Bettye Lavette - Talking Old Soldiers

[melaniebottorff]

Her voice is like a mix of Mavis Staples and Tina Turner. I just bought my tickets to see her in Anchorage Alaska in April.

[kalDavidVideo]

Miss Bettye Lavette...you are the Real Deal....WOW...

[NEWTVIC]

Oh man, I know , I know about them friends- muddy hills and filthy alleys-broken dreams and the silent screams in the night- Thank You ma;am for a great song thank you- Semper Fi-

[danzeke1962]

She took a very good song written by Sir Elton and Bernie Taupin and turned into one the most haunting and melancholy tour de force's since "Is that All There Is?"

[indigirl86]

Wow, she put the hurt to this song...she sang it with pain...go head!!!

[bsmoothcoolb]

Damn!!! That's good!!

[vanokeith]

will someone put the 2011 uncf perfomance on here or tell me the name of the song herbie nancock played the piano

[31285bpierre]

man... this is soooo good!

[1ricababy]

glad to here this lady sing, she sounds good

[mimichou53]

même sans comprendre toutes les paroles ,cette voix vous prends aux tripes

une grande dame

[marinman39]

To me, there was only Aretha and Tina in female rock and soul vocalists at the top of the list, and everyone else was somewhere well below.... Well, surprise, there is (and somehow always was, she's been around forever) Bettye Lavette, right up there. Better late than never.

[bloozlvr]

Why have I never heard of this woman?caught her on public T.V. recently,(Thank God for Austin City Limits ) gave me goosebumps.

[phatdic11]

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!

[tamaragranger]

man, the "i got me memories" line makes you quiver

[mrgb46]

Would anyone agree that this version has the same emotional impact as Johnny Cash's version of HURT?? Just asking..

[LifePusher]

what is the betty lavette song with the words

some gave me my wings or fixed my broken wings so I can fly

I love that song can someone please help me

[wsj0301]

@LifePusher the song is entitled, "Take Me As I Am."

[JLJable]

She is amazing

[mzafia]

wow...her rendition of this song is amazing...gives me chills...just now being turned on to this increible woman

[rcktmanil]

I am in AWE. Bettye took this wonderful Elton song and breathed new life into it. This is probably the single most wrenching, moving performances I have seen in years.

[jesuisjeancocteau]

This cover and this video are just unbelievable...she did SUCH an amazing job. stunning..

[rubetue]

OMG ... Sista you still can touch souls unlike so many others~ Thank you~ God Bless

[HeyCro]

Love the way that she completely redoes this version. Like all great singers, she makes the song her own. Check out Bettye LaVettte's "Damn Your Eyes" at the music blog Nightly Song.

[derrickhollywood101]

Thanks Bee... I'll let you down easy... with a smile..  When i sing on stage I take you with me..

[megearl]

I love it,great memories..

[mikado415]

Preach! This is my first time learning of Miss Lavette. I'm so happy to be able to find and learn about singers of this quality-thank you thank you thank you antirecords.

[deiga99]

WOW,WHAT A VOICE!!

[BoomhinschPro]

the vocals are like sketchy but its beautiful.. its such a powerful song and the video she added makes it even more powerful

[whitegirlblue]

Amazing! Talking old Soldiers (Elton) has been one of my favorites since I was about 12 or 13. I am 50 now.  I have never herd it sung by anyone else. And I think that was Fantastic!!! You Have a new Fan Bettye Lavette.

[lounalual]

Quand je suis las de compter les nouvelles fleurs du printemps, je tourne mon regard et ma tendresse vers ces belles invincibles qui malgré l'outrage du temps ont su garder le coeur sans ride

[PeekaPeep]

Hearing this, pisses me off to find out how Atlantic screwed her over back in the day. Final straw was when she had an official debut album set to go for them in '72 ('Child of the Seventies'/later reissued on CD under the title 'Souvenirs' by a French label almost 20 years later) only to be shelved at the very last minute by the company higher-ups with no reason given whatsoever. I've heard that album myself and I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt it would've gotten her over EASY. Damn shame.

[PeekaPeep]

So I'm glad Bettye's finally reaping her hard-earned rewards for hangin' in there when most would probably just quit the business altogether by now, especially after enduring all the BS she most likely had to deal with in doing so. And Atlantic (now owned by WMG-BOOOOOO!!!) should issue her an outright apology, but that's just my honest opinion. Props to a true soul survivor!

;-)

[sauvealicelou]

I love her, I love her , I love her.

Choices, is my favorite of hers, but this is a close second. They don't make singers like her anymore. Love you Bettye

[weewilly49]

This video should be more widely distributed. Included in all vocal courses and video production. Just classic!

[MrBrassBalls]

Stunning.

[uztakts]

Jest po prostu super.

[carloscj]

Seriously, I'm sitting here in awe at the computer. Talk about telling a story. My goodness. Yes.

[windnchgo]

A great Elton John song inspired by another great songwriter, David Ackles. And sung with heart wrenching soul by the peerless Bettye Lavette!

[StormyEffect]

Oh my god this is my favorite song from her! Thank you so much for posting!

[AnjoDun]

This is most definitely how this song should be sung. She makes it fit her like a glove. The lone piano arrangement is so tasty and this dark tune that speaks for many of us who have lost too many friends over the years is so poignant - as only Bettye could make it reach in and tug at our heartstrings so bad and so good. Thanks, Bettye for throwing your experience and talent into this great tune.

[Pear170]

To me this song will always send chills up my spine. When I ever feel alone. I love dark songs like this. I love to listen other versions of elton's songs like this one. To me, This song is one way to express of lonliness and the loss of people we know and love, I love the soul that she puts into this song. thanks for posting.

[muziktrkr]

I think they need to do another "Two Rooms".

[pubmasterj]

A great cover of a great Elton John tune. She puts an even darker approach to this song. An excellent job. WELL DONE !!

[82lube]

I can't get enough of this song. I'm 43, two of my best friends were murdered over drugs and have lost another 3 or 4 to overdoses and drund driving. I never thought at 43 I would be sittin here ALONE.

[fatandslat]

you're not alone, friend

[davilacm]

She is disturbingly( i hope that's how that's spelled) amazing. First song I have heard from her, but not the last!!

[rmm2424]

sing it dammit

[AnnAmelie]

What a lovely surprise! This is the first song that I've heard of Ms. Lavette's and now I'm a bit welly. Very nicely done.

[cmjhaywood]

Sir Elton may sing this song again now that she has made it hers! Wow! I get chill at that line about having "a graveyard as a friend" because I KNOW!

Where has this "A" lady been all these years while so many "C" performers have been crowding the stage?

[tamaragranger]

@cmjhaywood completely right... she's got a lot of soul. I saw her in concert at the beatles celebration in the hollywood bowl and i really liked her so i look her up to find very few things from her... the first time i saw this video i didnt know it was an elton john cover but the song makes you feel...you know?

great artist... it makes you wonder what some producers are thinking

[lashea1231977]

i love this songs. it gives me chills every time i listen to it because i have only four friends, and we've all been friends since high school. we always say that we'd be friends forever, and this song, talks about an old woman who has outlived all her friends, never again to have any true ones after that. i know thats how it'll be for one us, of the four of us, there will only be one left in the end.

[johnvuc]

At least you have four.

[clevermonkey64]

weeping..... snotty & Weeping

[68shamoa]

She is magic! one of the best!

[mstarfriend]

OMG I am speechless...she is music!

WOW!!!!!!

[soulsonist]

couldn't say it better!!

[mrbadexample83]

Holy Sh*t that was great!

[TOMTHEBOMBER]

i am heading for the tissues,their is but a handful that can pull off an Elyon song like that... Briliant.. Still crying during the second playing, Oh well!

[kybuck]

Just saw her at the Stuart Opera House before she left for Europe where they appreciate an artist like her. If life was fair she would be a huge star but her hard knocks are what gave her the grit in her voice and the fire in her belly. She smacked that audience up and down with her showmanship -- she didn't need the glitz and stage effects. Current "artists" pale in comparison. I drove two hours after just getting over open heart surgery to see her -- THAT is how great I think she is.....

[zarofrench]

Im a french fan and have enjoyed seeing her both in Paris where she is revered and London.Bettye is one of the most important female singers on this planet.

Respect to Lady Lavette.

[kybuck]

I don't know why America seems slow sometimes in discovering their own while the world jumps on the bandwagon early. Just glad I found her when I did. I was so happy to see her on the Kennedy Centers Honors and at Obama's swearing in ceremony....

[Winkiened]

************ for the Queen of Soul!!

[Blackabyss83]

Very beautiful. :)

[toddro1971]

If someone has her doing this live on Austin City Limits, please post it. As great as this is, the live version blows it away.

[dccable]

I found anti records through One Day As A lion. ANd I gotta say, ive bought 4 albums from them already and i plan to buy a lot more. All the talent they have signed is amazing. Bettye, what a voice.

[lenaspieltblues]

My god, that is so good!

[richardhag22]

goosebumps !!

[Renatfelix]

My biggest experience was to see Bettye in life performing ,i was just amazed ,it was one of my biggest experience of my life ,who cares she win awards or not she is the best anyways .Please make a live DVD. I love you very much and wish all the best and health and happiness and lots of new albums and show the big young generation what sing is all about .GOD Bless YOU , hope one day i be able to say thank personally and give you hug that you will never forget .With love your admire Rene

[TheUnitedFreak]

wow...

poet left speachless ^_^

all i can say is WOW!

[marquisdejolie]

Wonderful!

[tool68und]

This cracker is hooked. This is the shit/the real deal. We need more art/music like this. I can't listen to the radio anymore.

[TheTimeOutChair]

Wow, this had me frozen! Excellent performance. A++

[joewine50]

Stunning!! Thanks for posting.

[ytgm00]

just a fantastic lady with a fabulous video. i hope this will get some airing around the world !

[SpongeBobIsMyHomie]

wow this is a very nice job

[kimhansen72]

Very nice! Great to hear the old Elton John songs get covered.