Stephanie Mills American Music Award Performance! (1981)

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My name is Antonio and I just love great music!

[@gcmacyman]

See, the REAL singers didn't need those audio ear amplifiers in their ears because they were that skilled. Phenomenal performance, one of the best voices and talents in music.

[@terrenceragin5555]

Real Hair. Amazing. Real Singing

[@lifeworksndhenterprisesllc6597]

Back then when silk press hair was only made for professional hair stylists. Before those hair irons came into vouge.

[@JPJamas]

REAL…… talent!

[@sophisitcated1194]

yes she was sanging and swanging that hair!

[@ceeceetracey9839]

@@sophisitcated1194 😂

[@sophisitcated1194]

@@ceeceetracey9839 😂 well she was swanging that hair. 😂

[@JAZZLlFE]

Did anyone notice what's missing from this performance? Absolutely nothing! No twerking, voice enhancements or distractions...just pure talent!!!

[@LindaKLee]

Yes!

[@majorboyce123]

Aretha Franklin once said when you have talent you don't need other things.

[@JAZZLlFE]

Apparently, Aretha took that to mean she herself didn't need a stylist, a really strong bra or a badly needed ego check.

[@Petrus-kt9zq]

​@@JAZZLlFER u Jealous and Talentless ? 🤣😆🤣

[@mrwodabe]

​@@Petrus-kt9zqyep, to both

[@ghanasoul]

This proves what i always say: when you’re REALLY talented, u don’t need pyrotechnics, 20 dancers, and special effects. This is the most stripped down performance I’ve seen on a awards show. Ms. Mills was all alone onstage. The band and background singers weren’t near her. She took them to church and belted out her song and killed it. All live no syncing!

[@anastayjah715]

Pretty sure this was a backing track. The backgound "singers" looked more like actors. They were not singing. I'm not taking away from Stephanie's skills because she's one of the best to do it but, this was one of those Soul Train type lip syncs.

[@slimtee2]

⁠​⁠@@anastayjah715 oh no, no backing track. this is an actual orchestra and actual back up singers. Kathie Lee Gifford is one of the backup singers and she has spoken about this a few times. Nothing fake about this performance.

[@stephaniemills_fanpage]

@@anastayjah715o baby this was live at the American music awards get it right! No lip syncing going on here!

[@MrErnieFaison]

As she was getting into the song, I got chills.

[@NAJErEa91]

ME TOOO!!!!

[@dbrown9495]

Simply gorgeous! Hair is perfection! And don't forget the vocals! This is live!!

[@mzllanay]

She can definitely teach some of these young folks some things! Classy lady! Love her!

[@lindathomas7803]

I'm here in August 2019 for the tiny POWER HOUSE Stephanie Mills ! She can just flat out sang people! I love me Steph her voscals are out of this world y'all . Who else is with me ?

[@mistaaustin3854]

🤚🏾

[@helengrigsby5073]

Look at Ms. Mills hair. Dynamite! So healthy and strong.Miss those days. Real singing

[@johntatum9933]

You can tell that Miss Mills wanted to really go in but she remembered where shewas at and that audience wasn't ready for that. But she gave them just enough to let them know baby I am the real deal I can take you to church anytime I want to and still give you r&b with soul at the same time.this is what you call sanging you go Stephanie.

[@alamoe62]

A great performance by Ms. Mills!! ....a wonderful stroll down memory lane.

[@victorantonio1]

Glad you enjoyed it bro..

[@GQBlue3]

Those backup singers are cracking me up. So lily white. LOL.

[@victorantonio1]

:)

[@victorantonio1]

But Steph is doin the damn thing rite..

[@GQBlue3]

+Victor Antonio She was ha ha ... i think I'm gonna go see her at the Howard later this year. She always gives such wonderful shows.

[@victorantonio1]

+GQBlue3 O vool, maybe I'll see you there. Not sure of my schedule as of yet but I may be traveling with her to that show. I look forward to the possibility!.

[@jdozeparsons3249]

😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[@dtrn254]

Stephanie was sangin the hell out that joint.... yeeeeeeees 👍

[@DetroitLives313]

Now here is where she broke it down for them on national TV at the AMA's in 1981. I watched this on my tiny television in my dorm back in college:

[@ksr2059]

Stephanie is so vibrant here! Uh...backgrounds are ON IT!

[@i_am_legend7827]

I don't know who was the star her or her bouncy hair! She had that mane tamed!! I adore her since the age of 7 smh what a timeless journey! She took them to church!

[@annehamilton8190]

So divine, classy and energetic.......She's the first real R&B Queen!

[@mrhammondb3]

Stephanie is an awesome singer I always loved her, she has strong vocals, thanks for the post

[@daphneylockettephd1083]

I miss this kind of music. Sing Stephanie!

[@franklofarojr.2969]

Just looking at her brings me joy! Her music and her dancing, albums, concerts, interviews and tweets make me so happy. I love Stephanie! She's still going strong, and I hope lots of people get to know how wonderful she is!

[@cherylbaker7270]

Saw her in a concert in 1982 along with Smokey Robinson and Aretha Franklin. She put them to shame with her performance. Lots of energy in that petite package.

[@MrBarrywes]

Cheryl Baker I thought the same thing at the Budweiser Superfest

[@christinewomack8999]

Why you say Jermaine Stewart?

[@markdrinkwater1508]

Nobody puts Aretha Franklin to shame, she has no rivals. All other singers trail in Aretha's wake.

[@justnyla2780]

What I love about her voice is it never sounded different on her albums Always the same then and now! No autotune Ever!

[@georgebanks6193]

I don't understand...why this ultra cute powerhouse voice isn't in the strtosphere...she has got it..!!..

[@johnflynn9619]

Stephanie is Amazing and Extraordinary.

[@victorantonio1]

Stephanie Mills is "AMAZING"!!!!!!!

[@curtistisdale8150]

OMGOODNESS...The Best Thing I Saw, Ever!!!!! She still looks this Beautiful, and Her voice is still Heavenly...

[@barbee0715]

So I finally see Michael sitting in the first row to Stephanie's left-but Diana's seat is empty-it also looks like she looks straight at him when she smiles "open my eyes" liine-you can see him clapping along.

[@wandarichmond7643]

@Rosee Negri She really loved Michael!!! I Do Believe! Michael shoulda gone with Stephanie! She really loved him. Diana Ross broke his heart. my personal point of view.💔 heartache, heartbreak.

[@Hi.Shadow]

wanda Richmond exactly, broke his heart in such a way that he never truly recovered or gotten over it, Michael didn’t look at women quite the same after Diana hurt him.

[@eddiemorrison4127]

They actually date from 1970 to middle 80s

[@eddiemorrison4127]

@@wandarichmond7643 you do know that they both date each for all of the 70s and half the 80s

[@yyvssizzle1124]

@@eddiemorrison4127 but wasn't she married then?? In the early 80s..

[@Xp3erynce]

I just love her!!!

[@k.n.carter8089]

Stephanie is a bad something something! I love watching Stephanie sing, dance and work her audience...no one does it better. Like everyone else, the background singers threw me off a bit, but they held it down. Thanks for posting.

[@CBrown9758]

Beauticians could back then CHECK THAT HAIR BABY!

[@nedraabner2957]

I can remember Aunties playing this song over and over..I was just 6 years old..good memories! Still in love with Stephanie's voice!!

[@terrenceragin5555]

Sing Stephanie Sing

[@oscaralexander3062]

I just love me some old"young" Stephanie Mills...her music was popping, that's all I could listen to at night before I go to bed my daddy would say boy turn that music down...

[@BNF1T]

Energy!

[@victorantonio1]

Did she kill it or what!

[@marisolforero4930]

soy colombiana me encanta este video, muchas felicidades a esta gran cantante stephanie miils

[@MrStarofTruth]

wow i love Stephanie Mills I still have her Records...

[@katyarnold6757]

Stephanie Mills is one of my favorite female r&b singer. Wow!!!! powerful!!!! vocal range and riff. Go!!! ahead Mrs. Mills.

[@sheilaann9449]

She sang the sh$t gotta this song and I always loved Stephanie Mills she is wonderful and talented and that's the gods truth❤️♥️♥️♥️♥️😄

[@rudolphmcneill515]

Love her and this song.

[@buzzcut101]

Thanks so much for posting. I remember this performance so well. She tore it up even with those background singers. They tried but couldn’t keep up with Stephanie.

[@NAJErEa91]

INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCE!!!! THAT HAIR WAS BOUNCING AND BEHAVING TOO LMBO LOVE QUEEN STEPHANIE MILLS!

[@nirmalajohnson2395]

Beautiful ❤️❤️

[@victorantonio1]

My pleasure and thanx for loving her..

[@shannonwilliams9055]

Stellar performer for a Dead ass crowd.

[@ilovehousemusic2637]

Yess! Dam shame! Stephanie’s stunning!!

[@drummingdanny84]

Remember that this was the pre-Thriller era of the AMA's when the crowds were more subdued.

[@eyramdjossou6578]

@@drummingdanny84 of the wall

[@reggiechandler9506]

@@drummingdanny84 so true. She was doing great even to have them clapping along, lol

[@jackierobinson-hicks3879]

Love Her I used to wear my hair just like that

[@rondothard1698]

That was the norm hair style then. I don't remember people wearing wigs and weaves in 1981, Blow dry clip ends, and a hot curling iron did the trick.

[@loveyu2778]

Awww , Teddy.. Sannng, Stephanie...

[@Fellasluvme2]

I love this song & I love me some Miss Mills ♥️

[@cravendubose8179]

Absolutely beautiful.

[@angiebee2993]

Just an amazing singer just nailed that performance

[@sophisitcated1194]

She did that.

[@ArmyOfMe1981Ry]

I was not expecting those background singers

[@turntableone4356]

My guess is that they are lip syncing.

[@kennethcooper4327]

@@turntableone4356 they're not

[@carrollgirl547]

Me either. Lol

[@LindaKLee]

I love ALL things Stephanie Mills!!!

[@mrhammondb3]

U welcome and I will be posting some of stephanie music on my page, I have all of her albums including her first Debut album in 1974 she did on ABC label (Moving in the right Direction). I'm looking forward for her new cd to get released.

[@tonyboothe2418]

Damnnnn she sung this🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@MICHAELSMITH-vf5kr]

Just a wonderful and happy song! Go Stephanie!

[@alamoe62]

Great performance from Stephanie Mills!

[@ceeceetracey9839]

we use to all want our hair like that

[@jackierobinson-hicks3879]

Love her

[@elixavier8351]

Took it to church!!!!

[@drummingdanny84]

Stephanie Mills also provided the theme for season 2 of "Bosom Buddies".

[@ferdinstra]

Do not blame the white backing vocals. They were great. Stephanie is just amazing 😍

[@michaelwilliams4410]

AMAZING!

[@blakeposter7496]

back when music shows were a real event!

[@richardmontilla3]

Hermosa voz y ella también

[@Dario-kn6hm]

Good Times!!!

[@memyself4ever1]

Love it!❤❤❤❤

[@faevapaid634]

The Back ground singers!!!!!!! On Point, are they the Osmon Family? They can sing....

[@Lawrence_619]

shit, when baby girl took it to the bridge, I forget where the Hell I was (at work)...Im jumpin all over the place at my desk (thought I was in church somewhere)...shit. If Aretha is The Queen...if Patti L. is The Godmother...IF Chaka is The Queen of Funk...and if Gladys is The Empress..I think its only fair to call Ms Mills "The First Lady of R&B". And that key she's singing in, right there?...she is STILL singing in the same damn key, 40 yrs, present day.

[@barrysatterfield6031]

OMG it's 1981 all over again

[@coolaideevens8678]

Paved the way …

[@chrymsp]

sheeesh👏👏👏

[@DetroitLives313]

Steph took it to 'em!

[@jackierobinson-hicks3879]

Love Her

[@lifeworksndhenterprisesllc6597]

Shinny silk press hair,back when only professional hair stylist s use that method. Now anyone could get it as a style irons.

[@qsgreenthumb219]

Background! And the guy is killing that tenor! Love this performance

[@JaySmith-mz7vg]

That background was an absolute mess 😂 Stephanie finally hit the gas at the end on them

[@lindah.2815]

Are you joking qtheluckyone? You must be.

[@eddiemorrison4127]

This song was about her relationship with Micheal

[@amaurice1984]

No she was married to Jeffrey Daniel's Michael's choreographer.

[@coolaideevens8678]

Who wis that introduced her … that’s a good looking man

[@stephaniemills_fanpage]

The legend, *RIp! Teddy Bear aka Teddy Pendergrass

[@redvelvet9876]

This is the "let's make sure the white people in the audience are comfortable" performance. It was cute. But, we all know she held back on this one.

[@dtrn254]

I know the AMA's didn't white wash Stephanie's clearly black (but unseen) background singers 😳🤔..... You see this was the kind of institutional racism black artists had to endure on national television in those times. Beyonce is a very lucky woman...great doors were opened for her by legendary others....Go Stephanie 👍

[@lmitchell477]

The crowd didn’t understand the assignment

[@africansuperhero]

Uhm. Dope.

[@robertmotion]

but them background singers tho: 🔥 and 👍🏾 they lit and then I'm like 'hmmm'😏, 💬.... Brooklyn NYC

[@kimmyles9139]

The white people background singing is killling me but Stephanie kills it as usual the one and only!

[@Tehkia02]

The audience so damn dry!

[@The0riginalbanger]

Yeah most of the crowd was NOT it! But at least Michael was clapping and stuff in the front row! lol

[@thankthelord4536]

Stephanie too vocally powerful for this show.

[@deepprobe6187]

Why the crowd so stiff?

[@TSZDM2024]

few years after this Madonna would come out with a sound that stole from this song for her breakout song Borderline. I Love Madonna but GOD DAYUM LISTEN TO THIS WOMAN SING, that was brave of her to try and copy Ms. Mills.

[@prophecyjackson184]

Once she kicks that leg out she GETS LOOSE

[@anthonycoleman9593]

Is it me or does that Lawrence Welch band seem to suck a little bit of funk out of this classic jam. As corny as they may have looked, the background singers did a pretty good job. Especially toward the end when Stephanie was adlibing, they kept right up with her.

[@skip031890]

She kind of favors Mary Wilson here from the Supremes.

[@k.n.carter8089]

I love both Stephanie And Mary, but they look absolutely nothing alike.

[@Jim1971a]

The audience looked like they were asleep, and the all of a sudden they all start clapping to the beat with no expression on their faces. The show’s producers must have noticed how awkward it was that they were sitting there half dead looking, and motioned or signaled them to clap. They are the worst audience and if they can’t appreciate Stephanie’s vocals I don’t even know how they got tickets to this event.

[@Funkywaters]

I DON'T LIKE THE WAY THEY SPED THE TEMPO OF THIS SONG. ALSO, DID I SE WHITE FOLKS SINGING BACKGROUND. WHAT'S REALLY GOOD!

[@ranquelparana1799]

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