October 27, 2011

Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson, Jill Scott, Florence + the Machine, Kelly Clarkson and Jessie J. will headline VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul, the latest edition in the cable net's popular musical series set to air from New York City's Hammerstein Ballroom on Dec. 19.

This year's bash will pay tribute to the soulful sounds of such great cities as Chicago, Detroit, London, Philadelphia and Memphis, all of which played a key role in the development of the genre that spawned a slew of timeless classics.

Backing Blige and company as the house band will be The Roots. "This year's telecast will showcase the vast impact soul music has had on the 21st century's music and pop culture landscape as our talented and diverse lineup will attest," said VH1 executive Lee Rolontz. "This year's 'Divas' offers a modern twist on soul music, all while tipping its hat to the legacy of key cities that created this musical heritage."

No word yet what songs this latest crop of female crooners will be covering, though it's safe to say British popster Florence + the Machine, aka Florence Welsh, will take on English soul duties considering she hails from London.

Per tradition, all proceeds from the VH1 Divas celebration will benefit VH1 Save the Music Foundation, which aims to restore music education in public schools.

Link

[Edited 12/12/11 10:22am]

I'm glad the show is back I miss VH1 Divas looking forward to it. If the theme is celebrating soul music then I expect to see some old familiar faces as well as the new ones.

I'm surprised Florence is there (love her though!). I guess Adele is having trouble with her voice and can't make it. She probably doesn't sing from her diaphragm. Not that Adele is soul anyway! Being soulful is not the same as singing soul music.

For the first time in eight years, I might be watching VH-1 Divas again!

I love this lineup!

VH1 DIVAS Celebrates Soul with Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson, Jill Scott, Florence + the Machine, Kelly Clarkson and Jessie J.

VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul Pays Tribute to the Great Cities of Soul Music Including Chicago, Detroit, London, Memphis and Philadelphia. The Roots confirmed to perform as house band.

Special will air Monday, December 19 at 9 PM/8c on VH1.

I got a little excited when I saw Jill Scott is included...but dang I got really excited when I saw that the Roots is the backing band!!!! Oh yes, looks like I'll have to watching this one.

I would def call adele soulful

Timmy84 said:

VH1 announced today that Chaka Khan, Erykah Badu, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Boyz II Men, Estelle, Marsha Ambrosius and Travie McCoy have been added as performers.

Identity said:

VH1 announced today that Chaka Khan, Erykah Badu, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Boyz II Men, Estelle, Marsha Ambrosius and Travie McCoy have been added as performers.

Damn, now I may just have to tune into VH-1 now but why invite Travis/Travie or whatever his name is?

Travis/Travie will help provide valet parking service and transportation for the real singers , an insider disclosed on the condition of anonymity.

Identity said:

Travis/Travie will help provide valet parking service and transportation for the real singers , an insider disclosed on the condition of anonymity.

scriptgirl said:

VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul Adds Anita Baker, Mavis Staples, Wanda Jackson and Ledisi as performers and Dolly Parton, Queen Latifah, Terrence Howard, Nas, Common and La La Anthony as presenters.

Article

Identity said:

VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul Adds Anita Baker, Mavis Staples, Wanda Jackson and Ledisi as performers and Dolly Parton, Queen Latifah, Terrence Howard, Nas, Common and La La Anthony as presenters.

Article

WOW.

Identity said:

Travis/Travie will help provide valet parking service and transportation for the real singers , an insider disclosed on the condition of anonymity.

Hilarious

LOVE the line up!!

The show will include a special tribute to Amy Winehouse.

Identity said:

The show will include a special tribute to Amy Winehouse.

Naturally... It was expected anyway.

Let the countdown commence!

The special airs tonight.

VH1 Divas': All that glitters, and Soul Too

December 19, 2011

Link

At VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul, sisters were doing it for themselves and for each other. And of course, they did it dressed to the nines.

The red carpet leading to the latest special in VH1's Divas franchise, taped live Sunday at the Hammerstein Ballroom— it will premiere on the network tonight, at 9 p.m. ET/8 CT — was fairly dripping in glitter, from Mary J. Blige's sparkling cream-colored gown to Jennifer Hudson's leg-hugging, rose-colored boots.

Asked if such fabulous clothes made the diva, Hudson replied, "Oh, my God — it's half of the ingredients!" Jill Scott agreed, speculating that "it has something to do with Diana Ross in Mahogany— that wonderful sense of presence."

Ross wasn't on the bill this year, but plenty of old-school giants were on hand to support principal divas Blige, Hudson, Scott, Kelly Clarkson, Jessie J and Florence Welch, from country icon Dolly Parton (a presenter) — in a painted-on black number embellished with silver high-heeled boots — to girl-group great Martha Reeves and funk queen Chaka Khan.

Gospel/R&B legend Mavis Staples, in a black pantsuit and sequined black coat, stopped Welch on the carpet to declare herself a fan. When Welch returned the praise, Staples shrieked, "You know me? You don't know me! You're the best! The best!"

J, showing ample skin in ebony and gold fabric connected with black nylon, couldn't decide which artist she was most excited about: "Everyone here is on my iPod. I'm the most unkown person. I feel like I've won a competition to be here."

That sense of mutual admiration and camaraderie continued on stage, as did the flashy fashion parade. But the emphasis was firmly on music, as the headliners traded solo turns with group numbers (some featuring male artists), including medleys devoted to seminal soul cities.

Some of the most exciting numbers shone a spotlight on less widely recognized names. During an homage to Chicago, Sharon Jones of Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings and singer/songwriter Ledisi joined their mighty voices for a roof-raising Rescue Me. Ledisi also more than held her own with Clarkson on Chain of Fools, part of the Detroit tribute.

Welch, though strong-voiced, seemed relatively stiff, channeling neither Annie Lennox's fluidity for Walking On Broken Glass nor Amy Winehouse's grit during a surprisingly low-key salute to that recently departed diva.

There were, conversely, a few predictable displays of ostentatious vocal gymnastics.

But the stars generally did not disappoint. The Chicago portion ended with the formidable Khan joining her fan Blige for a delirious Ain't Nobody. J and Hudson enjoyed a giddy rapport on Knock On Wood, while Estelle, Erykah Badu, Marsha Ambrosius and Questlove paid their regards to London with an infectiously breezy Back 2 Life.

Newer songs impressed as well: Hudson channeled her inner Beyonce for a thumpingNight Of Your Life; on Hear My Call, Scott was more subdued — and a tad pitch-shy at points — but stunned the crowd with her poetic intensity.

House band the Roots provided a supple foundation throughout, and additonal male guests such as Boyz II Men and Travie McCoy represented their gender commendably. They looked pretty sharp as well. Of course, the focus of Divas was, by definition, not on them.

Asked on the red carpet what that term meant to her, Parton admitted, "I really don't even know what a diva is. But I assume it's a very strong woman, someone who's confident in her musical style and knows who she is. I guess that makes me one."

[Edited 12/19/11 7:56am]

CHAKA!

Looks like she done got SMALLER...

Martha Reeves still look good at 70.

The Detroit segment had better be FIRE!

Erykah's rocking whatever that is on her head. Looks like a turban beanie. I see you Mavis!

Dude, you'd better not miss this tonite!

Oh wait, I forgot to set my dVR.

Identity said:

Dude, you'd better not miss this tonite!

Oh wait, I forgot to set my dVR.

Gotcha!

Identity said:

VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul Adds Anita Baker, Mavis Staples, Wanda Jackson and Ledisi as performers and Dolly Parton, Queen Latifah, Terrence Howard, Nas, Common and La La Anthony as presenters.

Article

Aww sooky sooky, they came on with it with this lineup, and additions!

I'm definitely watching.

[Edited 12/19/11 9:36am]