Beyoncé To Portray Etta James In ‘Cadillac Records’
January 26, 2008 by Jeanne
Beyoncé has been picked to portray the legendary Etta James in the upcoming film, "Cadillac Records." The cat was let out of the bag by Cedric the Entertainer who mentioned it to blackfilm.com when he was talking about his new movie "Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins."
This is really exciting to me! This is a great role for Bey! Here’s the plot summary (from Black Voices):
The story is about Leonard Chess, the legendary founder of the South Side Chicago blues label Chess Records. The period piece follows the rise and fall of Chess Records, which launched the careers of such R&B greats as Muddy Waters, Etta James and Chuck Berry. Chess, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, scoured the South, checking out the various blues scenes and selling records from the back of his Cadillac. Cedric the Entertainer will play Willie Dixon, who wrote most of the hits records and was part of the famous company. One of his most famous songs was "Hoochie Coochie Man".
What do you think?
This is a good role for B. Etta resembles Ms. Tina a little bit too.
I did some research on youtube (LOL) and Bey will really do Ms. james some justice. It’s Just amazing to me that many people do not know the music sung by Ms. James but yet they ridicule Beyonce for taking this role & they havenot even seen the film. It’s more amazing that people have so much HATE for Beyonce. Some of the blogs are cruel and disturbing. It’s like they have a personal vendetta against her. It’s really sad. Only if people put that negative energy into something positive then the world would definitely be a better place. But no matter what I hope the haters make Bey stronger.
I get tired of so many people thinking that if you give your opinion, you are automatically a hater. That simply is not true. It is just an opinion. I dont think Beyonce is a good choice as I am familiar with Etta James’ music and life. Beyonce is beautiful and has a lovely voice but it does not fit this role. With the exception of Dreamgirls in which she was very well cast, I dont think she is a good enough actress or singer to carry it off.
It’s not the opinion per se that makes you a hater. It’s the personal attack that makes you a hater. Of course we are entitled to our opinions, but before you label her as not “good enough” just wait until you watch the movie to decide. In my opinion Beyonce is a soulful singer and after hearing etta james’ music I think she will do a GREAT job. I wish her all the luck. She gives 110th percent in everything that she does. And that’s why SHE sets the standards so high and everyone is being compared to her.
One more thing. I remember when Angela Bassett (non-singer) played Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do With It. From what I knew and most others knew, she was not known for singing or dancing. However the way she portrayed Tina Turner on that screen was phenonmenol! Who knew? So with that said, Give Bey a chance before you go knocking off her very high pedastal
you missed the point of
“opinion”. It is certainly possible that she could do good job and I wasn’t knocking her off a pedestal. She is a singer and dancer and so far has not proved herself as an actress. Angela Bassett is an actress! I think Beyonce ( as do many) receives acting offers because of her celebrity status and looks, not acting ability or fit for the role.
I think she will do a great job BUT…I think her next film shouldn’t have anything to do with singing we already know she can sing…I like to see her really ACT without the whole sing also…
I think she will do a great job BUT…I think her next film shouldn’t have anything to do with singing we already know she can sing…I like to see her really ACT without the whole sing thing
…
I can see your point and I must admit that I’d like to see a movie where she isn’t singing even though I love her voice.
Beyonce sings alright. I don’t think that her voice can pull off Etta’s. I would have cast Jill Scott is she was a little thinner. She has that old time jazz feel. Beyonce should stick to singing and dancing around the stage.
do anybody know anything about the casting for this movie?
I’m not sure who B has to “prove” herself to but I know one thing – Ms. Etta James already approved of B playing the role. Not only is B acting but she is executive producing! Another notch added to B’s belt. I hear Alicia Keys is on board to play one of the ladies in Jame’s Band. As for me B can play in hundreds of musical movies or movies that require singing roles, I don’t care just as long as the movie is a good movie. I can’t recall anyone criticizing Robert Deniro for the many roles he played as a Mobster. So as far as B is concerned she’s going to knock all of you off of your feet in this one. Just remember you heard it hear first!
I like Beyonce too…i think she has a good voice, she’s pretty and she’s an okay actor…BUT, the comment you made earlier isn’t entirely correct. Etta James said that if she was going to play her that she has a lot of work…she said that she would’ve preferred seeing Alicia Keys or Jill scott playing her. Directly from Etta james “I wasn’t as bourgie as she is, she’s bourgeois. She knows how to be a lady, she’s like a model. I wasn’t like that… I smoked in the bathroom in school, I was kinda arrogant, so those are some of the things I would want to tell her.” In order for Beyonce to do gret, her acting would have to be flawless. I’ve watched all of her movies & she’s never really had to stretch as an actress. Her acting has always be the same, different characters yes but same acting. I love Beyonce and this is her chance to show just how great of an actress she is…i’m rooting for her…Go Beyonce.
What wasn’t correct? I said Etta James “approved” of Bey playing the role. I did not quote any one particular line or omit any particular line. Your “quote” V has in fact omitted an entire paragraph or 2. She never said she wanted Jill Scott or Alicia Keys for the part. She was concerned if Bey could sing like her but her son told her that Bey could really sing. Bottom line is that B is playing the role like it or not. Then she was concerned since Bey is so squeaky clean and Etta was and I quote “no angel”. If you don’t think she’s the one for it don’t watch the movie!
what are you talking about? People are voicing their opinions & you’re not paying attention to what i’m saying—but i’m not going to get into it. If you don’t like what i’m saying then don’t respond…in fact you don’t even need to read it…that’s the bottom line. If you don’t think people are entitled to their opinions then maybe you should find another blog…..i stated my opinion, you stated yours…
V – you should take your own advice. YOU stated what I said was not entirely correct. Keep YOUR opinions to yourself. If you disagree with what I said write your disagreement don’t critique my blogs. It’s a blogging forum not a newspaper article and YOU ARE NOT THE CHIEF EDITOR!!
well, beyonce playing etta james will be interesting if nothing else. honestly bey is trying to hard to win an oscar, she doesn’t act because she simply loves it NO she acts because she wants to achieve a title. she wants to be known for her talents, and in that she loses touch with reality. the reality is that she is not a good actress. i may be called a hater, but that is the truth. v was right, she plays the same character over and over again, just in different films. beyonce must learn to accept that she is not an actress. they always say that singers want to act and actors want to sing, some really can do both and very well…but not all. i commend bey for her ambitious nature, but sadly i don’t see an oscar in her near future…you see you can buy your way into a movie role using your name and power but you cannot buy an oscar with that title. it takes WORK.
oh and angela bassatt is an actress, and her being an actress playing a singer created a great challenge that she accepted and did outstanding. bey portraying a singer is not far from her reality. she is a singer. if beyonce wants to have a long career in acting or show that she is an actress, she needs to take on a serious role that does not involve singing or dancing and she will need to portray the role well. then and only then will i consider her an actress.
* i don’t respond to anyone’s responses so it doesn’t do any good to respond.
Leela James should play Etta James. Leela James know how to get down
I could have played an 0lder Etta. Alas, no star name or power.
http://www.francejeanbaptiste.com
“When Beyonce landed the role of the singer, Etta said she approved of the casting of Beyonce, but doubted the singer could pull off the grittier aspects of her life on the big screen.”
I’m thinking Queenie from Queenie and the Blue Cats could have pulled this off with a blonde wig but hopefullly the movie will be great inspite of Beyonce not being the right type. Jill Scott would have been cool too or Queen Latifah.
bey is absolutely the wrong person for the role. she CANNOT by any means act. her voice isnt very versitale. she always sound the same in everything that she does. i would have much rather seen jill scoot or alicia keys, bc their voices have personality, in which bey’s lacks that. she very pretty, but if u ask me, thats all she has going for her. she should NEVER be compaired to the greats, bc the doesnt weigh up. she should stick to singing. and as far as someone leaving the comment about angea basset, please understand that it was a movie and actresses act in movies and she is truly an actress, same as halley berry in dorothy dandrige movie. these women pulled these roles off bc they r truly actresses and not singers being actresses. i think bey should have stopped when her co-actress, jennifer hudson, got the oscar for the movie she was so expecting to receive one for. everybody doesnt excell at everything, and she needs to learn that she doesnt, and her acting is oneof those things. everybody cant be a triple threat.
ETTA JAMES EXPOSED!!!! ETTA JAMES EXPOSED!!!!
http://www.tmz.com/2009/02/05/etta-at-last-shes-been-exposed-as-hypocrite/
etta james jus crazi…. check check it out
tmz.com
Beyonce, please ignore those negative comments. Jealousy is a ‘green’ monster. Your rendition of “At Last” was right on. I love your music. Keep on doing what you do and lean and love your family and remember that drugs cause people to do strange things. Sorry you had to hear those hurtful words.
You did a great job. My fav song was “I’d rather be blind”. Amazing!!!
When I went to see a show Etta James played in Seattle this last winter she expressed disappointment that beyonce had been asked to sing an Etta James song at Obama’s acceptance, but Etta James herself was never even asked. Etta James was criticized for her comments but I can definately see where she’s coming from. I don’t know if the Cadillac Records movie was filmed before or after this incident but I saw the movie and B was decent but didn’t come close to doing the role justice. How does Etta feel about the portrayal?