Etta James Slams Beyonce: "Gonna Get Her A** Whooped" UPDATE: She Backtracks (AUDIO)

UPDATE:
Etta James tried backtracking on her criticisms of Beyonce and President Obama late Thursday. She told the NYDN:

"I didn't really mean anything," James said. "Even as a little child, I've always had that comedian kind of attitude. ... That's probably what went into it."

Still, James acknowledged being miffed she wasn't invited to perform her signature song for Obama's first dance with his wife on inauguration night.

James said she was "feeling left out of something that was basically mine, that I had done every time you look around."

PREVIOUSLY:
Etta James has lashed out at Beyonce weeks after Beyonce sang James' classic "At Last" for the Obamas' first dance at the inauguration.

At a concert in Seattle last week, James told the crowd, "I tell you that woman he had singing for him, singing my song, she gonna get her ass whupped," sarcastically calling her "The great Beyoncé."

And she went on.

"I can't stand Beyoncé... [she] had no business ... singing my song that I been singing forever."

She even slammed the President himself. "You know your President, right? You know the one with the big ears? He ain't my President."

James was unable to attend the inauguration for health reasons.

Beyonce actually played James in "Cadillac Records," which came out in December. The above photo is from the film's premiere.

Hear the audio of Etta James:

Comments

[kennydarter]

There are reports that Etta was drunk...like Whitney Houston drunk. Hatred...
http://hateonme.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie37ciAOOQ0

[Adeshia Gardner]

I can't believe that a woman with so much stature would present herself in way that is so tacky. I believe she had every right to be upset about the inauguration, however she should have kept composure. There was a better way to say what she needed to say. Instead she made herself look bad when it could have easily been the other way around.

[smileyOriley]

Etta James is one of the greatest blues singers ever. (Blues: Afro/Afric­an-America­n folk music). Etta is, always has been "serious content". Sweet Beyonce can't, doesn't do Etta's music justice (and I like Beyonce, OK; think she's a good person). I believe Beyonce would have come across a little better in "Cadillac Records", etc., if she'd spent more time listening to, absorbing Etta's gigantic blues portfolio. But I can imagine that'd be too intense. Because a big, big problem-- and multi-dime­nsional--i­s that of African-Americans not knowing and therefore not able to "own" themselves. And this is more particularly so with each occurring generation. American society has always made such esteemful knowledge a formidable "climb" and thereby keeps on the DL the power and truth therein. All of this situation is like fine particulate in the air; and it's enough piss one off at any time; and it does.

[kennydarter]

Haters everywhere!
http://hateonme.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie37ciAOOQ0

[girlonthestreet]

Etta James sounds bitter. That's embarrassing because of course she kills it and Beyonce is more of a TECHNICAL singer and a performer than a true artist. But Etta James just embarrassed herself by saying she was going to woop her ass. What was that, a Jerry Springer episode? Tacky.

[RachelMc]

beyonce's not a true artist? ok beyonce's technically just a singer and performer...

[ccoppe]

girlonthestreet strikes a chord (pardon the musical pun) with me. Beyonce is amazingly talented and her technique makes her a wonderful performer. Being an artist, however, requires more -- what she does when she performs must move me emotionally.

Beyonce's performances leave me with a sense of admiration. . .like looking at a beautiful or fascinating painting. What she does not evoke in me is what Jennifer Hudson did to me last night in her Grammy performance -- when I caught myself silently gasping with the emotion of oncoming tears. That is what an artist does. . . at least that what an artist does to me.

[Adeshia Gardner]

You have no clue what you are talking about. Etta James is a legendary soulful singer and artist, no doubt. All I can say is you obviously are not musically inclined. Only someone who is musically challenged would make such an ingnorant comment. Beyonce is musical genius and has talent has far surpassed the music industry right now. To discredit her talent is incredibly disrepectful. My thing is, I'd like to see you try to even come close to Beyonces talent.

[aloha43]

And they call a "rapper" an artist?

[lizziekw]

Meh. Etta James is a goddess and Beyonce is a talentless, Republican twerp. (Yes, she and the entire Knowles clan are registered Republicans.)

As for her comments about President Obama not being "her" President - I don't know what's up with that. It's just weird.

[ccoppe]

Who cares if the Knowles clan are Republicans? Obama received millions of Republican votes in this election....if you insist on hating Beyonce, just do it. Leave the politics out.

[MsIrisMG]

God Bless Ms. James. One had only to watch "Cadillac Road" to see that Etta James has always been a powderkeg anyway. She's never been stable. She's getting more attention than she's had in years because of that movie AND because of Beyoncé, and she feels left out?! Most performers her age are either having to work casinos or work overseas to even have jobs, because it's all about the young performers in this country. Young Europeans embrace the older performers, not like young Americans, and yes you do have to feel for them, but as an elder she should exhibit a touch of class, especially in regards to the Obamas. There are those White House concerts to consider, after all, and after a diatribe like that the invitation is probably out the window!

[dutch163]

Etta James was ungracious, not funny at all
Beyonce did a beautiful job
and 2 others sang "At Last" before JAmes
and she didn't write it

[girlonthestreet]

really? i didnt even know that. okay really uncalled for then even though to me its an etta james song.

[Brillig]

Hey, Etta James was probably feeling a bit peeved to be out of the limelight.­..perfectl­y human reaction. Caught on tape sounds bad, but we all have our sour grapes moment...Jesse Jackson and several other black leaders had theirs. To work and to run the race, then have some other person carry it to the mountaintop..well, its a bit vexing...but I am sure she has rallied and remembered that it was HER that made the song, whoever wrote it.

She'll get over this slight bout of greeneye and we will all be happy.

[culturaldiplomat]

Etta has lost touch with reality. A songs' rendition usually drives sales up - exactly what is needed during our slow economy. New generations will reinterpret songs, lifestyle, politics, fashion for centuries to come.
It is always better to hand off the baton in elegance and grace then to hang on with "Cat's Claws".

That said, it was nice to hear Beyonce sink her teeth into some great "timeless" material. "All the Single Ladies" is one of the worst pop songs in modern history...

[Omega9111]

And to the person or people talking about copyright infringeme­nt.....Ett­a has no claim to that song:

"At Last" is a 1941 song written by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren for the musical film Orchestra Wives, starring George Montgomery and Ann Rutherford. It was first performed in the film and on record by Glenn Miller and his orchestra, vocal by Ray Eberle and Pat Friday. The song was a major hit for Miller, reaching number 14 on the Billboard pop charts in 1942, and it soon became a standard. Nat King Cole recorded it in 1957 on his number one album Love Is the Thing. In 1960, it was covered by blues singer Etta James in a performance that improvised on Warren's melody. James was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 for her rendition of the song.

So acts as if it's her song when it's not --- she needs to get a grip, ease up on the make-up and weave.

[liberalrebuttal]

OMG ! It's not even her song ?

ROFLMAO !

Oh HELL Naw !

[rr52]

Wow spit that right out there. Excellent expertise.

[Omega9111]

Deserve respect ---- then give respect. She's lost mine.

[Tom Joad]

I am a fan of Etta James music. She and many artists like her, who established themselves and the R & B and Soul genres, received very little for their artistry in the 1950's 60's 70's. Their music is timeless and an American treasure. I am particularly fond of music produced by Stax Records in Memphis, TN during the 1960's. These people deserve our respect. Thank you for your music, Ms. James. You are loved.

[killerBush]

Etta James ought to relax, and take it as a compliment that Beyonce sang her song. I saw the song, and Beyonce sang it beautifully.

[SwissChocolate1]

How about the copyright infringment side? I remember that when Sarah Palin was introduce to the song "Baracuda", the liberals made a HUGE deal out of it and said the RNC was infringing on the copyright of Heart.

Same thing applies here.....Beyonce needs to quit singing that song. and I think it is hilarious that James is not an Obamanite like all the liberals here on HufPo~ "Big Ears"....

[Heru1]

Hi hater

[Broderick]

Since the song is not a original song written by Etta James she wouldn't be the one to get permission to sing the song. Ms. James is back pedaling because she looks so bad to the public we should be careful what we say especially since it was being records, there was no comedy in her tirade she mad e herself look stupid.

[walktheshore]

"Copyright infringement side"? Get yourself educated about the business of music instead of rushing to twist an incident to fit in with your political worldview. Beyonce Knowles is represented by top-flight entertainment lawyers who long since cleared the use of this song for Beyonce's performance, not just at the inauguration but in the licensing for it to be performed by her on film or elsewhere in person in connection with that.

[2StepsAway]

Etta James' open response was classless. If she wanted to express her displeasure towards Beyonce's performance (which she is very much entitled to do) she could have done so in a manner that would not have made her look jealous. With that said...

Etta James' appears to have reacted to the trend towards newer artists solidifying their names with the work of established artists... The "young people" know very well about Etta James' At Last. Didn't American Idol add that song to their list of songs the hopefuls can no long use during open auditions because it has been overused?

Beyonce's cover of Etta James' At Last cannot replace the original. That is what Ms. James could have said.