Patti LaBelle V. Gladys Knight
Tonight, the showdown begins when the “Empress of Soul” and “The Godmother of Soul” face off in a long awaited Versuz battle. That’s right, Soul music legends, Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle, are going LIVE on Instagram with a twenty-song battle of catalogs.
During this time where fear of the dangerous COVID-19 virus has placed many of us on a “Safer at Home” schedule, music producers Swizz Beatz and Timbaland found a new way to keep music lovers safe and entertained. Their brilliant invention of Versuz has become a Sunday night spotlight of music icons pairing up against each other song for song.
Versuz has paired the likes of Jill Scott and Erykah Badu, Teddy Riley and Babyface (who literally broke the internet) and in just a few moments, legends Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle will be squaring up for an epic battle.
I don’t always watch Versuz, but when I do, it is because it’s Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle! These ladies reign supreme to me when it comes to legendary music and nearly no skip catalogs. Both of their careers span over fifty years and these queens have HITS!
Gladys Knight Smiling Cheerfully for the Camera
Gladys Knight, born in Atlanta, Georgia, started her career off with the group The Pips as a young teen. She later became Motown royalty with The Pips by her side. Early in her career, Diana Ross kicked Gladys Knight off a tour with her because Gladys’s soulful voice wowed the crowds even more than Ms. Ross’s. Knight went on to enjoy a solo career that remains incredibly successful. She is best known for her covers of American Standards like Barbra Streisand‘s The Way We Were and Marvin Gaye’s Heard it Through the Grapevine. Mrs. Knight’s beautiful, low, and distinctive tone makes her voice recognizable in just a few notes and perfect for the countless movie scores she has been involved in.
Patti LaBelle sporting a beautiful blonde look
Ms. Patti LaBalle is a musical force to be reckoned with. She started out as a young woman in the group Patti LaBelle and the Bluebells and then by the 1970’s she was the leading lady of the iconic group LaBelle where the infamous song, Lady Marmalade was born. Ms. Patti has wowed many a crowd with her high and strong vocals, winning two Grammys for her efforts. She has earned crossover appeal with her hits- On My Own, a duet with Michael Bolton, and New Attitude featured in Eddie Murrays’ movie Beverly Hills Cop.
According to Ms. Patti, she and Mrs. Gladys are best friends who have been with each other through tragedy and success. Us Stans, can not wait to see the music legends (and our honorary Aunties) face off in their first Verzuz battle. To those of us who love the stars, there is no competion in our minds- just the hard choice between Gladys’s Knight’s Chicken and Waffles and Patti’s Sweet Potato to munch on as we enjoy the view!
To Pregame for the showdown listen to this Gladys V. Patti Playlist curated by me.
To watch our Aunties battle it out, tune into Instagram.com/VerzuzTv at 9pm /Eastern.
