KidaDynamite said:

Well, when she said that part she wasn't being nasty, just stating fact about her preparation for the movie and how Beyonce was so different from her at that time, and the type of person she was then.

Now this other stuff, I don't know. Maybe she is phoney or maybe she just had too much too drink with these latest comments or maybe she just had enough of Bey. But I definitely don't think she was joking. If she said it, she needs to stand by it.

Timmy84 said:

Oh mah gawd...WHERE???

KidaDynamite said:

Here ya go:

http://prince.org/msg/8/296983

JackieBlue said:

Yes I can understand that.

But for her to smile in that child's face, befriending her knowing that Bee sees her as an inspiration and then bashing her in public...behind her back, there is no if's and's or but's about it, she IS phoney.

KidaDynamite said:

But how could she really view Etta as an inspiration if she didn't know nuthin' 'bout her til the film?

KidaDynamite said:

Oh come on now...from Beyonce's own mouth we know that she didn't even know who Etta James was until the movie came up! If she's running around now saying that she sees Etta as an inspiration...then she's the one being phoney and no wonder Etta is pissed!

Timmy84 said:

HOT DAMN AND A CAN OF SPAM!

x infinity

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

Where and when did she say this? I didn't see that. But that still doesn't give Etta a grown 71 yr old woman a reason to act that way. If she didn't approve all she had to to was tell her. For her to say all of that nonsense and publicly like that just seemed childish, period!

KidaDynamite said:

I swear I saw it on YouTube but damn it! Now I can't find the video...just like I can't find the video of her and Destiny's Child singing for Bush at his Inauguration. I know both videos exist because I've seen them, it's just too bad that I didn't care enough to save them when I had the chance.

Copycat said:[quote]

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

Because that doesn't happen in Hollywood, hon.

She's appearing at a movie premiere that in part chronicles her career as a blues legend. There's no way in the Sam Hell as one of the movie's subjects, that she would refuse to be in the photo-op which will be used for the film's promotion.

That just isn't done.

In fashion, music and film, people have to appear in public and behave civilly to those they hate all the time, sort of like a sacrifice for the bigger idea, the benefit of the project which in turn benefits all. It's just the way it is. Etta is still a vital and active entertainer that has seen more ups, downs, triumphs, and tragedies in her 71 years than most of us will see in several lifetimes. As much as I'm sure she actually can't stand Beyonce, I agree with Haterina that what would we expect her to do on the red carpet? Pull out her weave? She's been an entertainer for what a half century? She's been around the rodeo more than enough times to do what anyone in entertainment would do in that sitution. You stand on that carpet for those 5 minutes scuffling along with various colleaugues, then move on inside to the premiere.

Don't hate the player, hate The Game.
[Edited 2/5/09 23:50pm]
[Edited 2/5/09 23:53pm]

You know what? I can't even be mad at Etta or Beyonce. Again, we're seeing how the media makes things bigger than what they are and rather than allowing Etta to talk, they wanna make it seem like she's this bitter old hag when maybe she's been doing this all the time. Surely we ain't heard from the Knowles yet and I doubt we will. It's all a wash. Next year, it won't be nothing. A new artist will pop up and say something off the record at Beyonce that would be deemed as "a feud".

No,Etta...please don't backtrack on your comments Stand behind what you said!

SoulAlive said:

Let it go, it'll probably won't be thought of after this week.

SoulAlive said:

someone told her to make this a "good spin" on her career.....
TRUST ME- I'd rather hear Beyonce' sing "At Last" than that crackhead Celine Dion!!!!

woogiebear said:

Ottensen said:

Well said!

Ottensen said:

All true, and under her breath, she's probably saying those SOB's. That's Tinseltown.
[Edited 2/6/09 7:12am]

And she probably cleaned it up because she don't want her royalty checks cut or delayed.

KidaDynamite said:

she's not phoney, she's been telling the truth that has needed 2 have been said 4 ages ..beyonce is just flash and no substance

She's backpedaling in earnest from her comments after inserting both pumps in mouth---and now she's embracing Obama, saying " She also hoped that Obama would not take her jibes about his "big ears" and him not being "my president," personally, explaining, "he's got other stuff [to worry about] besides Etta James."

She noted that she "always thought he was handsome and he was cool," and that her joke "might be horrible. The president might not ever like me in life."

What a class act! Etta, do you need a towel to remove the egg on your face???

The whole performance at the Inauguration ball seems too much like a movie promotion stunt, and that should upset everyone
[Edited 2/6/09 10:07am]
[Edited 2/6/09 10:08am]

A blogger's take on the situation:

http://new.music.yahoo.co...rformance/

Etta James Disses Beyonce's Inauguration Performance
Posted Thu Feb 5, 2009 12:42pm PST by Billy Johnson, Jr. in Hip-Hop Media Training

It's safe to assume that Beyonce's portrayal of Etta James in the retro film Cadillac Records did not impress the legendary soul singer.


The 71-year-old pioneer, who rose to fame in 1950s, recently made it clear that she was not a fan of the self-proclaimed diva whose third solo album I Am...Sasha Fierce is the #3 album in the country.

Before performing "At Last" at Seattle's Paramount Theatre last Wednesday, James complained about Beyonce singing the song for President Obama and wife Michelle's first dance at the Neighborhood Ball.

"You know that woman he had singing for him, singing my song, she's going to get her a-- whipped," Etta said to a thunderous applause. She went on to add that she could not "stand" Beyonce.

Some dismiss James' anger as jealously, saying that she is only upset because she was not invited to perform the song herself.

However, James' anger warrants the asking of a few key questions:

Did anyone from Obama or Beyonce's camps contact James beforehand to seek her blessing?

Since Etta is not credited as a songwriter for "At Last," she technically does not have the authority to approve who sings the song. However, considering the significance of the song being performed at the inauguration ball for the first African American president and furthermore the song being used for the president's first dance with the first lady, consulting James beforehand would have been the honorable thing to do. I know that appropriate clearances were already in place for Beyonce to perform the song for the promotion of Cadillac Records, but the inauguration is a historical, not promotional, event.

Additionally, based on James' rant, she is not a fan of the president either. When addressing the Seattle crowd, she referred to Obama as "your president...the one with the big ears," and added, "he's not my president."

Was James even considered to sing or even invited to the inauguration?

Let's be honest, would the inauguration committee have asked Beyonce to sing an Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross or Tina Turner song in lieu of having their involvement? We all know the answer to that question. Since Etta has said that she is not a supporter of Obama, had she received an invite or not, maybe she would not have attended. To take it a step further, if Etta had made it clear that she did not want any ties to Obama, why then would they use her staple song to celebrate his first day of presidency?

Ironically, the day following Beyonce's January 20 performance, James' son Donto James was quoted in the New York Daily News saying that his mother loved the rendition. "She thought it was great," Donto said. "She's gotten emotional, just like everybody else."

This isn't the first time Beyonce has caught flack from one of her predecessors. Almost exactly one year ago, I blogged about a tongue lashing Beyonce received from Aretha Franklin. The Queen Of Soul was upset with Beyonce for referring to Tina Turner as "the Queen" during an introduction at last year's Grammys.

In this instance, I sided with Beyonce. I agree that Aretha is the sole Queen Of Soul, but also acknowledge that Tina Turner, too, is a queen.

In the case of Etta James, I take Etta's side. Though her reaction is crass for someone of her stature, I feel that she was robbed of a moment in history. Considering her struggles to break into the music business in the 1950s and ability to prevail with such great success (she was inducted in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1993), she should have had the opportunity to sing the song (that she popularized) for the president.

If "At Last" had not been significant and did not express the message that the inauguration committee wanted to convey, they would have selected another song. But they wanted "At Last."

I bet Beyonce's "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" wasn't even up for discussion.

A representative for Beyonce said that the singer does not have a statement or comment at this time.

Etta isn't three faced.What if someone went to the grammys and sang irreplaceable a song not written by be-one beyonce and rode that song to fame.
[Edited 2/6/09 11:09am]

NaughtyKitty said:

I agree with this article.

Beyonce knows she doesn't have a song, She thought Listen from Dreamgirls was gonna be it but it fail and she was overshadow by J.Hud.

Etta is Old, My grandmom is like that always popping off she doesn't care. People aka Beyonce klan are jumping up and down saying that's not Etta song anyway! Are losers to the core. I wouldn't dare say I will always love you isn't Whitney song. Do you know how hard it was back then during etta time to have a song without Whites covering to make it there own. Think about it.

tamewar said:

Doesn't have a song?

VenusBlingBling said:

You know a theme song, what a singer is truly know for a
la Aretha Franklin Respect.

It's occasions like the inauguration which must bring home to Beyonce how shallow and childish her material is. She simply doesn't have a song in her catalogue worthy of the occasion.

tamewar said:

And Little Richard is just the man that would tell all about the business during his day.

I have to admit, this was pretty funny. Hell I heard at last during the dance, but hell I didn't know she was singing it! Now I am really tired of her. I wish she wouldn't try to do everything. I mean share for god's sake B!