Duelling Divas "At Last" Christina Aguilera Vs Beyonce: Who sang it best?

Etta james first covered At Last in 1960 and as far as I am concerned her rendition will always be the best. Not because it's the most well known version, or the one that brought the song to the worlds attention, but it's because of Etta James' masterful and impassioned delivery.

Etta James utilises her contralto range perfectly, never becoming self-indulgent, showy or overwrought. Instead her voice coexists with the beautiful lyrics and captivating orchestra harmoniously, giving us the resulting classic we know and love today. But how does the renditions of fellow Divas, Beyonce and Christina Aguilera, fare in comparison.

Beyonce delivers a saccharine rendition of the song that suits the loved up lyrics and the orchestration nicely, but is one dimensional in its approach, failing to convey the journey of emotions the protagonist takes us on through the song. Beyonce also sounds restrained and slightly robotic, as if she is concentrating too much on the vocals and not enough on the emotional content of the lyrics.

Christina Aguilera manages to capture the essence of the song better than Beyonce and her voice, with its edge, fits better with the bluesy backing. The main criticism I have though, and its the same one I always seem to have with Christina, yeah I know change the record already, it's her inability to hold a single note for more then a couple of seconds. It's a fussiness that I find impedes on the beautiful simplicity of the song's melody.

Christina and Beyonce both did an incredible job, but if you had to pick which one that you preferred better, which would it be? Vote below.


Other post that you may enjoy:

• Beyonce's vocal profile 
• Christina Aguilera's vocal profile

2003 Summer Classic: Beyonce, Missy Elliot, Mc Lyte and Free "Fighting Temptation"

Hot, uncomfortable and sticky nights are here, meaning only one thing- no the heating isn't on the fritz- the arrival of summer! So what better time to roll out some sympathetic music to enjoy the season by.   

Fighting Temptation is a song that totally epitomises the season for me- a feat no doubt helped tremendously by it featuring not one, not two but four sizzling Divas, in the form of Beyonce, Mc Lyte, Free and Missy Elliot, on the one track!

Beyonce's warming timbre is given the task of handling the melodious vocals of the chorus, while the verses are left to the remaining rappers to run amoc over, with their usual brand of creative and stylistically individual flow.

With the songs laid back beat, old school horns, and hazy loved up feel, Fighting Temptation's summery atmosphere is incredibly potent. So much so, I guarantee* it can make it feel like summer no matter the time of year, or the weather outside. Try it next time it's minus 50 degrees outside and your marrow is beginning to freeze in your very bones! Take a listen after the jump.

The song contains a sample -found at 2.08- from Uncle Louie's I Like Funky Music. Listen below:

*I don't really..lol

Performance of the decade: Beyonce "Who runs the world (girls)" at the 2011 Billboard awards

Beyonce's commitment to taking her craft to the next level with new project 4 has finally begun to be realised with the amazing live performance of current single Who runs the world (girls)at the 2011 Billboard awards.

Clever use of screens, lighting, extras and pyrotechnics gave the performance a cutting edge, futuristic feel but in credit to the singer and her stage presence, all the extras never overshadowed or competed with Beyonce herself.

Watch the performance below and see why Queen B is on a level of her own when it comes to putting on a show. Who runs the show? Beyonce!

Beyonce by yardie4lifever2

Video review: Beyoncé does Post-apocolyptic Stripper in new video for "Who runs the world (girls)"

With Who runs the world (Girls)- which I actually quite like- tumbling on world charts, Beyonce has finally gotten her act together and released its accompanying video. But with the song suffering from a lukewarm reception at best, is the release of a video really going to reverse the songs fortunes?

The teaser for the video certainly gave me hope that it would. It hinted at impending greatness; featuring an iconic visual of a strong, commanding, Beyonce atop a white horse rampant, as if getting ready to mobilise and lead the females of the world to empowerment.

However, what we get with the full video is nothing more than a glorified dance video with lots of editorial posturing. Instead of Beyonce playing the part of a strong revolutionary leader of womenkind in the video, she comes across like a post-apocalyptic madam making that money by putting on a sexy show with her "girls" for a group of rowdy men on a post-apocalyptic stag do.

As for the choreography it fails miserably to channel the frantic energy of the song. Parts of the routine are executed uncharacteristically sloppily, making the choreography look a little silly, and dare I say, even comical in their appearance. Similarly, sections- see video still on the left- felt wrong in the context of a video that was aiming for edgy and fierce.

The Video for Beyonce's Who run the world (Girl) is indeed impressive in its scale and scope- kudos go to the director Francis Lawrence- and the singer looks AMAZING. But the video really needed a strong narrative and a strong message to tie in with the empowering lyrics for it to have really elevated the song to Single ladies status. The subservient salute to the men at the end is particularity jarring. Destiny's child came fiercer than this with Lose my breath 7 years ago!

If you guys want a review that is 180 degrees in the opposite direction of mine check out the guys at the theSkopionShow here- love these guys!

Single review: Beyonce "(Who run the world) Girls"...what a mess!

You have to give it to Beyonce. Far from staying safe and returning with something that screams "HIT" or that treads familiar territory, Queen B takes a risk and serves up something that sounds akin to a lot of noise on first listen, in the form of new single Girls (Who Run the World).

What makes Girls such a perceived mess, and as such a tough sell, is that bar the chant of "Who runs the world? Girls!" and a familiar sample- in the form of Pon De Floor- the song has no hook, memorable melody or decipherable structure for a listener weaned on a formulaic style of music to grasp to.

There is a small glimmer of hope for those listeners to cling to in the form of the songs bridge- which has an intoxicating melody, solid vocal, and that cuts the tribalish beat- but its only a fleeting relief from the chaos and not nearly long enough to make it easier on the ear.

Being so different, Girls is likely to go either one of two ways. If Beyonce is lucky, her star power, and the fact that this is her return, will insure this is a hit. Conversely the polar opposite could happen and the song alienates sections of Beyonce's diverse market thus causing it to tank. Disaster may be mitigated if the accompanying video is strong enough to hold the songs lawlessness together with a coherent visual but as an audio track this it isn't going to sell on its own merit.

Girls (Who Run the World) has a lot to prove as its the first release without the controlling hand of her father, Matthew Knowles, on the project. This being so, is the release of such a risky return single the result of an unguided, out of touch singer, or is it a sign of a more creative and risk taking artist being allowed to flourish on her own? Either way Queen B is coming back and coming hard, albeit in a somewhat chaotic way, for all the Females of the world, and its a better place for it!

Rating:3/5

Q&A: "Who is naturally a better singer, Beyonce or Christina Aguilera?"

This question comes via an email from AmbeRussel [check out his youtube channel here]. If you'd like to ask a question please me email at divadevotee@gmail.com

"Hey I just found your blog online and I enjoy what you have to say. I was just wondering, since i have been having this debate, who you think has a better voice between Beyonce vs Christina Aguilera?


I personal feel that 1 girl's voice is 10x better but doesn't sing as well while the other female singers with the best tech. But there is very little to her voice. I don't want you to be biased so I've used no names. lol.


Can you help me by giving you 2 cents?"
AmbeRussel

Wow, that's definitely a difficult question as I like both the singers. But if I'm going on the voice alone I'd have to go for Christina Aguilera as the better singer. For me Beyonce's voice is average in terms of its overall tone, power, and range. However Beyonce has worked hard at her instrument and as such has learnt to lift her voice from mediocrity with 3 most notable things:

• A gorgeous vibrato: Possibly the best in the industry
• Outstanding control: Also possibly one of the best in the game. Not only can she hit notes effortlessly and with pinpoint accuracy but she can do it while dancing. 
• Intelligent delivery: Beyonce can sing anything. She goes from  hip hop, to RnB to pop to adult very convincingly because of her understanding of music and her ability to change her delivery to suit said styling.

Christina's voice is something else entirely. Its raw, unpolished and though it lacks the control and the beautiful vibrato of Beyonces' voice, it has a natural fire and a passion that can not be learnt or faked that makes these weaknesses forgiveable. Sometimes it can be overbearing and, of late, I've been giving it a bashing on the blog because its being pushed too far, but those things still don't change the fact that when its at its best there is no question Christina could sing Beyonce 6 feet under.

Thanks for the question

Note: The very fact that this is a blog means this is just MY opinion. Please feel free to leave yours below, but please be civil and keep it focused on why you agree or disagree. 

Alexandra Burke & Beyoncé duet on "Listen"

Alexandra Burke , Beyonce and Cheryl Cole

Alexandra Burkeduets withBeyoncéon the song "Listen". This performance was ultimately what sealed Alexandra's fate as the winner of the X-factor in 2008 and its not surprising considering she held her own against such a formidable singer.

Its amazing to watch this performance two years later and still marvel at how professional Beyoncé was and how easy and effortless she made singing the song look especially considering she arrived from the US that day!

Would you like them to duet again? Let the world, know.

Beyonce- "Halo" live at NAACP

Beyonce gets emotional while
singing Halo live.

I previously reviewed Halo and in that review commented on Beyonce's vocal delivery not really sounding like,well,  Beyonce. To further illustrate my point and show you what the Beyonce way of singing the song would have been like, if she had conducted the vocal arrangement, I present to you her NNACP performance.

*Interesting fact: It turns out that the song was actually meant for Leona Lewis which makes the album vocal arrangement make more sense*

Review: Beyonce "Halo"

Beyonce returns with a mid-tempo ballad from the Sasha Fierce album called Halo. Penned by the same persons who gave the world Leona Lewis' Bleeding Love, it follows in a similar style with the synths, strings and  prominent beat combo.

Halo has Beyonce taking a new vocal approach with a harsher timbre and a noticeable shift in less vibrato.I would have preferred softer vocals to contrast the harsh synths and drums but overall it's still a great song which I prefer way more to Beyonces' last sappy ballad If I Were A Boy.


4/5OVERALL: More Sasha Fierce less Beyonce please

Lowest Note in 'Halo' F#3

Highest Note in 'Halo' F#5

Listen to Beyonces' single Halo below:

Beyonce - Vocal Profile

Beyonce Knowles

Vocal Type: Mezzo- soprano
Vocal Range: 3.1 octaves. B2- C6 (approx)
Longest Note: 14 seconds - 'Flaws And All' (live)
Vocal Pluses: Vocal flexibility and nice vibrato. Attitude.
Vocal Negatives: Voice can become shrill when belting higher notes

Further Reading:

• Kelly Rowland's Vocal Rang
• Michelle William's Vocal Range