From Lao Tzu to Etta James, it makes perfect sense to me. I remember you, dear lady, as the one who accompanied me over Monument Pass time and time again, as I made my way back to Minnesota from Santa Fe. When I got to the Colorado border, I would slide your CD into the player and "At Last" would take me up the mountain, across the Continental Divide, then down the other side, gliding around curve after curve, leaning in with every note you sang. I wasn't in love with a person, I was in love with life, and it was my song. Thank you, Ms. James, for keeping me company.
I saw a comment that a beautiful voice was now silent. But of course it will never be silent. Love you, Etta.
ReplyDeleteTony, And that is the beauty of great singers, great voices. They will always be with us.
ReplyDeleteEtta James singing a cover of The Eagles song "Take it to the limit" has always been a favorite
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r0QteIu_uA
"At Last" is so heartwrenchingly beautiful. Along with many, many, others, it was played at our wedding. I tear up in the first two seconds of the song starting.
Great voice, amazing talent. But you are right...she will live on for future generations to enjoy.
ReplyDeleteGoodbye, Miss Peaches.
ReplyDeleteThat rendition of "At Last" brought tears to my eyes, too. Thank you for the beautiful soul you are, Etta. Blue skies to you, now and forever.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful song, beautifully sung.
ReplyDeleteWonderful song. It was our "first dance" song at our wedding.
ReplyDeleteOnly Etta could sing the song like this. She was one of a kind and will be missed.
Thanks for the tribute.
Love Etta James... I had At Last as my ringtone for a long time....
ReplyDeletegreat video ;)
A lovely woman with a magical voice... RIP, Etta...
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard that song for decades. But when the music started up and those first words sailed into the air...ahhh! I remembered it well.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear of her passing. I can now visualize you cruising up and over the mountain with Etta. :)
I didn't think i knew a lot of her songs, but this brought back some good memories.I can hear my mother singing along with the Hi-fi turned up.
ReplyDeleteEtta James had it all - talent, soul, passion, a zest for life. I miss her already !!
ReplyDeleteI Got Into Etta during my (brief!) "MOD PERIOD"! We would listen then to an unlikely Mix of Her,Wilson Pickett,Otis Reading,Ben E King :etc etc.Bless Her:Bless The Memories She Made.
ReplyDeleteSad day. I cried.
ReplyDelete"She was in the Tarzana Psychiatric Hospital for 17 months, at age 36, and went through a great struggle at the start of treatment. She later stated in her autobiography that the time she spent in the hospital changed her life."
ReplyDeleteI wish to God there were an easier way to get to the soulful truth great artists possess.
Dear Teresa,
ReplyDeleteThank you for this moving tribute to Etta James. I believe that she would have laughed loud and long at the joy of your story. Her deep, redolent voice would have hummed a few bars and then she would have opened her mouth and given us again the rich tones of "At Last."
As you and others have said, singers such as Ms. James leave a legacy that will endure. She was a blessing to the Universe and remains so.
Peace.
From Dee: "She was a blessing to the Universe and remains so." Yes. Exactly so.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for your remarks in tribute to Ms. James.