Mama Bettye's conviction is undeniable. There are so few singers that can take even one step on that road. She made this sound so personal. Like she was talking directly to her man of 30 years who is standing in the wings waiting for her to exit the stage. This type of interpretation is so rare. Simply spectacular!!! Be sure to breathe this in nice and slow.
The audience was in a trance. They didn't even start clapping till almost 2 seconds after the performance. During the ovation they were looking around like what the heck did I just witness and what rock have I been living under why this woman isn't more famous?
When I first heard Bettye sing this on the tribute to Chaka Khan, I bawled. Then I let my mom see it on my phone one day when I told her about how beautifully she sung this song and she bawled. Every time I listen to it, the tears are streaming--the words are gut wrenching. She sing this with such depth and soul. . it's really amazing.
Every time Bettye gets a shot on TV she totally destroys. I watched this with tears running down my face. I also love her version of Love Reign O'er Me at the Kennedy Center Honors and her duet with Bon Jovi at the Obama Inauguration Ceremony. I want to buy this song!!!
I saw Bettye...along with the FIVE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA....on my 50th birthday...at TOWN HALL in NYC...May 17th, 2013...a special night. Bettye sings with a "tear in her voice"...wonderful.
How is this woman not everywhere? She brings me to tears of Awe and amazement. I learn about singing every time I watch her: from breathing to phrasing. She doesn’t just sing she release a song.
Artistry of this kind is seldom witnessed today. Original interpretative singing with this power and magnitude is why people become singers in the first place. Beautiful, emotive and painfully heartbreaking. Love her singing -
Sad to think of all the wasted decades when Ms. LaVette couldn't get a job. So glad she finally got her due. Her expression is heartbreaking. Good material is made great by artists like this. I'm glad I have ears.
She blesses my soul. I want more of this type of singing. Any time, any day. She warms the depths of my heart. She is a God-givengiftto the world of vocal music. I love you Bettye Lavette. I want more of your music. I hope you take this in.
It takes years,so many more than anyone would care to count,YEARS to create a diamond-years of pressure,stress,of being left there in the dark & yet all the while time is working its spell.Oh but when that diamond is finally in the light it is a sight & thing of beauty to behold and enjoy forever-Bettye,I'm ashamed I only heard you for the first time 2day having read about you-how you SHINE Bettye,your soul is in every immaculate note & phrase-Your voice is your truth.THANK YOU SO SO MUCH
Last night had time of my life I went to see concert of legendary real Queen of Soul of Bettye LaVette in Vancouver. What I can say about the outstanding performance went from her voice to my heart and my blood and I felt every second of the unbelievable emotional phenomenal voice.I had one hour and half of one of my best time in my life . The Lord Bless You Bettye and Thanks! I never seen so firm athletic build body of that age female. She is my inspiration!!!
Difference between simple talent and pure/raw emotion. Chacka Khan is a great singer and vocalist but this lady is singing from a lifetime of struggle and fight; and she is doing it with such a deep emotion that you can only follow her in her rendition, like in a journey thru her pain and sorrows.
I have been checking everyday hoping that someone would upload the full version. Thank you soooo much!!! I love Chaka's version, but Ms. Lavette tore it up!!! Like you, and half the people viewing those fantastic moments in time, I was in tears. A little slice of heaven on earth.
Bettye completely OWNED this song!!!! Words alone, simply cannot express how much Her deep rich, sultry, course chords pulled such depth and emotion from this piece. I had never heard this song or of Miss Lavette until this song and WOW, am I glad I tuned in. :)) Simply SPELLBOUND from the moment they took the stage. Bravo to both she and the incomparable Mr. Hancock on piano!
I didn't know Ms. Lavette at all until I saw her sing at the beginning of the new series "Low Rising Sun" and even that small snippet made me seek her her out and I am glad that I did.
Ms. B is NOOOOOOOOOOO joke! She can take you on a journey through a song. All so honest. She sang that song like she lived it. I love her, and she can sing for me ANY day of the week!
Storytelling at it's finest! A wonderful soulful singer in her own right. This is what the best of them do (Jazz, Blues, Gospel, and Soul singers use this effective approach). They take a song, slow it down, and lay behind the beat so that you really hear the lyrics, stretching the melody and milking their tone along with embellishments through the chord changes. Some of my favorites at it are Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Mavis Staples, Donny Hathaway, and now Betty Lavette!
I just discovered this song tonight when I bought a second hand CD of Smooth Jazz from the old WNUA station here in Chicago. I knew about Chaka Khan but had never heard this before. I can't tell you how much this song, and especially, the above version touched and moved me. Every word, every breath taken, every pause, had me in tears. I didn't know off Bettye Lavette, but I do -know- her now. Absolutely wonderful singer who put her heart and soul into this touching song. Thank you for this.
I wish she would have done a remake of this song. I love the way Chaka sings it but Ms.Lavette sung this song like a breath of fresh air. so much passion and emotion. Just beautiful
Like all the others who was fortunate enough to watch this broadcast... I was moved. Gut-wrenching and sung from the soul! I really wish this was an mp3 file, would live to have it on my ipod. Bettye is a class act... this is singing... and thank you Chaka for the inspiration!
This woman could sing the alphabet and make you feel it. Did you see the blank expressions on the audience faces during the ovation? They were speechless.
@Speaklife I told the UNCF, "you are trying to raise money", why on earth not sell this or the DVD of the whole show for that matter? This is a piece of music I'd surely pay for. Thank you so much for uploading it.
@SarahPalinSUCKS Yeah, I feel you. This is one of my favorite Chaka songs, especially the lyrics, so I really anticipated it being done well. The way Ms Lavette's rendition really allowed us to feel the power in the lyrics...a very deep felt love song... This brought me to tears of emotion. P.S. I must say I agree with the heart of your screen name, lol.
@TheQrysta You are so welcome...I keep listening to it over and over myself. She is singing from the depths of her heart to the depths of ours, her audience...I love her interpretation of this song.
Ms. Lavette has the rare gift of perfect and total emotional song interpretation. She has a rare gift and has gone under appreciated too long.
Her timing is way off.
Mama Bettye's conviction is undeniable. There are so few singers that can take even one step on that road. She made this sound so personal. Like she was talking directly to her man of 30 years who is standing in the wings waiting for her to exit the stage. This type of interpretation is so rare. Simply spectacular!!! Be sure to breathe this in nice and slow.
Agreed!👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
ethreal! You hit a point when you can make Chaka Khan cry singing one of HER songs!
She took this song on such a journey. Phenomenal is an understatement
Even the breaths she takes between phrases are musical. Far and away the best performance BET has seen in many years.
The audience was in a trance. They didn't even start clapping till almost 2 seconds after the performance. During the ovation they were looking around like what the heck did I just witness and what rock have I been living under why this woman isn't more famous?
amen
What a moving interpretation! She wowed me...Bettye laid that thing down! Get Chaka's reaction, priceless. LOVE THIS.
Reading Chaka's lips, she said.... "Oh, my God." 💜
This performance just gets better with time! Her facial expressions from 2:56-2:59 ALWAYS gets me....she lived those lyrics !!
When I first heard Bettye sing this on the tribute to Chaka Khan, I bawled. Then I let my mom see it on my phone one day when I told her about how beautifully she sung this song and she bawled. Every time I listen to it, the tears are streaming--the words are gut wrenching. She sing this with such depth and soul. . it's really amazing.
She is so genuine & unique…absolutely love her. ♥️💯♥️🔥
Before she sung it, she lived it...and you can hear it.
great comment
She should have one an Emmy for this television performance.
"Oh, my God"! That's what Chaka Khan was saying as she stood up. Just a heart-wrenching performance!
Every time Bettye gets a shot on TV she totally destroys. I watched this with tears running down my face.
I also love her version of Love Reign O'er Me at the Kennedy Center Honors and her duet with Bon Jovi at the Obama Inauguration Ceremony.
I want to buy this song!!!
Haven't seen this performance in a minute, but it still blows me away to watch Bettye stand flat footed and sAng!
I love this version of Chaka Khans Do You Love Me Still
I saw Bettye...along with the FIVE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA....on my 50th birthday...at TOWN HALL in NYC...May 17th, 2013...a special night. Bettye sings with a "tear in her voice"...wonderful.
Tears dripping...so emotional! My mama always said..."give flowers now, not when I am dead!" Great tribute to Chaka.
I did not believe in magic until I saw that performance.
i feel like i have missed a part of life not knowing who this woman is! i cant stop playing it..
No exaggeration, I play this video at least 2 times every single day...
How is this woman not everywhere? She brings me to tears of Awe and amazement. I learn about singing every time I watch her: from breathing to phrasing. She doesn’t just sing she release a song.
Instantaneous fan of Ms Lavette...... I'm in awe of her gifts❤🏳🌈
Artistry of this kind is seldom witnessed today. Original interpretative singing with this power and magnitude is why people become singers in the first place. Beautiful, emotive and painfully heartbreaking. Love her singing -
Sad to think of all the wasted decades when Ms. LaVette couldn't get a job. So glad she finally got her due. Her expression is heartbreaking. Good material is made great by artists like this. I'm glad I have ears.
her interpretation was very unique and I loved it.
She blesses my soul. I want more of this type of singing. Any time, any day. She warms the depths of my heart. She is a God-givengiftto the world of vocal music. I love you Bettye Lavette. I want more of your music. I hope you take this in.
Amazing! Absolutely amazing! Go Miss Bettye.
It takes years,so many more than anyone would care to count,YEARS to create a diamond-years of pressure,stress,of being left there in the dark & yet all the while time is working its spell.Oh but when that diamond is finally in the light it is a sight & thing of beauty to behold and enjoy forever-Bettye,I'm ashamed I only heard you for the first time 2day having read about you-how you SHINE Bettye,your soul is in every immaculate note & phrase-Your voice is your truth.THANK YOU SO SO MUCH
Oh my words she has a beautiful voice!!!!!
Last night had time of my life I went to see concert of legendary real Queen of Soul of Bettye LaVette in Vancouver. What I can say about the outstanding performance went from her voice to my heart and my blood and I felt every second of the unbelievable emotional phenomenal voice.I had one hour and half of one of my best time in my life . The Lord Bless You Bettye and Thanks! I never seen so firm athletic build body of that age female. She is my inspiration!!!
A true superstar Ms. Lavette is. Love her.
Difference between simple talent and pure/raw emotion. Chacka Khan is a great singer and vocalist but this lady is singing from a lifetime of struggle and fight; and she is doing it with such a deep emotion that you can only follow her in her rendition, like in a journey thru her pain and sorrows.
I have been checking everyday hoping that someone would upload the full version. Thank you soooo much!!! I love Chaka's version, but Ms. Lavette tore it up!!! Like you, and half the people viewing those fantastic moments in time, I was in tears. A little slice of heaven on earth.
I'm literally in tears
Off the chain. That was SO wonderful!
when it comes to talent, there really is no substitute - she's a living witness to that -
Wow ❤😍🎹👌💯
Pure Raw Emotion
Bettye completely OWNED this song!!!!
Words alone, simply cannot express how much
Her deep rich, sultry, course chords pulled such depth and emotion from this piece.
I had never heard this song or of Miss Lavette until this song and WOW, am I glad I tuned in. :)) Simply SPELLBOUND from the moment they took the stage. Bravo to both she and the incomparable Mr. Hancock on piano!
I didn't know Ms. Lavette at all until I saw her sing at the beginning of the new series "Low Rising Sun" and even that small snippet made me seek her her out and I am glad that I did.
Just wonderful. Herbie Hancock and Bettye together was inspired, and to choose this song, magical.
Ms. B is NOOOOOOOOOOO joke! She can take you on a journey through a song. All so honest. She sang that song like she lived it. I love her, and she can sing for me ANY day of the week!
THIS is the Real Truth
A gift from Betty LaVette -
The Real Deal
Wow. Just wow. Goosebumps and chills.
Storytelling at it's finest! A wonderful soulful singer in her own right. This is what the best of them do (Jazz, Blues, Gospel, and Soul singers use this effective approach). They take a song, slow it down, and lay behind the beat so that you really hear the lyrics, stretching the melody and milking their tone along with embellishments through the chord changes. Some of my favorites at it are Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Mavis Staples, Donny Hathaway, and now Betty Lavette!
She was Phenomenal I remember this night she sang this song...
gorgeous to the soul in so many ways!
Still here in 2024. This version is amazing!
She sung TEARS out of this song. Perfect rendition this is.
Bettye sang this from the depths of her soul. It don't get any better! Those lyrics are the truth! "
This was something serious loved it
Absolutely beautiful singing! Thanks for uploading, I wasn't familiar with this singer- now I shall seek out every recording of hers x
almost in tears... sing Bettye -- OMG
I have adored the performance since the first time I saw it. Ms. Bettye perfected this song!!!
This is a beautiful rendition touching many points of life. If I could go back to a moment in time, I would gladly do so.
Such GRACE! Beautifully moving and HEART-RENDING!
Thank you, Ms Lavette.
OMG! how beautiful!
Brings tears to my eyes...love you Bettye. Finally she gets her day...years later.
I just discovered this song tonight when I bought a second hand CD of Smooth Jazz from the old WNUA station here in Chicago. I knew about Chaka Khan but had never heard this before. I can't tell you how much this song, and especially, the above version touched and moved me. Every word, every breath taken, every pause, had me in tears. I didn't know off Bettye Lavette, but I do -know- her now. Absolutely wonderful singer who put her heart and soul into this touching song. Thank you for this.
Wow ... Totes emotional
Sublime! Fantástica performance!
blown away, truly
Brings tears to my eyes.😢
pure💖
I wish she would have done a remake of this song. I love the way Chaka sings it but Ms.Lavette sung this song like a breath of fresh air. so much passion and emotion. Just beautiful
Like all the others who was fortunate enough to watch this broadcast... I was moved. Gut-wrenching and sung from the soul! I really wish this was an mp3 file, would live to have it on my ipod. Bettye is a class act... this is singing... and thank you Chaka for the inspiration!
Music is our crown - you dig !
When I first saw this that evening.. I was deeply moved. !!!
This was absolutely amazing! They both took that song to a whole new level!
Perfection
OMG! She made me cry! No words ......
This woman could sing the alphabet and make you feel it. Did you see the blank expressions on the audience faces during the ovation? They were speechless.
this woman levels me every time she sings...
Excellent !!!
So pure.
I still get chills when I see/hear this rendition!
Beautiful ❤️
I feel every word in my soul, it's an eternal understanding in which I really can not explain.
Beautiful
Oh my god! What a women
Chills in my spirit!
Masterpiece xx
her voice gets to me everytime...
Gorgeous rendition
A sincere tear
tears
@Speaklife I told the UNCF, "you are trying to raise money", why on earth not sell this or the DVD of the whole show for that matter? This is a piece of music I'd surely pay for. Thank you so much for uploading it.
I'll love this song
Wowww so soulful !!!!!
I'll love you Mrs Betty
@SarahPalinSUCKS Yeah, I feel you. This is one of my favorite Chaka songs, especially the lyrics, so I really anticipated it being done well. The way Ms Lavette's rendition really allowed us to feel the power in the lyrics...a very deep felt love song...
This brought me to tears of emotion.
P.S. I must say I agree with the heart of your screen name, lol.
nice. she's putting her heart into it
this is just wow...
@TheQrysta You are so welcome...I keep listening to it over and over myself. She is singing from the depths of her heart to the depths of ours, her audience...I love her interpretation of this song.
There is a Beautiful woman I would love to sing this song for!!
Wow!
thanks for the org version thanks a bunch she,s awsome
That's a GROWN WOMAN.
Yes, lord!!! Yes...