I Say A Little Prayer
M U S I C M O N D A Y
Dionne Warwick’s music was always playing in my house when I was growing up. There’s something about her voice quality that I find so pleasing — maybe it just transports me to another time and place…? My Favorites include; Do You Know the Way To San Jose, Message to Michael, I’ll Never Fall in Love Again, Alfie, Walk On By, This Girl’s in Love With You, Are You There (With Another Girl), I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself, Trains and Boats and Planes, Always Something There To Remind me…
In a 1967 Time Magazine article, song composer, Burt Bacharach, stated of Warwick, “She has a tremendous strong side and a delicacy when singing softly – like miniature ships in bottles.” Burt Bacharach first noticed Dionne Warwick when she was singing backup for The Drifters, after the show he went back stage, grabbed her, and the rest is history. His music, Hal David’s lyrics and her voice were like butter, or “Buttah”. They made memorable music from the mid 60’s into the 70’s.
Here’s Aretha Franklin’s version. It’s a lot more soulful. I’ll play her version if I’m in a different mood. I can’t say which one I prefer more.
How about you? Do you have a preference for this particular song?
she was the voice of my youth – I loved each and every one you mentioned-each for their own reasons
Oh, that makes me feel even more bonded to you, Lou Ann. I love her voice. Those songs each had such a special quality.
of the two, she is the one I prefer – though Aretha is wonderful in her own right
are you there (with another girl) reminds me of the angst of youth
Yes, sadly I know what you mean. That’s one of my absolute favorites. I don’t think I ever stopped listening to her music. It’s timeless, that’s another indication of why she’s amazing.
I love the Aretha version, but I won’t skip the Dionne version on my ipod either.
I hear you. The Aretha version is, in some ways more fun to sing along with, not that I have a great voice, I don’t, but I can pretend I do and hide behind her vocals. haha!
Memories of dancing in my room to this one! Hey maybe if I did that again… I’d be skinny?
You and I are on the same wave length! haha! I thought the exact same thing!!
I love “Walk on By” and to look that fab in that black dress…sigh I’d have to grow about 6 inches and get a tan.
Oh, I love that song, too. She was never a beauty, to be honest, but when both she and Aretha were young, they both had slim attractive figures. There’s one Youtube video where Aretha Franklin looks anorexic. I’m so used to seeing her today – so heavy. Hard to believe she was ever that tiny. Getting old is the worst. 😦
well when you are short and stubby like me– that pic you posted — she looks pretty good. Yea getting old does suck some but there are advantages. Come on Girl!
Dionne version for me .
I think most people feel as you do, Harry.
Dionne does it for me. I think it is often that the first version that grabs one remains the favourite.
I agree. The first time we hear something it gets cemented. Her version is hard to beat, anyway.
Lisa, a nice, soulful one for a Monday. I always liked, “Walk on By.” I remember when she hosted, “Solid Gold.” Remember that show? Once she sang, Van Halen’s “Jump,” on it. Not quite her song, but memorable. I’ve always loved her.
haha! Solid Gold! Of Course. I haven’t thought about that show in a long time. Walk on by is one of the best.
The idea of her sing Van Halen’s “Jump” is too funny! It just goes to show that people will try anything to stay current – as if she really needed it. Her voice and the music she chose to showcase (Burt Bacharach) is the equivalent of a great, flattering haircut. You shouldn’t steer too far away from what you know really works.
I adore any Bacharach/David music, and I love Dionne…thank you!
A little trip down memory lane… I love their collaborations, too. Some talents are just meant to go together. 🙂
I do like Dionne but Aretha — she is the queen of soul, so I’d go with her version. No one can sing like her (to me anyway). Who doesn’t want to sing “Natural Woman?”
Wasn’t Dionne on the psychic network, Lisa or am I thinking of someone else?
That was Dionne! She was a psychic!
Yes! She was indeed on the Psychic network. Actually, she WAS the psychic network! haha! Clearly, not one of her better moments.
Her version makes me feel like a natural woman! Totally. (She has so many great songs…) When I sing along with Aretha I feel powerful, like the music is coming from deep inside me. Plus, as I said earlier to someone, I can always hide behind her vocals and pretend that I’m a more soulful singer– like I have real talent. Too bad I have the worst voice ever!! 🙂
I like Dionne Warwick’s version better because I think I’m more used to it. Also, Aretha didn’t really change anything about the song, and I feel that if you dare to cover someone else’s song you should make it totally your own. I think she just wanted to sing it “better” which bugs me. Hahah
I think most people feel as you do. It’s pretty perfect the way she sings it. Aretha’s is more powerful, which, given the lyrics, doesn’t really go, right? Her voice is excessive for the line “While combing my hair, now, and wondering what dress to wear, now…” haha!
I always think of Dionne’s version of Say a Little Prayer. Such a good song!
Love your blog makeover. It looks fab. ;D
It’s a classic. Her version is just right for it.
Thanks, we’ll see how long I keep it. 🙂
Love that song – and your new format!
Thanks, V! I’m not sure I’ll keep it yet. I’ve been so unsure of everything lately, right down to my blog format! ha!
Great clips, both. Prefer Aretha over Dionne 99 of 100. This would be the 1 of 100.
You are one of the few. So far people are going with Dionne’s version. I love both. Aretha Franklin adds another quality to the song – she’s a force to be reckoned with.
I just think Aretha is a much better singer. And I say that without any intent to belittle Dionne as she is superior to most anybody else. On this song I like the soulful version better cause that’s where my taste leads me. Both versions are great.
Niiice… We had a Dione Warwick eight track tape. There was a song on it called, Let Me Go to Him… One of the saddest melodies I’ve ever heard in a song. It sticks with me to this day.
I don’t think I know that one? I’m gonna listen to it right now.
Eight Track tape! LOL! Those were the days 🙂
Oh yeah, I prefer Dionne Warwick to Aretha Franklin…
My Dear Gripping
I just adore Dionne and have always done so.
My childhood memories are of ‘All the Love in the World’ which my mother sang to me as a child.
Of course it is all in her tone and her wonderful precision.
All of which made her the perfect duetist. I wonder have you ever seen this one of her performing with the very pleasant M. Sacha Distell, when I believe they were briefly romantically blessed.
Quite special…
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy.
Oh my, talk about butter! Sometimes in life we’re fortunate to find ‘that someone’ who compliments us so completely we’re left wondering if God put them directly in our path for that purpose. I’ve never seen this. I thank you, Perfumed Dandy, for sharing it with me. It’s just lovely.
So it seems we all adore Dionne. What’s not to love?
Have a beautiful day, my perfume loving friend!
A Gripping Life
Oh wow, this brings back memories of my Aunt Dot.. She would imitate Dionne (after a few glasses of wine I’m sure) at family gatherings and we would just applaud because she really could sing pretty darn good.. I love how we retain musical memories and we associate certain songs with events of our lives 🙂
Dionne still rocks!!
I have yet to meet the person who doesn’t love her voice. It was so perfect for those Burt Bacharach songs. Such talent and really, a nice sound for those times, right? They hit the mark every time. I like taking these little trips down memory lane with my friends 🙂
PS- I forgot to add I had a huge crush on her collaborator, Burt Bacharach.. i wanted to marry him when I grew up :-)..this song still gives me goosebumps:
Again, you and I are twins. I, too, have always had the hots for him. Was it the talent, the fact that he had a deep well of romance in his soul? He was cute. A man of substance. I think he aged pretty nicely, too. At least that’s what I thought the last time I saw a picture of him. How funny. That kind of talent is always sexy.
Love all of these Lisa! Dionne was always on in our house too (another thing we share! wow, we do need to make this meet up happen!)… my mom was a huge fan, thus so was I. Great music, great memories. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
I’ve been sick for the past couple days. I’m still in bed typing this on my iPad.
Isn’t it funny that we have the same memories? What a soothing voice Dionne had. Love her.
Feel better darlin’.
She was just wonderful. It’s interesting that they used the trumpets in the arrangements back then which is certainly an instrument that went by the wayside. (I played the trumpet in the band and I quit when everybody started calling me “Red”!) I know all the the lyrics to each of these songs and they were all just wonderful weren’t they? I think I like the Dionne version best. She serves the song, whereas Aretha puts her signature on the song . . .both are wonderful though.
Haha! Red! Whenever I hear trumpets it takes me right back to the late 60’s early 70’s. I love all of these songs, they put me in a certain mood. Didn’t Burt Bacharach also write Rain Drops are falling on my Head? It has the same kind of feel.
Dionne’s version is better. You’re right when you say, she serves the song.
I took some new medicine, Lyrica, for my neuralgia situation and it’s made me so loopy that I literally can’t get out of bed! The room has been spinning all day. I’m so behind on my comments! Please know that I’ve read everything you’ve posted, Linda, and the laughter has kept me buoyant. XOXO 🙂
Oh Lisa! I am so sorry to hear about your not being able to get out of bed! Oh that’s horrible. I feel so bad for you. I hope there is someone there to take care of you. I remember when you first thought you needed a root canal and had one and then the pain turned out to be neuralgia.
Now this is just a wild guess, but it’s what happened to me and I only figured it out after years of suffering with what were diagnosed as Migraine headaches that would end in visits to the emergency room —
My theory is that my pain was actually being caused by a sinus infection that cannot be detected because it’s in sinuses deep in the head that the doctors can’t check because they can’t see them. (and because they are too egotistical and too apathetic to really try care much about solving the problem and tag it with a general disorder like migraine headache . . . or neuralgia).
I suffered for years and then one time I was put on antibiotics (for something different) and my head didn’t hurt as much. (I couldn’t sleep on that side of my head or it would cause a horrible migraine.) Anyway long story short, I started taking Alieve Cold and Sinus along with an 800 mg prescription Ibuprofen and viola! Completely under control and with no thanks to the medical community which I am really down on if you haven’t already guessed LOL!
Anyway could there be a possibility that it could be sinuses?
I hope you feel better Lisa!!! And I’m sending you much love xoxo
You may be onto something with the sinus infection… Wouldn’t that be great!! I’d have to go to you with all my future aches and pains to get a more accurate diagnosis. My Dr. is Linda Vernon out in California. She has ESP, especially for the wrong people! (That still makes me laugh.) Seriously, I’m going to look into that. It makes sense to me. I’m glad your migraines went away. How awful! I’m down on the medical community, too. For heaven sake, I had an unnecessary root canal!! ARGH!
Thanks for the love, Linda!! And the assessment! xoxox
Look at little miss Lisa with the new swanky blog design 😀
Who doesn’t love a bit of Aretha Franklin right? She’s a timeless classic, unlike much of the rubbish that’s about these days. Why couldn’t I have lived when all these great musicians were in their prime? Excellent post 🙂
Tee hee! Lily has been helping me spruce it up. We’ll see how long I keep it this way.
Lily played that one song today that she gave you, Sail, by AWOL Nation. We were talking about you, imagining you driving around.:)
Aretha Franklin — total classic. You should have been born a little earlier, during my time. When I think of my loveless life, lily always says, there’s always Pete! haha!
Haha I love the fact that people in another country talk about me. 😀 I get my new car Sunday and Sail is on my playlist “New Car Choons”. I’ll finally have a CD player that I can plug my iPod into again, I’ve had to resort to CDs the past year!
And yes, your life is never loveless while I’m about!
Love this! I remember Dionne Warwick playing at a father/daughter dinner my dad and I went to when I was probably 5. Nice one!
And hey! you re-did your blog! Out with the old, in with the new! xoxox
Aww… I love that memory, Mags. It’s so sweet. Her voice is like a time machine – it really transports.
We’ll see how long I keep it… Still fooling around.
Very cool, soulful shares, young lady!
Thanks!