I've never been a fan of either [Though I do really like what Chaka Kahn did with "Rufus", I don't care at all for anything she did afterwords. The only Patti LaBelle songs I like are "On My Own" with Michael McDonald & "Somebody Loves You"]. I think both are actually kind of annoying. If you had to put up with eithers voice on a daily basis, who would you choose?

Damn you for making me choose - because I like both.

For years I would've said Patti but after hearing Chaka, definitely Chaka. Patti's vocals, while good, can go too far sometimes with the histronics. She has to always go to church on EVERY DAMN SONG.

Chaka however sings like a trumpet.

I'm guessing the trumpet overpowers a holy ghost church singer (because that's what Patti technically is ).

Timmy84 said:

Damn you for making me choose - because I like both.

For years I would've said Patti but after hearing Chaka, definitely Chaka. Patti's vocals, while good, can go too far sometimes with the histronics. She has to always go to church on EVERY DAMN SONG.

Chaka however sings like a trumpet.

I'm guessing the trumpet overpowers a holy ghost church singer (because that's what Patti technically is ).

I hate singers who are always over doing it, which is why I chose these two. Trust me, we all know that there's FAR more who overdo it singing as well. I just chose these two in-particular, because they both have worked with Prince.

gunner82 said:

Timmy84 said:

Damn you for making me choose - because I like both.

For years I would've said Patti but after hearing Chaka, definitely Chaka. Patti's vocals, while good, can go too far sometimes with the histronics. She has to always go to church on EVERY DAMN SONG.

Chaka however sings like a trumpet.

I'm guessing the trumpet overpowers a holy ghost church singer (because that's what Patti technically is ).

I hate singers who are always over doing it, which is why I chose these two. Trust me, we all know that there's FAR more who overdo it singing as well. I just chose these two in-particular, because they both have worked with Prince.

I know, I saw you at the Patti talks about Prince thread.

Timmy84 said:

gunner82 said:

I hate singers who are always over doing it, which is why I chose these two. Trust me, we all know that there's FAR more who overdo it singing as well. I just chose these two in-particular, because they both have worked with Prince.

I know, I saw you at the Patti talks about Prince thread.

@

I don't think I could chose. Its a helluva tough quesiton.

i think they both underrated they both great singers with amazing talents

cbarnes3121 said:

i think they both underrated they both great singers with amazing talents

I actually see what you mean when you say "underrated" [from a POP stand point, & I think we know why]. But I still think they both over sing & are pretty annoying imo...

I just can't handle Labelle's screaming. I don't find ay nuance or subtelty her vocals. Chaka can get her scream on but I feel she does it quite a bit less, and can actually sing a song straight without going in to hysterics.

119 said:

I just can't handle Labelle's screaming. I don't find ay nuance or subtelty her vocals. Chaka can get her scream on but I feel she does it quite a bit less, and can actually sing a song straight without going in to hysterics.

This. Patti's powerful at her mid-range but she doesn't use it often.

gunner82 said:

I've never been a fan of either [Though I do really like what Chaka Kahn did with "Rufus", I don't care at all for anything she did afterwords. The only Patti LaBelle songs I like are "On My Own" with Michael McDonald & "Somebody Loves You"]. I think both are actually kind of annoying. If you had to put up with eithers voice on a daily basis, who would you choose?

Overrated isn't the word I'd use, at all. They can both sing just about anyone under a table.

But out of the two, my favorite is Patti LaBelle.

Patti's yelling ass.

Neither. Patti AND Chaka are power vocalists that knows how to soul scream.

TonyVanDam said:

Neither. Patti AND Chaka are power vocalists that knows how to soul scream.

That's true too.

I love both.. hard to pick... there both great vocalist.. that can both overdue it at times but overrated isnt the appropiate word though.. maybe over sings or screams is better

I think as artists, they're UNDERRATED with their recording material. Patti does put on a show - I've seen footage of her dancing (not just rolling on the ground and kicking shoes off) and joking with the audience and shit. She's a Philly chick so she lets it all out. Chaka is Chi-Town cool though.

I can't stand either.

I love Patti's persona but cannot, cannot, cannot, cannot stand her voice.

What a ridiculous thread this is. No one can seriously say Chaka is overrated, she is one of the best singers ever IMO, who can do pop, jazz, funk, r&b, rock, soul... Just listen to her do "A Night In Tunesia" or youtube "Goin' Up Yonder" she sang at a funeral and tell me how that is in any way overrated? True, she has recorded some duds in her career, but that does not an overrated singer make, beause no singer records classic songs all the time.

Personally I am more of a fan of Chaka's than Patti, because of the histrionics indeed, but that does not take away from the fact that she is a very talented singer who has been around forever for a reason!

Patti-ALL Day.

Easy; neither.

Harlepolis said:

Easy; neither.

Thank you for "properly" disagreeing with me, instead of calling saying something stupid like "This thread is ridiculous".

gunner82 said:

Harlepolis said:

Easy; neither.

Thank you for "properly" disagreeing with me, instead of calling saying something stupid like "This thread is ridiculous".

Oh I had a lot in my mind but in your defense, I once felt the same way you do about both ladies and the fact that music resonate with people differently so its cool that they don't appeal to you. To me there's more to their singing than just "yelling", and when they wail, I personally feel its not for the hell of it or just plain over singing(I.E. J.Hud) its real and from a sincere place, for better or worse. I love my singers to be raw instead of being proper(I.E. Mimi & Nippy). I don't want to hear the lovey dovey shit all the time, I want some anger, confusion, sensuality, sadness, joy, ya know? Chaka gives me all of that and I actually believe her, sometimes she even boil them all in one song, listening to her is def an emotional roller coaster. I mean when Chaka sings..

I really must stay in this dirty dirty city

Till I found out my strength was gone

Its hard for me not to get emotional because the lyrics, her voice, the way she sang it and the pain she drew from when she sang it hit home for me. Its a strange feeling, she possess the power to put me in my lowest depression stage and with a swift could pull me right up, its a scary feeling too. I don't wanna sound hokey but yes, you can def call it a spiritual thing, thats exactly what I get from Chaka's voice.

Patti is more straight forward, not as complex as Chaka but you can bet your last dollar that she brings it too, but I've always felt that her solo material sold her short, not all of it but most, other than the album "I'm In Love" and some of the stuff she released in the late 70s have complimented her voice, but on a general scale, I'm not that pleased about her material.

Sorry for the long post but hopefully you'll see why they're such a big deal to many of us someday

Chaka. I never loved her voice. Patti's voice is both broader and 'cuter.' It has more character/personality. Sure, she screams and yells, but her holler isn't quite as "fly-buzzing-around-your-ear" as Chaka's is.

Patti is more overrated. She's got the power in her voice and performances, but she's been given loads of weak material and songs to sing through the years. Chaka had GREAT songs with Rufus, and after that some of them weren't bad at all, although i'm not a fan of her cheesy 80's stuff. Ah, i almost forgot: Chaka is more versatile as a vocalist too.

Hmm, wouldn't call Patti's voice "cute"

scriptgirl said:

Hmm, wouldn't call Patti's voice "cute"

Her speaking voice is.

[Edited 5/8/11 13:47pm]

Harlepolis said:

gunner82 said:

Thank you for "properly" disagreeing with me, instead of calling saying something stupid like "This thread is ridiculous".

Oh I had a lot in my mind but in your defense, I once felt the same way you do about both ladies and the fact that music resonate with people differently so its cool that they don't appeal to you. To me there's more to their singing than just "yelling", and when they wail, I personally feel its not for the hell of it or just plain over singing(I.E. J.Hud) its real and from a sincere place, for better or worse. I love my singers to be raw instead of being proper(I.E. Mimi & Nippy). I don't want to hear the lovey dovey shit all the time, I want some anger, confusion, sensuality, sadness, joy, ya know? Chaka gives me all of that and I actually believe her, sometimes she even boil them all in one song, listening to her is def an emotional roller coaster. I mean when Chaka sings..

I really must stay in this dirty dirty city

Till I found out my strength was gone

Its hard for me not to get emotional because the lyrics, her voice, the way she sang it and the pain she drew from when she sang it hit home for me. Its a strange feeling, she possess the power to put me in my lowest depression stage and with a swift could pull me right up, its a scary feeling too. I don't wanna sound hokey but yes, you can def call it a spiritual thing, thats exactly what I get from Chaka's voice.

Patti is more straight forward, not as complex as Chaka but you can bet your last dollar that she brings it too, but I've always felt that her solo material sold her short, not all of it but most, other than the album "I'm In Love" and some of the stuff she released in the late 70s have complimented her voice, but on a general scale, I'm not that pleased about her material.

Sorry for the long post but hopefully you'll see why they're such a big deal to many of us someday

I honestly did this thread to prove me wrong. This is why I like Prince.org, hearing other people's opinions sometimes makes me look at things different. So next time when I listen to something, I'll listen from a different angle. To me, instead of talking shit about people's threads, I'm always looking to be proven wrong or give a different point on someone else view....

Patricia Louise Holt, period! Yvette Marie Stevens is a far better singer.

I have never heard Miss Holt do a run or riff, she just screams and usually will bend sharp. Miss Stevens cna go off pitch too, but her vocal versatility trumps LaBelle's screaming minnie arse anyday.

gunner82 said:

I've never been a fan of either [Though I do really like what Chaka Kahn did with "Rufus", I don't care at all for anything she did afterwords. The only Patti LaBelle songs I like are "On My Own" with Michael McDonald & "Somebody Loves You"]. I think both are actually kind of annoying. If you had to put up with eithers voice on a daily basis, who would you choose?

why even make this thread. and for your information Chaka Khan is not overrated. I WISH she was.

i don't care if you find them annoying, especially chaka, its like 2011 you dont have to listen to their songs unless you personally look them out on youtube or something....

and i would love to sing like chaka khan any day.

whitesockedfunk said:

What a ridiculous thread this is. No one can seriously say Chaka is overrated, she is one of the best singers ever IMO, who can do pop, jazz, funk, r&b, rock, soul... Just listen to her do "A Night In Tunesia" or youtube "Goin' Up Yonder" she sang at a funeral and tell me how that is in any way overrated? True, she has recorded some duds in her career, but that does not an overrated singer make, beause no singer records classic songs all the time.

Personally I am more of a fan of Chaka's than Patti, because of the histrionics indeed, but that does not take away from the fact that she is a very talented singer who has been around forever for a reason!

THIS WHOLE POST, but especially the bold.

you put into words what i couldn't thank you so much.

There is so much ignorance going on this board even including myself, but this is brilliant.