Just recently the 71-year-old star had nice things to say about Beyonce's portrayal of her in Cadillac Records but MTV says the camaraderie seems to have evaporated as James "unleashed a verbal beat-down" on B during a concert held at Seattle's Paramount Theatre on last week.
Though she wasn't the first person to perform the song, "At Last" has become James' signature song. Beyoncé, of course, performed the song for President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama's first dance at the Neighborhood Ball two weeks ago and James is not happy about it.
During the Seattle concert she said, in a rant that was obtained on recording by TMZ "You guys know your president, right? You know the one with the big ears?...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."
James went on to say, "The great Beyoncé. 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."
Not sure what brought this on. MTV notes "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."
James has a reputation as being a bawdy performer. According to a review in the Seattle Times, she made "lewd facial and hand gestures" during her opening song, Come to Mama.
It seems that Beyonce just can't make friends with those song legends. After last year's Grammys Aretha Franklin tore a strip out her for referring to Tina Turner as the "Queen," a moniker Aretha believes is hers, and hers alone.
I have to say, I'm appalled at the attitude of Ms James here. I think Beyonce did the song justice and honoured the song and Ms James at the same time.
Whether Ms. James is all "in a huff" because she herself was not asked to sing, is probably the real reason for her outburst. It has nothing to do with Beyonce at all. I think Ms. James has acted as a real spoiled sport here and even more poorly as a legend in her industry.
Ms James, You had your time under the spotlight. Give the young woman a break. This is her time plus she is doing your song justice. You should be proud that "your song" was chosen, and a talented artist was chosen to sing it.
Emulation is the sincerest form of flattery Etta or are you so blinded by your ego and jealousy that you missed that point? You are a true legend (and so is Aretha Franklin for that matter) but there is enough room in this world for innumerable success stories not just you and Aretha for crying out loud. How boring would this world be if there wasn't?
Grow up and appreciate that Beyonce is paying you the supreme compliment. Perhaps Obama didn't ask you to sing it because (judging by the comments you had to say about him) you are obviously not a fan of his?
Ms. James needs to calm down! Beyonce was asked to preform by the president himself - kinda hard to say no when THE PRESIDENT asks you, right? it might bother Etta, but what ever happened to "keeping your opinions to yourself" or "not saying something if you don't have something nice to say"?? This is ridiculous if you think about it. Ms. James didn't write the song or arrange it, it was originally released in the 1940's. Etta James was simply "one of" the talented performers to have sung it. She really has no say over who should or shouldn't /can or can't sing it as IT IS NOT HER SONG. This is similar to how Jack Nicholson was upset over Heath Ledger having been selected to play The Joker in The Dark Knight, Jack was extremely upset that he wasn't asked to play the part, Like the role of The Joker was his? (if you ask me, Heath's version? MUCH better). Ms James needs to get over this juvenile behaviour, She should realize she's 70 something and that other people are going to eclipse her fame. Perhaps in another time, Ms. James would have been the "Go to girl" to sing, but today, in 2009 Beyonce Knowles is the "go to girl" and Ms. James should accept that, should be thankful and feel honored quit her whining.
I for one loved Beyonce's rendition of At Last during the First Dance...Thoughts?
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