Patti LaBelle (b. October 4th,
1944)
a.k.a.
Patti La Belle, Patricia Holt
CHRISTMAS BELLE Ring In the Holidays with R&B Diva Patti LaBelle
Legendary singer Patti LaBelle puts her sassy, soulful stamp on Miss Patti's Christmas, a collection of holiday classics and new songs produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. During a press junket at the Trump International hotel, the endearing 63-years-young Miss Patti discussed her new disc, gave cheers and jeers for hip-hop, did the Naomi Campbell walk, and even offered to share her lunch with Barnes & Noble.com R&B and Hip-Hop Editor Tracy E. Hopkins.
Barnes & Noble.com: What prompted you to make a Christmas album?
Patti LaBelle: This is my third Christmas album [she previously did a Christmas record with the Bluebelles and a solo holiday record in 1990]. I was dropped by Def Jam Classics three years ago. When I was in Africa with Oprah [Winfrey] for the opening of her school, [Def Jam chairman] L.A. Reid was also there. He said, "Patti, I did something wrong and I want to ask you back." He was very much a gentleman, but I wasn't sure. I thought about it for six months and then [re-signed] with Def Jam. I went to his office for a meeting and he asked me to do a Christmas album for my first album. I went to Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and we did the album in five days -- two songs a day. Now I'm working on a new R&B album. I'm very happy to be back on Def Jam.
B&N.com: How does Miss Patti's Christmas differ from your other Christmas albums?
PL: I call this my hip-hop Christmas. I love hip-hop music and I don't like the old, standard Christmas songs [she sings "Silent Night" in a formal voice]. But Terry [Lewis] gave me some songs that I never liked, including "The Most Beautiful Time of the Year." I think Andy Williams sang that. I said, "I'm not doing that song." He told me we would do it a little differently, and when I heard the arrangement I said okay. We also did a lot of original songs, and I'm in love with those. It's not a traditional Christmas album. To me, it's an album you can play all through the year. My favorite song on the album is "It's Going to Be a Merry Christmas," and the lyrics say, "We don't even have a Christmas tree and your presence is enough for me." That's the way it should be.
B&N.com: We've spoken before about how Celine Dion had a hit with "If You Ask Me To" after you recorded it. Do you still feel underrated?
PL: I still feel because I'm a black woman, it's gonna be hard for me. I've been doing this for 45 years, and it's still not as easy for me. But guess what? I'm still standing up there tall and strong every night that I perform. People don't get it sometimes. I ain't mad. I don't playa hate, I congratulate. And I always congratulate Celine Dion for being smart enough to record ["If You Ask Me To"]. It's a good song. I love her.
B&N.com: What younger artists are you fond of?
PL: I'm very fond of Beyoncé. I went to see her show about a month ago, and that girl is no joke. As many props as she gets, she deserves them. Not everyone can do a show, and she can do a show. The other ones [need to] catch up.
B&N.com: Who or what inspires you?
PL: I was thinking, oh God, what? [laughs] Yeah, God inspires me. I know I'm blessed. And every day gets better. So as long as I'm breathing, I'm not gonna let the women who are hotter than me yet who are doing the same thing I am, bother me anymore. It will bother me a little, but not as much as it used to. I really can't complain about the way my career is going. When I complain I'm just being a bad girl.
B&N.com: You say you like hip-hop. Who are your favorite artists?
PL: I like hip-hop music, but some of the lyrics make me want to cry. Whenever I'm at a party, my favorite song is "In Da Club" by 50 Cent. [Others] are "California Love" by Tupac and Kanye West's "Gold Digger." Then I'm on the floor all night. Put anything else on and I'm gonna sit down. Wait, you know what else I listen to? [She sings] "Do the Naomi Campbell walk. Naomi Campbell walk."
B&N.com: You mean Beyoncé's "Get Me Bodied."
PL: Yeah, I like that. But some of these hip-hop artists, God bless 'em. I'm happy they're able to get out of the ghetto and buy their mothers a home and a car. But who's listening to their music? Little [kids] and they remember every lyric. And they remember every video they see with the girls with no clothes on, and that's how they're gonna dress -- like a little hooch. I love their music but the lyrics are bad.
B&N.com: What's next for you?
PL: I have a line of pots and pans and hot sauce coming out called "Patti LaBelle -- Good Life." I have a cooking DVD and a [third] cook book coming out in January. I'm finishing a LaBelle album with Nona [Hendrix] and Sarah [Dash] -- our first album in 35 years. It's a rock opera and we're working with Lenny Kravitz. I will [also] tour with Dionne [Warwick] and Gladys [Knight], and I'm collaborating with country artist Travis Tritt. I'm just doing stuff.
B&N.com: You were in two successful groups -- the Bluebelles and LaBelle. Did you always want to go solo?
PL: It never entered my mind. I never wanted to go on stage alone because if you mess up, who can you blame? With them, I could say, "You sang that wrong note." Now it's all on me. I used to blame them and it was me [laughs]. I always wanted friends onstage with me. I was embarrassed to do solo stuff. I know how to put it on when it comes to interviews and performing because I have to. But I'm pretty laid back.
10/29/07
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