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Post by erik on Dec 19, 2019 9:49:01 GMT -5
Linda certainly got the love from her peers, Emmy especially, given how long those two have known each other.
In watching how Linda reacted to Trisha's appearance and performance, I think Linda's astonishment and how choked up she got by it seemed to have something to do with her being able to relate to the thrill of meeting her childhood hero Lola Beltran. As Lola was Linda's big inspiration while growing up in Arizona, so too was Linda herself to Trisha, when she was growing up in the small town of Monticello, Georgia in the late 1970s.
Although I regret that the two of them were never able to get around to collaborating on any music when Linda was still in full control of her voice, I am happy that Linda has gotten to be a good friend and supporter of Trisha's. As I've said before, I think she finally got a sense of just what a lasting impact she has had on her peers, however hard she may be on herself for her own flaws, real or perceived.
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Post by RobGNYC on Dec 19, 2019 18:48:31 GMT -5
Linda Ronstadt on receiving a 2019 Kennedy Center Honor:
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Flip
A Number and a Name
Posts: 6
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Post by Flip on Dec 21, 2019 9:43:54 GMT -5
Hello, everyone! I've lurked on this board occasionally over the last few years and have enjoyed reading the various posts. I finally decided to register today, so I thought I'd share my thoughts on the Kennedy Center Honors special. I love the fact that Linda's tribute was first, though I was disappointed to see that Carrie Underwood was chosen to sing two of Linda's songs. Carrie couldn't be further removed from Linda in terms of attitude, talent, or singing style. But I was thrilled that Trisha Yearwood was the other singer on the bill. From the very beginning of her career, Trisha has cited Linda as one of her biggest influences, and I remember Trisha being favorably compared to Linda when Trisha was an up-and-coming singer. If only she had been the one to sing "Blue Bayou" instead of Carrie! When Trisha finished singing, it was awesome to see Linda turn to the person sitting next to her and say, "I love her." The tributes from Emmylou Harris, Don Henley, and Kevin Kline were wonderful, and it was lovely to see that Linda was genuinely touched by their words. Like Linda herself, I was moved to tears. The entire program was enjoyable. Besides the tribute to Linda, I especially liked the ones dedicated to Sally Field and Earth, Wind & Fire. I find it interesting that Linda has a connection to two of her fellow honorees. I've never actually seen it (though I want to eventually), but as someone here mentioned, Linda sang the theme song, as well as another song, to one of Sally's TV movies, Maybe I'll Come Home in the Spring, made when both women were in the early stage of their careers. Someone here has suggested that Sally should play Linda in a movie biography, which I think is an excellent idea. And as also previously mentioned in this thread, Linda appeared on two episodes of Sesame Street in the late 80's. (I need to see those, too.) I love the music of Earth, Wind & Fire, so I very much enjoyed hearing performances of some of their best songs, including "September," "Sing a Song," and "Boogie Wonderland." The only one missing was my favorite, "Let's Groove." There were a couple of things that I found annoying, though. One was the woman who jumped up and started dancing around, never bothering to think (or perhaps care) that she was blocking the view of others. The other thing that bothered me was how some of the singers told everyone to stand up, again never thinking that some people--like Linda--might have a difficult time doing that. I noticed that Linda was finally shown standing up, but you have to wonder if she would have preferred not to. The entire show is available to watch online, or you can just watch clips of the individual tributes: www.cbs.com/shows/kennedy_center_honors/video/5yYSPqpwgseUJkSskC3eYBz8jiybVxtg/the-42nd-annual-kennedy-center-honors/
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Post by erik on Dec 21, 2019 12:38:23 GMT -5
I was fairly hard myself on Carrie honoring Linda, and this was back six years ago when Linda finally got inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Linda's not wild about televised voice competition shows; and Carrie became a star in the first place because of the biggest one of them all, American Idol. As such, I didn't quite know how I would react to Carrie doing Linda's career-establishing 1967 folk-rock classic "Different Drum". In the end, though, she pulled it off. It wasn't Linda, of course, but then what else is?
Besides Sally Field and Sesame Street, Linda has a connection to another Kennedy Center honoree this year, as Michael Tilson Thomas is finishing up a 25-year stint as music director of the San Francisco Symphony, whose concerts Linda has gone to at nearby Davies Symphony Hall.
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Flip
A Number and a Name
Posts: 6
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Post by Flip on Dec 21, 2019 13:35:12 GMT -5
I had no idea that Carrie performed "Different Drum" during the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony. I'm glad that, like Linda, I missed that one. I can't understand why Carrie keeps getting picked to "honor" Linda. I'll admit that Carrie definitely has talent and can sing, but I do not care for her style of singing. Plus, Carrie has such an air of haughtiness about her that I find unappealing. She seems fake, while Linda has always seemed genuine. And the way that she was glammed-up and decked out to the nines on the Kennedy Center special was too much of a contrast to the more casual look that Linda has sported through most of her career. Even when Linda did glam-up, she always seemed demure and shy, not narcissistic and full of herself like Carrie appears to be. I saw a clip a while back of Carrie first auditioning for American Idol, and she seemed very sweet. I think that she is a classic case of success going to her head.
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Post by MokyWI on Dec 21, 2019 14:14:40 GMT -5
Carrie Underwood did a fantastic job at covering "Different Drum" at RRHOF in 2014. She nailed it.
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Post by Partridge on Dec 21, 2019 15:22:37 GMT -5
I can't call myself a "fan" of Carrie Underwood (certainly I don't despise her thought), but she did a great job on Different Drum at the RRHoF. And I thought she did well on When Will I Be Loved at the Kennedy Center Honors. I did not like that arrangement of Blue Bayou, and probably would have preferred Trisha Yearwood, who does the song already in her concerts.
If anyone wants a copy of the Kennedy Center Honors to keep, email me and I'll send you a download link. Let me know if you want the entire show or just the Linda Ronstadt portion.
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Post by Dianna on Dec 21, 2019 15:54:38 GMT -5
I had no idea that Carrie performed "Different Drum" during the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony. I'm glad that, like Linda, I missed that one. I can't understand why Carrie keeps getting picked to "honor" Linda. I'll admit that Carrie definitely has talent and can sing, but I do not care for her style of singing. Plus, Carrie has such an air of haughtiness about her that I find unappealing. She seems fake, while Linda has always seemed genuine. And the way that she was glammed-up and decked out to the nines on the Kennedy Center special was too much of a contrast to the more casual look that Linda has sported through most of her career. Even when Linda did glam-up, she always seemed demure and shy, not narcissistic and full of herself like Carrie appears to be. I saw a clip a while back of Carrie first auditioning for American Idol, and she seemed very sweet. I think that she is a classic case of success going to her head. I think they needed to pick a contemporary successful popular artist to honor Linda and in today's culture, unfortunately, I feel Carrie comes the closest. There are many other current female artists out there, who are huge Linda fans but are not household names. Earlier in her career, and aside "When Will I be Loved,' which Carrie performed when she was A Contestant on American Idol, I've never heard Carrie mention Linda as an inspiration to her. A least not the way, Trisha Yearwood has or some others.. Carrie has mentioned Martina McBride as a big influence, who incidentally is a Linda Fan herself. As far as Carrie being haughty or fake.. sorry I don't get that vibe.. I know she's very reserved (that's the word) and isn't shy about liking sparkles and glam (nothing wrong with that) She also comes from humble background of a small town in Checotah, Oklahoma.. her parents still live in the same house. which tells you how grounded her family is.. Linda is a very deep individual.... very different than most pop stars..
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Post by PoP80 on Dec 21, 2019 16:07:25 GMT -5
Apparently Carrie is huge fan of Linda's and does have a strong singing voice. The arrangement for Blue Bayou was not my favorite either, but she did the song justice IMO. I don't find her to be pretentious or haughty, although she has gotten into that country music glam scene in her public persona. I'm not sure why she has been chosen to sing Linda's songs at these types of events, but she has earned her way into the mainstream with numerous awards and accolades since American Idol. She also had tears in her eyes at the end of the tribute to Linda, which showed her sincerity and admiration for Linda.
"I was so honored to finally meet the phenomenal #LindaRonstadt, a true artist and versatile vocalist who excelled at performing all kinds of music. I hope I made you proud, Linda,” said Carrie via Twitter.
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Post by the Scribe on Dec 21, 2019 17:41:37 GMT -5
I've not been tuned into popular music for quite some time but it seems to me there is a back story of love, honor and respect towards Linda from Carrie. I wouldn't be surprised if she asked to be part of the tribute. That can be said of all and Emmy hit quite a chord with so few words. It was an honor that so few ever enjoy.
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Post by the Scribe on Dec 21, 2019 17:43:55 GMT -5
Thanks for this Flip. I posted it on the first page to make it more convenient. It sure beats the youtube clips.
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Post by erik on Dec 21, 2019 19:35:35 GMT -5
Quote by Dianna:
Carrie probably had at least some inkling of Linda when she was starting out on American Idol, but it then accelerated when she got into the country music mainstream and met artists like Trisha and Martina who were very definitely influenced by Linda. It wouldn't surprise me if one or both of them gave Carrie some pointers on Linda beforehand. Even so, yes, for a lot of people (myself included), she initially seemed like one of the least likely choices for any tribute related to Linda, be it the Kennedy Center Honors or the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame....until, of course, she actually did them.
And in the end, as it was with everything else related to her part of the KCH, Linda seemed mightily impressed by Carrie's performance; so whatever makes Linda happy, I can't help but also feel happy for her.
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Post by Dianna on Dec 21, 2019 20:13:25 GMT -5
Of course Carrie is from a younger generation than Trisha, she's 36.. Linda was at her peak in the 1970's-80s. I've been following Carrie since her win on American Idol and have looked to see if she ever mentioned Linda as an inspiration, not back then she didn't. She mentioned Martina and Dolly, she also mentioned George Michael.. Maybe I missed it. I'm sure she was an influence to Carrie, as I said her arrangement of When Will I be Love on American Idol (it was songs of the Everly Brothers) and she sang it exactly like Linda not like The Everly Brothers. Carrie has older singers and of course her parents, I'm sure had at least 1 or 2 Ronstadt Albums. I feel both women, Carrie and Linda are similar in some ways, both have strong powerful voices, sang country and are cute girl next door type.. At any rate, I'm glad Carrie is a fan too, and yes, she seemed very moved by Linda at The Kennedy Centers. She probably saw the movie too..
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marka
A Number and a Name
Posts: 39
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Post by marka on Dec 22, 2019 12:20:48 GMT -5
More public comments in support of Linda for putting Pompeo in his place. These are responses to Variety’s original report, and there are a lot more just like it:
Dryer says: DECEMBER 18, 2019 AT 6:35 AM Linda Ronstadt, one of a few great vocalists in her day.
Karal Guidubaldi says: DECEMBER 16, 2019 AT 7:49 AM Linda Ronstadt sang my life…will always cherish the memories… ❤️❤️🎼
JT says: DECEMBER 15, 2019 AT 7:17 PM Oh Linda Ronstadt, If you think you’ve lost your voice….trust me, you have not! Thank you for speaking truth to power when you clarified when Mr. Pompeo would be loved.
Pete Myer says: DECEMBER 11, 2019 AT 2:44 PM Ms. Ronstadt: thank you for your courage in speaking truth to power. You still rock our world from your wheelchair. It takes guts to speak publicly, let alone to confront a pendejo like Pompeo. God bless you!
Betty Noel says: DECEMBER 11, 2019 AT 12:46 PM You go girl! Linda has always been one of my favorite artist..now she is one of my favorite people. Speak the truth……It will set us all free when he is OUT of OUR white house.
Dr. Joe Boodaghi says: DECEMBER 11, 2019 AT 12:23 AM Bravo Linda. she always tells the truth about our toxic president. SHe is Brave and a lioness. Never has she been fake about her wise political view. SHe is unstoppable.
Vaidas says: DECEMBER 10, 2019 AT 12:08 PM I applaud Linda for her brave stance at the ceremony
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Post by Belle on Dec 26, 2019 19:57:10 GMT -5
The Mariachi quartet was the highlight of the Linda tribute for me, splendid..
Loved Linda's Kennedy Center Honor, my heart was so full.
I have since gone down the Mariachi Fior De Toloache rabbit hole. Love this band!
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Post by the Scribe on Dec 28, 2019 3:21:03 GMT -5
cross referenceOdd coupling in the trending news.www.yahoo.com/news/trump-reportedly-hunt-mike-pompeos-151700726.html www.yahoo.com/entertainment/film-explores-ronstadts-life-wide-152147821.html www.yahoo.com/news/replace-mike-pompeo-champion-diplomacy-180000237.html Associated Press Film explores Ronstadt's life, wide-ranging music career Associated PressDecember 27, 2019, 8:21 AM MST
2019 Kennedy Center Honoree singer Linda Ronstadt arrives at the State Department for the Kennedy Center Honors State Department Dinner on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
FILE - This Feb. 20, 1977 file photo shows singer Linda Ronstadt is flanked by Ringo Starr, left, and Paul Williams after she was named best pop singer for her "Hasten Down the Wind" at The 19th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. A documentary, “Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice,” will premiere on CNN on New Year's Day. (AP Photo)
FILE - This Aug. 5, 1979 file photo shows Linda Ronstadt performing during the Lowell George Tribute in Los Angeles. A documentary about her life, “Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice,” will premiere on CNN on New Year's Day. (AP Photo)
2019 Kennedy Center honoree Linda Ronstadt attends the 42nd Annual Kennedy Center Honors at The Kennedy Center, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Washington. (Photo by Greg Allen/Invision/AP)
Front row from left, 2019 Kennedy Center Honorees Michael Tilson Thomas, Linda Ronstadt, Sally Field, Joan Ganz Cooney, and Lloyd Morrisett, back row from left, Philip Bailey, Verdine White, Ralph Johnson, and characters from "Sesame Street," Abby Cadabby, Big Bird, and Elmo pose for a group photo following the Kennedy Center Honors State Department Dinner at the State Department on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf) 1 / 5 2019 Kennedy Center Honors 2019 Kennedy Center Honoree singer Linda Ronstadt arrives at the State Department for the Kennedy Center Honors State Department Dinner on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf) More NEW YORK (AP) — Between the Kennedy Center Honors and a CNN documentary about her life debuting on television New Year's Day, Linda Ronstadt is taking a career victory lap.
Ronstadt drew attention this month for a comment at a dinner for Kennedy honorees hosted by the State Department and Secretary Mike Pompeo. Ronstadt said she hadn't planned to mention the Trump administration but did so to show support for fellow honoree Sally Field. The actress had remarked about living in an era where the idea of truth was being challenged, Ronstadt said.
“Half the room applauded and the other half sat in silence,” Ronstadt recalled. “I just wanted to say that I was in solidarity with her. I didn't want her to stand up there by herself.”
During his remarks, Pompeo referenced a Ronstadt hit, “When Will I Be Loved," saying he wondered when he'd be loved. When it was Ronstadt's turn to speak, the 73-year-old retired singer tartly answered the question and said it would be "when he stops enabling Donald Trump.”
When will Ronstadt be loved? Now seems to be the time, with the well-received documentary, “Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice." Viewers will see that Ronstadt's career had two distinct stages.
There was the rock star, sex symbol days with hits like “You're No Good,” “Heat Wave” and “Blue Bayou.” Part two began with her 1980 New York stage role in “The Pirates of Penzance,” ushering in adventurous projects featuring jazz standards, traditional Mexican recordings and trio discs with Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton. Despite the fear of record company executives, many of the projects did quite well.
She now lives a quiet life in the San Francisco area, her singing voice stilled by Parkinson's Disease. Her last album, a collaboration with Cajun singer Ann Savoy that Ronstadt considers one of her best, was released in 2006. She performed her last concert in 2009.
“I didn't do the work for prizes. I never took that into consideration,” she said. The recent recognition is “lovely, you know. I'm glad they like it. I like some of it and don't like most of it. The good thing is it got better. My early work makes me cringe. Later on it got better.”
She also had an admirer in Amy Entelis, an executive at CNN.
“She was iconic in my life,” said Entelis, who is in charge of CNN Films, and therefore, in position to green light the Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman documentary. It's not charity work; biographies have done well for CNN's film division, most notably “RBG” about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and others are in the works on Anthony Bourdain and Julia Child.
Ronstadt hasn't been interested in cooperating with documentaries in the past but admired a film that Epstein had made about pioneering gay politician Harvey Milk.
Her participation was minimal, aside from narrating stories about her early life, including her Mexican heritage and family's musical background, and a key final scene. Plenty of compatriots in the 1970s Los Angeles music scene were happy to talk, most notably J.D. Souther and Harris.
Ronstadt has deep roots in that scene; an early backing band eventually morphed into the Eagles. She paid Don Henley $250 a week to play the drums.
One of the things Entelis appreciates about the film is that the music is given a chance to breathe, that it's not presented as an all-too-brief afterthought.
Filmmakers resisted the obvious temptation to make a tear-jerker, to completely frame it around the cruelty of a peerless singer no longer able to sing.
“My book doesn't even mention that I have Parkinson's, so they didn't dwell on it,” Ronstadt said, referring to her 2013 autobiography. “I don't think it would be very interesting. A lot of people get sick.”
Still, with the film nearly done, Entelis said it was clear there was something missing. That's what led to the final scene, which shows Ronstadt with her cousin and nephew in Mexico as they sing the song “A La Orilla de un Palmar.”
Harris says in the film that her old trio partner doesn't miss making records, but does miss singing. The ache in Ronstadt's eyes in that scene is where you can see what Harris means. Ronstadt mouths the words, but you can't really tell what comes out.
Entelis hopes for a large audience on New Year's Day, a strategically selected premiere date. On a day when people are relaxed and usually seeking an escape from news, entertainment-oriented films do well for CNN.
CNN released the film in theaters earlier this year, and it earned some $4.2 million, a strong showing for a documentary. “It's safe to say that surprised us,” Entelis said. “It's not that we didn't love the film and thought it would be good for CNN, but we did not expect it to take off theatrically in that way.”
It surprised Ronstadt, too.
“When they approached me, I thought it would be a documentary film that would have one night on PBS and that would be it,” she said in an interview.
“I'm glad people like it,” Ronstadt said. “Sometimes they like things that aren't very good and I think they only like it because they don't have good taste. I think I know what I did. I'm happy with the good things I did and I wish the other parts were better, but I did my best.”
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