Donnie Simpson talks with the legendary Phyllis about her career! This was filmed just before the release of her 'Prime of My Life' album. Rest in peace.
Phyllis, you are SO RIGHT! The record industry is TOO DAMNED focused on just people who "sell records," and doesn't always focus on people with TRUE talent, like you are, Ms. Lady. You definitely were NOT given the due you deserved. But there are those who love your music and always will, like me.
Rick Woosley You hit the nail on the head, Rick. Image over substance has taken over the music, at least the mainstream music, we get exposed to for a very long time now.
Rick Woosley You used to be able to have the best of both worlds back in the 80s and 90s though. Great singers who sold records e.g. Whitney, Mariah, Luther, etc. Its not like that now.
@@jamstrings100 True...maybe because labels aren't pressured to present quality anymore...what matters now is streaming figers...no one buys records anymore...so, what's the point in presenting quality if what counts is RU-vid clicks...anyone can do it...
@Lisa crawford Hi👋🏼 I want to first thank you for sharing how you feel. It's important to me that I always respect the opinions of others. We are all entitled to our own opinion & I value that understanding. I understand that our perceptions create a different reality for each & every one of us. Our perceptions are a result of the totality of the experiences we've had throughout our lives, which is instrumental in molding our reality. We all live in a different realm of understanding based upon our perceptions of reality. I've typed all of these things to acknowledge both of our ideas, though they are different. It's important for all of us to be aware of the need to normalize being respectful to differences in points of view. I've personally observed all of the traits I've shared in my observation of this artist & I respect that you don't see the qualities I've written about with regard to this artist. I respect your opinion & your point of view. Thanks again for sharing your view point with me.
This was when BET was BET man. None of that booty shaking craziness. Clean stuff and postive vibes. Even the Gospel Celebration on BET back then wasn't as out there as it is now. What happened? Donnie was the man too. These are classic interviews and Phyllis was absolutely beautiful. I remember the day she died like it was yesterday. It was a shock to the whole world. Beautiful lady she was.
Phyllis Hyman is one of THE best singers of all time and I seriously think that people don't give her enough credit or recognition! She was one of those singers that anyone could relate to because people could feel the pain that she belted out in her songs! RIP Phyllis.
Phyllis Hyman was FINE, TALENTED, AND VERY UNDERRATED. She never got her just due. Next year, it will be 25 years since she passed. R.I.P. to one of the best.
BET just aint the same Im proud to say that I have witnessed the beginning with the OG Host Donnie Simpson Video Soul, Midnight Love Rap City with Dess-iour if im spelling it right, The Basement with Big Tigg Rest easy Phyllis Hyman
Why would anyone press the dislike button,Phyllis was a true Queen, I saw her at a small jazz club in Chicago,she held the audience in the palm of her hand.she was amazing,her voice really was a beautiful instrument...A true star!!
Wow I've never seen this before. The way she walked in and I forgot how tall she was. She was truly one of a kind. There will never be another like her.
why does Lailah Ali come to mind they favor and talk alike both beautiful I was just a little girl but I always loved Phylis Hyman ah her voice made me sit down and be quiet and smile such a gift
Her shows had very high quality production value. She did not skimp with her audience. Always live. Musicianship was on point. She gave a damn. Perfectionist and a diva.
Phyllis Hyman was so down to earth . A classy lady and a gorgeous lady. I miss her music. I really felt she could have transitioned into jazz . Such a beautiful spirit.
I always knew she was beautiful and talented but I never knew how personable and funny she was. She was really a hoot! Its just so sad she became so depressed that she ended her own life. Im just glad Im old enough to have had opportunity to enjoy her work. The kids these days are really missing out because there are few real singers being played on popular radio.
I don't know why it makes me so full to see people post things I had to do with but THIS IS DIVA WEEK for Video Soul of the first year I worked at BET. I loved that we were able to honor PHYLLIS and PATTI and GLADYS and CHAKA and PATTI that week! YAY. And Phyllis was such an exquisite presence and performer!
Bless their hearts. Many of the young talent today can't hold their in interviews. However, their are exceptions. Chrisette Michele, Jill Scott, IndieArie and Ledisi come to mind. They reflect that there is intellect as well as musical talent. Phyllis used excellent grammar and diction in her interviews as well as in her song styling. Rare.
This was 1991 and video soul for urban artists so Phyliss was taking a shot at Janet and Paula who were selling but vocally...well they are great entertainers. RIP Phyliss. Clive gave Whitney her position because Phyliss refused to sell out.
Seeing this interview for the first time, she's stunningly beautiful 🔥🔥 beautifully covered from head to toe yet still sexy... Female artiste these days feel they gotta show all ... Things and times really changed.... Rip beautiful 🙏🎶🎼🎵💕
I could definitely feel her pain! In Spring of 1985, in my early twenties, I did take an overdose of extra strength pain relievers while intoxicated! Anxiety and depression had a hold on me. God spared me,and today I am extremely better and on a renaissance mission to further advance the treatment of mental illnesses! I love snd miss you, Phyllis. Help is available for mental health issues. There's a toll free number. I can't remember it right off! Please: get help because life is precious and worth living! You couldn't have told me that at the time I wanted,and could have died during my overdose. God saw fit to allow me to live! When you have a purpose: then life makes sense! We have to go through some intense pain in order to find that purpose! It's all worth it!
I would love to see Jill Scott play Phyllis Hyman in a biopic. Jill Scott would be a great choice. She would do Phyllis Hyman justice. Jill Scott even said playing Phyllis Hyman would be a dream role.
I remember so clearly when this album was out. So many great hits. I was in my 20s then. Never would I have imagined music descending to the garbage it is today.
Sure do miss Phyllis Hyman...she graced us with that sultry, unique voice and delivery...although she left behind such a wonderful musical legacy, still miss you my sista💕
Gorgeous woman and voice, I'm a 49 year old white dude but I loved her, wish she was still here. I fell in love with her when I was 18 and she released "You Know How to Love me"
Thanks Shy for passing it on and thanks Retro rhythms for posting. Oh this was absolutely fabulous and yes, a wonderful early Xmas gift. Did PH look fabulous or what. She was working the whole ensemble. And tried her best to be nice.
You know what I loved about Video Soul than the obvious? the what I call "over donnie's shoulder" zoom shot. a signature of the show in my eyes cause when it happened, the subject dropped science within seconds of the zoom.
Yes! I've been waiting on this one Justin. :0) Thanks so much for posting! Of course the interview (so far, cause their is a Part 2) is great! Phyllis personality is contagious, she was funny, honest, and just being Phyllis on this interview. Loves it! :0) Cant wait for Part 2!
A very beautiful classy woman she was one of the best that ever did it it was so heartbreaking to hear about her passing you never know what people are going through if you guys out there know someone that seemed that there troubled depressed reach out n get them help
If they did do a biopic.....they'd have to search long and hard for the right singer with the height and impossible beauty that Phyllis possessed. Lip synching to her music (a la Angela Bassett in What's Love Got to Do With It) and not recording new vocals would also seem to be the correct route to go. I certainly would watch it when and if it got made.
based off not only talent but look and personality i would say jazmine sulivan. jazmine is a little darker but everything else about her including height is very similar to phyllis. i'm not sure if shes ever acted though. but thats the only person i can see.
@@KingAlone516 Phyllis was a very complex woman. I would prefer a regular actress opposed to a singer. Maybe an unknown Broadway actress. I think Tracee Ellis Ross could play her. Phyllis' voice also can't be duplicated. Having the actress lip sync to her original recordings would be the best choice.
I'd love to see the actress Paulette Braxton in the role as Phyllis. She has the beauty, height, and her complexion is similar to Phyllis. I hope Phyllis's estate will permit the use of Phyllis's actual recordings.
Thanks for posting, Rhythms this is a great find here on RU-vid. If memory serves me correctly, Patti Labelle makes an appearence during this interview, right? I'm so glad that someone has an interest in Phyllis's music. I hope you post part 2 of the interview soon.
Why Ms Hyman why?? That voice was so spirited and all this stuff about her being lonely and not having a man...I don't understand that either because she wasn't an ugly woman! She was tall but there are tall women who have boyfriends and husbands (like Aisha Tyler and Lisa Leslie). Gonna start listening to her music more often now, I think she would like that.
When you're depressed you always try to hide it because you don't want people to worry about you yet at the same time you do, you just want them to really catch it without you saying anything. I tell you man beauty, money, fame, and having a lot of friends is great but at the same time you can still feel lonely as ever.
Mental illness is just that , a simple man couldn't fill the void Ms Hyman had I believe salvation could of came in children adopted maybe or being a advisor for young African American talent getting into the industry she had a purpose beyond music it's a shame she took her life before she realized the magnitude of her importance to her community.
Our first owned television network was sold out 😕🙁😭! Was the owner Bob Johnson? What most people won't do for money! Mr. Bobby Caldwell song " what you won't do for love"! Someone needs to make a song about what most people will do for money 💸💰!
wow i love how she was tryna be nice talkin bout "people who sing" and sell records vs divas like her...im sure she would cringe at the chicks on radio now lol but her diva status is unquestionable ...thanx 4 posting retrorhythms
this makes me think, after al the acalades and support of being the best suicide is when you feel alone people are so alone and thats why we have to love on another
+even68 That's incorrect. Ms. Hyman had nothing against Whitney Houston. Ms. Hyman disliked Clive Davis. This reference goes back when Ms. Hyman was signed to Arista (i.e Clive Davis is the founder of Arista Records and made extensive musical (and business) decisions for his artists'. Ms. Hyman and Clive Davis clashed when it came to musical decisions for Ms. Hyman. Ms. Hyman wanted more of a R&B/fusion/jazz sound and Clive only wanted her to sing Pop songs (which she could do but it wasn't something she preferred).
I disagree with that I listened to the guy who wrote her biography and he said she had bitterness toward whitney. Yes I agree with her feelings for clive she didnt like him. She was so manipulated and used. Actually the interview is on youtbe you should give it a listen
Whitney and Mariah could actually sing. I think she was referring to people like Janet Jackson and Paula Abdul, who were both really hot at the time. They weren't very good singers but they had other things in place to help them sell huge amounts of records in spite of their limited vocal ability.
No. I think she probably meant the industry in general. Think Milli Vanilli. That kind of throw away garbage music was rampant back then. Lots of one hit wonders and videos were more important than the damn songs back then. And lip synching went buckwild.
I can see Jill Scott playing Phyllis Hyman only if Jill can stop that fake personna Phyllis appear to be a genuine person whether good or bad 2) I can see Chrisette Michelle as 1st choice definitely the look and she appears to have a soft vulnerable side and she could probably pull off the way Phyllis speaks 3) Someone mentioned LaLa Anthony not to sure about that she can't sing she probably couldn't pull off the height
