Patti LaBelle speaks out on Celine Dion, race and record sales

[mebe]

Well all I can say is that Celine worked very hard to be where she is now...

And she's still working hard...

[gafsa]

If Celine more success because she is white then everybody would always love her, but look at now, so muny people hate her with unknown reason. Patto was so racist... i hate racist Edited November 27, 2007 at 06:08 AM by Julian International

[RLAAMJR.]

Hmmm............ This is music. Ok. Skin color might affect people but it's not really that much. I prefer the talent or skill. Celine Dion did well because of her beautiful and powerful voice as well as great personailty.

 

Whitney did well even if she's black.

[LuisMa]

I have a lot of respect for Patti, but if there had been racism towards her, she would never have had chart-topping hits with LaBelle (Lady Marmalade) or her duet with Michael McDonald (On My Own). Also, by the time her "If You Asked Me To" was released, Karyn White was keeping the hits coming, with a string of Top 10 hits from her debut album, and Jody Watley was also enjoying mainstream success, just to mention a couple of names. And just as you mentioned Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, etc., even during the 90s there were several awesome black singers having enormous success on both the R&B and Pop charts: Brandy, Monica, Mary J. Blige, Deborah Cox, Faith Evans, and the list goes on.

[sunnyceline]

I'm wondering if Kara Dioguardi of Plantinum Weird is ever gonna say that Celine was successful with Plantinum Weird's original "Taking Chances" because she's Canadian...and the music industry likes Canadians more than they do Americans...then Miss Labelle has two things going against her!

[Duchess]

when you hear an artist for the first time on the radio, you don't see a face? so who's to say that i didn't know celine was black when i first heard her sing? but!!!!! if they were to play both artists back in the day on the radio, i still would have chosen celine over labelle. labelle don't got no soul when she screeches. Edited November 27, 2007 at 06:51 AM by Duchess

[Nikosn17]

Who knew that today you need to be a black singer to sell.

 

And I can't agree with her. Look at Whitney, Aretha, Tina.. It's ridiculous. But who cares...

 

exactly and even Mariah (who is multyratial)... If it was for the colour of their skin non of them wouldn't be as succesful as they are.

But actually Patti didn't say anything bad about Celine...

Edited November 27, 2007 at 07:04 AM by Nikosn17

[chawatak]

That's not true.

 

For example, Whitney's "I Will Always Love You" is more popular and respected than that of Dolly Parton (the original one.)

 

It's not about "RACE", but it's about "QUALITY" and how it "TOUCHES" people; and Celine rules!

[Jeffieboi]

The reason Celine's version did better is because it was a WAY better version. So the original is only 3 years older? It came out in 1989? It sounds like it was recorded in the 60s or 70s. BTW, Celine didn't know that Patti Labelle sang it originally.

[Bellamy]

BTW, Celine didn't know that Patti Labelle sang it originally.

She does know that, maybe not at the beginning.

[algorhythm]

There are a lot of very successful black artists even in the old days. I don't think race is the reason for LaBelle's failure with If You Asked Me To. It is because Celine's version is far way better than hers. LaBelle was very successful with Got To Be Real and Lady Marmalade. And every artist also have singles that won't make a hit. Patti isn't the only one that has a song that when covered by other artist will be a bigger hit, cos it also happens to other WHITE artists. Race is such a laaaameeee excuse!

[Davey84]

BTW, Celine didn't know that Patti Labelle sang it originally.

She does know that, maybe not at the beginning.

she didn't know it when she recorded that.... she stated that many times in the mid 90ies

 

Patti's statement is bull! Throughout her carreer there were many succeful black singers! And Céline can say the same thing now acording to this... that she aint getting hits cos she's white and canadian! double racism!

[Love,]

Oh... Patti...

 

If I was blind, never heard of Patti nor Celine, and I am offered a sample of "If You Asked Me To" from each artist,

I would have chosen Celine over Patti 200%.

 

 

BTW, Celine didn't know that Patti Labelle sang it originally.

She does know that, maybe not at the beginning.

she didn't know it when she recorded that.... she stated that many times in the mid 90ies

Celine didn't know that "Taking Chances" was a cover either! :mdr:

Edited November 27, 2007 at 08:00 AM by Love,

[firebird]

So Mrs. Labelle is complaining that a song she didn't even write herself has had more commercial success in another singer's version?! Ja, swallow the bitter pill.

[miracle_girl]

This Is A Really Poor Excuse For Lack Of Sales!!

Using Race as a reason makes me sick

there have been loads of sucsessfull black artists

Whitney, Aretha, Nina to name but a few!

 

I think with the song "If You Asked Me To"

it came down to timing,

 

& If you listen to both versions Patti Doesnt sound half as soulfull as celine she sounds like

shes on helium but dont get me wrong she is talented

[peo]

hmmmm....I'm going to stick with the fact that Celine is by far and away the better singer. Patti ain't up there with Whitney and Celine.

 

That's definately right! She siwh she could be in Celine and Whitney's shoes.

[dlh1]

What the hell!!!

 

It's because Celine has got a much better voice and better songs, not because she's a bloody white girl!!!

 

How do you explain Areth, Whitney and Mariah then...

 

It's nothing to do with race, infact black artists on the whole do better, look at Jacko etc,

 

Jeez Patti La Belle is crazy!

[Celinemaniac]

Untrue and arrogant!

[Cambroneroj]

Oh yeah Celine's success is ALL thanks to that song!

[sander21]

O , please...... that patti woman is pathetic . Look at Whitney and so many others. Racism is a very big awful issue in many ways but u can't blame everything on it. Use it in the right context miss labelle whatever not important!!!!!! Edited November 27, 2007 at 01:32 PM by sander21

[augusto]

Oh yeah Celine's success is ALL thanks to that song!

 

No, Celine's success is thanks to her white skin...

[Teodora]

OMG how much jealousy can one have Yeah, right Patti, keep telling yourself that's the reason, if that makes you sleep better at night...

[ZoraSourit]

Who cares about Patti LaBelle anyway? She wants to sell more? She needs to sing better and have a better voice... I hate when people use the word 'racism' to justify their faillure.

[anna]

When I read "race" on the title of the thread, I thought "race"? Who's racing? Is Céline sprinting? hahahahaha, I honestly did.

 

you're so funny!!!

 

anyway, what i don't understand is why patti's keep on bringing this subject up,

i mean if it's her song why explain that celine did it afterwards!!?

she's up on stage for her fans so why even bring celine up?

just go to town with the song and enjoy....

Edited November 27, 2007 at 02:47 PM by anna

[Andrei Dion]

Lots of bulls* hahahah

[Céline's Blues]

If you want it or not it's the truth what Patti said.

 

Do you think if Madonna flashed her tits at Superbowl 2004 the media would care as much as they cared about Janet? Of course not cuzz Madonna is white and can get away with every ish thinkable. The same goes for many others white artists.

 

There is a thin line and psychological border still separating homos from heteros, blacks from whites, Jews and Christians, men and women, Matias and Bette Midler etc.

Edited November 27, 2007 at 03:06 PM by Céline's Blues

[zamirdion]

That's ridicolous....Whtney Houston had a huge success in US...

[nystrele]

the point about how whitney's "i will always love you" outdid dolly's original is spot on... and miss patti failed to mention that her version of "if you asked me to" DID reach no. 10 on the R&B chart, so by no means was it a flop. it was also a james bond theme for "licence to kill," and while on her MCA label home, who knows what the priorities were in terms of promotion at pop.

 

also ironic that patti is bitching when her own "new attitude" in 1985 was a top 20 hit... to the best of my knowledge, she was also a black woman at that point in time... girlfriend needs to straighten her wig and show some humility... dogging celine makes her look ungrateful and jealous.

 

xoxox

nystrele

[miracle_girl]

If you want it or not it's the truth what Patti said.

 

Do you think if Madonna flashed her tits at Superbowl 2004 the media would care as much as they cared about Janet? Of course not cuzz Madonna is white and can get away with every ish thinkable. The same goes for many others white artists.

 

There is a thin line and psychological border still separating homos from heteros, blacks from whites, Jews and Christians, men and women, Matias and Bette Midler etc.

 

And i suppose if The situation had been the other way round

Celine Released If You Ask Me To First

The Patti released it after and she had better sales

 

& In in an interview Celine had said Patti sold more because shes black

Do you think Celine would get away with it???

 

I dont think so,,

So White people cant get away with anything thinkable!!

[PrincesseJen]

If you want it or not it's the truth what Patti said.

 

Do you think if Madonna flashed her tits at Superbowl 2004 the media would care as much as they cared about Janet? Of course not cuzz Madonna is white and can get away with every ish thinkable. The same goes for many others white artists.

 

There is a thin line and psychological border still separating homos from heteros, blacks from whites, Jews and Christians, men and women, Matias and Bette Midler etc.

 

And i suppose if The situation had been the other way round

Celine Released If You Ask Me To First

The Patti released it after and she had better sales

 

& In in an interview Celine had said Patti sold more because shes black

Do you think Celine would get away with it???

 

I dont think so,,

So White people cant get away with anything thinkable!!

 

Truer words have never been spoken. http://smileyset.com/temp/PRINCESS/wink.gif