[VIDEOS] CHRISTINA'S NYC FOUR SEASONS SETLIST OF 'AT LAST' & 'I TURN TO YOU' (DEBUT ERA)

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[NEWS] FLASHBACK: ETTA JAMES & CHRISTINA AGUILERA'S MAGICAL MOMENT IN HISTORY

Christina Aguilera says she can die happy now — because she's met her idol, legendary R&B singer Etta James. The two posed together for a photo spread in the July issue of InStyle, which matched up singers with their musical mentors.

The pairings include Mary J. Blige with Chaka Khan, John Legend with Quincy Jones, Fergie with Rita Marley, and Faith Hill with Aretha Franklin. But Aguilera's coupling with James nearly brought the singer to tears because James seemed to idolize her too.

"Etta is my all-time favorite singer," Aguilera explained. "I've said it for the last seven years — since I had my first debut record out — in every interview, in every story, in every on- and off-camera question. I mean, all of Etta's old songs, countless songs I could name, I grew up listening to. That music was always such a huge escape for me, even from a young age."

When she was about 7 years old, Aguilera's grandmother used to take her to look for vintage records, which was how she got introduced to soul, jazz and blues. "There was such soul, emotion and raw heart in it," Aguilera said. "So much real heart and emotion that's lacking in music today. You used to have to sing and convey emotion, and now, well, technically you can do anything with technology. It sucks for music today, but that's why that old music feels so good to me." Aguilera said she was a "bundle of nerves" before meeting James. Little did she know, James had already been won over.

"When I first heard her stuff, and I heard her say on TV, [in response to the question] where she got her style, 'I grew up on Etta James,' that made me feel so good," James said. "The last person who said that was Janis Joplin, but Christina can sing. Janis was good, but there's a difference in the quality of voice. I couldn't believe that big sound, that big voice was coming out of her. Tell me who you've seen that sings like her, because we don't have anybody. "It's like you were here many years ago," she told Aguilera. "You don't look exactly like them, but there's something about you that's like Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday, those kinds of chicks. I've never seen a girl sing as tough as you sing, as little as you are. It's like you're an old soul."

"I'm going to cry now,"

Aguilera gasped, and James put her head on her shoulder adoringly.

During the photo shoot, James sat at a piano and sang R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly" while Aguilera looked on in awe. Even though it wasn't one of Aguilera's favorite songs that Etta sings — those would be "At Last," "Fool That I Am," "I Prefer You," "Trust in Me" and "Something's Got a Hold on Me" — she joined in for an impromptu gospel number.

Perhaps it was a warm-up for Aguilera's upcoming tour of blues and jazz clubs to promote her Back to Basics LP, due August 15. Aguilera said

"She’s what I want to be someday; sitting on a stool in some smokey jazz club, doing bluesy versions of my old hits like “What A Girl Wants” with just a piano — I’ll still be as raunchy as I wanna be and I’ll have the memory of Etta James to back me up."

James says Aguilera is already well on her way.

"She reminds me of myself when I was young," she said. "I've always been a complainer, too, that's what I liked about her. The bad-girl syndrome was a controversy then, but that was always the hip thing. Everybody wanted to be the bad girl!"

"It's funny," Aguilera said. "Etta had told me she had heard I was 'a little hotheaded,' and you know what she said? 'Just like me — a girl after her own heart!' I love her feisty vibe"

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Credits: Julie

[VIDEO] GOOD MORNING AMERICA GUSHES OVER CHRISTINA AGUILERA'S TRIBUTE TO ETTA JAMES

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[YOUTUBE] CHRISTINA'S TRIBUTE TO ETTA JAMES SECURES THE #1 SPOT FOR 'MOST VIEWED VIDEO'

[NEWS] MTV BUZZWORTHY: CHRISTINA AGUILERA COVERS 'AT LAST' AT ETTA JAMES' FUNERAL

Etta James' recent passing has lead to some of music's leading powerhouse voices covering the blues.

First, Kelly Clarkson paid an AH-MAZING tribute with her rendition of "I'd Rather Go Blind." And this weekend, Christina Aguilera delivered with her version of "At Last" during Etta's funeral.

The clip begins with Christina offering a heartfelt confession about the impact Etta left on Aguilera's own musical career. Then, the Grammy winner closes her eyes and begins belting out the opening notes to one of the most stunning renditions of "At Last" we've ever heard.

She channels her inner Etta and embraces a raspy, raw expression, closely resembling the intensity of the original. Christina reminds us that she can still hit and hold any note she damn well pleases and does it so flawlessly that she brings the entire audience to their feet.

We've definitely never been to a funeral where people openly cheer and offer a standing O -- then again, we've never attended a funeral where Christina Aguilera was performing. We think Christina did the classic song justice, and we think Etta herself would agree with us. Check out the video.

Source: MTV Buzzworthy

[NEWS] CHRISTINA NAILED HER IDOL'S SONG 'AT LAST' WITH AN UNBELIEVABLE RENDITION

The funeral for the late great Etta James, who died January 20 at age 73, was held yesterday, and the list of attendees read like a who's who in Hollywood -- particularly the music industry.

Reverend Al Sharpton officiated the private ceremony at the City of Refuge Church in Gardenia, California, where he read a personal note from President Obama which stated,"Etta will be remembered for her legendary voice and for her many contributions to our nation's musical heritage." Other celebrities present at the sad occasion were Christina Aguilera and Stevie Wonder, both who performed.

It was a somber event, and Etta is clearly going to be missed by all. But it was Aguilera's moving performance of "At Last", which she actually regularly includes in her concerts, that stole the show. Check out the video.

It can't be easy to perform one of your idol's most well-known songs at her funeral, but Christina nailed it, singing with love, grace, and respect. It was beautiful, and totally didn't seem like a "look at me, I'm a celebrity" moment. And, wow, what an honor it must have been to have been asked to perform. Christina told People,

"Etta wasn't just any performer, she was a strong woman whose talent came from a place so deep it moved people in ways they never felt before. Losing her was, to me, like losing a part of my soul."

The impact Etta had on the music industry -- and Christina-- clearly is indelible. And although the world is a bit darker without her in it, her legend will undoubtedly live on forever. Especially if Christina has anything to do with it. Nice job, girl.

Source: The Stir

[NEWS] CHRISTINA AGUILERA GAVE THE PERFORMANCE OF A LIFETIME FOR ETTA JAMES

Christina Aguilera gave the performance of a lifetime when she sang "At Last" at Etta James' funeral. Aguilera poured all of her heart and soul into the performance to pay tribute to a woman she called "her idol."

Christina was dressed in a black suit and had her hair pulled into a sweeping up-do as she bravely stood before James' family and close friends and said,

"Out of all the singers that I've ever heard, she was the one that cut right to my soul and spoke to me."

It was clearly an emotional experience for Aguilera and it appeared that she had tears in her eyes as she began to sing.

She brought the crowd to their feet as she finished the song belting out notes that are impossible for most of today's stars. She has always been a fan of Etta's, she even sang the Etta James' song "A Sunday Kind of Love" on Star Search in 1990. That performance earned her second place on the popular televised talent show.

As much as Christina loved Etta, Etta seemed to love her too. Back in 2006, Etta had this to say about Christina,

"When I first heard her stuff, and I heard her say on TV, [in response to the question] where she got her style, 'I grew up on Etta James,' that made me feel so good. The last person who said that was Janis Joplin, but Christina can sing. Janis was good, but there's a difference in the quality of voice. I couldn't believe that big sound, that big voice was coming out of her. Tell me who you've seen that sings like her, because we don't have anybody."

Then to Aguilera she said,

"It's like you were here many years ago. You don't look exactly like them, but there's something about you that's like Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday, those kinds of chicks. I've never seen a girl sing as tough as you sing, as little as you are. It's like you're an old soul."

It was only fitting that Christina Aguilera sing "At Last" at Etta James' funeral. No one else could have done it better. Click HERE to see the performance, but you should probably grab some tissues first!

Source: CelebsGather

[VIDEO] @HIPHOLLYWOOD BREAKS DOWN THE CEREMONIOUS CELEBRATION OF MISS ETTA JAMES

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[NEWS] WALL STREET JOURNAL: 'CHRISTINA AGUILERA'S TAKE ON 'AT LAST' WAS HOT & URBAN'

The funeral of R&B legend Etta James was a star-studded affair, with appearances by Stevie Wonder and Christina Aguilera.

The event was held yesterday in the City of Refuge Church in Gardena, California.

Aguilera was a long-time admirer of James, and paid tribute to her idol by singing James’s signature song “At Last.” It’s a tune that has been much covered over the years; notably, Beyonce sang it while President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama took their first dance at an inaugural ball in Washington, D.C. (Beyonce also played James in the 2008 movie “Cadillac Records.”) The song was written in 1941 and James popularized it in the early 1960s.

“There’s a line in this song that says ‘I found a dream that I could speak to,’” Aguilera said before she began to sing. “And for me that dream, all my life, has been Etta James.”

Aguilera delivered a full-throated rendition, with minimal accompaniment. Her vocal swoops and growls drew appreciative cheers and whistles from the funeral goers.

Aguilera’s singing often spurs debate. Last year, her live version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” was roasted by some commentators when, caught up in the passion of the song, she fumbled a few lines. And her vocal runs during an Aretha Franklin tribute were so masterful, she may have overshadowed the other divas sharing the stage.

While Beyonce’s version of “At Last” was warm and urbane, Aguilera’s take on the song was hot and urban. Her fiery interpretation has won over some gospel lovers, but alienated some listeners who found her vocals overdone, and have sounded off across the web.

“Thank you Etta James for the inspiration–I love you,” Aguilera said at the end of her performance.

You can listen to the song here. What did you think of Aguilera’s version? How did you feel about Beyonce’s take? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

Source: WallStreetJournal

[NEWS] CHRISTINA AGUILERA PAYS TRIBUTE TO ETTA JAMES

Etta James was remembered in words and music Saturday at a funeral in Gardena, Calif., featuring a moving performance of "At Last" by Christina Aguilera.

Aguilera, who includes the song in her shows, offered this tribute to the 73-year-old R&B legend for PEOPLE:

"It isn't every day that an artist can meet the person who inspired them and their career. Not only did I have the incredible opportunity of meeting my idol, the legendary Ms. Etta James, but to be asked by her family to perform at her memorial was so very touching and yet bitter sweet.

"Etta wasn't just any performer, she was a strong woman whose talent came from a place so deep it moved people in ways they never felt before. Losing her was, to me, like losing a part of my soul.

"I can only hope that she felt the love in the room as we all came together to pay tribute to her and celebrate her life as a person and as an artist. She will be deeply missed and I thank her family for allowing me such a great honor."

– Christina Aguilera

Source: People

[VIDEO] ETTA JAMES FUNERAL: CHRISTINA TELLS CNN - 'SHE MEANT THE WHOLE WORLD TO ME'

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[PHOTOS] ETTA JAMES FUNERAL: 'AT LAST' PERFORMANCE

Christina Aguilera belts out Etta James‘ classic, “At Last,” at the late singer’s funeral on Saturday (January 28) in Los Angeles.

“She was the one that cut right through my soul. So tonight, Etta, this song is for you,” the 31-year-old entertainer said before performing.

Stevie Wonder also took the stage to sing “Shelter in the Rain” with a church choir, while Rev. Al Sharpton delivered the eulogy.

Etta passed away last week at the age of 73 due to complications from leukemia.

[VIDEO] ETTA JAMES FUNERAL: 'AT LAST' PERFORMANCE

[VIDEO] ETTA JAMES FUNERAL: INTRODUCTION, SPEECH, AND 'AT LAST' PERFORMANCE

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[PHOTOS] ETTA JAMES FUNERAL: 'AT LAST' PERFORMANCE

[NEWS] CHRISTINA AGUILERA SET TO SING "AT LAST" AT ETTA JAMES' FUNERAL

[NEWS] CHRISTINA AGUILERA AND STEVIE WONDER SET TO SING AT ETTA JAMES' EULOGY

[TWEET] @THEREALXTINA: 'ONE OF THE GREATEST MOMENTS OF MY LIFE... SINGING WITH MY IDOL...'

[NEWS] WHY ETTA JAMES WAS THE ORIGINAL DIVA OF THE BLUES

With a platinum blond bouffant, the heaviest of black eyeliner, and a reverberating contralto voice, Etta James tore a hole through the unforgiving blues. Her artistry scrapped the gut-bucket of pain and led the way for women who didn't mind getting rugged onstage. Before Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner, there was the megapower of soul: Etta James.

Born Jamesetta Hawkins on January 25, 1938, in the South-Central area of Los Angeles, Etta was the first "bad girl" of R&B. She famously performed with Ace bandages on her arms to cover up track marks from a severe heroin addiction, her rap sheet was as long as Lindsay Lohan's, and she hung tough with drag queens as a teen. One of her many arrests was with a handful of queens at an Indianapolis hotel for being unmarried and sharing a room with a member of the opposite sex. In an era when women had to be prim and proper, she bucked authority and was apologetically Etta.

Etta said in her 2003 autobiography, Rage to Survive,

"I'm serious about turning little churchgoing Jamesetta into a tough bitch called Etta James."

She was as tough as the blues and had the warrior marks to prove it. However, after a long battle with cancer, Etta James died today at the age of 73.

Also known as Miss Peaches, she had her first number 1 R&B hit at the age of 14 in 1954 as the lead singer of a trio called the Peaches. But it was her 1960 solo deal under Chess Records that would make James a household name. Songs like "All I Could Do is Cry” and "A Sunday Kind of Love" ruled the airwaves. And then the classic that would change her life forever: 1961's "At Last" from the album At Last! Written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren and performed by Glenn Miller in 1941, the song gave Etta her signature hit.

Even with all of her success, James was wildly exploited by her record label, not receiving the money she earned. Soon after, Etta’s addictions got the best of her. In 2006 she told Gay City News that Billie Holiday had personally warned her to "not to get caught up staying up late and drinking and partying." Etta didn't heed the warning. By the age of 21, Etta developed a full-blown addiction to heroin.

For decades, Etta struggled with heroin, overdosing many times and nearly losing the battle like her idol, Holiday. In 1974 she faced the possibility of nearly 10 years in prison for heroin possession and forgery. Luckily, she was sentenced to 17 months of drug rehab. But Etta would relapse several times. She didn’t officially kick the habit until the age of 50 in 1988.

In later years Etta’s career would get a revival mainly due to Christina Aguilera famously covering “At Last” and consistently crediting James. The “Beautiful” songstress told InStyle in 2006,

[Photo Credits: MerlitoDesigns]

"Etta is my all-time favorite singer. I've said it for the last seven years — since I had my first debut record out — in every interview. I mean, all of Etta's old songs, countless songs I could name, I grew up listening to."

In 2009, Etta was thrown into the biggest controversy of her career with another pop diva. At the first inaugural ball for President Obama on January 20, Beyoncé Knowles sang “At Last” — a song she had recently recorded after playing Etta James in the movie Cadillac Records. Eight days later, Miss Peaches told a Seattle audience that she "can't stand Beyoncé" and that the diva would “get her ass whipped” for singing “At Last” to the president. Etta’s son later said the outburst was due to a "drug-induced dementia.” Regardless of the media firestorm, she was clearly joking and just being Etta James. From the start of her career, Etta bucked charm school, never aiming for perfection. She was a down-home woman who endured the horrors of sexism, racism, and heartbreak that a pop star like Beyoncé will thankfully never experience. So if Etta said she wants to whip someone's ass, so be it — she is a diva who earned it!

Through all of Etta's tragedies, she survived rock and roll, unlike the cursed 27 club (Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse, etc.). Her life was colored with the deepest of blues, but she was no casualty. Mama pulled herself up by her garter belt, dusted off her wig, and rightfully became known as one of the greatest voices of all time. While many remember Etta for “At Last,” her greatest song is arguably “I’d Rather Go Blind,” which she wrote back in 1968:

"I looked down in the glass / That I held to my lips / And I saw the reflection of the tears rolling down my face / That's when I knew loved you / I can't live without you / I'd rather be a blind girl."

If that isn’t the blues personified, then I don’t know what is.

If anyone crushes your heart and all you could do is cry, you better put on some Etta James because mama will make it better. At last, the woman who survived the blues has gone home.

Source: TheAdvocate

[NEWS] CHRISTINA AGUILERA SHARES HER THOUGHTS ON THE LATE AND GREAT, ETTA JAMES

My thoughts on Etta James...
JANUARY 20, 2012, 5:59 pm

Etta James was a force to be reckoned with. A true gift to music and a woman of great spirit and courage.

Her raw tone and the passion she put forth on a record spoke to me at a very young age and has continued to influence and inspire me throughout my career. She will NEVER be forgotten, her voice will forever live on and she will inspire talent for generations to come.

Source: ChristinaAguilera (Official Site)

[SPECIAL REPORT] MISS ETTA JAMES, THANK YOU ♥

[SPECIAL REPORT] MISS ETTA JAMES, THANK YOU ♥

Editor's Note:

Unfortunately, it seems that the legendary, Miss Etta James, is [terminally ill] has passed on after battling Leukemia, Dementia, and Kidney Disease in addition to many other ailments. Etta James is a true fighter. I had to do a small tribute to her because not only is she truly amazing - but she is a major influence on our very own idol. Who knows if Christina would be who she is if this phenomenal vocalist had never been apart of this lifetime. From the absolute bottom of our hearts may we extend to you a sense of comfort and instill peace in your remaining time with us your after-life. We do not want to let you go. :( Please send your positive vibes and energy to this extraordinary woman.

'Something's Got A Hold On Me'
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'At Last'
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Bonus:'It's A Man's Man's Man's World'
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[VIDEO] CHRISTINA AGUILERA PERFORMING 'AT LAST' AT CLSA GALA

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