Anita Baker has decided she will move forward with her tour, without Babyface

You're not the bearer of bad news. A very large faction of famous people are not nice people. I expect it.

It's a reason I don't really put people on a pedal stool, nor do I try to meet my idols and favorite artists.

I beg to differ. I have been in the music business since 1995 and out of the hundreds of celebrities I have met, only Steve Harvey and Cee-Lo were assholes. The nicest person of them all: Beyonce. The coolest? Vanessa del Rio. She’s my idol and my friend.
 
Anita has a screechy voice and she always, always sings out of her tessitura. She was savvy in surrounding herself with excellent musicians and the phenomenal Peri sisters on bg vocals.
Yeah, I ran Rapture into the ground like everybody else but I listen to it now and can barely stand her vocals but everything else about the lp is so good.
And she is a nasty piece of work with little to redeem her for being so bitchy. Aretha was demanding and bitchy too but she was a falcon soprano and Anita ain't even in that galaxy.

I feel the same way. Anita was just ok to me. But then too, I was always a Sade fan and I didn’t think Anita could hold a candle to Sade.
 
Anita has a screechy voice and she always, always sings out of her tessitura. She was savvy in surrounding herself with excellent musicians and the phenomenal Peri sisters on bg vocals.
Yeah, I ran Rapture into the ground like everybody else but I listen to it now and can barely stand her vocals but everything else about the lp is so good.
And she is a nasty piece of work with little to redeem her for being so bitchy. Aretha was demanding and bitchy too but she was a falcon soprano and Anita ain't even in that galaxy.
I think Anita Baker is living on Legacy. I have to agree with what you stated about her voice and great musicians and background vocals.

We love it because we grew up with it and we can relate to it, but if we were hearing it for the first time now, how would we feel about it? I doubt very seriously we would feel the same as we did then, and it's not because it's dated because great music doesn't go bad

She didn't really have a dynamic voice, and the same could be said for Diana Ross actually, who I've heard is a diva as well, and not in the good way
 
I think Anita Baker is living on Legacy. I have to agree with what you stated about her voice and great musicians and background vocals.

We love it because we grew up with it and we can relate to it, but if we were hearing it for the first time now, how would we feel about it? I doubt very seriously we would feel the same as we did then, and it's not because it's dated because great music doesn't go bad

She didn't really have a dynamic voice, and the same could be said for Diana Ross actually, who I've heard is a diva as well, and not in the good way


Right on both counts. ross is a bitch and always has been. Reed-thin voice with no range and nasal asf.

When Rapture dropped the 'Cool Jazz' thing was hot as fire and the material was original; Cool Jazz hadn't yet descended into elevator music. She was in the right place at the right time with the right material. I'm not hating, it's just the facts.

For those who think Baker can sing, well, to each his own but listen to her work with Chapter 8. OMFG. She didn't listen to anybody and continued to screech in the booth. Oddly enough she didn't in person, at least the times I saw her, and then you could really hear how weak her voice is.
Anyway, it wasn't until her 4th (I think) studio lp that she finally sang within her tessa - for about half the lp anyway.
 
Wait, you mean to tell me it's some rabid 70 year old Stans out here making death threats?

[Rza's Voice] Shit is fucking ridiculous! [Rza's voice]
 
He was just the opening act, so lets say generously he would have gotten 60-90 minutes. I'm kind of with her on the fact that he could have squashed things quickly if he pointed it out. Also, you never know the rules of the venue, it could be a place like Chastain near Atlanta where there's a strict 11pm cut off.

I don't care to see either, but I do understand, due to a concert I went to when I was a kid. Opening act went on waaaay too long and the main act basically was on stage for 40 minutes and bounced.
Face got way too many hits to be worried about Anita. He did about 1hr and that shit blew your mind when he showed you how many hits he wrote. He just kept hitting hit after hit and if you had been around since the 80's you would recognize them all. I called his set "fucking unfair" he had that many hits. Anita was on point also. I don't understand, why she so thin skinned. Ain't nobody in these streets got any real beef with her. Think about it logistically, who wants to beef with her if it's a babyface fan, then it's a woman and likely the same audience she's singing too. I think Anita on that bullshit.
 
Babyface is quietly throwing fire on the situation because of his set getting canceled and blaming it all on Anita Baker.

Baby Face hasn't explained why his set was two hours late to begin with.

With all that being said, Anita has history being difficult no matter what.
Yo face set WAS NOT 2hrs long. It was no more than an 1hr unless he switched it.
 
I get people having thoughts and I get people being disappointed. That said, if this is actually a "retirement tour" like someone suggested it might be, then it kinda makes sense that Anita would want to headline alone. Arguably, she probably should have got a guest star with a little less clout so there were no potential conflicts, but I also get wanting to run the best, tightest roster you can get.

Also, I'm not going to sit here and pretend like the internet fan base isn't toxic as hell at times. People mostly tak shit and never back it up, but I can see not wanting the stress of having to even play with the possibility. ... although, the 'net being the 'net, it's not like his more obnoxious "fans" are just going to let this go. If anything, they'll have more reason to act out.
 
Yo face set WAS NOT 2hrs long. It was no more than an 1hr unless he switched it.
He said the set was 2 hrs late, as in starting time late,not duration....

That was the show with "technical issues" in NYC/ NJ right?

Some say it really was a sound/stage issue.
But a lot of ppl believe Anita was just on one.

Either way, instead of her cutting her "headlining" set 30-45 minutes so fans can see some of Face.....
"nah cut that mfkr out, I need my full time."
Is a wild take from any performer, if the issue was genuinely out of both of their control.
 
Y'all are reaching saying Anita Baker can't sing or sounds bad. I saw her show in May and she was outstanding.
Maybe it's the way she sung things that they didn't really mesh with her cause I can admit that I've heard her songs before on the radio but I couldn't tell you one song from her until I because an adult and that was "You're my angel".

She's like a Jazz vocalist that sounds like a horn in a Spike Lee movie
 
Yes. She's extremely bitchy. My friend is so cool and laid back, she don't fuck with him. He's been playing for her for years!

Bro, I know it varies, but what does a band member make on a tour with an artist like Anita Baker, who is a legend, but well past her commercial?
 


This is basically the best clip I could find on the Luther Vandross /Anita Baker feud. I remember Luther Vandross was on Oprah Winfrey and he said basically Anita went on first and thought she could sing one of his songs and she found out different. I've seen Babyface in concert I can see why people would be upset at not seeing him perform. You can basically see Babyface and go home afterward.
 
Yo face set WAS NOT 2hrs long. It was no more than an 1hr unless he switched it.
No they said he was two hours behind in starting. By the time the was ready to go it was going to cut into Baker's show. No one has said why he was starting so late.

In his first statement he said as much. He said he was ready to go but Baker's people asked him not to perform. He didn't mention the late start, so he implied Baker was all at fault.

As someone else has mentioned, some of those venues have hard out times plus I can't blame Baker for not wanting to sacrifice any of her set time.
 
I was just telling The Mom's this morning about how a few students and I hung out with Steve Kroon (who was Luther Vandross' Percussionist for years) while doing a set-up rehearsal for Bassist Ron Carter at City College during the mid-80s, for a Blue-Note gig.

Kroon had quite a few stories of that Infamous "THE HEAT" Tour that featured both Baker and Vandross at MSG for about four nights. Kroon told us one in which Baker actually called MSG Security on him when he couldn't recall where his Dressing and Rehearsing Room was. She was screaming so loudly, that Luther heard her down the hallway, came out of his Dressing Room, and it turned into a "Curse-Fest". Peeps who know Luther and his Perfectionism know that Brother was fiercely defensive of his Musicians.

So I wasn't surprised by this latest story at all. BabyFace dodged a bullet by not continuing to tour with Baker. Especially now, after the raves He's getting for His NPR "Tiny Desk" appearance over a week ago.
 
Bro, I know it varies, but what does a band member make on a tour with an artist like Anita Baker, who is a legend, but well past her commercial?
I don't ask but he's been with her for so long. I'm sure he's getting paid a couple thousand a week. Maybe in the 3k-5k range but I don't really know. She's in the $200k-$300k booking fee range.
 
Right on both counts. ross is a bitch and always has been. Reed-thin voice with no range and nasal asf.

When Rapture dropped the 'Cool Jazz' thing was hot as fire and the material was original; Cool Jazz hadn't yet descended into elevator music. She was in the right place at the right time with the right material. I'm not hating, it's just the facts.

For those who think Baker can sing, well, to each his own but listen to her work with Chapter 8. OMFG. She didn't listen to anybody and continued to screech in the booth. Oddly enough she didn't in person, at least the times I saw her, and then you could really hear how weak her voice is.
Anyway, it wasn't until her 4th (I think) studio lp that she finally sang within her tessa - for about half the lp anyway.
Diana Ross is one of the greatest ever.....she should not be in this conversation
 
Face got way too many hits to be worried about Anita. He did about 1hr and that shit blew your mind when he showed you how many hits he wrote. He just kept hitting hit after hit and if you had been around since the 80's you would recognize them all. I called his set "fucking unfair" he had that many hits. Anita was on point also. I don't understand, why she so thin skinned. Ain't nobody in these streets got any real beef with her. Think about it logistically, who wants to beef with her if it's a babyface fan, then it's a woman and likely the same audience she's singing too. I think Anita on that bullshit.

I'm in my 40s I know them both I was just too young when they were both in their prime to care to see them now. Now my parents, that's another story...
But anyhow, Babyface's fans are more than just women. It got pretty heated online the day after and other than his initial statement which was similar to the statement he made after getting dropped he said nothing. That's where her problem is coming from. I'm not going to go down the "oh she's just being a diva!" bullshit because everyone goes that route when it comes to women. It's a bad situation period, and doesn't need any extras.
 
She reminds me of my mother. Let her do her and shut the fuck up. There are no wins to be won here. Just leave the show and keep it Babyface.
 

Okay, now this is kinda starting to track. Part of the issue seems to be that Babyface's "apology" appears to be framed more towards the people at the concert where the incident happened. I can imagine a world where his intent wasn't to drag Anita, but I can also why some people reading that statement (especially people who weren't there) took it that way.

Like someone said, good publicists really need to be a thing. That statement absolutely could have been curated to prevent any kind of misunderstanding.
 
Okay, now this is kinda starting to track. Part of the issue seems to be that Babyface's "apology" appears to be framed more towards the people at the concert where the incident happened. I can imagine a world where his intent wasn't to drag Anita, but I can also why some people reading that statement (especially people who weren't there) took it that way.

Like someone said, good publicists really need to be a thing. That statement absolutely could have been curated to prevent any kind of misunderstanding.
Let's cover some facts:

The screen wasn't working. Cool
They can't fix and work on the screen while he's performing.....
And that work took 2 hrs .....damn

What I then infer is, by the time they get it fixed his time slot is up and Anita's time will run into the city ordinance.
Break the curfew = fine$$$$$. Cool

But he probably did ask Anita "hey can you cut your set short 30 mins so I can go out and at least give the people some of what they wanted?" And we can infer by his statement that she said no. ("I was asked .........")

Now I know I am making a lot of assumptions, but again bts details are few and far between....

However I think I am close to the truth.

He didn't throw her under the bus or tell his fans to get at her......she keeps making the situation worse with her insistence on calling him "support" and other diva line behavior.

Look a here baby, you needed that support for those ticket sales.....
 


This is basically the best clip I could find on the Luther Vandross /Anita Baker feud. I remember Luther Vandross was on Oprah Winfrey and he said basically Anita went on first and thought she could sing one of his songs and she found out different. I've seen Babyface in concert I can see why people would be upset at not seeing him perform. You can basically see Babyface and go home afterward.

How could any straight man watch this show?
 


I saw Anita in May here in queens. I do think she might have a drinking problem because at the beginning of her show she seemed a little tipsy. As a show went on she got herself together and it ended up putting on a great show but I do think she has a drinking problem.
 
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