Certainly, these days she would be accused of cultural appropriation if she was just launching her career. Now I'm pondering whether that's the reason she never got the honors that have been granted to her peers.

Identity said:

Certainly, these days she would be accused of cultural appropriation if she was just launching her career. Now I'm pondering whether that's the reason she never got the honors that have been granted to her peers.

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Yes; makes you wonder.

Identity said:

Certainly, these days she would be accused of cultural appropriation if she was just launching her career. Now I'm pondering whether that's the reason she never got the honors that have been granted to her peers.

Teena's Afrocentricity came from growing up in the urban culture of Venice.Ca. It was in her soul. From the very beginning of her career the Afican American community embraced her as their own. Because they felt it was genuine. It wasn't a gimmick to sell records or be accepted.

Rick James and Teena Marie performing "Fire And Desire" in Long Beach,CA (July 1981)

^^after "Fire and Desire" ends,keep watching.Teena performs her own set.

I'm forever putting this song on playlists for people, I love it so goddam much

Teena Marie in 2009, talks about losing Rick, and her seizures and addiction to Vicodin.

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What an emotional moment. She really loved Rick. Beautiful words....

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ChocolateBox3121 said:

cloveringold85 said:

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You are fortunate to have known Teena. She really broke a lot of grounds, because she was a white girl, singing funk & R&B, and I thought that was so awesome! She was a strong woman, and said she broke off with Rick. She had class and wasn't into all that bullshit that comes along with the music industry.

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I was shocked when I heard Teena passed away. It was so unreal. Alia recently said that her Mother would tell her she was going to die young. That is so sad, to feel that way. I can't imagine losing my Mom that young--I would be devestated

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Alia has recorded some songs and goes by the name: "Rose Le Beau". This is a lovely video. She's a beautiful girl.

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"Without You".......

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https://www.youtube.com/w...j55RLgOA1I

Exactly! I liked her even more when I found out she was white.Which her record company tried to hide at first.

The black community always embraced her as their own. Which was unique. Teena never tried to be anything other than what she was a soulful woman that was very afrocentric. She never tried to crossover.

Her daughter looks like her. Alia also was friends with Whitney's daughter Bobbi Christina. I bet her death really hurt her.

You nailed it. We embraced Teena because she was real. It didn't matter that she was white - the lady had SOUL. When she sang, you could feel it. So sad she left us too soon.

Always loved this one. I went on a binge and downloaded all her albums about 3 years ago. All solid releases from start to finish. So glad she didn't really stop recording, even after the mainstream success and raising her daughter.

Identity said:

Certainly, these days she would be accused of cultural appropriation if she was just launching her career. Now I'm pondering whether that's the reason she never got the honors that have been granted to her peers.

It definitely did have an effect on her success in the pop landscape of the 80s. Nowadays, only people too lazy to do their research would even think to put her in that bag. She didn't play down to the black community, because she was a part of the black community lol. Her credentials never had to be questioned, and she definitely didn't run to another side of the fence musically to gain acclaim. She just made the music she wanted to make.

uPtoWnNY said:

ChocolateBox3121 said:

Exactly! I liked her even more when I found out she was white.Which her record company tried to hide at first.

The black community always embraced her as their own. Which was unique. Teena never tried to be anything other than what she was a soulful woman that was very afrocentric. She never tried to crossover.

Her daughter looks like her. Alia also was friends with Whitney's daughter Bobbi Christina. I bet her death really hurt her.

You nailed it. We embraced Teena because she was real. It didn't matter that she was white - the lady had SOUL. When she sang, you could feel it. So sad she left us too soon.

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Teena had a fire inside her; something I have never seen with any other female artist, black or white. One of the things I love about her music is that they had good hooks in them, and something that Rick was very good at, as well. Both Teena and Rick were great producers. That's what made their songs "pop", and stand out from all the rest.

Prince's tribute 2 her in one of the L.A. shows during Welcome 2 America Tour in 2011 - 17 Days w/ LoverGirl chours is one of the greatest moments in music.

stpaisios said:

Prince's tribute 2 her in one of the L.A. shows during Welcome 2 America Tour in 2011 - 17 Days w/ LoverGirl chours is one of the greatest moments in music.

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Nice! I will have to check that out!

cloveringold85 said:

stpaisios said:

Prince's tribute 2 her in one of the L.A. shows during Welcome 2 America Tour in 2011 - 17 Days w/ LoverGirl chours is one of the greatest moments in music.

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Nice! I will have to check that out!

I never in a million years would have thought when I attended those shows. That he would be gone like Teena SIX YEARS later, Prince was so vibrant, in TIP TOP shape with a six pack & so healthy looking.

Identity said:

Certainly, these days she would be accused of cultural appropriation if she was just launching her career. Now I'm pondering whether that's the reason she never got the honors that have been granted to her peers.

On one hand, you'd have people accusing her of being a culture vulture and on the other hand, you'd be seeing articles online about how she's the "Queen of R&B" or the "Savior of Soul" or something along those lines. At least in the case of the latter they'd be praising an actual R&B/soul singer instead of pop singers with a hint of soulfulness in their music (see Adele and Sam Smith).

ChocolateBox3121 said:

cloveringold85 said:

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Nice! I will have to check that out!

I never in a million years would have thought when I attended those shows. That he would be gone like Teena SIX YEARS later, Prince was so vibrant, in TIP TOP shape with a six pack & so healthy looking.

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IKR? Most of us never saw it coming; not even people in Prince's camp seemed to know either.

MotownSubdivision said:

Identity said:

Certainly, these days she would be accused of cultural appropriation if she was just launching her career. Now I'm pondering whether that's the reason she never got the honors that have been granted to her peers.

On one hand, you'd have people accusing her of being a culture vulture and on the other hand, you'd be seeing articles online about how she's the "Queen of R&B" or the "Savior of Soul" or something along those lines. At least in the case of the latter they'd be praising an actual R&B/soul singer instead of pop singers with a hint of soulfulness in their music (see Adele and Sam Smith).

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Teena was as real as they come -- nothing was fake about her. You either loved her, or rejected her. I think she had more soul than some black women artist's. She never tried to be someone that she wasn't.

she even did a great remake of "Wishing On A Star" in the 90s.This song has been covered by many artists but Teena's version is my favorite.

SoulAlive said:

she even did a great remake of "Wishing On A Star" in the 90s.This song has been covered by many artists but Teena's version is my favorite.

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OMG! One of my all-time favorite songs! I love Teena's version -- she had so much soul and passion in her voice.

cloveringold85 said:

MotownSubdivision said:

On one hand, you'd have people accusing her of being a culture vulture and on the other hand, you'd be seeing articles online about how she's the "Queen of R&B" or the "Savior of Soul" or something along those lines. At least in the case of the latter they'd be praising an actual R&B/soul singer instead of pop singers with a hint of soulfulness in their music (see Adele and Sam Smith).

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Teena was as real as they come -- nothing was fake about her. You either loved her, or rejected her. I think she had more soul than some black women artist's. She never tried to be someone that she wasn't.

I don't know too much about Teena but when I first saw her I felt she was real. That lady made true R&B; it's not like now where anybody (white) who has great vocals is automatically "soulful". We got people who can sing but none can sang.

MotownSubdivision said:

cloveringold85 said:

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Teena was as real as they come -- nothing was fake about her. You either loved her, or rejected her. I think she had more soul than some black women artist's. She never tried to be someone that she wasn't.

I don't know too much about Teena but when I first saw her I felt she was real. That lady made true R&B; it's not like now where anybody (white) who has great vocals is automatically "soulful". We got people who can sing but none can sang.

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Yes!

"I'm Still In Love" (2004)

Patti LaBelle given Teena her props.

cloveringold85 said:

MotownSubdivision said:

On one hand, you'd have people accusing her of being a culture vulture and on the other hand, you'd be seeing articles online about how she's the "Queen of R&B" or the "Savior of Soul" or something along those lines. At least in the case of the latter they'd be praising an actual R&B/soul singer instead of pop singers with a hint of soulfulness in their music (see Adele and Sam Smith).

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Teena was as real as they come -- nothing was fake about her. You either loved her, or rejected her. I think she had more soul than some black women artist's. She never tried to be someone that she wasn't.

....and there it is

ChocolateBox3121 said:

Patti LaBelle given Teena her props.

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I love Patti! Patti and Teena -- two of my favorite female singers.

cloveringold85 said:

ChocolateBox3121 said:

Patti LaBelle given Teena her props.

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I love Patti! Patti and Teena -- two of my favorite female singers.

When Teena recorded " The Secret Garden" remake with Patti. Teena actually told her she wasn't happy with Patti's vocal performance.

cloveringold85 said:

uPtoWnNY said:

You nailed it. We embraced Teena because she was real. It didn't matter that she was white - the lady had SOUL. When she sang, you could feel it. So sad she left us too soon.

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Teena had a fire inside her; something I have never seen with any other female artist, black or white. One of the things I love about her music is that they had good hooks in them, and something that Rick was very good at, as well. Both Teena and Rick were great producers. That's what made their songs "pop", and stand out from all the rest.

She definitly was born with it and she had it all. Her voice is amazing and I just love her tone, control and how she cut up on a song. She really knew how to make a song her own.