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Chaka Khan: Why You So Revered?


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Old 23-07-2008, 07:53
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Apart from the odd song like Ain't Nobody and being a backing singer this woman doesn't really seem to have done anything. So why is she so revered?
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Old 23-07-2008, 09:36
Inkblot
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Four gold albums, one platinum and ten Grammies and she "doesn't really seem to have done anything"?

Wikipedia has the full story. She's also one of music's more eccentric characters, having a fearsome reputation for self-medication that puts Winehouse in the shade; apparently she did some of her most celebrated gigs so out-of-it that she couldn't stand up but still brought the house down. That was of course many years ago and not to be condoned but still, she is one of the few real legends who are still alive.

By the way, what a weird question... what made you ask?
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Old 23-07-2008, 09:44
soapboyz2005
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She's one of those singers who are quite famous yet have a limited back catalogue of UK hits - Ain't Nobody, I'm Every Woman, I Feel For You, This Is My Night and Eye To Eye. Her last significant album was a remix album in 1989.
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Old 23-07-2008, 11:55
shackfan
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To be perfectly honest, this sort of thing happens all the time. There are loads of one hit wonders out there doing continuous tours on the back of a single hit? They have a small fan base, release a few albums that the fan base continue to buy and life goes on
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Old 23-07-2008, 11:59
Hayden
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To be perfectly honest, this sort of thing happens all the time. There are loads of one hit wonders out there doing continuous tours on the back of a single hit? They have a small fan base, release a few albums that the fan base continue to buy and life goes on
22 Grammy nominations suggests Chaka Khan doesn't fit into this category.
Proper legend and no mistake.
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Old 23-07-2008, 12:09
ags_rule
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I don't even like her music but it's blatantly obvious that she has a voice that puts every Top-40 female today to shame.
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Old 23-07-2008, 12:47
Over By Yer!
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And don't forget her successful career as the lead singer of the American soul band "Rufus" who had many hits in the 1970's in the USA..Ignored over here in the UK of course as most people were drooling over The Bay City Rollers and other such crap instead.
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Old 23-07-2008, 15:33
frenchlondoner
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Chaka is awesome! It's true that her best of is full of not so great tracks, but she's got quite a few classics behind her belt, and she is great live!
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Old 23-07-2008, 15:51
shackfan
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22 Grammy nominations suggests Chaka Khan doesn't fit into this category.
Proper legend and no mistake.
Yeah, but in America they hand out about 10 different Grammies for the same song Arrangement, song writing, best use of a triangle, most useful knob on a keyboard, etc
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Old 23-07-2008, 15:55
jlrob
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Chaka Khan, Chaka Khan...oooh Chaka Khan Chaka Khan!

Why is she so revered? Are you serious?
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Old 23-07-2008, 16:52
Money4oldRope
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So why is she so revered?
Because she sang with the 'Funk Brothers' nuff said ? ? ?
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Old 23-07-2008, 22:49
MaxCherry
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I dont mind Chaka....she also did that song (It Aint) All Good with de la soul in about 2001.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhFHn5wB3s

She was doing supporting Mary J Blige on her tour one year.....I walked in to Chaka belting out all her old hits and the crowd basically ignoring her.
The only time she got a reaction from them during the whole thing was when she sang Aint Nobody and everyone perked up because of the Liberty X version. I felt quite sorry for her actually.
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Old 24-07-2008, 07:46
PJ68
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ain't nobody
i feel for you
tell me something good

most singers won't have ONE song as great as any of those, let alone three..
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Old 24-07-2008, 09:37
Inkblot
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Here's a great example of Chaka in action, singing Once You Get Started. She has a a real jazz feel for the melody; my favourite song of hers is Don't Go to Strangers which was on the B-side of Ain't Nobody and is a pure jazz song performed live and utterly gorgeous.
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Old 24-07-2008, 10:46
MCS
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The woman is a legend, and anyone who enjoys quality music, sung by a wonderful voice would know and love her.
She is better than most the british girl singers around today.
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Old 24-07-2008, 12:12
Urban Bassman
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And don't forget her successful career as the lead singer of the American soul band "Rufus" who had many hits in the 1970's in the USA..Ignored over here in the UK of course as most people were drooling over The Bay City Rollers and other such crap instead.
Absolutley - Rudus were a phenominal band. I was introduced to them by a friend who was really into that Jazz funk scene before a lot of people over here in the UK. (He was also a big Billy Cobham fan).

Just for that one moment in Ain't Nobody wher she holds that one note over the chorus - a spine tingling moment.
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Old 13-06-2009, 21:59
prasanth
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She is defintely more well known in America.

Her voice is hailed for it's deep contraltio, but yet can belt in full voice in the F5 and G5 area. Her voice is admired for her perfect pitch and jazzy melismas/inflections.

Whitney Houston says that Chaka has one the best voices ever, and she was greatly inspired by her vocal stylings. Even Aretha Franklin acknowledges her, and she personally gave her a lifetime achievement award at an awards ceremony - this is a big deal, because Aretha doesn't normally give other people awards!

Prince and Stevie Wonder have said she has one of the best voices ever, and took part in a tribute show to her performing her songs.

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Old 14-06-2009, 06:17
unique
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chaka mad!
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Old 21-12-2009, 21:48
Delicious11
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The person who described the LEGEND Chaka Khan, also known as the Queen of funk as a one hit wonder clearly has no idea what they are talking about.

Tell me something good (Live)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxEen...eature=related

Ain't Nobody (Live)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebHe8o5E6XI

Eye to Eye (Live)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBnmzNTFU8Y

I feel for you (live at the 1984 grammys) She's a bit high here lol but her scatting and vocal runs are off the chain. She also won a grammy that night for this song. Another important first with this record was that it the first song to fuse rap and singing together in a song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bahz4qCejSI


Other classics, hits no.1 singles and grammy nominations or winners include.

Sweet thing - covered by nearly every female singer from Mary J Blige to Jennifer Hudson who sung it at her concert.
'I'm every Woman' - successfully covered by Whitney Houston
'Stay' -One of my all time favourites covered by Erykah Badu.
'Through the fire' Sampled by Kanye West
'Higher Love' duet with Steve Winwood


The list of Chaka's hit single both solo and with funk band Rufus is long. If you want to find out more then Google and You Tube are your friends and are there to help with any ignorance you have about Chaka also known as the Queen of Funk.

She is also a very successful song writer on some her songs including the classics 'stay' and sweet thing'.

To date, she has had twenty two Grammy Award nominations (including three as a member of Rufus). She has won 10 Grammy Awards (including two as a member of Rufus).

Her most recent grammies were won in 2008, one for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals with Mary J Blige and the other for her recent Album 'Funk this'

On November 29, 2009, Chaka Khan won a Soul Train Legends award and a wonderful tribute was put on for her by some young R&B Stars.

Some one hit wonder aye
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Old 21-12-2009, 21:52
Delicious11
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Yeah, but in America they hand out about 10 different Grammies for the same song Arrangement, song writing, best use of a triangle, most useful knob on a keyboard, etc
List of Grammys won

* 2008 Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals - Chaka Khan, Mary J. Blige - "Disrespectful" Track from album: Funk This
* 2008 Best R&B Album - Chaka Khan - Funk This
* 2003 Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance - Chaka Khan, The Funk Brothers - "What's Going On" Track from album: Standing In The Shadows Of Motown - Soundtrack (Various Artists)
* 1993 Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female - Chaka Khan - album The Woman I Am
* 1991 Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal - Ray Charles, Chaka Khan - "I'll Be Good to You". Track from album: Back On The Block (Quincy Jones)
* 1985 Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female - Chaka Khan - "I Feel for You" Track from album: I Feel for You
* 1984 Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female - Chaka Khan - Chaka Khan (1982 album)
* 1984 Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal - Rufus - "Ain't Nobody" Track from album: Stompin' at the Savoy - Live (Rufus)
* 1984 Best Vocal Arrangement For Two Or More Voices - Arif Mardin, Chaka Khan - "Be Bop Medley" Track from album: Chaka Khan (1982 album)
* 1975 Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group Or Chorus - Rufus - "Tell Me Something Good" Track from album: Rags To Rufus (Rufus)


Grammy Nominations


* 2007 Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals - Chaka Khan, Gerald Levert, Yolanda Adams, Carl Thomas - "Everyday (Family Reunion)" Track from album: Madea's Family Reunion - Soundtrack (Various Artists)
* 1998 Best Female R&B Vocal Performance - Chaka Khan - "Summertime" Track from album: Porgy & Bess (Joe Henderson)
* 1997 Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals - Brandy, Tamia, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan - "Missing You" Track from album: Set It Off - Soundtrack (Various Artists)
* 1997 Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal - Chaka Khan, Meshell Ndegeocello - "Never Miss The Water" Track from compilation album: Epiphany: The Best of Chaka Khan, Vol. 1
* 1997 Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal - Luke Cresswell, Fiona Wilkes, Carl Smith, Fraser Morrison, Everett Bradley, Mr. X, Melle Mel, Coolio, Yo-Yo, Chaka Khan, Charlie Wilson, Shaquille O'Neal, Luniz - "Stomp" Track from album: Q's Jook Joint (Quincy Jones)
* 1996 Best Song Written Specifically For A Motion Picture Or Television - Bruce Hornsby, Chaka Khan - "Love Me Still" Track from album: Clockers - Soundtrack (Various Artists)
* 1987 Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female - Chaka Khan - Destiny
* 1986 Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female - Chaka Khan - I Feel for You
* 1983 Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Female - Chaka Khan - Echoes of an Era
* 1982 Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female - Chaka Khan - What Cha' Gonna Do for Me
* 1979 Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female - Chaka Khan - "I'm Every Woman" Track from album Chaka (1978 album)
* 1978 Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group Or Chorus - Rufus - Ask Rufus (Rufus)

She also has stacks of other prestigious music awards such as American music awards, Lady of Soul awards, BET lifetime achievement awards etc.
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