Showing posts with label Chaka Khan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chaka Khan. Show all posts

Saturday, 18 April 2026

Nothing compares


One of our new acquisitions, Salvia Salgoon Lake George, looking gorgeous in the sunshine [click to embiggen]

It has been another beautiful Spring day and, needless to say, I spent most of it in the extensive gardens here at Dolores Delargo Towers: I built another set of display shelves [as you can see in the background of the photo above], potted-on another load of small plants into bigger pots, created the first of what will be a number of window box/wall-pot displays, and did load of general pottering besides. Very satisfying.

Meanwhile, I have just been reminded by Sean Keaveny on Radio 2 that it will be ten years next week since the force of nature that was Prince ascended the glittering (purple, of course) stairway to Fabulon. I think a little tribute is in order...

The archetypal flamboyant icon of mid-80s to mid-90s pop [alongside Queen Madge, of course], he evolved from the shadow of his idol Rick James into the mega-successful, adored superstar whose death was so widely mourned across the globe. He was not merely a performer, singer and musician, however; he was a brilliant songwriter, too.

And, by way of a tribute to his genius, here are several examples of how his compositions became massive hits for other people:

First up, the one that always makes me cry...

...lightening the mood somewhat, a clutch of much more uplifting choons...

...the classic - here featuring an artist who shares a birthday with The Purple One, Sir Tom Jones (Tom Jones)...

...and finally, the man himself:

Prince Rogers Nelson (7th June 1958 – 21st April 2016)

Thursday, 17 April 2025

Of superheroes, gentlewomen, "killer" courtiers, nutjobs, moose and biology


Goodnight, Rose.

Another snippets post today, dear reader...

  • Royal gossip news: RIP, David Sassoon, couturier to the Royal Family (and other stars). Apparently, during a fitting at Kensington Palace, he threw open the door of Princess Diana’s sitting room - and knocked over three-year-old Prince William. “Oh, my god, I’ve killed the future King of England,” he recalled thinking.
  • Holy handiwork, Batman! Two policemen dressed up as the Caped Crusaders to arrest criminals operating illegal gambling on Westminster Bridge.
  • Bereft gentlewomen news: After 140 years in circulation the upper-class equivalent of Cosmo, The Lady magazine has ceased publication. Now where am I going to look for a respectable butler for Dolores Delargo Towers?
  • American lunatic evangelist news: Airport scanners turn you gay, according to a self-proclaimed "Christian Nationalist" podcaster in that bastion of common sense, Tennessee. He calls them "gay beams". I call him "sectionable".
  • Moose on the loose news: A surprise TV hit show has arrived - bizarrely it is 24-hour coverage of the annual mass migration of moose/elk across Sweden!

And the weather? Colder than we have been used to, but at least there's no rain on the horizon for the long Easter weekend!

Friday, 8 March 2024

I've got it, I've got it, yeah



After one of the most gruelling weeks of my life [first week back after the holiday], to get us in the mood there is only one song to play on International Women's Day, really...


I'm every woman, it's all in me
Anything you want done, baby
I'll do it naturally
I'm every woman, it's all in me
I can read your thoughts right now
Every one from A to Z

I can cast a spell
With secrets you can't tell
Mix a special brew
Put fire inside of you
But anytime you feel
Danger or fear
Instantly I will appear, 'cause

I'm every woman, it's all in me
Anything you want done, baby
I'll do it naturally
I'm every woman, it's all in me
I can read your thoughts right now
Every one from A to Z

I can sense your needs
Like rain on to the seeds
I can make a rhyme
Of confusion in your mind
And when it comes down
To some good old fashioned love
That's what I've got plenty of, 'cause

I'm every woman, it's all in me
Anything you want done, baby
I'll do it naturally
I'm every woman, it's all in me
I can read your thoughts right now
Every one from A to Z

I ain't braggin' 'cause I'm the one
You just ask me ooh and it shall be done
And don't bother to compare
'Cause I've got it
I've got it, I've got it, yeah


Yeah.

Thank Disco It's Friday!

Have a good one, dear reader!

Tuesday, 24 October 2023

Euterpean mood

Tuesday ennui?

Time for a little selection of "newer" music that has caught my ear of late, methinks...

First up, the return of a Welsh electrodance fave - with a sublimely camp video that's most appropriate for this spooky time of year:

Forty-two years down the line since the girls released their first single, Keren and Sara are back again - with a corker!

OMG! It's OMD!

Speaking of "welcome returns", it's been a long while since we've heard anything from the Aussie combo with the best dressing-up box in the world...

Even the Guardian could hardly believe that a world-class diva of the calibre of Miss Chaka Khan would ever agree to pair up with a vaguely-successful indie rock band from Crouch End (just down the road from Dolores Delargo Towers) - but the result is rather good:!

And finally...

...the team-up we never realised we so desperately wanted! One of our all-time favourite divinely decadent bands, together with Ukraine's home-grown gay icon [see more here]? Oh, YES!!

[Thanks, John-John! Let's hope the official video is released soon...]

As ever, dear reader, let me know your thoughts...

Thursday, 23 March 2023

Ain't nobody does it better

Gulp.

That powerhouse of talent, the incredible Miss Chaka Khan is 70 years old today!

Facts:

  • She was born Yvette Marie Stevens, but claims she was given her name "Chaka" when she was 13 by a West African mystic of her bohemian parents' acquaintance.
  • Not to be left out, her sister re-christened herself Taka Boom.
  • Her father's second wife joined the notorious Black Panthers.
  • In a career spanning seven decades, Miss Khan (either solo or with her band Rufus) has sold an estimated 70 million records worldwide.
  • She got her big break thanks to Tina Turner, who wanted Chaka to join her "Ikettes"; she turned down the offer, but the attention got her and Rufus noticed.
  • The Robert Palmer smash Addicted to Love was originally a duet with Miss Khan, but the producers removed her vocals.

How very dare they - when her vocals are as brilliant as this..?!

Many happy returns, Chaka Khan!

Thursday, 22 November 2018

Earworms



I may not be collating my previous regular features on "new music" any more, but occasionally - just occasionally - a number of earworms worth sharing do seem to come along all at once!

Such as these...





Enjoy! - and let me know your thoughts...

Thursday, 7 June 2018

Meet me in another world, space and joy



Lordy - sixty years ago today, the much-missed Prince Rogers Nelson was born!

The archetypal flamboyant icon of mid-80s to mid-90s pop [alongside Queen Madge, of course], he evolved from the shadow of his idol Rick James into the mega-successful, adored superstar whose death was so widely mourned across the globe. He was not merely a performer, singer and musician, however; he was a brilliant songwriter, too.

And, by way of a tribute to his genius, here are several examples of how his compositions became massive hits for other people:

First up, the one that always makes me cry...


...lightening the mood somewhat, a clutch of much more uplifting choons...



...the classic - here featuring an artist who shares a birthday with The Purple One, Sir Tom Jones (Tom Jones)...


...and finally, the man himself:


Prince (7th June 1958 – 21st April 2016)

Thursday, 8 March 2018

Every one from A to Z



Only one song to play on International Women's Day, really...


I'm every woman, it's all in me
Anything you want done, baby
I'll do it naturally
I'm every woman, it's all in me
I can read your thoughts right now
Every one from A to Z

I can cast a spell
With secrets you can't tell
Mix a special brew
Put fire inside of you
But anytime you feel
Danger or fear
Instantly I will appear, 'cause

I'm every woman, it's all in me
Anything you want done, baby
I'll do it naturally
I'm every woman, it's all in me
I can read your thoughts right now
Every one from A to Z

I can sense your needs
Like rain on to the seeds
I can make a rhyme
Of confusion in your mind
And when it comes down
To some good old fashioned love
That's what I've got plenty of, 'cause

I'm every woman, it's all in me
Anything you want done, baby
I'll do it naturally
I'm every woman, it's all in me
I can read your thoughts right now
Every one from A to Z

I ain't braggin' 'cause I'm the one
You just ask me ooh and it shall be done
And don't bother to compare
'Cause I've got it
I've got it, I've got it, yeah


Yeah.

Saturday, 23 March 2013

Makes me wanna sing





It's impossible!

Miss Chaka Khan is sixty years old?

Heavens...

This song of hers was one of the soundtracks to my coming-out back in 1984, and brings back many happy memories:


Baby, baby when I look at you
I get a warm feelin' inside
There's something 'bout the things you do
That keeps me satisfied

I wouldn't lie to you, baby
It's mainly a physical thing
This feeling that I got for you, baby
Makes me wanna sing

I feel for you
I think I love you
I feel for you
I think I love you

Chaka Khan,
Let me rock you
Let me rock you
Chaka Khan
Let me rock you
That's all I wanna do
Chaka Khan, let me rock you
Let me rock you, Chaka Khan
Let me rock you
'Cause I feel for you
Feel for you

Baby, baby when I lay with you
There's no place I'd rather be
Can't believe, can't believe it's true
The things that you do to me

I wouldn't lie to you, baby
I'm physically attracted to you
This feeling that I got for you, baby
There's nothing that I wouldn't do

I feel for you
I think I love you
I feel for you
I think I love you


Many happy returns, daaahling!

Chaka Khan (born Yvette Marie Stevens, 23rd March 1953)

Friday, 23 March 2012

Luv what you feel



In celebration of the end of a remarkably busy week, and in honour of the 59th birthday today of that magnificent walking pair of lungs Miss Chaka Khan, I have decided I really must dig out those pink sparkly hotpants, glittery evening gloves and knee-high boots to complete my look.

And so should you...

Thank Disco It's Friday!


Do you luv what YOU feel?

Have a great weekend, peeps!

Tuesday, 2 November 2010

Ain't nobody...



For no other reason but I feel like it, this morning my thoughts turn to the supremely talented Yvette Marie Stevens, better known to the world at large as that pint-sized bundle of vocal dexterity, Miss Chaka Khan!

Wild-haired, unashamedly curvy and a magnificent stage presence in her leopard-print and leather outfits, Miss Khan has had more than her fair share of problems (with drug addiction, bad relationships, and the trial of her son for murder [he was acquitted]). But it seems that you can't keep a truly talented diva down for long, and only last year Chaka joined Lulu and Anastacia on the "Here Come The Girls" tour and worked with Beverley Knight on her new album.

Happily settled in the UK, Chaka Khan continues to be an adopted "national treasure" over here, and with classics such as these why on earth shouldn't we celebrate this wonderful lady?!



Chaka Khan website

Friday, 23 April 2010

"If I should take a notion to jump into the ocean, ain't nobody's business if I do"

Here's to what is predicted to be a glorious sunny weekend; and I am going to see Marc Almond in Ten Plagues on Sunday and a BFI members' screening of Cabaret on Monday. It's supposed to climb to 21C (almost 70F) tomorrow, and I look forward to a day in the sunshine!

Here's a sumptuous combination of powerful soul voices to kick off the weekend in style - Miss Gladys Knight, Miss Chaka Khan and Miss Etta James in a rare appearance on stage together... Happy Friday!

Sunday, 23 March 2008

Ain’t Nobody Does It Better



To celebrate the 55th birthday today of Chaka Khan, I thought I’d just post a couple of the diva’s finest moments. Big hair, big lungs, big personality - happy birthday!

I'm Every Woman:




Chaka Khan official website