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View Full Version : NPR: Would Etta James' "At Last" Be a Hit Today?

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sunshineonacloudyday
01-03-2011, 09:33 PM
Interesting article. Link posted on Etta James' fb page....

http://m.npr.org/story/132477498?url=/blogs/therecord/2010/12/30/132477498/would-at-last-be-a-hit-today
sunshineonacloudyday
01-03-2011, 09:40 PM
Sorry, iPhone user fail with that link. I'll try to fix it.

...[[sigh) All I can get to work is mobile link. I'm not at a computer. Maybe a tech-savvy person can help, otherwise go to the link posted on Etta James fb page to read article.
soulster
01-04-2011, 01:13 AM
I think it would be quite popular, but it would never top the charts.
midnightman
01-04-2011, 12:35 PM
^ It didn't even top the charts when it was released in 1961. It reached number 2 R&B and number 47 pop. Ironically her vocal version is the best charted version of the song save for the Glenn Miller original instrumental from 20 years back.
sunshineonacloudyday
01-04-2011, 01:33 PM
Quincy Jones' statement sums it up re the lack of originality in today's music:
"If you sample everything today, what are you going to sample in 20 years?"
smark21
01-04-2011, 09:12 PM
^ It didn't even top the charts when it was released in 1961. It reached number 2 R&B and number 47 pop. Ironically her vocal version is the best charted version of the song save for the Glenn Miller original instrumental from 20 years back.

Well it proves that a record doesn't necessarily have to chart high to eventually make an impact on the culture.
stephanie
01-04-2011, 09:37 PM
This song has been used in tons of commercials and everyone and their mom has heard it. Some people dont know Etta sang it [[younger generations) but they have heard it. Heck Beyonce even sung it for the President so that tells you something about its impact.
skooldem1
01-04-2011, 10:18 PM
I think it would be a hit today.
midnightman
01-05-2011, 12:08 AM
Well it proves that a record doesn't necessarily have to chart high to eventually make an impact on the culture.

Sure don't. I think her version did end up selling a million copies but it took some time.
jobeterob
01-05-2011, 03:21 AM
It's a great song but it isn't the sound or the style for these days; it seems to me that right now we are going through a phase where there are young, light voiced, puffy, poppy singers like Katy Perry that are very very popular; also Taylor Swift.

This was an excellent song and certainly is Etta's signature song.