MovieChat Forums > The Cotton Club (1984) Discussion > LONETTE MCKEE singing Harold Arlen's (((...

LONETTE MCKEE singing Harold Arlen's ((( ILL WIND ))) . . . oh YEAH!

posted 16 years ago by Miss_Chievous
15 replies | jump to latest

Absolutely the hilight of the movie (for me) was watching the gorgeous LM's hair and dress flowing behind her as she sang ((( ILL WIND ))). WHAT A VOICE! Every BLUES FAN has got to see this performance.

I was going to get the CD to the movie just for this one song but . . . think about it: This is a MUSIC VIDEO if ever there was one! You just couldn't get the same atmosphere without the visual of that wind . . . her hair . . . her flowing dress . . . combined with the song.

I've never edited a DVD before but I'm determined to excerpt that performance and enshrine it on its own DVD! lol

Oh I loved the movie of course; but anyone who hasn't seen this exquisite performance is missing something. Rent the movie if you doubt me. It's a keeper.

Miss Chievous

[–] HillieBoliday 16 years ago

I have loved that scene for that particular song ever since I saw it at the theatre during it's initial release!

What a song and what a scene! Years later when it came out on video, I bought it and rewound back to that scene at least 10 times before I could continue on with the rest of the movie.

I sing this song around the house just for my own entertainment; and have never forgotten the words!!

Great performance by Lonette McKee. For me it is her signature work!!
"OOO...I'M GON' TELL MAMA!"

[–] cowboydesperado-1 16 years ago

ditto...saw this on video several times (not long after it came out on VHS, and I was working in rental stores) and have known it by heart (with her arrangement) ever since...

'We all dream of being a child again - even the worst of us. Perhaps the worst most of all...'

[–] Celluloid_Dreamer 15 years ago

I was first introduced to this film when flipping through the channels late at night, it happened to be on the part where she is singing and now I have to have it on dvd! lol I will be ordering shortly.

[–] jeff_bailey44 15 years ago

McKee's version of the song is the best I've ever heard, even better than Ella Fitzgerald's. Just perfect.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] sisterbenin 15 years ago

From what I know, Lonette McKee released one album, Words and Music, back in the 70's. It's a lovely album, with songs that showcase her talent as a singer and a composer. It's a collector's item so you might have to search for it.

[–] andrewwjohnson 14 years ago

..........Lonette McKee released two Albums: "Words and Music" during the late seventies and "Natural Love", produced by Spike Lee, during the early nineties. She also appears on the sound track albums for "The Cotton Club" and "Round Midnight". She did her own singing in "Sparkle" (1976), her first movie, but Aretha Franklin did the sound track album......... She did the vocals on the single, Mind Intruder, when she was twelve. She later did Save it, Don't Give It Away, Do to Me and Stop, Don't Worry About It which became a regional hit in the Detroit area...........She, of course did a beautiful job with the old Lena Horne Standard, "Ill Wind", in "Cotton Club". She would have been great playing ms Horne back then if a biography had been made during the eighties...........According to her website both of Ms. McKee"s albams, "Acoustic Tracks" (originally "Words and Music") and "Lonette McKee Volume One" (originally "Natural Love") are available from CD Baby on CD and by digital download. Also many tracks from her alums, singles and music from her films, including "Sparkle" and the "Cotton Club", can be seen and heard on U-Tube.
True genius is a beautiful thing, but ignorance is ugly to the bone.

[–] Cooke_Fann 14 years ago

Every performance was awsome but this performance by Lonette McKee in the film has the most Elegant and Haunting feel especially when the sheets in the backround are being waved around , then the way the lighting hits her face . At that point it becomes a visceral experience and it makes me feel like I'm right there in the audience . Her Best performance by Far !

[–] SCY385-1 15 years ago

Truly one of the most memorable scenes in the film, and one the best. Everybody in this movies just looked good enough to eat.

[–] Miss_Chievous 15 years ago

I finally figured out how to extract Lonette's performance from Cotton Club and routinely play it as a WMV file on my computer when I'm feeling BLUE. What a voice!

MISS CHIEVOUS

[–] gioconda 13 years ago

Never understood why Lonette didn't become a a huge star. Sultry beauty & luscious voice both speaking & singing.

[–] slrussell1908 9 years ago

A superb performance indeed.

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] missgangsmashers 7 years ago

Lonette is one of my favorite Actresses and Singers! LOVE HER DEARLY!

To be continued...

EPIPHANY❤ EVANGELINE❤ ENTERTAINMENT❤

[–] 7 years ago

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