Beyonce Slammed By Etta James For Singing 'At Last' At Inaugural Ball - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 02-05-2009, 11:57 AM

Remember a few months ago when Etta James had some nice things to say about Beyoncé's portrayal of her in "Cadillac Records"? Well, apparently the good vibes have dissipated. James unleashed a verbal beat-down on B last week during a concert in which she, believe it or not, threatened to whip the "Single Ladies" singer's butt.

Though she wasn't the first singer to perform it, the 71-year-old James has made the smoldering ballad "At Last" her signature song since it became a hit for her in 1961. Beyoncé sang for President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama's first dance at the Neighborhood Ball two weeks ago. For some reason, that seems to have angered James, who put Beyoncé, and the president, for that matter, on blast during a show at Seattle's Paramount Theatre on January 28.

During the gig, she criticized the singer's performance at the inauguration. "You guys know your president, right? You know the one with the big ears?" began her rant, a recording of which was obtained by TMZ. "Wait a minute, he ain't my president. He might be yours; he ain't my president. But I tell you that woman he had singing for him, singing my song — she's going to get her a-- whipped.

"The great Beyoncé," James went on. "Like I said, she ain't mine. ... I can't stand Beyoncé. She has no business up there, singing up there on a big ol' president day, gonna be singing my song that I've been singing forever."

A review of the show in the Seattle Times noted James' reputation as a bawdy performer, adding that she made "lewd facial and hand gestures" during her opening song, "Come to Mama."

Beyoncé won critical acclaim for portraying James in "Cadillac Records," and has performed "At Last" several times since the movie was released, including in front of James, who has not made this kind of public fuss over it previously. A spokesperson for Beyoncé could not be reached for comment at press time. Beyoncé got in hot water with another icon last year at the Grammys, when soul legend Aretha Franklin ripped into B for introducing Tina Turner as "the queen," a title Franklin has claimed as her own.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/160..._beyonce.jhtml

Janice · 02-05-2009, 08:27 PM

http://www.popeater.com/music/article/etta-james-feud-beyonce-barack-obama/330576?icid=200100397x1218488190x1201231256

Etta James Doles Out Harsh 'Last' Words for Beyonce, Obama

(Feb. 5) - Etta James sure can hold a grudge, that much is certain after the R&B icon vented her gripes about singer Beyonce Knowles and President Barack Obama during a recent concert in Seattle.

The 71-year-old diva is steaming mad over Beyonce's performance of 'At Last,' her signature tune, at Obama's first inauguration party. The President and First Lady Michelle Obama danced to the legendary ballad (see photos below). The fiery rant, in which she threatens to beat up "that woman" and o

"You guys know your president, right? You know the one with the big ears?" she said to the crowd, unsure of what lay ahead. "Wait a minute, he ain't my president, he might be yours, he ain't my president. You know that woman he had singing for him, singing my song -- she's going to get her ass whipped."

Beyonce played James on the big screen recently, in 'Cadillac Records.' Now, we have an idea what the elder singer thinks of her movie version. She continued at the concert:

"The great Beyonce. I can't stand Beyonce," she told the crowd. "She has no business up there, singing up there on a big ol' president day, gonna be singing my song that I've been singing forever."

James is best known for 'At Last,' released in 1961 on Chess Records, but she has scores of other hits including 'Trust in Me' and 'Fool That I Am.'

Beyonce ruffled the sequins of another diva last year when at the Grammy Awards she introduced Tina Turner, and not Aretha Franklin, as "The Queen." Her royal highness the Queen of Soul was not pleased by the diss, and called it a "cheap shot."

catlover79 · 02-05-2009, 08:47 PM

OUCH.

TJL · 02-05-2009, 08:58 PM

This story reminds me to the thread from a few days ago about Faye Dunaway ripping Hilary Duff for doing a "Bonnie And Clyde" movie.

As much as we should respect some of the accomplishments of our older actors, singers and performers, sometimes you have to accept the fact that they can be aging divas who refuse to give any props to a new generation of stars.

Miserable old bat.

platinumblondelife · 02-06-2009, 12:15 AM

Jealousy is not attractive, especially for a woman your age, Etta...

PrettyinPink55 · 02-06-2009, 12:33 AM

Yikes!!!

catlover79 · 02-06-2009, 10:48 AM

Gee, I think someone's bitter!

MonarC · 02-06-2009, 11:23 AM

I don't think Beyonce should be singing her song if Etta James did not approve of it. It is her song. Why didn't they get Etta James to sing it herself. Or if they wanted Beyonce. Why didn't Beyonce sing one of her own songs?

catlover79 · 02-06-2009, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonarC

I don't think Beyonce should be singing her song if Etta James did not approve of it. It is her song. Why didn't they get Etta James to sing it herself. Or if they wanted Beyonce. Why didn't Beyonce sing one of her own songs?

I don't know why Etta wasn't invited to sing there, but she doesn't own the rights to the song. Beyonce or anyone else can sing it.

James"Thunder"Early · 02-06-2009, 04:14 PM

Etta needs to grow up. That song was written for a movie called Orchestra Wives long before James sang it, she didn't write it and she has no claim to it. Etta James never had that big of a career to begin with, her only hit was "At Last", so I guess she felt the need to take out her anger on another singer.

catlover79 · 02-06-2009, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James"Thunder"Early

Etta needs to grow up. That song was written for a movie called Orchestra Wives long before James sang it, she didn't write it and she has no claim to it. Etta James was never had that big of a career to begin with, her only hit was "At Last", soI guess she felt the need to take out her anger on another singer.

I agree - that's the only song of hers I know!

HuntingtonM15 · 02-06-2009, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Beyonce or anyone else can sing it.

Yep, and they can do it just as well, if not better than she can. For example, Martina McBride:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVm1sAJKeJw

(no clue about the actual images in that video)

MonarC · 02-06-2009, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I don't know why Etta wasn't invited to sing there, but she doesn't own the rights to the song. Beyonce or anyone else can sing it.

Oh ok. I thought she wrote that song.

catlover79 · 02-06-2009, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonarC

Oh ok. I thought she wrote that song.

No she didn't, but the song is so associated with her that I can see why people would think that.

TripperFan · 02-06-2009, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

No she didn't, but the song is so associated with her that I can see why people would think that.

Very few (female especially) artists back then wrote their own stuff. Maybe if they played an instrument along with (i.e. Bo Diddly). I love Etta's version yes, but you don't own the song! It's like if Whitney Houston tried to stop someone from singing one of the songs closely associated with her - they might do a good job, but it will always be associated with the one who made it a hit in the first place.

I think Beyonce did a fantastic job and frankly, looked more "a part of the crowd" and age group as this is a young president. It would have looked strange for this fresh, new first family dancing to some old bat who could probably barely hold the microphone!

02-05-2009, 11:57 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Beyonce Slammed By Etta James For Singing 'At Last' At Inaugural Ball Remember a few months ago when Etta James had some nice things to say about Beyoncé's portrayal of her in "Cadillac Records"? Well, apparently the good vibes have dissipated. James unleashed a verbal beat-down on B last week during a concert in which she, believe it or not, threatened to whip the "Single Ladies" singer's butt. Though she wasn't the first singer to perform it, the 71-year-old James has made the smoldering ballad "At Last" her signature song since it became a hit for her in 1961. Beyoncé sang for President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama's first dance at the Neighborhood Ball two weeks ago. For some reason, that seems to have angered James, who put Beyoncé, and the president, for that matter, on blast during a show at Seattle's Paramount Theatre on January 28. During the gig, she criticized the singer's performance at the inauguration. "You guys know your president, right? You know the one with the big ears?" began her rant, a recording of which was obtained by TMZ. "Wait a minute, he ain't my president. He might be yours; he ain't my president. But I tell you that woman he had singing for him, singing my song — she's going to get her a-- whipped. "The great Beyoncé," James went on. "Like I said, she ain't mine. ... I can't stand Beyoncé. She has no business up there, singing up there on a big ol' president day, gonna be singing my song that I've been singing forever." A review of the show in the Seattle Times noted James' reputation as a bawdy performer, adding that she made "lewd facial and hand gestures" during her opening song, "Come to Mama." Beyoncé won critical acclaim for portraying James in "Cadillac Records," and has performed "At Last" several times since the movie was released, including in front of James, who has not made this kind of public fuss over it previously. A spokesperson for Beyoncé could not be reached for comment at press time. Beyoncé got in hot water with another icon last year at the Grammys, when soul legend Aretha Franklin ripped into B for introducing Tina Turner as "the queen," a title Franklin has claimed as her own. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/160..._beyonce.jhtml
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02-05-2009, 08:47 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	OUCH.
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02-05-2009, 08:58 PM	#4
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	This story reminds me to the thread from a few days ago about Faye Dunaway ripping Hilary Duff for doing a "Bonnie And Clyde" movie. As much as we should respect some of the accomplishments of our older actors, singers and performers, sometimes you have to accept the fact that they can be aging divas who refuse to give any props to a new generation of stars. Miserable old bat.
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

02-06-2009, 12:15 AM	#5
platinumblondelife smooches. Senior Member Join Date: Aug 14, 2005 Posts: 2,189	Jealousy is not attractive, especially for a woman your age, Etta...
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02-06-2009, 12:33 AM	#6
PrettyinPink55 Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 24,601	Yikes!!!
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02-05-2009, 08:27 PM	#2
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	http://www.popeater.com/music/article/etta-james-feud-beyonce-barack-obama/330576?icid=200100397x1218488190x1201231256 Etta James Doles Out Harsh 'Last' Words for Beyonce, Obama (Feb. 5) - Etta James sure can hold a grudge, that much is certain after the R&B icon vented her gripes about singer Beyonce Knowles and President Barack Obama during a recent concert in Seattle. The 71-year-old diva is steaming mad over Beyonce's performance of 'At Last,' her signature tune, at Obama's first inauguration party. The President and First Lady Michelle Obama danced to the legendary ballad (see photos below). The fiery rant, in which she threatens to beat up "that woman" and o "You guys know your president, right? You know the one with the big ears?" she said to the crowd, unsure of what lay ahead. "Wait a minute, he ain't my president, he might be yours, he ain't my president. You know that woman he had singing for him, singing my song -- she's going to get her ass whipped." Beyonce played James on the big screen recently, in 'Cadillac Records.' Now, we have an idea what the elder singer thinks of her movie version. She continued at the concert: "The great Beyonce. I can't stand Beyonce," she told the crowd. "She has no business up there, singing up there on a big ol' president day, gonna be singing my song that I've been singing forever." James is best known for 'At Last,' released in 1961 on Chess Records, but she has scores of other hits including 'Trust in Me' and 'Fool That I Am.' Beyonce ruffled the sequins of another diva last year when at the Grammy Awards she introduced Tina Turner, and not Aretha Franklin, as "The Queen." Her royal highness the Queen of Soul was not pleased by the diss, and called it a "cheap shot."

02-06-2009, 10:48 AM	#7
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Gee, I think someone's bitter!

02-06-2009, 11:23 AM	#8
MonarC The truth will set you free Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 05, 2002 Location: 3rd Stone From The Sun Posts: 9,525	I don't think Beyonce should be singing her song if Etta James did not approve of it. It is her song. Why didn't they get Etta James to sing it herself. Or if they wanted Beyonce. Why didn't Beyonce sing one of her own songs?

02-06-2009, 04:14 PM	#10
James"Thunder"Early Whoever's In New England Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 23, 2004 Location: The Apollo Posts: 7,088	Etta needs to grow up. That song was written for a movie called Orchestra Wives long before James sang it, she didn't write it and she has no claim to it. Etta James never had that big of a career to begin with, her only hit was "At Last", so I guess she felt the need to take out her anger on another singer.
	__________________ Esther Anderson: Get thee behind me, Satan, but I'm gon' get behind you, 'cause I'm gonna put my foot in your--- Peggy Mitchell: Get outta my pub! You better pray you get the last laugh, it's a kick in the teeth when you don't get it. Last edited by James"Thunder"Early; 02-06-2009 at 04:51 PM.