Uploaded by ramsdenrik on Dec 15, 2008
Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases a YouTube video of a 1985 film clip of Patti Labelle and the New Jersey Mass Choir performing "You'll Never Walk Alone" at New York's Apollo Theater.
This post also documents some examples of comments from that video's discussion thread and another YouTube video of that film clip that include examples of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) words, phrases, or sayings. No definitions or notes about these AAVE words, phrases, or sayings are included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for historical, religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II,the composers of "You'll Never Walk Alone" for their 1945 musical Carousel.
Thanks to Patti Labelle and the New Jersey Mass Choir for their rendition of this song. Thanks to Mavis Staples, Al Green, and Little Richard who joined Patti Labelle and that choir in singing that song towards the end of this video.
Thanks to pianist Billy Preston and the other musicians who are featured in this video. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
I believe that almost all of the comments in this compilation were written by African Americans. It's possible that a few of these comments were written by Black people who aren't African American and an even fewer number of these comments were written by people who aren't Black.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/03/puttin-on-black-viewer-comments-about.html for a 2012 pancocojams post on this subject entitled On The Black" - Viewer Comments About Patti Labelle Singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" At The Apollo Theater (1985). An explanation of what I meant by "putting on the Black" is found in the comment section of this pancocojams post.
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SELECTED VIEWER COMMENTS FROM PATTI LABELLE VIDEOS THAT INCLUDE AAVE
Numbers are given for referencing purposes only.
DISCUSSION THREAD #1
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh4A0OATN9g&t=1s
This is the video that is embedded in this pancocojams post.
2009
1. @PHILOULOW
"Praise the Lord !!!!"
2010
2.broncofangj
"cant nobody do it like Ms Patti you betta sang mama!"
3. @Marvelous001
"I remember watching this the night it aired and I taped it (VHS). I still have it on tape and I love it as much, if not more today, as I did when I first saw it. This for me is arguably Patti's best televised performance and she did GOD and herself proud. The choir was off the chain too. LOVE EVERY BIT OF IT!!!!!"
2011
4. misscinderella
"LOL cut up girl!"
**
5. guiana1000
"WANTED,The POLICE,FBI CIA. and INTERPOOL, are all looking for patty,she is a bad.baddd girl,OMG WOOO"
6. cosmicurious522
"Does anyone else realize that Patti's voice is more powerful than the choir and Mavis Staples, Al Green and Little Richard combined!!!!!! Woooooow!!
Take us to church Miss Patti."
**
7. scampbell04
"Ms. Patti singing...Billy Preston on the piano....YAAASSSS!"
**
8. kwilcox1126
"SANG IT
LET THE LORD USE YA!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
****
9. 163jnard
"This is whats called Sangin !"
10. @silversleep731
"I love how she just side-steps onto the stage after holding that note for an eternity and a day! Go Ms. Patti!"
****
201211. EyeLook2U
..."Gone are the true singers that use to rivals anything but a God Given Talent, and today we are left with Striptease and Pole dancers. Back then i knew couldn't make it in show business because as much as I knew i could sing. I knew i couldn't "SANGGGGG". Anybody can be a star today...just bring your Auto-tune and you're good to go!!!!"
**
Reply
12. stillwill2215
"@EyeLook2U u know u tellin' the truth; i don't think we'll ever see a performance of this magnitude from any performer in this life time. loooooooves me some patti."
**
13. jespitos
"JEEEEEEEEZAS!!!!
PRAYZZZZZ DA LAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWRD!"
**
14. TheCameronmama
"I am 40 years old and I saw this the day that it aired.....this is one of my favorite performances by Patti Labelle....and it still has the same affect that it had on me so many years ago....I love u Patti...u r one of the last real singers left....this is when choirs really sang like this....I give a big shout out to Tucker Baptist Church back in the day....you know that u did your thing!"
**
Reply
15. @donjohnson5702, 2019
"This was the New Jersey Mass Choir."
**
16. @mzztyma
"omg I lov this women so much God bless her over and over and
over!!! wwhoooaaahhaa Jesus she blessed my soul !!!"
**
17. @LISATAYLORB171
"I can watch this a million times and still get misty eyed.
Sing Patti!!!
As Seen On: Maybe it's just me..."
****
2013
18. @ShawnCCook
"I am not a fan of gospel music but this performance is
everything. Everything!!!! I remember seeing it live back in 1985 and
have sang her performance in my head for almost 30 years because it made that
much of an impression on me. 30 years
later, it still touches me a great deal.
This is still unmatched and full of emotion and power as it was when it
originally aired back in 1985. Amazing
performance. Absolutely amazing."
Reply
19. @kwasimseven, 2021
"
****
2014
20. @FonzeOnterell
"That entrance alone (the spectacular range) . . . and the
woooh's at 1:28-1:29, 1:42-1:45, 2:53-2:55, 3:18-3:21, 4:28-4:30, That's Patti
Labelle! Operatic Marian Anderson
talent. and I always say this is why she is not Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight,
Tina Turner, Natalie Cole, Dionne Warrick, Donna Summer, Barbra Streisand,
Chaka Khan, Whitney Houston, or Diana Ross! Those powerful steady woooooh's
NONE of them can do this! and thats why they respect her talent. Praise Jah! I
love this lady! Cissy Houston can but she is not a lead singer."
**
Reply
21. @yaphettaylor808,2017
"Fonze Knight AMEN....Mama is one of a kind!!!"
****
2015
22. @MrChoirDirector87
"Chile! Momma Patti's entrance alone had me slayed!! Oh she
shut that show DOWN!!!!!! I feel sorry for whomever had to follow up after
her.....My God!"
Reply
23. @kreseananmarie6434, 2016
"
**
24. @robwatsoniii4141
"I've noticed-after years of watching- that whenever Queen
Diva pulls that mic off the stand she 'bout to get footloose and vocal free!
THAT'S when the show starts! She roams the stage and the vocals get REAL!"
****
2016
2017
25. @justinwantou9145
"I was at the BET Awards when Patti performed. Her voice,
fills the entire theatre..she ain't NO JOKE. Clarity and Volume! This
performance gives me chills.."
2018
****
2019
26. @MalcolmAli
"Didn’t even wait to make it on the stage before
she started going off 😂 Legend"
2020
****
202127. @librnx1988
"Patti was handing out vocal beatdowns this Epic
night. Never again will Diana pass the
mic to a powerhouse singer😂😂"
****
2022
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2023
28. @gayrightstransrightsmyrights
"When she snatched that damn mic off that doggone mic stand
and it stayed in place, I got my complete life! And so did the lady in the
choir."
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DISCUSSION THREAD #2
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szhTtl6CuO8 Patti Labelle - You'll Never Walk Alone (LIVE) HD, published by Andranik Azizbekyan; Nov 26, 2010; Apollo Theatre, New York City; 4 May 1985
2014
1. @d2197v
"What I think people miss in general is a Spiritual singer.
Patti will get up and sing her song and the spirit hits her all the time. She
then takes it to church. Folks always say, why is she shouting all the time. It
is nice to see her free in her element. She is my favorite because she has no
boundaries. Her talent is raw and never the same ever. This performance is just
a wow"
**
Reply
2.@gene1536
"I just love me some Mama Patti!"
**
Reply
3. @ethelstevenslove2957
"Yes she put her foot in this song......."
**
Reply
4. @stonedmermaid679, 2017
"Dan Vasquez totally correct. And she's a living testimony.
That's why she sings the way she do."
**
Reply
5.@deniseowens6574, 2017
"Amen brother Amen true that it's been a long journey to Follow since I was a little girl Amen she's still my Girl OK God Bless Us all Amen toGod Be All His Holiness Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Bless Him luv HimAmen
****
2015
6. @drethomas1678
"she can hit the highest notes and still stay on key "Go
Patti" "
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2016
****
2017
"That entrance alone with her huge voice and in synch
movement with the choir was pure slayage
She started off in 10th gear and went on up...
Powerful chest and head voice
She blew through an entire choir and then made 3 legends
into her background singers
#amazing"
**
8. @skinnerboyz
"I remember watching this program the night it aired. Patti
owned this song and the show that night ! Outstanding job. When Patti sings a
song you can take it to the bank that the song has been sung ! Nobody else even
need to try. It belongs to Patti !"
**
9. @travischristmas98
"Miss patti came out harmonizing before the song even started😂"
Reply
10.
"Aunti Patti is carrying on!"
**
Reply
11. @brandonburrell8517,2020
"She's not harmonizing. Harmonizing is singing a
complimentary part with the melody. She's ad libing, and it is wonderful
indeed."
**
Reply
12. @mreynol1,2020
"@brandonburrell8517 Right..lol. It takes more than one voice to
harmonize."
**
Reply
13. @victoriamichaels6930,2021
"Yesssss Yassssss Yassssssssss SHE DID IT! Tore the house
down 🏡"
**
Reply
14. @michellemiller4759, 2021
"All I can SAY is, MS. PATTY LABELLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
**
Reply
15. @user20mil38, 2022
"Snatching wigs from the backstage 🤣"
2018
16. @mojobanks1398
"I like the way the choir was looking at her, they knew she
was getting ready to blow the roof off the Apollo Theater."
17. @Thetruuuuuth
"The ONLY singer nowadays who I'm still excited to see perform. She ain't no national treasure...She a GLOBAL treasure!!!!!!!! Love and treasure her.....a living legend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
18. @artisttemple8268
"You can hear her before you see her... Ms. Patti came to sing and praise, Y'all.
It's 2022 and this song still touches my spirit. Thank you, Ms. Patti. Bravo! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾💖✨🙏🏾☀"
**
19. @carlosramireziii183
"that scream is mighty empowering.. can feel it in the soul!
go head patti."
**
20. @fareshajjar1208
"Patti starts a song at the intensity that most people would
love to end it. By the close of the first verse the audience is blown away.
Then she just soars.."
**
21. @queenvirgo
"My God, she don't even need a choir or background singers!!!
Powerhouse! Come thru Patti!!"
**
22. @mary-ks5kc
"Everything on her is Iconic, She built her legacy with her
unique talent, her voice is powerful as thunder, we all respect her, nothing
can touch Mama Patty ❤️"
****
2022
****
2023
23. @mr.c.6620
"Everyone was shook, the band, the choir, Al Greene, Mavis,
Lil Richard and the audience, even the mic stand understood the assignment. I
watched this when it originally aired, shook then and I'm still amazed
and shaken!!!"
**
Reply
24. @maverickstyles9126
"🤣🤣🤣 that
mic stand did get right, right after his homie got snatched up like a bad ass 6
year old."
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Viewer comments are welcome.
In 2012 I coined the term "putting on the Black" and I published several pancocojams posts on that subject, including "Putting On The Black" - Viewer Comments About Patti Labelle Singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" At The Apollo Theater (1985)" http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/03/puttin-on-black-viewer-comments-about.html. That post was Part II of a three part pancocojams series about "putting on the Black".
ReplyDeleteSome of the YouTube discussion thread comments that were included in that post are found in this 2023 pancocojams post.
The links to the other 2012 posts in that series are included in each post.
.
In 2012 I defined "putting on the Black" as "purposely using African American vernacular English (AAVE) online to signal to others (including other Black people who may be present) that you are Black, and/or to show off your Blackness without directly identifying themselves using a racial referent."
DeleteThat usage is in stark contrast with purposely hiding one's identification as an African American by consciously refraining from using any Black slang, Black sayings, and/or any Black grammatical constructs, unless those examples of African American vernacular has been widely accepted by the mainstream American culture.
Later, I noted in my pancocojams posts specifically on "Putting on the Black" or in other pancocojams posts, that a number of African American Vernacular English words, phrases, and sayings were being used by non-African Americans (Black and non-Black) in the United States and throughout much of the world (including many African nations). Some examples of those AAVE terms (from 2012 and/or in 2023) are "fire", "lit", "killing"/"killed it". "slay", "murdered", "(I'm) "dead", "OG", "bro", "hard", and "fam".
I believe that the main reason why those words, phrases, and sayings and others which have been given different meanings or connotations by African Americans have been adopted throughout the world because African American culture has long been considered the epitome of coolness and hipness. Therefore, people who use AAVE (the correct way) shows are considered to be "cool"/ "hip".
Although some examples of AAVE have been adopted by non-African Americans in the United States and elsewhere throughout the world, other AAVE words haven't been picked up by non-African Americans YET. One example of this is African American meaning that has been given to the word "sang" and its related word "sangin(g)." The African American meaning of "sang" is "to sing very well, especially to sing soulfully very well". Examples; "Sang, girl!"; "That choir can really sang!; "He's really sangin that song".
DeleteAfrican Americans online use the word "sang" a lot, particularly in YouTube discussion threads of religious songs, but I haven't noticed that word being used outside of the internet. And I haven't come across any examples of that meaning of "sang" being used by non-African Americans in the United States or elsewhere.
Have you noticed this meaning of "sang" being used online by non-African Americans? Also, have you noticed this meaning of sang being used off-line?
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/02/linguistic-alert-another-verncular.html for the pancocojams post entitled "What "Sang", "Sanging", & "Sanger" REALLY Mean In African American Vernacular English". This is the earliest pancocojams post that I published on the African American meaning of the word "sang" and its related forms.
DeleteSimilarly, I'm curious about the use by non-African Americans in the United States and elsewhere of the word "ate" with the African American meaning/connotation of "performing or doing something so well that no one can top it (there's nothing left for anyone else to do.) For example, referring to a woman's performances someone says "She ate and left no crumbs" and "They ate that!".
ReplyDeleteAs such, the African American meaning of the word "ate" for dance and other movement performances is similar to the African American meaning of the word "sang" that is used for vocal performances.
I've found examples of the word "ate" with that meaning in some contemporary African American discussion threads from at least the 2008 on. I’ve particularly noticed that use of the word "ate" in some YouTube discussion threads of majorette dance lines and stomp or in YouTube discussion threads of stomp and shake cheerleading.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/05/a-new-african-american-vernacular.html for the pancocojams post entitled "What "Ate" And "Ate That" Mean In African American Vernacular English (AAVE)".
With regard to the comment "She [Patti Labelle] put her foot in that song" that is given above, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/09/the-african-american-meaning-of-put.html for a pancocojams post that titled "The African American Meaning Of "Put Your Foot In It" (with theories about the origin of that idiom).
ReplyDelete