Remember Barack Obama’s inaugural dances with his beautiful wife Michelle? For their first dance of the night, Beyonce sang the classic song “At Last”, made famous by the immaculate Etta James many, many years ago. Beyonce’s version was very good – according to most people. But Etta James isn’t most people.
Etta’s laying a smackdown on Beyonce publicly. Etta dissed both Beyonce and Barack Obama at a recent concert saying, “You guys know your president, right? You know the one with the big ears? 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.” Yikes. Take it easy, Etta.
Wow! There’s a new celebrity feud circulating around Hollywood. This one, between legendary singer Etta James and Beyonce.
James, known for her rendition of the classic song “At Last,” lashed out at Beyonce during a recent concert, criticizing her Inauguration performance during which she sang “At Last” for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.
At a concert this week in Seattle, James said: “You guys know your president, right? You know the one with the big ears? 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.”
James continues, “The great Beyonce. I can’t stand Beyonce. She has no business up there, singing up there on a big ol’ president day, singing my song that I’ve been singing forever.”
While Etta James wasn’t the first person to make “At Last” famous, it’s her rendition of it that’s most well-known. Beyonce, who let’s not forget played Etta in the film Cadillac Records and has performed the tune many times including in front of the singer herself, was asked to perform it at the Inauguration.
This isn’t the first time Beyonce has stepped on toes more legendary than her own. Last February, Beyonce rubbed Aretha Franklin the wrong way when she listed her among the singers she considered beneath Tina Turner, during a speech to present Tina at the Grammys.
Is it a case of jealousy on the part of these older singers or is Beyonce displaying some diva-ish behavior?
From OK! Magazine
Alright, maybe Etta James could have made her point about “her” song without calling out President Obama as not being “her” president. It really seems like Etta is madder at Beyonce anyway, and that anger extends to anyone in Beyonce’s vicinity while she was singing “At Last”. Or perhaps Etta really didn’t like Beyonce’s portrayal of her in Cadillac Records? Beyonce’s a way better singer than actress.
Beyonce isn’t the most gracious of creatures, but I don’t think Etta James is being fair. It’s not Etta’s song exclusively – many people have done covers of “At Last” including Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald and Christina Aguilera, amongst others. Still, this is a great smackdown, and I hope Beyonce responds.
OK – I don’t like Etta dissing Barack, but Bey’s version sucks! I say “Girl Fight!” I think Etta may put it on Bey!
Don’t know anything about Beyonce because I don’t like pulp, but Etta should show a little more dignity and grace if she wants to be respected.
While I agree Etta should have shown more class & tact, I think she’s just angry because SHE wasn’t asked to sing it. She probably thought Bey was okay to sing it in the context of a movie, but for something so special and important, why wouldn’t the Obama’s get the real thing. However, she’s got to realize that this is a new day & age and Beyonce is the “it” girl right now. Besides, why is she making this about her? It was the Obamas’s day and their choice, if that’s who they wanted who is she to knock that??? Get a grip Etta…
I can’t wait to see what Beyoncé will tell to young stars, 30 years from now. Maybe she’ll be worse than Etta, who knows ? Catfight !
I say go for it Etta! Beyonce thinks she’s the greatest singer/actress/dancer on the face of the planet, and I don’t think I’m alone in thinking she needs to be taken down a few pegs. Who better than someone who actually IS an icon to do it?
etta should’ve been invited to sing her own song.
Although I very badly want to say “Team Etta” on this, I think she’s in the wrong. The song is a classic, and although Etta may have made it one, she’s not the only person allowed to sing it.
Etta has a point that she should have been the one to sing, but she’s out of line with her comments about Obama.
Also, I’m no expert, but I’ve heard Beyonce’s version of At Last on the radio and it was gorgeous- so beautifully done. Just because Etta has been singing it longer doesn’t mean Beyonce can’t do a decent job.
Yeah, I’m with you and Prissa, Syko. It seems to be the snub – not being asked to sing it herself – that’s the real bone of contention for Etta but pride won’t allow her to say that. Not wanting to defend Beyonce or anything (way overrated) but she can’t be blamed for being asked to sing. Etta James is a goddess and is entitled to be divaish but she’s off-target here.
I wish Beyshit gets her ass stomped by all of the original “divas”.
TEAM ETTA ALL THE WAY !! Beyonce needs to take all that fake horse hair out of her head and go sit down somewhere and get some real talent.. WIERDO.. oh my gosh, this just came to me, remember when she fell down the stairs on stage and got back up and started swinging her weave around.. OMG, that was hilarious.. youtube it if you didn’t see it. WIERDO !!
Little harsh on Beyonce there Tia? Come on now. It’s not her fault she was asked to sing the song. I agree Etta should have been asked. Maybe Obama wanted to appeal to a younger crowd by asking Beyonce? I mean, hell, I don’t know, just a thought. Etta shouldn’t have said that. It was a little below the belt.
Maybe she wasn’t invited to sing at the Inaugural Ball because President Obama knew “he’s not her president.”
LOVE LOVE LOVE me some Etta James. If you’ve ever seen her in concert, you know she tells it like it is. I’m with her all the way on this one.
I don’t think Beyonce was asked to sing THAT song… as I recall, there was a big deal about the fact that Beyonce didn’t reveal what song SHE had picked to sing until, like, that day. Other blogs were making jokes about her singing “Single Ladies” since it was such a secret. So even the argument that Etta should have been asked to sing that song doesn’t hold water in regard to her comments on the President.
I do think Ms James was a little crass in her delivery. And it would have been nice to have her perform the song. But like others have said, it wasn’t HER song to sing. However, people are saying Beyonce was ASKED to sing. From what I understand Beyonce wasn’t ASKED to sing. She publicly volunteered right after he was elected (even though she didn’t ENDORSE him publicly.) And she wasn’t added to the roster until the last minute. Her “team” was hard at work trying to make sure she was included.
I have always loved Beyonce. I lived in Houston, TX for year’s just as she did. I have not had the opportunity to meet her personally. However, her mother and sister were “doll’s” when meeting the both of them. I’m happy that Beyonce has found love with Jay-Z. However, she need not forget that it was the smaller people who made her and supported her journey in her career into the artist she has became today. I’m dissapointed; as well as shocked, by some of the comments Beyonce has made about different artist and how she was raised and lived better than some of them. This never came out of her month before she got married to Jay-Z. It’s hurtful rude and not proper behavier. As for Etta James, she should be ashamed for her lack of class. “Truth be told”, I will be praying for the both of them. Remember!!! God hear’s everything. You can’t do anything hurtful or rude to another person and not expect to get it back in return. “Be Bigger and better and you’ll always be blessed.”
I know that there are lots of people who don’t really like Beyonce and that’s fine, but speaking from some one who is from Houston and used to dance at the same studio that she did she’s really not the divamediawhorelacefrontwigwearingbiotch that people may perceive her as. I really like her and I don’t think that she meant to insult Ms. James I think that the song summed up what Beyonce may have been feeling at the time. I think that was extremely classless of Ms. James to make the statements that she did and I am a little turned off by that. There is an adult way of handling things and then there is how she opted to handle things. Plus you can’t lay claim to a song that wasn’t yours to begin with, she needs to reevaluate the situation.
Etta James how disrespectful, how heartless, how could you disrespect President Obama. You may not have voted for him but guess what, he is your president if you are a citizen of the USA. Shame on you, it is people like you that continue to hold back our people. And as far as Beyonce it sounds like you have a big taste of anger and jealousy going on. Get a grip girlfriend, your day has passed be graceful and a good example to the young people in the industry today. Don’t use you show to express your anger, take it to the person. I grew up on the 60’s and 70’s and I am shamed for you.
There’s a reason Aretha sang at the inauguration – she’s got class.
Etta could have been a bit more tactful.
Dolly was gracious when Whitney made ‘I Will Always Love You’ a mega hit.
People are giving Etta a way too easy time on this, she’s acting like complete garbage. She only reinforces the fact that it was a good idea to not ask her to sing.
I mean what might have come out of her of her mouth at the ball? “Hey Michelle you look good but not as good as me”, which is something she said about Beyonce about her singing.
This isn’t even a feud, this is a bitter old woman. Good thing no one asked her since Obama’s not her president anyway.
Honestly, I love when people grow old and just lose that filter that makes them think before speaking. LOL.
The problems with Beyonce are this: (1) she is good but not great, and she keeps insisting on putting herself up there with the great ones; and (2) she isn’t just “asked” to do these performances, she really goes after them.
Remember the year she sang EVERY FREAKING SONG at the Oscars? Even the French song?? Even though the original singers were so much better??? Don’t tell me her team didn’t cook that one up.
Granted, she is gorgeous. I really think if she weren’t so pretty, people could see how mediocre she is.
TEAM ETTA. Her career and legendary icon status speaks for itself. I’m not going to crumble because she dissed President Obama. He can handle it.
1st off if you were “71″ and had been through and seen the racial hatred in this country she had you’d be a little bitter too.To say she is that old,still performing well,and lived to see a black president is great in itself.But to not even invite her to sing and have her watch the same woman playing her in a movie do her “song” at a one time only historical event is just not the best display of an “American Dream”!
So to all you idoiots who dont respect elders educate your self,before you speak or she might have to go and git’ dat’ switch and you’ll be the one she beats.LOL
ya think?
Beyonce could take Etta James in more ways than one