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Indian Express
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Pretty Little Baby' goes viral 63 years after release: Connie Francis, first woman to top Billboard charts, was raped at knifepoint
Instagram Reels have become a powerful platform for reviving old retro songs that were once loved by niche audiences. Classics like Cheri Cheri Lady, No Surprises, Moon River, Midnight Train to Georgia, and Running Up That Hill have found their way onto the playlists of Gen Z and the broader social media generation, even topping charts once again. This trend has sparked a cultural reappraisal of music from the 50s to the 80s, bringing decades-old tracks back into the public consciousness, cementing their place in today's digital music landscape. Connie Francis, one of the defining voices of the early Billboard Hot 100 era, dominated the charts in the late 50s and early 60s with an impressive string of hits, scoring 15 top 10 singles, including three chart-toppers: Everybody's Somebody's Fool and My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own in 1960, followed by Don't Break the Heart That Loves You in 1962. Now, more than 60 years after her commercial success, Francis is viral, cutting through pop culture clutter, not through one of her former hits, but thanks to a deep cut: Pretty Little Baby. The song's sweet, romantic verse—You can ask the flowers / I sit for hours / Telling all the bluebirds / The bill and coo birds / Pretty little baby, I'm so in love with you—has inspired over a million user-generated videos, bringing the track into the spotlight for a whole new generation. A post shared by Emma Bateman ✿ (@emmalinebateman_) A post shared by Jackie G (@tismejackieg) While Connie Francis is being rediscovered by a new generation of fans, many are unaware of the deeply traumatic experiences that shaped her life beyond her music career. The singer was once raped at knifepoint after a performance. According to a 1974 report by the New York Times, on the morning of the assault, Francis had just performed at the Westbury Music Fair and returned to her room at the Howard Johnson Motor Lodge in Westbury, New York, where she was staying. Around 5.30 AM, she was awoken by a young man who threatened her at knifepoint and proceeded to rape her. After the attack, the assailant tied her to a chair, knocking it over before covering her with a mattress and a suitcase. He stole jewelry and a mink coat before leaving the scene. Francis, badly shaken and injured, managed to free herself after more than half an hour. She made her way to the phone and called her secretary, who was in a nearby room. The police were alerted, and Francis was transported to Nassau County Medical Center for treatment. She was later released after receiving care for the assault and bruises. The 19-year-old accused was arrested after a staff member at the motel described him to the police, the report said. The aftermath of the attack deeply scarred Francis, both emotionally and professionally. In the years following the assault, she became an outspoken advocate for victims' rights and fought tirelessly to improve hotel security standards nationwide. She filed a landmark lawsuit against the motel chain, citing gross negligence for failing to provide adequate safety measures. She won the case, which not only resulted in a substantial financial settlement but also led to widespread changes in hotel security protocols across the United States. Despite the strength she displayed in seeking justice, the trauma took a severe toll on her mental health. Francis would later suffer from depression and spend years battling psychological effects due to the assault. Her career was further derailed as she took a break from the public eye to focus on healing. Speaking to Fox News in 2018, Francis opened up about how she coped with being raped. 'I had a lot of help. I had good friends, a family who supported me, and my sense of humour… But I didn't have the benefit of going to a support group for women who were raped because it would have been in the National Enquirer the following week. So I had to do that in the privacy of my own home. But it did take seven years out of my life. I didn't grant an interview for seven years. I didn't sing for seven years. It was a horrible experience,' she said. Over time, however, Francis found the courage to return to music and the stage. Her later work was marked by a deeper emotional resonance, derived from her personal experiences. She published a memoir, Who's Sorry Now?, in which she candidly wrote about her rise to fame, her struggles with mental illness, and the brutal realities she faced behind the scenes. Fast-forward to 2025, Pretty Little Baby has seen an incredible surge in popularity over the past few weeks, with Billboard reporting a remarkable 7,000 per cent increase in streams within just a month. The song has also made its debut on Spotify's Daily Top Songs charts, both in the USA and globally, suggesting it may soon make its way onto the Billboard Hot 100. Shruti Kaushal is a social media sieve and catches'em trends before they grow big, especially cinema. She has been a journalist for 4 years and covers trends, art and culture, and entertainment. ... Read More
Los Angeles Times
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
When Chaka, Gladys, Patti and Stephanie shared a stage, L.A. fans brought their Sunday best
Something straight out of music fairy tale happened on Sunday night in Inglewood: Four legendary singers — Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Stephanie Mills and Gladys Knight — came together to perform their greatest hits on one stage for the very first time. The first leg of the Queens tour, which runs through June, made a stop in L.A. on Mother's Day at the Kia Forum. The holiday was fitting — each of the artists are mothers and Khan's mother was in the audience. Garbed in their Sunday's best attire, thousands of fans of all ages stepped out for the bucket list-worthy show, which many described as 'once in a lifetime.' 'I prayed for a show like this,' Stephanie Mills, who at 68 is the youngest of the quartet, said from her green room after her set. 'Patti, Gladys and I did shows like a year or so ago, but I've always wanted to have Chaka, so I'm glad that we finally got her to do this. This is our first weekend of the tour, so I'm really happy about it. It's a dream come true.' Chaka Khan, 72, added, 'It's not lost on me. This may be the last tour for a couple of people, at least one person I think. I think this is a one-off situation.' We caught up with fans ahead of the three-hour show — Knight opened at 7 p.m. on the dot. They shared the inspiration behind their outfits, why they wanted to attend the Queens tour and what being a 'queen' means to them. Why did you want to come to the show? Walker: My mom's favorite artist is Gladys Knight and I wanted to give her a nice Mother's Day gift. Bluntson: This was a total surprise. I had no idea. I [found out because] I asked questions like 'How should I dress and can I wear my heels?' I'm almost 70 and I like put on my heels. Walker: I broke the news to her over the phone and she started screaming, 'Oh, my God. I can't believe it. I'm so excited.' Bluntson: Yeah! I've been following Gladys for a number of years with her dad. He's in heaven looking down on us so he's grateful that she's carrying on the tradition. Is there a song that you're most excited to hear from Gladys today? Bluntson: I like 'Midnight Train to Georgia.' 'Every Beat of My Heart.' [Starts singing.] Walker: I really like Stephanie Mills and I'm excited to see Gladys Knight, but everyone. Everyone has unique voices and I grew up listening to each and every one of them, so I'm just excited to be here. The fact that they're on one stage is really special on Mother's Day. How do you define a queen? Bluntson: I believe your inner beauty. You're going to radiate it, without placing that on yourself. It's a feeling to me. I feel like a queen when my daughter does [even] the littlest things. It can be bringing a Jamba Juice or shake, or saying 'Hi, mommy. I love you' and waking me up in the mornings now. It's like the tables have turned where I used to do for her and her safety, now she's taking care of me so she's making me feel like a queen. Walker: To me, it just means being my best self every day whether that's me being the best friend, daughter, wife, sister. Just bringing my best self to the table and putting God first. That's first for me because I feel like with that I can't go wrong, and standing firm in who I am in my faith. Tell us about your outfit. I'm a clothing designer. I'm retired now, but I have lots of clothes from those days and I love African clothes. This is from Africa, so that's why I represent with African clothes one way or another every time I go out. The jacket was made by another designer, a friend of mine. Why did you want to come to the show? I've seen Chaka Khan at least 10 times. I've seen Patti LaBelle probably eight or nine times. Gladys Knight, I think I've only seen her twice. Stephanie Mills — oh, God — I followed her all over New York City back in the day. That's when I was living there and working so she was coming away from the play, so she was making her debut on the scene at the clubs and stuff. She was hot. Well, they all were, you know. I love them all. These are the first ladies to me. Who are you most excited to see perform? Probably Gladys Knight because I haven't seen her that much and I love her. I'm 70 years old, so I remember her when she was very young. I always seemed to miss her [performances]. I caught her at the Motown Revue or something back in the day, but never just by herself. We're all old now. [Laughs] To have them all in one room, on one stage. I can't believe it. I was not going to miss it. How do you define a queen? A queen is born to rule. She has it in her blood. She knows instinctively the right thing to do, the proper thing to do. She carries herself with dignity no matter what. She stands out because you can't deny what she is, and these women represent that. They have that quality about them that stands alone, stands out and cannot be denied. Tell us about your outfit. Darius: We had to dress to impress and I wanted to bring the queens — my mother, my granny and my auntie — to see the queens. I'm a stylist as well as a singer and I picked silver for today because it gave a royal kind of feeling and vibe. I felt like that was the appropriate color for the day. How do you define a queen? Dedra: Wow, being a queen is just a person that really takes care of everyone, everybody, everything. A queen is just everything. Bettis: Being a queen to me is being pampered, enjoying life and just taking care of everyone like my sister said. Weddle: I feel like a queen at 88 years old and all these young people using their time to take me out to such an occasion. I just feel grateful. Why did you want to come to the show? Mitchell: I was listening to Patti when she was Patti LaBelle and the Blue Belles and I've been sticking with her ever since. When I was younger, I would go to Oakland to see her and my kids would be like 'You just saw her' and [I'm like] 'I want to see her again.' Every time I come, it's new. Even though all the songs are still old, it's like a new experience every time I come to see her. I feel like I'm getting something new every time. How do you define a queen? Mitchell: [LaBelle] is true to herself and I think because of what she says in her concerts all the time. She always says she doesn't care where you came from, what ethnicity you are, you can be gay, you can be straight, you can be whatever. She accepts you for who you are and that's a true queen. You know, a lot of people, they don't do that. Davis: She has a beautiful heart and a beautiful spirit. We're a champion for Patti. Tell us about your outfits. Davis: Patti [LaBelle] inspired my look. Each time we go to see Patti, we know we have to bring it because several times she's pointed us out in the audience. Mitchell: Green is my favorite color, but I just like it because Patti wears a lot of flowy things, so I can feel like I'm right next to Patti. We went on her cruise in April last year with Michael McDonald and we got a penthouse suite, and she was not far from us and our butler got her autograph. Why did you want to come to the show and who are you excited to see? Mikal: I'm excited to see all of them even though Stephanie Mills is my homie from Mount Vernon, N.Y. Every one of them have left an indelible mark throughout my history. Vernay: I needed a break. I needed some time away from work and my husband presented me with this wonderful opportunity to get away for Mother's Day and of course, I took it. I am most excited to see Gladys Knight. How do you define a queen? Mikal: A queen — even though it's used pretty liberally — means different things to different people. A queen is like one of the highest plateaus and marks that you can possibly make, but I can tell you that my standards are extremely high. Vernay: Just having grace and being a woman of great integrity. A quiet strength and being a beautiful, wonderful person. How long have you been a fan of these ladies? Berry: I used to listen to my mom playing their music, and I loved it then, and I love it now. Now my daughter loves it. Ozoemena: So I guess it's been passed on from generation to generation. Who are you most excited to see today? Ozoemena: Patti LaBelle for me. I want to see her kick off her shoes. Berry: Chaka. I love Chaka Khan cause she's wild like me. How do you define a queen? Berry: Being someone who is looked up to. Ozoemena: Like my mom said, a role model, but also somebody that's strong on their own, someone that can stand on their own if need be and they're okay with that. Why did you want to come to the show? Harrison: I'm here with my mom for Mother's Day and my birthday. I know she loves these artists. They are her icons. Devall: I actually saw Patti LaBelle [perform], the night before she was born. Harrison: So Mother's Day 33 years ago. Who are you most excited to see perform? Devall: Gladys Knight. She's got a lot of soul. She is down to earth. She's just a beautiful human being. Her R&B is great, but she also sings gospel and I went to one of her performances, and it was like we went to church. How do you define a queen? Devall: It means carrying yourself with dignity and grace. Why did you want to come to the show? Murdock: These are some of my favorite artists. I love them. She's never seen Patti. I've seen all of the ladies throughout the years and it's Mother's Day, and she's a wonderful mother and wife at the same time. We've been married for one year and one month. Who are you most excited to see? Murdock: Chaka Khan. I just like all her music and through the years I've followed her. She's a local icon. How do you define a queen? Mina: Amazing, beautiful, good-spirited. You're a queen when you have all of those things and God. Murdock: My wife's a queen, but as far as these ladies, they are icons in the music business for the last three to four, five decades. All of these ladies have amazing catalogs and music. I'm a little older than she is, so I grew up with all of them. Mina: I grew up listening to them through my mother and father. I used to always send them to see them, and my dad just passed so this is the first time I'm able to come out and see them. Why did you want to come to the show? My brother brought me out here for Mother's Day. I've never seen them live. Also, three months ago I had a major heart attack and it put me on my butt. This is really like the first outing since then. So I'm just getting back on my feet and trying to live life and enjoy it and this was my first little trip. Who are you most excited to see perform today? I just kind of love it all. I love everything they do. These are good women of legend and history, and they represent something so I'm proud to be here with my brother. How do you define a queen? It comes with great responsibility as any title. You are looked upon for wisdom, love guidance, respect, loyalty, honor, and that is me. And you know, I get it from my queen. Her name is Rose Marie Harris, my mother, who's passed on, and she is the queen and matriarch of our family. And she taught us all, and she raised us all right. She had 10 of us, seven girls, three boys. We are all strong women and men, and so we try to honor that and be good queens and kings. Be good stewards to the community and our people, and I don't look for anything from anybody, I get it back from God always so anything you can do, you do it freely. Tell us about your outfit. These shoes are from Aldo and these bracelets were my mom and sister's that they passed down to me. And I got this outfit that I got from my friend in North Carolina who has a boutique. Why did you want to come to the show today? Davis: Because it's the Queeeeenssssss. Patti, Chaka, Stephanie, Gladys, what? Yes! Moreno: It's once in a lifetime. Honestly, I don't think we're ever gonna see a show like this again so for us to be here is already legendary. Which artist or what song are you most excited to see today? Davis: I'm a singer so I told Jesus — I hope he doesn't mind — that I'm going to be singing all night long, so you pick a song, I know it, I'll be singing it. The last one I heard before coming here was Gladys Knight's 'Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me.' I'll be doing all the backgrounds, front grounds, melodies, all of that. How do you define a queen? Davis: Confidence, power, empowerment, healing, joy, love, vibrations, beauty. We're surrounded by beauty — all these people coming to see these queens. That's what queens elicit and produce. Moreno: Exactly what she just said and divine femininity. Tell us about your outfits. Davis: Well this is left over Beyoncé because you all know we're right next to the SoFi [Stadium] and I was so glad I was able to pull this hat out twice for the queens on a Sunday, on a Mother's Day. So I tried to be as queenly as possible, coming from one queen to see some more queens tonight. Moreno: I just threw this on. I love wearing color. It gives life to me, so if you've got it in the closet, wear it. You gotta do it up, especially on a Sunday. It's church. Why did you want to come to the show? I came with my grandmother, but you know, these are the oldies. These are some of the classics, these really strong R&B women. I'm so happy to be here. My mom got us tickets. How do you define a queen? A queen is someone whose actions speak [louder] than her words. It's not just the look, but it's also like the way that they carry themselves and how much sass, how much class, and you know how these women behave.
The Independent
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
On the (rail) road: going to gigs by high-speed train
Hundreds of songs have been written about travelling by rail. The best, I contend, is Tony Joe White's 'The Train I'm On': 'Sometimes a train sounds lonesome…' 'Midnight Train to Georgia', 'Marrakesh Express' and 'Last Train to Clarksville' are among many others. Yet performers spend their time on the road, not the rails. One exception: singer-songwriter Jaz Delorean. He frequently performs with his band, Tankus, whose chosen form of transport is a Mercedes Sprinter. But when touring solo, the pianist prefers trains. The performer is just back from a one-night gig in St-Etienne, southern France, and told me about the experience on his long and winding rail journey from London St Pancras International. 'I found myself in the Eurostar queue with about 150 bedraggled and long-suffering parents and guardians of a riotous gang of Disney-fied youngsters,' he says. 'I'd totally forgotten about the early train [6.01am] being popular for families heading to Disneyland Paris.' Fortunately, he was on the departure an hour later. 'I had requested the organisers who had booked me that I travel by train instead of flying, because I really try not to fly shorthaul, and France is also still experimenting with a ban on shorthaul flights if a high-speed train goes to the same place. 'I do this journey a lot, in different variations, sometimes to Brussels, sometimes to Paris, and wander about writing songs in tiny bars in Pigalle, obnoxiously living up to my itinerant artist moniker. 'I have travelled around working as a musician, for two-thirds of the year, for over a decade, content to live out of a suitcase with not many possessions to think about.' He had booked a forward-facing window seat 'because I like to watch the Kent countryside flow like a wave under us'. For the transfer from Paris Gare du Nord to the Gare de Lyon, he recommends 'an hour's walk, through some great streets, but it helps to know exactly where you want to go because the area around Gare du Nord can be plagued with rogues looking for lost tourists'. On this occasion Jaz took the RER (suburban express), though: 'There wasn't much time for things to go wrong, and this was the only way to get to the gig on time for a soundcheck, travelling all on the same day.' The next leg was on an Ouigo train. 'This is the budget version of the iconic TGV high-speed train, so there were no power sockets, buffet car or empty seats. 'There were still toilets and a great view, which I relished as we powered through the slightly less grey Île-de-France countryside. The trip from Paris to Lyon was just over two hours, covering 393km.' The train whizzed past Migennes, in previous centuries a great rail junction – but now a forlorn station of which Jaz sings: 'The only thing that passes here is time.' At Lyon Part-Dieu, he had 25 minutes to transfer – and did not waste time. 'I found a decent piano on the station concourse and played 'Autumn Leaves' since the lyrics were written by [French poet] Jacques Prévert. 'Sure enough, a passer-by approached and started playing some licks on the top end of the piano – which sometimes I find annoying, but there I was in a social setting and he was really good. 'We shook hands at the end and walked in opposite directions, as I heard someone else sit down at the piano and start some Chopin.' About 30 minutes on the journey to St-Etienne, 'everyone on board, including me, received a text message saying that the train would be cancelled due to an unidentified package on the platform at a station down the line'. Luckily the driver said it was a false alarm and to get back on. By 3pm French time – seven hours after leaving St Pancras – he was in St-Etienne. A car was waiting to take him up the valley to the venue, where a baby grand had been hauled up just hours before. 'I played the gig, admired the lights in the valley, from our piano-crested peak, and left at the crack of dawn, to sleep most of the way back to London.' Perhaps the experience will inspire more railway songs. Meanwhile, a few more lines of journeys and longing from 'The Only Thing That Passes Here Is Time': 'The moon is swollen and staring/Drowning in a slingshot of stars/And you are a whole hemisphere away.'
The Independent
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Gladys Knight shares update with fans after cancelling show due to sudden illness
Gladys Knight has shared an update with fans after falling ill shortly before she was due to go onstage. The legendary singer, 80, was scheduled to perform at the Florida Theatre on Saturday (8 March), when she was taken ill. According to a statement from Florida Theatre president Numa Saiselin, the 'Midnight Train to Georgia' star fell ill 'very suddenly' while backstage. She was treated by medical staff before being taken to hospital for further treatment. 'Tonight's performance by Gladys Knight was cancelled due to illness,' the venue's statement said. 'Ms Knight and another member of her staff were taken ill backstage, very suddenly, and at the last minute, which necessitated the sudden cancellation of the show.' The statement added that Grammy winner Knight, who began her career in the late Fifties and has a string of hit songs to her name, was 'smiling and in good spirits' when she left the building. 'We hope to reschedule the show, but it's too early to know about that… we should know more early next week,' representatives said. Posting to Instagram, Knight reassured fans that she was 'already feeling much better' as she revealed she had ' that flu that is going around'. 'I'll see everyone real soon and appreciate the good wishes.' Fans expressed their relief at the update and wished Knight a speedy recovery, calling her a 'national treasure'. 'God bless you Miss Gladys!' another wrote. 'take care of yourself.' Other famous friends, including rapper and producer Jermaine Dupri, and singer and drummer Sheila E, also posted their well-wishes. Knight first rose to fame with her family group, Gladys Knight and the Pips, while also collaborating with artists including Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Stevie Wonder and Patti Labelle. She chose to pursue a solo career in the late Eighties, which included the release of her Bond theme 'License to Kill', for the film of the same name starring Timothy Dalton. Knight at the Pips were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. She is due to perform on Tuesday (11 March) in Orlando, however, there were no further updates on future performances at the time of writing.
