Dells back up some of her records in the studio. Jimmy told me that Dianah's husband told him Dinah died in his arms the way they slept together every night. I do know one of Dinah's cussing out stories from someone else but shouldn't go into it here (smile). THANK YOU Common for the book info. GREAT!

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 01:55 pm:

Ke'-Go; your good!!! Jimmy told me about the "Queen"name & Ruth Bowen.
Also I'm told Dinah was stone-crazy over Quincy Jones and their was a competion between she & Kim Novak for Q's attentions, but at the time Q was still married ti his high school sweetheart Geri, his first wife. S.S.

By Michael/cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 02:21 pm:

Everyone:

Who knew this thread would lead a path straight to the great Dinah Washington! I think her spirit must have taken control when we starting to talk about divas ("those mother****** better not forget me") for she truly was a diva and is not always given her due when the musicologists start discussing the Bessie/Billie/Aretha axis. Dinah should be included in any "influence" discussion. At times you would listen to her and think she had a limited vocal range and then all of a sudden she would shock you with where she could go with that distinctive voice of here. She was a sassy, elegant, fabulously talented woman.

Chan:

The idea of Chaka and Stevie doing an album together gives me goosebumps. About 10 years ago I was at a Stevie Wonder concert in LA. He invited Chaka onstage and all these to geniuses did was sing each other's name back and forth to each other and brought the audience to its feet. Maybe if we put the idea into the cosmos, it will happen. I have long waited for Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles to do the same thing.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 02:37 pm:

Soul Sister:
Read Q's latest biography....I don't think any of his marriages stopped him from "Doggin' Around" (forgive me, Jackie Wilson...)....

Cleoharvey:
We gotta thank Common for mentioning the great Miss "D" on this thread. Proves that we Forum folks know our s--- (Dinah would be proud). I agree with you regarding Stevie & Chaka - hell, he wrote her biggest hit w/Rufus "Tell Me Something Good" and Chaka is not signed to any label right now....Hello, Kedar Massenburg at Motown - are you listening????

Now, excuse me while I cue up that Dinah & Brook Benton duet...

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 05:06 pm:

Kev-Go; I read it before it was released when "Q" sent Jimmy an advanced copy. Also on Jimmy's birthday last year at the Hollywood Bowl "gig",
"Q" called & sent Jimmy a beautiful wrapped gift in a red-maroon velvet with gold ribbon, it was his own boxed CDs, video, & another copy of his book, so now we each have one! "Q"is sweet like that. Fine too (smile). Thanks for mentioning it. S.S.
P.S. I can tell you that "Jackie" would not have minded(chuckle) anyway he too was doggin'around.

By StingBeeLee (68.43.130.52) on Saturday, May 31, 2003 - 12:36 am:

Listen closely to Dinah and Brook Benton sing their duets. On "You've got what it takes", Brook sings Dinah's line and she interrupts him in the middle of the song. Then she tells him "NOW IT'S YOU" meaning sing your own line, fool.
When I first heard these songs, I thought the ad libs were funny, and then learned Dinah was not happy with Brook's attitude. Her producer begged her to do "What a difference a day makes", she finally gave in and said "I'll do it in one take Mother******". She did one take and walked out the door. Dinah would have pulled a knife on some of these "divas" and cut them.

By Allen (24.165.82.46) on Saturday, May 31, 2003 - 05:39 am:

Stevie has done a duet oriented project. But it was with Dionne Warwick for the movie " Woman In Red". Next time I see him, I'll mention what you guys are saying about Chaka and he.

I had the pleasure of accompanying Ms.Kahn one night in Cleveland. I was subbing for Jamerson Jr. I was amazed how effortlessly she sang. There was no sliding into notes. Notes were hit head on. Clean and strong. Without convulsions or facial distortion. Actually, she was smiling the entire set.

The only other singer who ever impressed me more with her technical ability, was Ms. Sassy. What remarkable Musicians!
I have nothing but respect for great singers. Singing is physically a dificult thing to do. Ever try talking at different volumes for an hour or so?

Allen
P.S. god bless you Luther Vandross

By Vandelron (24.44.20.172) on Saturday, May 31, 2003 - 01:47 pm:

Thoughts--Where is Stevie's new album??-he's a genius and all and we deserve his music;;I saw more of divas and thought Mary J held her own on Sweet Thing with the Khan. From what Ive read here I thought she would sound like Ethel Merman. I have seen Patti in person many many times and her voice is a gift and from her soul-Ive never ever seen her just screech--I amire her not capitulating to others"to tone it down." If she did she wouldnt be Patti-she is THE best performer I have ever seen. I thought Higher Ground was a mess at end of Divas show. Do these people rehearse?(Donna Summer refused to sing with Diana and Mariah on past Divas show becuase they hadnt rehearsed,on Supremes medley).

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 10:32 pm:

Vandelron:
We should know ol' Stevie by now...He'll do a new album when he's good & ready...In other words, maybe by the end of the decade!

StingBeeLee:
Right on regarding Dinah & Brook...Only God & the record producer knows what was said when the tape machine wasn't recording...
It was mentioned in a Mercury reissue years ago that Dinah & Brook didn't even want to promote their duets on tour because they couldn't get along.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By DF (24.90.11.4) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 10:26 am:

I didn't see the show, but I will make comments on the singers in question.

Mary J: One thing I like about Mary is the willingness to try and learn any and all styles (whether she can hit em or not). She may be a tenor. I like female tenors (or tenor sounding): Dorothy Moore, Millie Jackson, Candi Staton, Tina Turner, etc.

Ashanti's positive attitude will take her a long way in the industry (unlike her Murder, Inc friends). Hopefully, she will fine tune her voice as the years go on.

Chaka Khan: I have Echoes Of An Era, one of the best jazz vocal albums ever made.

Beyonce: She sang the heck out of "Upside Down" during the Diana Ross Divas show (It does help to have Nile Rodgers's band backing you up!).

Stevie: No explanation needed on him.

Latifah: Her voice is good, though not very powerful. She will win a few Oscars, though. Peace.

By publicimageltd. (65.142.87.99) on Wednesday, June 04, 2003 - 09:51 pm:

VH-1 being the discredit to music that it is, and totally ruined the meaning of the word Diva.
VH-1's use of the term has totally discredited it and made it so that it is no long term used to discribe talent as it is a term to describe the biggest commerical name on the block. To put Cher, Marya Carrey (sic), and Celine Dion on the same stage together and call them "Divas" is not only an insult to those of us who truely appreicate music, but to music as a whole.
I don't mean to discredit many of the singers mentioned in your messages, some of them are quite talented and deserve the recoginiton they recieve, but by this is just another example of how MTV and it's music empire has completely changed the music scene by making image far more important than substance. And it shows in how people are eating up shows like American Idol and all the other reality shows that are currently polluting our mass culture

By SoniT (68.48.6.147) on Wednesday, June 04, 2003 - 10:01 pm:

publicimage -- I totally agree. VH-1 has completely discredited the term "Diva." Ashanti, Lisa Marie Presley and some of the others are no divas. They have not been around long enough to be called Divas. Puleeze!!!

By stephanie (64.63.221.169) on Wednesday, June 04, 2003 - 11:04 pm:

I like American Idol because some of the songs they do are classics and its introducing true talent (much better than what we see on cable and MTV and VH-1)..Out of all of the new talent listed I think that Queen Latifah has the best chance of lasting the longest. Mary J will be around and Ashanti is out the window you will soon see she cant sing she is just pretty......

My money goes on Mariah and Queen to be around the longest...the wild card is Beyonce if she can get some more modeling contracts and acting gigs.
She sounds OK but at least she is better than Ashanti she is great in that cola commercial looking like she is playing Dorothy Dandridge..
Stephanie

By Eli (141.151.1.101) on Wednesday, June 04, 2003 - 11:59 pm:

The term "Diva" was originally intended for female opera singers such as Maria Callas and Leontyne Price.
Somewhere along the way the term got "bastardized" into the way we come to use it in todays society.
What a shame!!

By Caleb (171.75.81.24) on Thursday, June 05, 2003 - 02:51 am:

"Bastardized?"-interesting.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, June 05, 2003 - 11:03 am:

The term "diva" was used to describe opera singers but it was later used as a derogatory term to describe a singer who had a bad attitude and wasn't afraid to show it.

That's how the term "diva" became, as Bobby Eli
said, "bastardized".

I don't think VH-1 has discredited the term "diva" by using it for their program. Granted, not all the women (and men) that have performed on the show would fit our definition of a true "diva" but I do give VH-1 credit for trying to somewhat emphasize the positive tone the word should properly carry.

I also have to tip my hat to VH-1 for their wonderful (and underused!) series "VH-1 Legends". In the show's first season, they aired documentaries on Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield that were objective, balanced, informative and filled with interviews from those living and deceased. In fact, one of the programming heads of VH-1 said in an interview years ago that he chose Curtis Mayfield as a VH-1 Legend because he felt that the majority of the youth population didn't know who was Curtis & his importance in modern music.
Regards,
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By shawn1b (171.75.238.203) on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 11:20 pm:

I am sorry I think Whitney sounds great still !I enjoyed her most of all !And think her new album is Fabulous !Whitney was never a Soprano ,Always alto and will always be she has gotten older can no longer really sing in the her Mothers Range (Although never as good to me as Cissy).I think People view Whitney as not as good because she doesn't sing the same way she once did .But I love her now more than then .Chaka Khan sounded really good unlike the first time she was on Diva's !Mary J.well that night it just wasn't working are something was wrong Vegas can play havok with some singers voices,especially if your coming a totally different climate .Beyonce sounded pretty good looked Great .Shawn

By John Lester (213.123.127.25) on Saturday, June 07, 2003 - 05:57 pm:

I have at last seen the video performance on the cable channel at my gym. I agree with the concensus of opinion of views already expressed.

However, even though I am not an admirer of Whitney, I have to admit to feeling sad for her as I listened to her struggle at that concert. She looked lost and completely left out during the finale with Stevie - it seemed like the others were distancing themselves from her. Cissy needs to tell her daughter "enough is enough"

By Vandelron (24.44.20.172) on Saturday, June 07, 2003 - 08:08 pm:

My understanding is Cissy and Dionne(though I wonder about Miss Dionne herself and HER isssues)and Natalie have all tried.