Filming commenced this month, the first images are out, and here's the proof; Beyoncé really is playing Etta James in the upcoming Cadillac Records. This film is not a biopic of James (though that's not a bad idea), but a chronicle of the fortunes of Chicago record label Chess Records and its musicians. The cast includes Adrien Brody as Leonard Chess and Jeffrey Wright as Muddy Waters.

So here's a look at Beyoncé and the original.

And here's the first image off the set.

Even though this is not a biopic, the casting, you can imagine, is a topic for fairly ugly debate (even NPR had a blogger roundtable partially devoted to it). I do wonder about the wisdom of the role as a career move, at least for the negative press it's generating, including the inevitable references to the supposed Beyoncé/Jennifer Hudson rivalry following Hudson's Oscar win for Dreamgirls. And much (annoying) speculation about whether Beyoncé will be gaining weight or wearing prosthetics to look more like James. Can I take this moment to say that the young Etta James was no Twiggy, but she was certainly not fat? … continue reading

Comparing siblings is never fair, is it? But here goes. When it comes to the Jacksons, I'd have to say I prefer Janet.

But that's a recent phenomenon. Back in the more innocent days of 1983, long before the freakish media obsession and allegations of child abuse, it was Michael all the way. That's the year Thriller hit the record stores, bringing a slew of hit tunes to the radio and red pleather jackets to the retail market. I didn't own the jacket, but Mary J. Blige and Beyonce did, or so they confess over at Amazon.com. Amazon is promoting the 25th anniversary re-release of the Thriller album, which includes special collaborations with current artists.

I'm pretty sure I have the dusty vinyl tucked away somewhere in storage, but I'm seriously tempted to get this album. Not for Michael, but because of the collaborations. Truthfully, if you could imagine Michael Jackson collaborating with any current artist, would this woman be the one?

Fergie. That's just weird enough that I might spend money to hear it. She's on the track for “Beat It,” and reviews I've read online suggest that if you are a Michael purist, you'll hate it, but if not, it's kind of fun. … continue reading

It seems Aretha Franklin, often called the Queen of Soul, is not pleased that Beyoncé called Tina Turner the "queen"on the Grammy Awards broadcast.

"I am not sure of whose toes I may have stepped on or whose ego I may have bruised between the Grammy writers and Beyoncé," Franklin said in a statement issued by her publicist. "However, I dismissed it as a cheap shot for controversy."

Franklin apparently ended the statement with "love to Beyoncé anyway."

Sheesh, Aretha. It was an intro, not a review. And Beyoncé is a huge fan of Tina, so she was bound to praise her.

Plus, Beyoncé didn't refer to Tina as the Queen of Soul, specifically. She just said, "give it up for the queen."

And I'm happy to give it up, whatever it is, because I thought Tina's performance was incredible. She can still hit those high notes and do the moves — at 68 years old! Wow. … continue reading

Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, Beyoncé's little sister, Solange Knowles, released a debut album on the same label as her sister.

Solo Star was moderately successful, but didn't exactly pave a road to stardom. So, Solange got married, had a son and wrote songs for women like Destiny's Child, Michelle Williams, Kelly Rowland — and Beyoncé. … continue reading

OK, that's it. I've had it. I have to admit something that I was trying not to admit to myself. Believe me, facing one's limitations is a tough thing to do. Anyway, here is my confession. I'm simply not smart enough to fully understand Meshell Ndegeocello's latest album, The World Has Made Me the Man of My Dreams. There, I said it. You win, Meshell. I is confused! But even in my ignorance of all that the album may actually mean, I am digging it like an excavator.

I have been driving around with this CD on a loop for a couple of weeks now, and it really has taken a hold. It may not grab you on the first listen because there is simply too much to process, but I have since found that I can't seem to listen to anything else. This woman's music gets to me. Even when she taunts my intellect and makes "roc is a dunderhead!" jokes about me behind my back, I still love her.

The album was released in late September, and Ndegeocello did a show in New York a couple of weeks ago — yet the release was so quiet, it was hard to know it happened. Ndegeocello is a kind of anti–rock star; she really doesn't promote herself much. She just exists. She seems solely interested in the music, and she knows her fans will find her. And they do.

… continue reading