Anyone that ever tries to mimic Diana Ross can never really nail it. Because Aretha is right, it’s very distinct. The minute a new Diana (or Supremes) song came on- you knew it was her. Diana has a unique tone quality and phrasing style. It’s not a laser sharp perfect voice. But, she’s an extremely competent and sincere singer.
@Your King Many try, and they fail! Why? Because Diana Ross is a beautiful singer. Vocally, she has proven time and time again that she can deliver what her fans want. You don't stay around for 60 years and still can sell out venues with 20k plus fans. You appear to be a hater... a naysayer, and someone who does not know what good singers are. Diana Ross is one of the greatest singers in the world. In 1993, Guinness Book named her the most successful singer in the world. You don't get recognized by Guinness Book if you can not sing. I suggest you restate your assertion.
@DSM you don't sell over 100 million records and can not sing. In 1993, Guinness Book named her the most successful singer in the world. One doesn't get recognized by Guinness Book unless they break some records. Haters say she can not sing. People who know music things she is one of the greatest singers. Her record sales, and popularity has proven that she is a great singer. I think that you need to reassess your opinion.
Love this video capture of Aretha having fun 50 years ago. She clearly was not trying to out-sing anyone or make any challenges. She is just having fun, being silly and making good television at the time.
I get what she was trying to do with Dionne. In those days, Dionne sang high, and from the mask/top of the throat, with short almost staccato vocal pushes. Aretha was exaggerating the idiosyncrasies of each singer, and that’s what she did with Dionne. Aretha & Dionne were actually good friends throughout the years & Dionne was one of the few singers Aretha never had issues with, largely because Dionne was a no-nonsense straight-shooter like Aretha. Their issues didn’t begin until that miscommunication after Whitney’s funeral. So I don’t think it was shade at all.
Thank you that is what I was thinking. I didn't really see it as being shady or mocking Dionne. I love all the women Aretha impersonated, and of course I love the Queen herself 😎
When he said Dionne, she whispered one of my favorites… So why would anyone think the shade was against Dionne… Dionne sang songs that Aretha wrote…Yes, there where issues were later, blown way out of proportion by the media
False. Aretha was very playful with Dionne. Singing her songs such as Walk on By and I Say A Little Prayer. Dionne’s own team said that Aretha’s versions of her songs were unmatched. Aretha also used to call Dionne on the phone and basically let her know she was coming for her spot back in the day.
@butterfingers8842 Haha,Aretha was very mischievous and would call Dionne Warwick and wind her up, Aretha would say, "Let me speak to the millionairess.." It's documented in a great interview with legendary background singer the Sweet Inspirations, talking about how crazy and mischievous Aretha could be as a young singer. She'd call Dionne and pretty much say "I'm coming for your crown." Dionne having had big success before Aretha. Dionne was devastated when Aretha's recorded version of 'Little Prayer' was described by its writers Hall David and Burt Bacharach as far superior to Dionne's. And Dionne was their girl..
True, and had some voice almost cracking type moments. But when u actually listen to Dionne singing it, it's very smooth even though it's rhythmic. Her voice isn't full & harsh like the way Aretha imitated it. In fact she NEVER sang full voice until the climax of every song.
Miss Aretha has earned her numerous Grammy awards through the years to prove her musical accomplishments. She even shared her Grammy Award with Esther Phillips.
I was about to say that somebody was missing! It’s funny because I just listened to the Staple Singers before this video then completely blanked by the end of the video.
@@reggierobinson4886no she wasn’t, they were actually besties during this time and if u go back then and listen to Dionne sing she sounds just like that. Clearly Aretha was exaggerating a bit but she wasnt off too much. Y’all remember Dionne from the 70s and 80s but before then that’s how she would sing
@sheroderickjohnson I agree Ella even said that Sarah was the best female jazz singer when interviewed when there was a rivalry between the two back in the fifties a lot of people told Ella she was wrong I love both ladies they were both vocal geniuses
I think after THIS Dionne Warwick impression is when a car mysteriously started doing those "very slow" drive-bys and QUICK speed-offs pass Aretha's house all hours of the night ...
Well in a sense they have…one legend actually didn’t think she was capable of singing so well until she was about 12 years old singing in talent shows…they threw money on the stage & started calling her “Little Aretha” lol that girl went on to be one of the greatest singers of all time…the Queen Of Funk Ms. Chaka Khan!!
@@huitrecouture Unlike now, it was VERY common for everyone to kind of just sing everyone’s material. Diana Ross sang Aretha’s “Call Me” , her version of “Respect” , Dionne’s “San Jose”. Dionne’s done Diana’s “touch me in the morning” “endless love”, Aretha’s “daydreaming” her version of “respect”. And of course, Aretha, like Luther and Whitney, just covered anyone they pleased. It was very much normal and accepted.
Aretha once impersonated her, but she was working with the real thing in 1980 when she did a duet with her on Solid Gold on their versions of the hit "I Say A Little Prayer."
They weren't too bad, but her Sarah Vaughan was not too good, maybe that's why she only did a bar, and but Sarah's unique voice would be hard for anyone to imitate. I once saw Rich Little, one of the most accurate impressionists there was, interviewed, and he was asked if there was any voice he couldn't capture successfully. He said there was one actor, Gregory Peck that he couldn't do because couldn't get the unique guttural resonance of Peck's voice.
What u mean? It is distinctive. She had 12 #1s with the The Supremes prior to her solo career. When Diana comes on, you know it’s her. Aretha really liked Diana. Aretha said when she first saw The Supremes perform at the Apollo that there was something real likeable about her and her voice.
Till she tried it with Queen Nicki. Miss Aretha, I think I just passed her Icy Patek, tell 'em, "Kiss my ass, sir" Pretty gang, sir, pretty gangster Said she was better than me, what a prankster,
Well considering one is the Queen of soul and one is the queen of pop, I don’t think we will have a problem. Y’all annoy me so much with that. They all our queens.
@@asyataylor: I said what I said and really don't give a flying fuck if you like it or not. I don't give a damn how many Grammy's she's won, but Beyonce is not a great singer. Only to her neurotic Beyhive fan base who obviously think she constitutes as a real female vocalist. Now press on!
There's a video somewhere of Ella Fitzgerald doing voice impersonations of Dinah Washington, Della Reese, and Lena Horne. She did their voices better than them 😂😂😂
Very cool. I'm pretty sure she called Diana "Miss Diane Ross." She seemed to call her Diane in public other times too. I think she related to Diana as they were as kids. The Sarah Vaughan impression isn't very close and the Dionne impression isn't very flattering. But the Diana one has charm.
Aretha knew Diana from their days growing up in Detroit. In those days, Diana went by "Diane" - everyone knew by her that name. It wasn't until the Supremes became successful in 1965 that she used her birth name of "Diana." So anytime you heard Aretha, Mary Wilson, any of the Motown folks calling her "Diane" it wasn't any shade but rather what they knew her as.
She gets a B+ for the Sarah Vaughan impression....the others all sounded like Aretha! Why she chose Diana Ross is a mystery. She even laughs a little to herself before singing Baby Love the way Aretha would sing Baby Love! How can someone with a powerful voice sing like someone who pretty much bleats through her songs?
While I like Aretha, I have never been a big fan. I think she can sing, however, I think Diana Ross, sounds better. Don't get it twisted, I said sounds better. I didn't say, was a better singer. They have different styles of singing .
Aretha is absolutely great as Aretha. Nice diversion, but all her impressions are off. Her Diana Ross impression comes close. Her Dionne and Della Reese impressions were way off especially for that time of their careers. What would be great and formidable is if she would sing HER songs in their voices
I feel like she goes for the phrasing and pronunciation of the singers she's doing, but she doesn't really nail their vocal sound, at least not with Diana Ross or Dionne Warwick. Sarah Vaughan is decent enough, I guess. I'm not familiar enough with Della Reese to judge. I don't think she was being shady though, I think she was just having fun and was more just trying to suggest the styles of the singers without doing a pitch-perfect duplication of them.
Miss Aretha, I think I just passed her Icy Patek, tell 'em, "Kiss my ass, sir" Pretty gang, sir, pretty gangster Said she was better than me, what a prankster. ....Queen Nicki Minaj.
Flips eyeroll said it all at the start of the Dionne impersonation. The others wer actually good. Aretha and Dionne bickered on and off since the mid 60's
That’s false! They only had issues after Whitney’s funeral! They were good friends and both were straight shooters… Actually good friends with some of the folks that know both of them. I’m 37 just look young in the picture. I’m in the industry.. So that’s false what you said they bickering. Folks just say shit with not ounce of proof. It’s annoying!
@@coral4189 Actually! No! Aretha has influence more singers than her many others. Rolling stone named her 1 singer of all time. She has more more hits than Dionne. Dionne is after her.
@@shonmosley4215 wrong go back and look at the sweet inspiration interview on here. Dionne was arguable much more successful as a singer scoring higher on the charts and only some of Arethas material crossed over to the pop charts at that time. Aretha would purposely shade and get into her feelings too much.
