MONTE CARLO, Monaco - R&B legend Patti LaBelle says one of the biggest obstacles she's had to face in her career has been watching friend and fellow diva Celine Dion soar up the charts with a song she recorded first.

LaBelle tells the online magazine MonacoRevue.com that racism in the music industry is what kept her from reaching the same heights with the single "If You Asked Me To."

Dion's 1992 rendition soared to number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, while LaBelle's version three years earlier peaked at number 79.

LaBelle says Dion had the sales "because she's a white girl" and that people pay more respect to white artists who sing well than black women.

Nevertheless, she went on to refer to Dion as a friend, and said that she's satisfied with her lengthy career and is grateful for the blessings in her life.

Both LaBelle and Dion were honoured with career achievement awards at the World Music Awards in Monaco earlier this month.

"Why do I think Celine had the sales and I didn't? Because she's a white girl," LaBelle tells the Canadian-owned magazine based in Monaco.

"You want me to be honest? That's why."

"People pay more respect to white artists who sing well before they do black women," she continues in the question-and-answer piece, posted Nov. 23.

"I've been singing for 45 years and that's an obstacle that I'm still ... I'm getting over it because I'm fabulous. You know, so you can't beat me up. You can't make me feel less than I am because whenever I get the microphone I'm gonna show you who I am. But the industry is very racist."

http://canadianpress.goog...S5dOyjhy-Q

-She does have a point when she says that people pay more attention to white artists who sing well. I mean look at the big fuss that's been made about Amy Winehouse, Joss Stone and others. Now, if these girls were black, no one would be making a big deal about them and that's the truth.
[Edited 11/28/07 12:17pm]

Cinnamon234 said:

i love when she goes off on a rant about the failure of her version...its true too. not that would call it racism...prejudiced probably...but not racism.

sosgemini said:

True SOS! I also think that some people don't like the way Patti yells at times. Personally, I'm a fan but many arent simply because of the way she screeches.

By the way, check out the review of Celine's new album on Rolling Stone

Cinnamon234 said:

well she has a point but its even deeper than that, and at times comes down to just the timing of someone doing a song, ironically the song "Power of Love" comes to my mind when i think of this, now it was huge for Celine because of where she was at in popularity at the time, Laura Branigan and Air Supply both recorded this song first and it flopped for each of them pretty much, and obviously all are white. I understand her point but also she has to realize that alot of older "black people" buy Celine Dion too, shes not carried by white customers, and also i think i dont see support of Patti at "black radio" even, so shes not reaching a younger audience, where as Celine in her "hey day" was getting Top 40 play. Its alot of issues and race is one but not the only, there is a very big picture, i do get her point and agree but everything has to be included in that. Back in the day Patti could get played on ALL radio with "new attitude" now things are so consolidated you would probably not even find that on a playlist, white or black. As for the "best voice" debate, Patti, if talent=sales do you think the industry would be where it is, or even exist.

lastdecember said:

You got a point.

lastdecember said:

Good points.

agism factors in somewhere too.

What Patti is speaking about has been going on for a very long time in the music industry (Elvis, Pat Boone etc). The fact is, unless the artist is a phenom like Prince or Michael Jackson (and these are the only two Black artist to reach a crossover appeal of that magnum), White artist are given more praise and most times more sucessful than their Black counterparts even in the same genre of music. Case and point, why does a crack head like Amy Winehouse outsell artist like Jill Scott? Or lets touch on the org's very played topic of Madonna vs Janet Jackson (please don't make this another thread about them-it's tired already). Both are margionally talented vocally, but both entertaining nonetheless. Same genre, similar music, both scandalous in their own ways, yet the Black artist continues to be scorned. Remember, in the music industry, the term crossover does not pertain to white artist.

Giovanni777 said:

With "Power of Love" i dont remember its peak for Celine but i think it was probably one of her biggest chart hits. For Laura Branigan it peaked at Number 40 and for Air Supply i believe it reached 82, so its a timing thing, Laura and Air Supply were past their "chart success days" and Celine wasnt, and it had nothing to do with vocal ability, because the Air Supply version to this day blows them all away.

lastdecember said:

Power of Love hit #1.

oh for crying out loud. she's still crying over If You Asked Me To? it's been 15 years. MOVE ON PATTI!


it has more to do with Celine Dion being a very hot, relatively young artist, and Patti being and old has-been by that point. love the woman to death, but christ, get over it.

totaldiva said:

Yeah i agree but she has to remember there are other factors to contend with now, case in point "consolidation" that exists today that never did. Today you cant even get a play unless you are under 25, white or black. And the term crossover doesnt even exist anymore at this point because stations dont do it anymore, artists like Hall and Oates and Elton John who got play on "black radio" wouldnt even be let into the building now, and the same goes for soemone like Stevie Wonder or James they would never get "white radio" play. But i think Patti should also be addressing the fact that still RB Rap hip hop are the bigger sellers now, why? some have said its mainly because 80% of Rap sells to white kids, and that black radio stations are not supporting a new record by Chaka the way they would a new Kanye West song. There are many issues that Patti has to look at, though i do agree with her obviously the picture is more than "the industry is racist"

meh, Patti's done well for herself. Celine's just less extreme, and more palatable to the masses. Not everyone can handle Patti's wild hair & vocal gymnastics.

Same w/ Kenny G. He didn't sell more because he's white, he sold more because he's dull & easy to understand.

Aside said:

How's she an old has-been, exactly? She's the MOST relevant artist from her generation nowadays. While everybody over 50 is trying to cater to the chitlin circuit, she's on the other hand is packing sold out big venues.

Anyway,,,,

Like I said in another board, she ain't putting a new flag anywhere. It took Timbaland and Dr.Dre 17-20 year in the biz and nothing seemed to put them on the mainstream map up untill they worked with Justin & Slim Shady,,,now I don't wanna put the edge on the folks who are scared of the race card but a spade IS, and will always be a spade. Change the position anyway you like,,,,you still have the same object.

Oh yes, that age factor? Wet bullshit in the summertime Ain't no such thing, you have Diana Ross and then you have Barbara Streisand(Notice, I picked ol' hags ). Now tell me who's considered more of an institution in the eyes of the mainstream now?

It is what it is, though. And I'm trying as hard as I can to shrug it off even though its starring right @ us STONE DEAD in the eye.

Harlepolis said:

Say it louder, I don't think they heard ya!

Harlepolis said:

Excellent point.

Love me some Patti, but she's WAY off track with this nonsense.

Why did Whitney have the LARGEST selling single of all time with I Will Always Love You, but that same song sold nothing for Dolly Parton???

The race card just doesn't go away, does it? How long until black folk stop playing the victims?

Empress said:

Interesting point.

Yet it appears that some of those same folks give Screama...err...Teena Marie and others a pass for the same thing.

Guess they're not yelling/screaming/screeching when they're one of your pet artists.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

theAudience said:

Id have to agree there i have never heard a word spoken about Teena Marie.

theAudience said:

Interstingly enough,,,Teena NEVER got a pass from the white media. Whereas Christina, Froggie, Pink, Amy Wino-House, Joss Stone and all the lil' white chics who sang RnB got MASS treatment.

The MORE intersting thing is, Teena stuck to her guns while alot of black artists from her generation and the latter generation for that matter SOLD out.

What I'm trying to say is, she's def an exception

Though it is a fucked-up world when a BEAST vocalist like Betty Wright winds up in the background behind Joss Stone. I know that sista's gotta eat but I can't help but to laugh @ the irony
[Edited 11/28/07 18:49pm]

Revolution said:

Remember one thing about Whitney, when Clive Davis took her under his wing, he let it be very know tha he wanted a pop artist. During many of Whiney's recordings he made her hold back her voice because he didn't want her to sound too gospel aka Black. When she first hit the scene, Whitney was not promoted to r and b radio choosing (or Clive's choosing) for her to be marketed and interviewed by pop aka White radio. Because she is Black, she automatically was played on Black stations. Does anyone remember her being booed at the Soul Train Awards years back because she was considered a sellout? Let be real here.

Revolution said:

typical to play the whitney card. what patti said has always been true, no matter how some might try to spin it (she screams,she's old,ect) the fact remains that the music industry like just about every other industry in america has alot of racism.yeah you can point out whitney's success, which was largely the product of a powerful marketing machine that geared her towards pop stardom, the same 'white' audience that embraced her safe,somewhat bland music now considers her nothing more then a crackhead,lauryn hill was once the darling of the industry but now she's simply crazy, and of course we cant forget janet and her evil black breast...but on the flipside amy winohouse can run around with the crackpipe hanging out her nose if she wants to, britney is a unfit mother who likes to get high and drive drunk but mtv rewards that behavior by allowing her to open their show, and well janet has been bannished from pop radio because according to the mainstream her music is not good enough (of course we all know only the greatest music gets played on radio), while her accomplice justin dont even get a mention in the whole nipplegate fiasco. its true we have and have had alot of great successful black artists, but the fact remains black artists have a much harder time achieving and maintaining that success then their white counterparts.

lowkey said:

You beter preach, lowkey. It kills me hat Whie people can deny racism exist when they are not the ones affected by it. And to add to this, do you think that Beyonce, or Alicia keys would be as sucessful if they were dark skinned with natural texture hair? Beyonce (and I LOVE HER) is the whitest Black girl in the industry. If Alicia Keys looked like Fantasia (who has a unique voice, but can outsing the majority of the artist today), do you really think she would be the success that she is? Fantasia is under 25, so agism isnt the entire factor. If Jennifer Hudson, with her oscar amd powerhouse voice doesn't drop at least 30 pounds by the time her cd is released, she will not get much airplay and be thrown to music stations like BET and VH1 soul. I do not want to come off as a racist(I am bi racial) and I loove all music from r and b, hip hop to rock, but I have to call it what it is.

totaldiva said:

Damn.....all of these years and I NEVER thought of that. U are 100% correct. This is one of the reasons I continue 2 come 2 the org. Always seeing a different perspective on things. Thanks.

Revolution said:

Are u saying Patti has no merit in her comments?

Cinnamon234 said:

I agree with her...

But I already expect white folks denying the truth as always...
[Edited 11/28/07 20:57pm]

totaldiva said:

Plenty of white country artists who have had pop hits are called "crossovers".

Patti's rocks and has this emotional punch to it...I love how she goes from a whisper to a growl!

I can't really imagine saying it was racism with a straight face. Celine's came out at the right time and just hit. What are you going to do? I'm sure the reverse happens. I do fully agree with black female artists rarely getting the respect they deserve, though.

Sorry...I have to edit since I played the "Whitney card". I think it's a good card to play, though. It's like people here are almost denying the fact that sometimes one verison of a song released a few years later just does better even if it isn't a better verison. I would argue Patti's is the better verison of the two...it just didn't hit! There are factors other than race that sadly need to be considered but it's possibly an element since there aren't a lot of stations that would play such a restrained AC ballad by an African American woman on the radio.
[Edited 11/28/07 21:22pm]

Aside said:

I don't think it's the same.....

Graycap23 said:

No, but let's not state things as facts, when in fact they aren't. It's not useful to the conversation. The conversation itself isn't even useful. Unless all of the people siding with Patti went out and bought her version, 3 years before someone else made it a hit.

It happens all the time, especially in the last 30 years, both ways, in fact. Ray Charles had a huge hit with "Georgia On My Mind" ... Whitney with "I Will Always Love You" ... Dionne Warwick covere "Alfie" with better results than the original Cher version.

it's not a one way street, is what i'm saying. sometimes a particular song is not put out at the right time, by the right person. i mean, really, "If You Asked Me To" is a Diane Warren song. who do you think it's better suited to? Patti Labelle or Celine Dion?