Aretha Franklin IMPERSONATES Dionne Warwick, Diana Ross, Sarah Vaughan & More | 1971

[@ymaysernameuay1113]

The Dionne one was definitely shady LMFAO she was outta pocket for that 🤣

[@terrionwright356]

And doing the overbite 🤣🤣🤣. Imagine if it had been on site when she got off that stage 🤣🤣

[@edrake6558]

😩😂🤣😭💀🤦🏿‍♀️

[@lokijordan]

There is a video of ReRe and Dionne doing a duet on "I Say A Little Prayer For You." Interestingly, Dionne owns the moment. I did not see that coming.

[@alexiswilliams8475]

Dione Wark is fam to Aretha they grew up in same church family whiteny Houston is Dione cousin and Aretha God daughter/aunty lol

[@ymaysernameuay1113]

@@alexiswilliams8475 i'm not saying it was malicious but she was definitely making fun of dionne

[@arethasD6belt]

She said "that part is me" I'm sooo deaddd!

[@AlkalineInsides]

Anyone that ever tries to mimic Diana Ross can never really nail it. Because Aretha is right, it’s very distinct. The minute a new Diana (or Supremes) song came on- you knew it was her. Diana has a unique tone quality and phrasing style. It’s not a laser sharp perfect voice. But, she’s an extremely competent and sincere singer.

[@Justaskkjames]

Baby, anyone can imitate Diana Ross because there's nothing special or distinct about her flat voice. I love Aretha but she was wrong

[@dsm7014]

​@@Justaskkjames Diana's clear, bell-like tone is definitely inimitable. She's no powerhouse but she's got excellent tonality and phrasing.

[@strausd02]

@Your King Many try, and they fail! Why? Because Diana Ross is a beautiful singer. Vocally, she has proven time and time again that she can deliver what her fans want. You don't stay around for 60 years and still can sell out venues with 20k plus fans. You appear to be a hater... a naysayer, and someone who does not know what good singers are. Diana Ross is one of the greatest singers in the world. In 1993, Guinness Book named her the most successful singer in the world. You don't get recognized by Guinness Book if you can not sing. I suggest you restate your assertion.

[@strausd02]

@DSM you don't sell over 100 million records and can not sing. In 1993, Guinness Book named her the most successful singer in the world. One doesn't get recognized by Guinness Book unless they break some records. Haters say she can not sing. People who know music things she is one of the greatest singers. Her record sales, and popularity has proven that she is a great singer. I think that you need to reassess your opinion.

[@Miketendo93]

@R N Yes! That is why Diana is one of my Top 3 favorites 😊

[@jaylove9639]

Fun fact Aretha said her oldest son Clarence was a huge Diana Ross fan as a child. Had pictures covering his walls and ceiling of her lol

[@saintjay8058]

I know Aretha was mad as hell he using her money on Diana merch 😂

[@gracegreen1859]

Where did you hear her say that? I want to see it please.

[@jaylove9639]

@@gracegreen1859 it was in her book.

[@toreybrooks3963]

Lies his favorite singer is Chaka Khan

[@jaylove9639]

@@toreybrooks3963 no dear it was Diana first and later Chaka Khan. Aretha said that in her book as well. I only mentioned Diana because of this video.

[@paulettefisher-wong4004]

I had to replay the Dionne one because I was like wait a minute. Shade 😂

[@ttee3618]

That was more a Tammy Wynette

[@DrewWasMe]

Love this video capture of Aretha having fun 50 years ago. She clearly was not trying to out-sing anyone or make any challenges. She is just having fun, being silly and making good television at the time.

[@honeycone71]

Thank you. Some can't comprehend imitation as being flattery.

[@kenttonbrowne9392]

Oh yeah

[@okechukwuiroegbu7778]

Nobody can do an impression of Dionne Warwick.

[@TheBeverly7]

And Aretha most certainly did not!! Lol

[@diorrboyyyy]

Whitney couldve😂

[@johnlyndsay]

Whitney made a career of it…

[@ultimospettacolo]

Exactly! Aretha was good in this exercise, but the imitation of Dionne is really far!

[@thejoynerstyle]

She was being shady. She didn't like Dionne

[@yelayu8457]

I get what she was trying to do with Dionne. In those days, Dionne sang high, and from the mask/top of the throat, with short almost staccato vocal pushes. Aretha was exaggerating the idiosyncrasies of each singer, and that’s what she did with Dionne. Aretha & Dionne were actually good friends throughout the years & Dionne was one of the few singers Aretha never had issues with, largely because Dionne was a no-nonsense straight-shooter like Aretha. Their issues didn’t begin until that miscommunication after Whitney’s funeral. So I don’t think it was shade at all.

[@Miketendo93]

Thank you that is what I was thinking. I didn't really see it as being shady or mocking Dionne. I love all the women Aretha impersonated, and of course I love the Queen herself 😎

[@johnlyndsay]

When he said Dionne, she whispered one of my favorites… So why would anyone think the shade was against Dionne… Dionne sang songs that Aretha wrote…Yes, there where issues were later, blown way out of proportion by the media

[@hinderless5811]

False. Aretha was very playful with Dionne. Singing her songs such as Walk on By and I Say A Little Prayer. Dionne’s own team said that Aretha’s versions of her songs were unmatched. Aretha also used to call Dionne on the phone and basically let her know she was coming for her spot back in the day.

[@hinderless5811]

@butterfingers8842 Haha,Aretha was very mischievous and would call Dionne Warwick and wind her up, Aretha would say, "Let me speak to the millionairess.." It's documented in a great interview with legendary background singer the Sweet Inspirations, talking about how crazy and mischievous Aretha could be as a young singer. She'd call Dionne and pretty much say "I'm coming for your crown." Dionne having had big success before Aretha. Dionne was devastated when Aretha's recorded version of 'Little Prayer' was described by its writers Hall David and Burt Bacharach as far superior to Dionne's. And Dionne was their girl..

[@smurf902]

True, and had some voice almost cracking type moments. But when u actually listen to Dionne singing it, it's very smooth even though it's rhythmic. Her voice isn't full & harsh like the way Aretha imitated it. In fact she NEVER sang full voice until the climax of every song.

[@bernie1740]

The Dionne Warwick though🤣

[@reggierobinson4886]

I was hollering the way she lowkey made fun of Dionne voice lol

[@1talldaddy]

@@reggierobinson4886there was no lowkey,she was out right doing it.

[@koapakakaluhiokalani4507]

We all know Dionne don’t sound like that !❤

[@msnos6245]

This is funny

[@k_perry]

That was PURE shade. LMAO. I don't believe they ever got along.

[@lumberjack297]

I think after THIS Dionne Warwick impression is when a car mysteriously started doing those "very slow" drive-bys and QUICK speed-offs pass Aretha's house all hours of the night ...

[@darkfeather6857]

I know Dionne was pissed when she heard that. It was hilarious, but pure mockery.

[@lumberjack297]

@@darkfeather6857 I KNOW SHE WAS 😂

[@keyshawn590]

😂😂😂 cause why would she play in her face like that

[@keyshawn590]

She forgot this shiii was live even did her over-bite

[@lumberjack297]

@@keyshawn590 👏👏😂

[@noreneal7252]

I heard her kill a Mavis Staples impression as well 😭

[@sashineb.2114]

That's part of her 1977 Paris concert, which is on KZbin (somewhere.)

[@chancebrown106]

I was about to say that somebody was missing! It’s funny because I just listened to the Staple Singers before this video then completely blanked by the end of the video.

[@justice5992]

She PLAYED with that Mavis impression 😭 the groans/moans had me dead.

[@chancebrown106]

@@justice5992 sounding like her ass was in a cold shower😩😭

[@justice5992]

@@chancebrown106 Chile ☠️😂

[@MrYouTube1Y92]

Her Della Reese is point on. I hope this doesn’t come off offensive but she slick does captures Dionne a little. 60s Dionne

[@reggierobinson4886]

Lol she was naking a mockery of Dionne voice lol lets keep it real

[@derricksingleton4736]

She really did good with all of them.

[@asyataylor]

@@reggierobinson4886no she wasn’t, they were actually besties during this time and if u go back then and listen to Dionne sing she sounds just like that. Clearly Aretha was exaggerating a bit but she wasnt off too much. Y’all remember Dionne from the 70s and 80s but before then that’s how she would sing

[@stevenlewis2490]

I agree! Dionne Warwick had that sort of sound at the beginning of her career covering Bacharach/David tunes.

[@trentjohnson3302]

She is so cute 🥰 singing has changed dramatically

[@faznout]

It would have been interesting to see another popular female singer from back then do an impression of Aretha.

[@blakeposter7496]

Shirley Brown could have pulled it off

[@shonmosley4215]

@@blakeposter7496 Ya the churchy side of Aretha but not the jazz/ chill side or Columbia years of Aretha

[@mateomelendez9745]

Wow, that was an excellent impression of Diana Ross! Ms. Franklin was imcomparable. I'm not sure if anyone could adequately do an impression of her.

[@kctaylorsings]

​@@blakeposter7496 definitely hear Aretha Franklin's influence in Shirley Brown's voice

[@vancemars1174]

Well in a sense they have…one legend actually didn’t think she was capable of singing so well until she was about 12 years old singing in talent shows…they threw money on the stage & started calling her “Little Aretha” lol that girl went on to be one of the greatest singers of all time…the Queen Of Funk Ms. Chaka Khan!!

[@Asakhalifshow]

She had everyone down pack..except Dionne..no one sounds like the great Dione Warwick

[@Miketendo93]

YES!! I read about this segment in the book Respect.

[@Dplol-gf1io]

She tried to do Sarah Vaughan but no one can do Sarah Vaughans voice

[@sheroderickjohnson]

I agree. Sarah Vaughan stood alone! None like Sarah she is the best jazz singer to me. The Divine One whew she got the correct nickname

[@johnfulton4061]

​@sheroderickjohnson I agree Ella even said that Sarah was the best female jazz singer when interviewed when there was a rivalry between the two back in the fifties a lot of people told Ella she was wrong I love both ladies they were both vocal geniuses

[@alexforest1]

@@johnfulton4061I totally agree with you.

[@alexforest1]

Nobody sounds like Sarah Vaughan….she owned that glorious voice.💖

[@robertwashington723]

That's why she's the Queen of Soul 👌💪💯🤞🥰🥰

[@Ree-vn9dc]

And always will be😉

[@alexforest1]

Miss Aretha has earned her numerous Grammy awards through the years to prove her musical accomplishments. She even shared her Grammy Award with Esther Phillips.

[@byronjones9299]

Yes in deed.

[@Cameron_347]

Why y’all think it’s shade Aretha said for Dionne “ one of my favorites” and she said she lives Diana’s voice

[@ymaysernameuay1113]

aretha was a menace. you need plausible deniability when you shade someone so thats why she said one of my favorites

[@huitrecouture]

That's what liars do. She stole Dionne's song and is proud of it.

[@raydavis1539]

Hell to da naw… yall gon stop playin in my face tryna say she wasn’t being shady on Dionne’s part- even dude almost bust of laughing

[@clamclam3]

@@huitrecouture Unlike now, it was VERY common for everyone to kind of just sing everyone’s material. Diana Ross sang Aretha’s “Call Me” , her version of “Respect” , Dionne’s “San Jose”. Dionne’s done Diana’s “touch me in the morning” “endless love”, Aretha’s “daydreaming” her version of “respect”. And of course, Aretha, like Luther and Whitney, just covered anyone they pleased. It was very much normal and accepted.

[@phila3884]

Flip Wilson and Aretha Franklin- American legends to a kid growing up in the 70's.

[@theogoldberg8919]

Oh thanks his name was Flip Wilson all right

[@keyshawn590]

Was that Dionne shade lmao 🤣cause whaaaa

[@reggierobinson4886]

IT WAS SHADE CHILE LOL AND I WAS HERE FOR IT

[@antd8259]

The talented Queen of Soul

[@musicloveranthony]

Yeeees!!! Showing love to the sisterhood

[@darkmercury_19]

She was pissed when he took her cape off she was like ummmm

[@jnadle1]

Aretha once impersonated her, but she was working with the real thing in 1980 when she did a duet with her on Solid Gold on their versions of the hit "I Say A Little Prayer."

[@kenttonbrowne9392]

I saw that episode. It was fantastic. No kidding. Dionne switched from her original tune and sang Aretha's melody to the song spot on. Great legends.

[@voicevamp]

That was 50 years ago & still so entertaining!

[@OOICU812]

She sounded like Aretha Franklin doing impressions to me. 😁

[@Siris35]

What a voice!

[@williamb4335]

The video and comments has me laughing so hard, I can't breathe.

[@fredbloggs6080]

They weren't too bad, but her Sarah Vaughan was not too good, maybe that's why she only did a bar, and but Sarah's unique voice would be hard for anyone to imitate. I once saw Rich Little, one of the most accurate impressionists there was, interviewed, and he was asked if there was any voice he couldn't capture successfully. He said there was one actor, Gregory Peck that he couldn't do because couldn't get the unique guttural resonance of Peck's voice.

[@nastashavalentinodefranco2990]

Oh shut up.

[@fredbloggs6080]

​@@nastashavalentinodefranco2990 You shut up--and cover up also.

[@majorboyce123]

Oh my God she is awesome. Aretha one bad sistah.

[@patricepruitt2540]

Yes she was! #Queen

[@krisscanlon4051]

Her Bob Dylan impression is unique too😂 loved ya Queen of Soul!

[@Catsrock-u7y]

There will never be another women like her.

[@gretchenking5952]

This shows the level of Aretha's talent had no bounds.

[@RonaldoSamonte-d2t]

Powerful and strong voice..very close..Mabuhay!..greetings from Philippines❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊

[@adonaiyah2196]

She was definitely throwing shade calling Dianas sound distinctive

[@AlkalineInsides]

What u mean? It is distinctive. She had 12 #1s with the The Supremes prior to her solo career. When Diana comes on, you know it’s her. Aretha really liked Diana. Aretha said when she first saw The Supremes perform at the Apollo that there was something real likeable about her and her voice.

[@Tiripsroirraw]

2:38 mark !! Aretha is doing the limp wrist that Dionne does with her hands when she sings !! I love it lol

[@LandoHendrix444]

If I was one of those women, I would have laughed and enjoyed the show.😂😂😂 All of those women are LEGENDS

[@tammiedunbar6166]

"REST IN PEACE AND POWER " REE REE" Our Sanging SOUL SISTA❤❤❤

[@robphatt2671]

She was shading Dionne 😂

[@JustServe-Him]

Her Sarah Vaughan was spot on!!

[@mmurph617]

The Dionne Warwick impression was funny.

[@DEVASTATOR478]

I love Aretha Franklin ❤ and of course Mahalia Jackson ❤❤

[@georgeking4730]

Aretha was amazing, and the singers that she impersonated

[@Katherine24246]

Beautiful!

[@chateaux-capristovall2048]

How ain’t nobody laughing? 🤣🤣🤣

[@clarkkent502]

Aretha Franklin always seemed to lowkey let other singers know she can outsing them 😂😂😂😂 especially when singing their songs 😂

[@bennyadler5882]

Shade throwing on Dionne from the first note, rivalry that never existed on Dionne's part. (No reason to).

[@jtaylor3439]

That’s why Aretha is the queen 👏 she didn’t have to do Della Reece like that 😂🤣

[@darrylthomas2664]

Retha coulb be quite shady when she wanted to..............

[@melregissings]

That's Dionne though! 😂🤣😆🤣

[@xavierdallenmusicuniverse6304]

I love more ReeRee content

[@marclamont9201]

Soon as she did Dionne I thought of that snl skit😂

[@lawrenceharris11-kg2ei]

Omg!!!!!!!!who knew what a rare treasure you truly were so missing you ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@watergreg5836]

i like how she pronounces S, classsy and sassy

[@reymarkfabroa]

No one sounds like Dionne Warwick

[@TheBeethovenrox1770]

Well she didn't sound a thing like Dionne...

[@stephanieskyes5777]

Confirmed prayers Amen! ❤❤❤

[@jswjanjan]

Omg AMAZING😊🎉❤

[@jlusk999]

that sounded nothing like Dionne? Wth? I know that Aretha respected Dionne as she covered so many of her songs.

[@HenriqueOliveira-xu8xp]

Well, you are mistaken xD she had beaf with her ahahaha she wpuld never lose an opportunity to shade Dionne ahahha

[@stucker1214]

Did you see Flip's face when she did Dionne.

[@pjpadilla1017]

What is the title of the song she sang of sarah vaughan?

[@javonteburris3954]

The Dionne wasn't even close lol

[@I-AM-BELIEVER]

Actual that was a little her from 60s lol

[@gav9385]

Isn't the presenter just a bit too handsy?

[@j9nyc]

the presenter??? Uf

[@ohyeah8821]

Dude, shut up.

[@watergreg5836]

the nigga cant stop sexually harassing Queen aretha

[@pillar26]

It’s Flip Wilson and back in the day boundaries were a joke.

[@LL-eb7bn]

That's just the times

[@mr.malone8573]

Aretha was being shady!!! 😅😂🤣

[@AnthonyBanksCountertenor]

😂😂😂 Arethaaaaaa

[@RichieZ88]

The queen of shade ❤❤❤😂😂😂

[@GoddessFactor007]

Undoubtedly! Mavis Staples was the only singer that ever got her shook. She said that!

[@huitrecouture]

Till she tried it with Queen Nicki. Miss Aretha, I think I just passed her Icy Patek, tell 'em, "Kiss my ass, sir" Pretty gang, sir, pretty gangster Said she was better than me, what a prankster,

[@eleeveeayees3425]

I would say she's one of the first voice impersonators.

[@baileyawayne]

Dionne is in a Class by herself😍

[@honeycone71]

You can have your Queen Bey, but Aretha will ALWAYS be the undisputed Queen of Soul!

[@asyataylor]

Well considering one is the Queen of soul and one is the queen of pop, I don’t think we will have a problem. Y’all annoy me so much with that. They all our queens.

[@honeycone71]

@@asyataylor: I said what I said and really don't give a flying fuck if you like it or not. I don't give a damn how many Grammy's she's won, but Beyonce is not a great singer. Only to her neurotic Beyhive fan base who obviously think she constitutes as a real female vocalist. Now press on!

[@theogoldberg8919]

​@@asyataylortrue that

[@skineyemin4276]

Fo' real. It's very tired.@@asyataylor

[@monicagomez4616]

If only she did a Patti LaBelle would I have been more amazingly amused.☺️

[@Jaijaisinger2727_]

THE QUEEN FOR A REASON!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@rayj9629]

I love Aritha Franklin, but this was Aritha covering songs as she really did well. All sounded like Queen of soul.

[@ewest8638]

There's a video somewhere of Ella Fitzgerald doing voice impersonations of Dinah Washington, Della Reese, and Lena Horne. She did their voices better than them 😂😂😂

[@alexforest1]

I heard that recording…Ella was spot on! I tell you, she was a vocal impressionist . Look how she handled Louis Armstrong voice.

[@marcyfan-tz4wj]

@@alexforest1 you're right. aretha isn't in that league at all as impressionist.

[@theogoldberg8919]

#BlackMusicArchiveLive what was the presenter's name ? He seemed like a funny character...

[@katiebryant8915]

Flip Wilson was hilarious.

[@Godiswatching45]

Nice Job😮😮😮😮

[@Pistons2024]

Get them damn words of the screen 😂😂

[@baileez821]

She gets a B+ for the Sarah Vaughan impression....the others all sounded like Aretha! Why she chose Diana Ross is a mystery. She even laughs a little to herself before singing Baby Love the way Aretha would sing Baby Love! How can someone with a powerful voice sing like someone who pretty much bleats through her songs?

[@paisleyprincess7996]

She didn’t throw shade. She threw TREES. And Aretha wouldn’t have been Aretha if she didn’t.

[@sheroderickjohnson]

Her Sarah Vaughan and Dionne Warwick was not it!

[@rickheagerty5483]

She couldn't make her voice thin and weak enough to sound like Diana Ross

[@Oneluv10031]

Just loved how shady she was 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@stevenlewis2490]

Dionne Warwick actually used to sound like that back then but more airy.

[@forporter1]

I knew Aretha was a incredible but I didn't know she could do that.

[@danielchernau3503]

Retha be like, GET YOUR GODDAMN PAWS OFFA ME.

[@dvinedzine]

Not a bit like Dionne, but this is fun!

[@strausd02]

While I like Aretha, I have never been a big fan. I think she can sing, however, I think Diana Ross, sounds better. Don't get it twisted, I said sounds better. I didn't say, was a better singer. They have different styles of singing .

[@jamesharris-io3kz]

Aretha is absolutely great as Aretha. Nice diversion, but all her impressions are off. Her Diana Ross impression comes close. Her Dionne and Della Reese impressions were way off especially for that time of their careers. What would be great and formidable is if she would sing HER songs in their voices

[@theogoldberg8919]

Omg not Della Reese . The DIVINE ONE SARAH VAUGHAN !!!!

[@colinglen4505]

Was that guy her boyfriend? He was slithering around her like a snake on heat.

[@jjgghhjk]

2:06 lol

[@nycp1969]

Very cool. I'm pretty sure she called Diana "Miss Diane Ross." She seemed to call her Diane in public other times too. I think she related to Diana as they were as kids. The Sarah Vaughan impression isn't very close and the Dionne impression isn't very flattering. But the Diana one has charm.

[@eleshawalker]

diane was diana ross' real true name given birth.

[@bradleyscarton3931]

Aretha knew Diana from their days growing up in Detroit. In those days, Diana went by "Diane" - everyone knew by her that name. It wasn't until the Supremes became successful in 1965 that she used her birth name of "Diana." So anytime you heard Aretha, Mary Wilson, any of the Motown folks calling her "Diane" it wasn't any shade but rather what they knew her as.

[@nycp1969]

@@bradleyscarton3931 Exactly! Thanks for your response.

[@gregorythomas4470]

The shadiest tribute in history 😂😂😂

[@LeimertDreamer]

Diana couldn’t be imitated vocally, given her very unique voice. With impersonating Diana, the best route to go is with exaggerated facial expressions (such as bugging out the eyes and lifting of the shoulders while singing, widely grinning etc). This was fun to watch tho!

[@txcaddo]

she messed up that dionne warwick song because they hated each other, were very competitive..aretha's song "who's zoomin who" is a reference

[@Starkardur]

Oh dear, she called her Diane. The SHADE!!!

[@bradleyscarton3931]

It wasn't shade. That's how she knew her. She was Diane Ross while growing up in Detroit - everyone called her Diane.

[@Starkardur]

Yeah but does Diana like people to refer her as Diane in public setting on live tv? @@bradleyscarton3931

[@Starkardur]

@@bradleyscarton3931 I know that, but I don't think Diana liked being called Diane.

[@orvine83]

Mariah gets her low note inspiration from her

[@huitrecouture]

Miss Aretha, I think I just passed her Icy Patek, tell 'em, "Kiss my ass, sir" Pretty gang, sir, pretty gangster Said she was better than me, what a prankster. ....Queen Nicki Minaj.

[@Tonyho0124]

Pure Shade 😂😂😂

[@jayt4835]

She wasn’t low key shady she was consistently RUDE - and all of these impressions are horrible. Read her autobiography - nothing but constant disrespect for other greats. I’ll never understand how someone so accomplished and defining could be so insecure and unkind. Shame.

[@sirblack1619]

She could do an impression of them, but they couldn't do an impression of the Queen. 😊

[@luanhebert8339]

Beaultiful