The Perfect Vocal
Posted on April 20th, 2007 by Josh Hathaway
| Etta James - “At Last” |
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Etta James’ “At Last” might be the most wonderful vocal performance in musical history. My iPod randomly queued this one up, and I never get tired of hearing it.
I know it’s not nice to praise one thing by putting another down, but this song is the finest example of why contemporary R&B seems so pointless to me. You want to hear a real voice? Turn off BET and American Idol. Click on that link above. It will be the best $0.99 you will spend all day.
Timeless. Magical. Perfect.
Filed under: Musical Musings and Random Ramblings
I’ve got this one too Sir Josh. Love it.
It is wonderful, isn’t it, Sir Mary? I once spent an hour listening to this song on repeat. The strings, the words… they’re great but it is that pitch-perfect voice that brings down the house every time.
Ever heard her do “I’d Rather Go Blind?” That one scores a little higher than “At Last.” It’s also the polar opposite of that song, as it’s rip your heart right out of your guts sad.
Not familiar with that song Sir Brewster. I’ll trust your remarks, and hope I run into it soon
Sir Brewster, I am very fond of “I’d Rather Go Blind.” It’s on my Chess Blues box set and the Etta compilation I bought. It is extremely fabulous and powerful, too. She is my favorite female singer, period. “Sunday Kind of Love” and “Something’s Got a Hold on Me…” they’re all great, but “At Last” is the timeless classic.