Beyonce To Play Etta James

[Brian Damage]

R&B star Beyonce Knowles is set to play famed blues singer Etta James in new movie Cadillac Records. The Dreamgirls actress will join Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright and Cedric the Entertainer in the 1950s-set film, reports AOL.com.

Actor Matt Dillon has been replaced by Oscar-winning Brody in the role of Leonard Chess, the founder of legendary blues label Chess Records, after scheduling conflicts forced him to pull out of the project.

Filming is due to take place later this year in New Jersey and Mississippi.

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)

[Ireneparalegal]

Will Beyonce GAIN weight for this role? Etta has always been known to be a heavy lady, it isn't until recently that she lost weight due to health reasons.

[Mikado]

Beyonce playing Etta James ???? As much as i respect the Great EJ as a blues legend, this is like casting Brad Pitt as Oliver Hardy

[Dean Winchester]

I don't think Beyonce would work in the role. Rihanna would be a better fit if they're aiming for current r&b pop princess for the role. Her eyes on the cover of her debut are fairly similar to Etta

[Dean Winchester]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Will Beyonce GAIN weight for this role? Etta has always been known to be a heavy lady, it isn't until recently that she lost weight due to health reasons.

did you hear the nasty review someone wrote up for a recent concert she gave? Apparently with the weight loss has ushered in a sex kitten. The review said 70 year old James was acting like Madonna in the early 90's

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by Dean Winchester

did you hear the nasty review someone wrote up for a recent concert she gave? Apparently with the weight loss has ushered in a sex kitten. The review said 70 year old James was acting like Madonna in the early 90's

WTF? Oh my my. Etta has been around for what seems like forever, she stands alone...being compared to Madonna???? Oy Vey Why do people almost always use Madonna as a comparison?

[Dean Winchester]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

WTF? Oh my my. Etta has been around for what seems like forever, she stands alone...being compared to Madonna???? Oy Vey Why do people almost always use Madonna as a comparison?

no no no, I mean Etta was acting all sexual onstage, gyrating with male dancers and the sort and acting sex-crazed, and dressed in clothing that isn't age-appropriate.

Madonna IS the person everyone compares to when you talk about female sexuality. Much like everytime someone goes psychedelic and does something trippy, there's going to be a comparison to The Beatles.

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by Dean Winchester

no no no, I mean Etta was acting all sexual onstage, gyrating with male dancers and the sort and acting sex-crazed, and dressed in clothing that isn't age-appropriate.

Oh sh*t are you serious??? What on earth? Why is she lowering herself to that for? She is a living legend, now why is she acting all crazy like that for?

I guess when she lost all the weight, she lost some of her brain matter as well.

[Dean Winchester]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Oh sh*t are you serious??? What on earth? Why is she lowering herself to that for? She is a living legend, now why is she acting all crazy like that for?

I guess when she lost all the weight, she lost some of her brain matter as well.

I wanna find that review and post it, I remember my favorite part was when the reviewer said "Etta started singing 'I want to ta-ta you', I don't know what it means but I sure as hell know I don't want to be ta-ta'd by her"

[Dean Winchester]

found it!!!

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...3/ai_n16687904

Etta James falls flat in racy show at Wente
Oakland Tribune, Aug 23, 2006 by Jim Harrington, MUSIC CRITIC
ETTA JAMES AND THE NEVILLE BROTHERS took different approaches to their co-headlining sets on Monday night here at Wente Vineyards. The Nevilles took the high road and James took, well, the other one.

James show was raunchier and racier than what one will find during a concert by Britney Spears or, even, Madonna.

Too bad it wasnt as good as what one gets with either of those younger divas.

That might be hard to believe given the impressive credentials of James -- a three-time Grammy winner who has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has received a NARAS Lifetime Achievement Award.Yet, by just about any standard shy of a stage show at a strip club, James put on a highly inappropriate performance. It certainly didnt fit at a classy establishment like Wente.

Im not being a prude. I just didnt expect, nor did I want, to see a lady fondling herself on stage, using plenty of phallic imagery, licking at the microphone and bending at the waist to do copious bumping and grinding. James did all that and so much more at Wente. And, mind you, this wasnt coming from some young bombshell -- it was coming from a 68-year-old woman who should know better.

Maybe, her behavior had something to do with all the weight she lost from a recent surgery -- some 200 pounds, according to her Web site.

Her new and improved body was impressive, but, really, it shouldnt have been such a big focus of the show.

Dressed in black biker-chick garb, James nurtured a down-and- dirty blues vibe for much of the evening that perfectly complemented her trashy theatrics. For instance, she sang a rough-and-tumble version of Johnny Guitar Watsons I Want to Ta-Ta You Baby, during which she beckoned her guitar player over to kneel between her legs while she fondled him. I dont know what it means to Ta-Ta somebody, but I do know that I dont want Etta James to do it to me.

Her classier selections, such as Blind Girl, werent all that much more enjoyable. When she wasnt adding distasteful theatrics to the songs, like she did with her tongue during Blind Girl, she was failing to live up to our memories of her classic records, which is exactly what happened with At Last.

At Last was the most disappointing tune of the night. The original recorded version, which weve all heard countless times, remains a true vocal masterpiece. Yet, walk into any karaoke bar in Northern California and you might hear a version of that song that is better than the one James delivered at Wente.

Following a decent rendition of Sugar on the Floor, James set was, at last, over and things improved greatly once the Neville Brothers took the stage.

The legendary New Orleans act, which headlined the San Jose Jazz Festival on Sunday, turned in a highly enjoyable performance of Bayou bashes that (almost) made one forget about James.

Celebrating 30 years in the industry, the Neville Brothers sounded terrific as they opened their show with a spicy take on Way Down in New Orleans and continued through such fan favorites as Fiyo on the Bayou.

Two of the best moments of the show came with cover songs. The Nevilles did a superb take on the classic Fever and hit with a flavorful version of Hank Williams Jambalaya (On the Bayou).

Vocalist Aaron Neville, in particular, was in fine voice as he delivered a very tender and convincing Tell It Like It Is, which was a No. 1 R&B hit back in 1967.

In all, the Neville Brothers were every bit as good as Etta James was bad. That probably wont be a popular statement with James fans. But dont shoot the messenger -- Im just trying to tell it like it is.

Write music critic Jim Harrington at jharrington@angnewspapers.com. For more concert coverage, visit http://www.insidebayarea.com/music.

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by Dean Winchester

I remember my favorite part was when the reviewer said "Etta started singing 'I want to ta-ta you', I don't know what it means but I sure as hell know I don't want to be ta-ta'd by her"

OMG!!!!

I wonder if there is a link to view that performance? I want to see it. I have to see it.

Thank you for finding that review. That is one descriptive review let me tell you. And I am shocked that Etta would perform in that manner. It has nothing to do with her age (yes it does ) and it has nothing to do with the sexual nature, just the fact that after all these years Etta resorted to doing that to perform her music. I last seen her do an interview on Tavis Smiley and she was looking great but I didn't get the feeling that she was into this whole "sex kitten" thingy. Damn John, this review made me Thanx!!!

[Mikado]

Etta James is only 69-70? Either shes lying about her age, or she started out her long career at a mighty young age!!! Btw, i think Rhianna would make a better Etta, mind you, im not sure either she OR Beyonce can match her voice, when it comes right down to it....or ACT.

[LuLu Rogers]

Originally Posted by Dean Winchester

I don't think Beyonce would work in the role. Rihanna would be a better fit if they're aiming for current r&b pop princess for the role. Her eyes on the cover of her debut are fairly similar to Etta

I've always thought Rihanna is beautiful, I think she would be better for the role, IMO.

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by Mikado

Etta James is only 69-70? Either shes lying about her age, or she started out her long career at a mighty young age!!! Btw, i think Rhianna would make a better Etta, mind you, im not sure either she OR Beyonce can match her voice, when it comes right down to it....or ACT.

Did you also know that Etta James states her father is the late pool player MINNESOTA FATS?

I read an article abt that a long time ago and I never forgot abt that.

http://redkelly.blogspot.com/2006/04...t-hes-got.html

[Mikado]

Plus, Rihanna is a good Canadian gal