Irene Cara | Ripped Off By Label, Career Destroyed, Abandoned Hollywood

“take your passion and make it happen” has become an iconic lyric and perhaps even mantra for 80’s pop music, however, it wasn’t all that easy for the songstress behind the song. The beautiful and immensely gifted, Irene Cara.
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[@kamsismith]

I never realized how many hits this woman has. She's basically the Donna Summer of 80s movie soundtracks. Rest in peace to Irene.

[@Saintmiragex]

Why would you compare her to Donna when the video vocalized her frustrations about the comparisons??? On top of Donna still pushing hits in the 80’s & still releasing music in the 2000’s.

[@edglebennett6312]

I don't think she's resting in peace!

[@jamielim5059]

She sounded like a younger Donna Summer 🥰🥰🥰

[@kwokleongawyong1064]

She didn't like to be the next Donna Summer

[@romerjusu3804]

She worked with Giorgio Moroder so she had that connection with Donna Summer. And both were messed over by record companies.

[@WolfRun59]

Ripped off by a record company. What a feeling!

[@nicollettes4665]

Wow it always pains me to see people get honored or recognized right after they pass away. RIP

[@victorhunter8900]

At the same time, people praise untalented celebrities that just have good PR and good marketing. 🤨

[@JessNukethedangthing]

Not to mention how quickly those albums she made appeared on the streaming platforms. Awful, she could have benefited from those streams when she was alive.

[@diwi5823]

Strategic, don't you think?

[@OrangeArdmore]

@@victorhunter8900 Like Camila Cabello. Her voice is like razor blades in my ears.

[@OrangeArdmore]

I think people get honored or recognized right after they pass away is nobody in Tinseltown wants to be associated with a 'has been'. Irene was hot like fire in the 80's! She hasn't done anything relevant since then. Also, there are so many movers and shakers in Hollywood plus nepotism runs rampant, you don't want to piss off the wrong person and get blacklisted. When you hear that person died, it seems to erase their lack of star quality and resets their clock back to the number one spot.

[@anyaaa2801]

Those record labels are fvcking horrible.

[@muffs55mercury61]

The entire business side of it sucks and has since the 1950s. Everyone gets paid first before the artists or groups do.

[@bak-mariterry9143]

​@@muffs55mercury61 Check out Rick Beato. He explains it all.

[@leeshepherd5669]

They maker artist sign their rights and money away ....Ask TLC what happened to them

[@AmandaClove]

Why Prince fought WB for years, put slave on his face as they told him we own your name

[@jcpenny3606]

Record labels back then had more power, especially with new artists. They the ones who the took the risk by investing in a new talent, and foot the cost for the studio, staffing, equipment, and so on. A savvy artist should've commit to one album at a time, that way he/she can negotiate a better deal or shop around after their breakthrough success. Irene was very famous. With that fame and momentum, she should've started her own label.

[@BlueNightfall03]

I truly believe Irene would’ve done wonders for her career with the proper team and management!!! But all in all, What A Feeling is immortalized in the chapters of Pop Music History ✨👑✨

[@muffs55mercury61]

Really! She could have given Madonna and the other divas competition in the 1985-89 era. Hard to believe Irene's last big hit was 40 years ago ("Breakdance" in the spring of 1984)

[@nicolesherman8974]

Will forever love her in Sparkle, one of my favorite movies. RIP to an underrated and an unsung legend 🥺♥️.

[@mikeycee3483]

R.I.P. Always loved "Fame & Flashdance" ❤

[@OrangeArdmore]

Don't forget about "Out Here On My Own". An amazing, emotional, passion filled song. I think the only instrument used in that song is the piano and Irene's voice. It hits your soul.🎶🎹🎶🎹🎶

[@romerjusu3804]

I have both of them on DVD and have the soundtrack CDs as well ❤️‍🩹

[@ChaeThompson]

So happy you did this video. She doesn’t get enough recognition. What a feeling is one of my favorite records of all time and I was devastated when she passed. RIP.

[@niamhl6964]

I didn't know much about Irene Cara before this film BUT I randomly came across her version of Out Here On My Own from Fame and man the way she sings that song is so beautiful, makes me cry every time

[@CyrusCooper-cn1ql]

Irene Cara is an unsung iconic diva give her her flowers 🌷🌷🌹

[@Vincent50]

I’ve watched this bundle of talent in many phases of show business. Her first movie with actor Kevin Hooks in Angela Loves Aaron then my favorite movie Sparkle where she sang her face off (Aretha Franklin made gold singing the soundtrack of Sparkle), she had a part in the drama series ROOTS, The Medgar Evers story, FAME, and of course singing the soundtrack for FLASH DANCE. The music business has always been a corrupt business and she suing for her royalties they didn’t like but I always loved this woman and was saddened to hear she died all alone in her house in 2022. Her neighbors said she didn’t socialize and they didn’t know she was the actress, singer Irene Cara. RIP beautiful lady.

[@3912James]

It STILL sucks that she's no longer with us.

[@jacksampson5615]

YES!! Another 20th century artist!! Thank you, honest. This lady ruled the first half of the 80s. I was there, I remember it

[@stephenfermoyle4578]

it is the theme song of the movie!!! honestly !!

[@mariec-mariceeqt2]

Irene was also in a movie called 'Certain Fury' with Tatum O Neal .

[@vingancacoracao2552]

She’s a very timely person not like timeless singers like Aretha, Whitney, or Michael but you really only know about her if you truly enjoy older music or if you are from that era…love her tho of course RIP ❤

[@AndriaaLeoLove]

Irene Is Definitely Up There With Whitney . In Fact, Me & Whitney Loved Irene Cara.

[@vingancacoracao2552]

@@AndriaaLeoLove oh don’t get me wrong I’m not denying her star power I’m just saying my generation might not know her or understand how much of a star she was

[@MPPG663]

Well said

[@PengutheFox]

She also sang a part in Love Survives which was a tribute to Judith Barsi. May they both RIP.

[@scoobooyt]

Wow it’s crazy to see such big potential lost. With her early success she could have been an even bigger superstar than she was with the right MGMT, but after they effed her over she said nah y’all lost me. I understand why she left Hollywood though.

[@marvinsbprealty5760]

All artists get ripped off by their record labels, it's how the game goes.The labels put up large amounts of money to push the artists and expect a bigger return on their investment

[@odcyouknowme]

Such an icon. Thunder In My Heart is one of my fav songs of all time. Her discography is underrated and unappreciated. RIP such a talented & beautiful lady💓

[@karenwatson5732]

I suspect that Irene was railroaded because she wouldnt play the Hollyweird game. This is a classic with ppl that are really talented but then drop off the scene.

[@hmmpftt1259]

What a Feeling has never left my Playlist.

[@davidleeashkenazi8992]

She deserved so much more! She was an icon, she's died as an icon and she'll forever be an icon!!!

[@crystalwaters8852]

She got the medical intervention 💉on her birthday, that finished her off, poor woman.😢

[@Rest65432]

What a feeling, Fame, Why Me are my faves. She did sing some of Donna Summers songs. RIP Irene Cara.

[@muffs55mercury61]

Her string of hits bring that time back to memory so clearly. I absolutely love Why Me and those lyrics "why me when I was the one who could set your heart free". They don't write music like that anymore.

[@fmensah8581]

Irene Cara was one of THE definitive 'Pop Princesses' of the first half of the '80s... perhaps her closest rivals were Kim Wilde , Kate Bush and Sheena Easton.....fast forward a few years into the remaining years of the '80s, whilst the aforementioned others saw out the decade, the exception was Irene Cara who's 'Pop Princess' crown was unfortunately lost to other fresh faced rising stars like Madonna, Whitney Houston and Janet Jackson who combined dominated the second half of the '80s and instantly progressed into 'Pop Queen' statuses..if things went positively for Ms Cara with the right label deal and management she easily could've been beyond 'Pop Princess' and 'Pop Queen' status and been in the same league as Diana Ross or Barbra Streisand but alas not or never to be unfortunately. She went way too soon but will never be forgotten

[@b7881]

Absolutely loved this retrospective!!! I really didn't know much about her...yet another case of the music business being ruthless and terrible

[@AmerieFanbase]

She was amazing ❤

[@darrylcarter3691]

So sorry what she went through. Hollywood is so shady. If she’d had a lawyer the read the contract with her or if she’d read the contract more thoroughly, she would have been more wiser to the scams

[@Bexinnamon]

Sad part is that even with a lawyer you can get scammed in the end 😢. Jojo's mom has a lawyer reviewing her contract

[@SMtWalkerS]

What a big voice in that lovely little woman! She was so talented and pretty.

[@ticobello1166]

Irene was truly an amazing talent. May she RIP.

[@TaylorAvant14]

Her voice was truly one of a kind

[@tylerhackner9731]

May she RIP. Love fame and flashdance

[@jamesjackson8521]

The spirit and voice of the 80s. Forever❤❤

[@weakanklesfornamjoon]

Irene Cara had the best voice. I loved watching Fame as a kid. Rest in peace.

[@qsmooth7805]

Rest in peace to her

[@theWatchowskiBrosNowSis]

Growing up I’m one of her fans she was one of the up and coming stars so much potential beautiful talented acts, write songs & sing loved her voice. RIP Irene Cara.

[@bskeete]

R.I.P.

[@JeezWhiz1]

From what has been documented, the last few years of her life she was living almost hermit-like and died alone. A sad ending for anyone be they famous or not.

[@glenfordburrell1076]

At the age of sixteen, she also starred in the hit tv series "Roots," which was based on a novel written by Alex Haley. She played an extraordinary mature role for someone at such a young age.

[@sramas757]

Thanks.I loved her!

[@CaptainAmerica-jw2xh]

The great, beautiful and talented Irene Cara. She was a SUPERSTAR!! God rest her soul.

[@retrogurl.]

grew up loving irene cara and FAME one of my favs

[@jenneacubero1036]

It's a shame "Carismatic" was shelved. Bonnie Rait, Syreeta Wright, Luther Vandross along with Carole King were among the many artist who took part in the album. Not to mention, "Now That It's Over", "Get A Grip", "Don't Wanna Let Go", "Falling In Love" and "Be Your Number One" are underrated gems along with "You Need Me", "No One Could Ever Love You More" and "Rhythm Of My Life".

[@FallGuy467]

Elektra/Asylum Records was the distribution for Irene's debut album in '82 before Al Coury landed at Geffen Records. When the lawsuit was filed in '85, Network Records was a shell company safeguarded by the court and Geffen. An injunction was granted in their behalf to prevent Irene from performing any previous or new material in the United States due to her contract and recouping of album sales, expenses, etc. She signed with Elektra in '86 with the promise the label would have her back but when Carasmatic dropped in '87 with the lead single 'Girlfriends', the court ordered in favor of Coury that she violated the terms of her contract and that anyone who chose to produce or perform music with Irene were subject to litigation. How EVIL! In my opinion, that album had at least 2 Top Ten, maybe Top Five hits with 'Now That It's Over' and my personal favorite 'Say Goodnight Irene'. The world will never know, RIP Irene Cara Escalera 💔

[@edreid7872]

God, I loved her… she was a part of my childhood as well, appearing in The Electric Company. I saw her once on the streets of Manhattan, and I said hello.. She was not having it..😂…I still love her to this day.

[@ElectricCool]

Straight up New Yorker!! 😂😂😂

[@MariaAntoinetteF]

Thank you for posting this video. I was heartbroken to learned that she died alone. And was blackballed for years by all the record labels. Something like Kathleen Battle bring blackballed by the opera companies.

[@kevinfitzsimons41]

A beautiful soul who has left the world wonderful music and wonderful memories! Rest in peace Irene. You were an inspiration

[@LHSnLA]

She was such an amazing talent - and it's so awful that no one helped her vindicate herself and gave her the comeback she deserved. Why couldn't Clive Davis or another label exec sign her after she won the lawsuit? And all the other famous artists that supposedly adored her just failed to help her.

[@donnellwilliams6272]

What a Great Talent! Beautiful voice! My heart sank when I heard of her passing. She will live on forever with her music!!!

[@LifeIsNotorious]

She was so beautiful and talented. R.I.P Queen Irene

[@martinsr5536]

Totally indebted to Irene for keeping me sane during the 80’s with her infectious music and wonderful character. Decades later when I heard of her passing, I took to YT and found she had another hit called Breakdance. This had received almost no play in UK. Safe to say, it became another favourite of mine from her. RIP Irene.

[@user-bx2cg2ec8c]

que descanse en paz. Gracias por tus contribuciones. Te amé en papeles en Sparkle Roots.Fame.

[@Aeunax123]

She looks so much like Maya Rudolph it’s wild (or I guess more appropriately, Maya Rudolph looks so much like her!)

[@AndriaaLeoLove]

Yikes! I don’t see that at all. Are you sure you don’t mean Maya Rudolph's Mother-Singer Minnie Ripperton?

[@Provemewrongwithfacts]

Maya Rudolph is not nearly the beauty Irene Cara was!

[@EddieParker-lb3vi]

I wish 🤞 Irene Hooked Up with Prince! A Powerhouse like him or Michael Jackson hopefully she'll be protected by either of the 2.

[@JariahSalas]

I was so sad about her death. I love her so much.

[@jamesjackson8521]

A time in my life I won't ever forget. What a feeling. We miss you Irene.❤❤❤❤

[@Moshie71]

RIP❤

[@RuizCaz]

She died really young. 63 isn’t old. Tom Cruise just did another a mission impossible and Angela Basset is 65/66, Sheryl Lee Ralph is older as well and thriving.

[@user-bx2cg2ec8c]

Irene had health problems.

[@RuizCaz]

@@user-bx2cg2ec8c I’m sorry to hear that. I was such a big fan. As a kid I was looking for her for years to come out with more music or collaborate, appear on sitcoms etc. I had no idea she had any health issues. 😢

[@frederickseltzerjr2170]

I absolutely LOVED Irene and remember how disappointed (I turned 12 in June 1983 that "Flashdance ... What A Feeling" was not the #1 overall song on the year end Billboard Top 100 (It was however, the #1 song according to Billboard's rival and the chart that was used for "Solid Gold" in their countdown, "Radio & Records). But, my two favorite songs by Irene came from "Fame" & "DC Cab" ... the ballad "Out Here On My Own" showcased how truly talented this beautiful woman was, as she also played the piano arrangement and the lyrics "I may not win; but I can't be thrown; out here on my own" still rang powerful to me today. Though it only peaked at #36 on the Billboard Hot 100, the song "The Dream" from the box office bomb (that had Mr. T; Bill Maher and a young Paul Rodriquez in the cast) "DC Cab" is my all-time favorite song of hers and how they shot the video for it, I can't see how it couldn't make anyone have a smile on the face. RIP Irene! xo

[@ancestorbackwithanewname]

Absolutely DESPICABLE! The record labels just can’t get enough of doing these artists’ dirty huh? I’m disgusted. Love you Irene❤

[@scottrhodes8160]

Thanks for posting this-I knew some of her story but didn't know how badly raked over she was

[@juliusnepos6013]

I really love the song Flashdance

[@blakebrown84]

I liked Irene Cara in Sparkle and Fame. It’s the shame how she was treated by her record companies and the industry altogether. She just want her money and her royalties, that’s all. She was blackballed because of the shady dealings and bullcrap people who didn’t have her best interest at heart. She also retired from the business altogether to live a quiet life and didn’t wanna be bothered by no one during her sad last days of her life. R.I.P. Irene Cara!!!

[@user-rn9bw7jn5o]

They always are taking people money. I loved her.

[@oholm09]

All in the music industry ripping off the great artists

[@bdfwhhsb]

Are you gonna be reviewing eternal sunshine? Curious to hear your thoughts on it

[@Loveabounds.]

She became famous in the late 70’s, I seen her answering her comments for fans in a KZbin video of hers she was very down to earth but after the 80’s she left Hollywood

[@mysticakhenaton1701]

co-composing and recoding/singing, that massive hit, What a feeling. in the 80's alone, Irene should have gotten $millions in royalties. KARMA has hit the record industry hard. it is a former shadow of itself.

[@imperialcorporation9449]

Are you gonna do an eternal sunshine review?

[@Believer-dv4eu]

R.I.P. Queen Irene👸🏽

[@MRJLS15]

Unsung hero love this

[@fairymystonight1783]

I’m ashamed to say all those songs she sings that I was listening to on the radio , I thought was all Madonna. 😭 this whole time it was her and I loved her music so much

[@beyourself2444]

Wow, that's insulting. Madonna cannot eing at all

[@DEKMAN99]

​@@beyourself2444But, Madonna was a genius in producing great pop hits.

[@chibiNATHA]

«Industry rule number four thousand and eighty Record company people are shady»

[@jessesaffold1165]

May she be with the angels in heaven 😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@frschoonover1]

You forgot something. She also portrayed Iris, a member of the Short Circus, for one season on the PBS educational series "The Electric Company" from 1971-1972. I remember watching her on the show as a child. It's terrible the way that the big time industry as a whole took advantage of her and abused her big time rather than give her what was rightfully hers, which was her just due. Thanks for uploading.

[@orangecat5036]

Puertorican princess.☺🇵🇷🇺🇲

[@traffo11]

Still no review about eternal sunshine:(

[@saj8]

Irene was signed to Network Records in 1982, when it was distributed by Elektra Records.

[@richardherdman2121]

Hey people, why don't I see a lot of comments pointing out the blatant mispronunciation of Irene's last name? The first syllable is not pronounced like the word synonymous with an automobile. Her 1987 album is entitled Carasmatic (without an H) for a reason. The announcer (lifelike AI??) pronounced the album title correctly. So why not her name?

[@FranklinWilson-ev9dq]

The Part Of The Business, I Have Never CARED FOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@derekroberts6654]

You forgot to mention her time in the PBS children’s show “The Electric Company” where she part of a teen singing group called the Short Circus.

[@mariec-mariceeqt2]

Yes!

[@tonigillette9217]

"Flashdance" was a movie about a dancer. Not one person ever thought Beals was a singer nor did anyone not understand that the song was the SOUNDTRACK.

[@TakabIghe]

Breakdance and why me from her second album are great songs everyone should check them out. Also hot lunch from the fame soundtrack

[@mariec-mariceeqt2]

I remember Irene from "The Electric Company"

[@nonamecommenter]

Where is the eternal sunshine review

[@izzoosman5490]

I was literally saying the same thing 😭

[@lay_4444]

SAMEE

[@WillWilsonII]

Ha, I was just thinking about her! DC Cab soundtrack.

[@CaptainAmerica-jw2xh]

I have both her records: Fame and Flashdance. I also have the Flashdance album.

[@charlesbronson4282]

She was a talent

[@michaelrochester48]

You forgot to say that she was a teenage singer on the TV show the electric company on PBS

[@AndriaaLeoLove]

Pre-teen.

[@cheribee968]

She apparently lived in seclusion in her last years Died relatively young of natural causes She had a good voice Fame is one of my favorite movies

[@user-bx2cg2ec8c]

Heart disease. Plus Irene was also a diabetic. So sad.

[@dereksmith4965]

She was a very talented vocalist, songwriter and actress. She acted in many projects before her commercial breakthrough in Fame. Roots The Next Generation, Sister Sister to name a few. Her 1987 album Carasmatic could have been a hit if they hadn't blacklisted her in the industry. She truly made a mark in the record industry in the early to mid 80's. There really should be a documentary made about her life.

[@KelleyM462]

The Electric Company in the 1970s 🙂

[@tammylewis2408]

Will that album be finally released? I remember when Karen Carpenter recorded a solo album, but it was shelved and released years after her death.

[@emmacarsonxo6846]

My mom went to school with her!! She said Irene was a "fun beautiful vibrant person" and "the life of the party" wish I had the chance to meet her myself R.I.P Irene. The shit they did to her was so fcking messed up and really embarrassed her career.

[@deepshikhashinde9079]

Wtf eternal sunshine???

[@moretimeneeded56]

What I found strange regarding the soundtrack to Sparkle was the decision to release it without the lead vocals from the original songs, instead using the instrumental tracks and backing vocals but substituting Aretha Franklin as the lead singer. Don’t get me wrong Aretha did a great job but so did Irene Cara and the others on the originals. Maybe the idea was to get the film more recognition.

[@zainmudassir2964]

I liked Irene Cara as Snow White in the Filmation film Happily Ever After

[@myesteve68]

Not participate in What A Feeling video was simply betrayal by record company. She sung this song , not Jennifer Beals. Or Hollywood producers were to blame? Kenny Loggins was never present in Footloose video too. Pity either way.

[@Soule6]

No mainstream industry had more con artists in it than the music industry until new internet distributions formed. It's because there was so much money to be made and the entry fee was low...namely direct association with one previously successful project.

[@keyon659]

I may be off topic but no Ariana Grande video?? Damn.

[@AngeloZantua]

I assume that Irene was Mariah's inspiration and idol. The 1980 song "Out Here on My Own" by Cara was Carey's hiding place. 🐑🦋

[@Akva77]

😢

[@angeliquehammond2996]

Don’t enter the Hollywood music or movie fantasyland w/out a lawyer. It makes me sick to know that this talented beautiful lady died so early. Thanks Hollywood.