B/S/T Etiquette

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

Dionne Warwick at her best:

Don't Make Me Over - Dionne Warwick

There's also quite the story behind the track. Hal David and Burt Bacharach had told a young Dionne Warwick that they were working on a song for her, but ended up giving it to another singer. When Dionne demanded to know why, the two hemmed and hawed about how the other girl was better suited for the song in this, that and the other way. Knowing that it was actually because she wasn't white, Dionne burst into tears at their implied criticism of her "suitability" and snapped "Don't make me over, man, accept me for what I am!" Stunned, Hal David and Burt Bacharach looked at each other with the realization that they'd just found the exact sentiment they needed to turn their young ingenue into a recording sensation.

I like the stark contrast in the video between the very awkward young Dionne stuffed into the formal gown and heels in which she could hardly walk and the raw power of her voice.



But sadly she'd never be quite that good again. They did, you see, rather quickly make her over.

That's wild... She is so young there. What a voice!

I was recently watching a mid-1960s episode of the Ed Sullivan Show, and caught this performance from the same magical era...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mczuM105fLk

Even though Petula performed her bigger hit (Downtown) earlier in the show, this is the one that stuck with me, as it's catchy as hell.