Betty Davis: Undisputed '70s Queen of Funk

#2849 in Music
Rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 1 person)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

Betty Davis, The Underground Funk Icon Who Blew Everyone's Mind

Want to better understand the deep persona of this legendary, feminist funk-mommie?  Well, you'll know Betty Davis was one gorgeous, badass "trick" if you view her '70s antics through the lens of today's drama queens...

Imagine that an up-and-coming Naomi Campbell (model) reinvented herself as Kelis (funky-sexy out-of-the-box singer), then married one of the greatest rappers, Nas (in Betty's case, jazz trumpeter Miles Davis), and had an affair with Tupac (in Betty's case, rock guitar god Jimi Hendrix, who also died young).

It would take all of these live-out-loud moves of today combined to compare with the colorful life of Betty Davis.  But something happened.  Her super-hot light dimmed.  She seemed to have disappeared from the planet... There were rumors that Betty Davis had died, presumably from a drug overdose.  (Not only is she quite alive, she vehemently denies personally abusing drugs, although she was around it plenty.)  And then there are accounts that Betty had collapsed emotionally after her father died in 1980.

She currently lives in Pittsburgh and is said to be in dire straits, financially. 

Her countless, cultish fans may never know the truth about what she's really been through. Nor is it any of our business, really. But we're awfully glad she has recently surfaced.  Hopefully, the recent remaster and release in May 2007 of two of her three infamous, risque albums will result in helping this beloved, ground-breaking lady toward better financial times.

Stumble This!

"Nasty Gal" (Video Montage) 

Ingredients For Betty's Wicked Musical Brew: 1 Part Funk, 1 Part Rock, 1 Part Blues

This album title track is said to be inspired by Betty's relationship with her second husband, jazz great Miles Davis. He was quoted saying that Betty was "too wild" for him. Imagine that! Their marriage only lasted about a year, but based on the message of this track, perhaps Miles was a bit, umm "kitty whipped?" (meow!)

BETTY DAVIS- "NASTY GAL" (1975)

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Nasty News & Featured Funk 

What's All the Funk About? These Super-hot Betty-related Links!

Two Betty Davis Classics Remastered and Released on 5/15/07
http://lightintheattic.net/releases/bettydavis/
After what seems about a two-decade absence from the face of Planet Earth, the undisputed Queen of Funk recently has resurfaced to help promote her re-released classic seventies-era albums! For those of us who're die-hard Betty Davis fans, it's almost as if Mary of Nazarus has returned... Well, sort of. Maybe the sexy, raw version of Mary, Mother of the Funk?

Sweet, Vintage Radio Interview of Betty Davis Circa 1975
http://www.divshare.com/download/797397-934
Much to everyone's surprise, the raspy sounding Betty Davis we've adored for so long in real life has the sweetest, most pleasant voice and personality. Life is truly full of surprises. Listen to this amazing audio interview from back in the day, and you'll be shocked at how sweet this 'nasty gal' sounds in her natural voice, too.

Sexy Betty Davis Tribute Page at MySpace
http://lightintheattic.net/releases/bettydavis/
If you don't believe there's a worldwide network of people who practically worship Betty Davis, just check out this phenomenal MySpace shrine dedicated to her. Her 'friends' include the likes of Chaka Khan, Lenny Kravitz, Sly Stone, and Muhammed Ali. (Yeah, sure ;-)

Today's Singers With "Inner Betty" Mojo 

... And the winners are Sandra St. Victor, Joi & Kelis

These "mack divas" are unafraid to dive into hardcore rock, or confrontation, for that matter. One goes Bootsie Collins, in a redeux of his funk classic, "Munchies For Your Love." Another confronts her lover in a song, astonishingly bellowing "What, motherf*****, what?" Another confessed in her hip-hop anthem: "I'm bossy!" Go ahead and check 'em out. Take a walk on the wild side of black feminist music.

Kelis Was Here

Amazon Price: $18.97 (as of 10/07/2008)
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Kaleidoscope

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Star Kitty's Revenge

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The Pendulum Vibe

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Mack Diva Saves the World

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Very Best "Betty Davis" Articles & Interviews

Betty Davis: Betty Davis - PopMatters Music Review

Betty Davis, , (Light in the Attic), review by Dan more...1 point

Betty Davis Page

Betty O. Mabry Davis, 26th July 1945, Durham, Nort more...1 point

NPR : An Incendiary, Influential Funk Genius Gets Her Due

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Sound The Bugle

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Why lost funk queen Betty Davis doesn't live up to the hype. - By ...

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soul sides: Betty Davis: The Wait Is Over

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A FUNK QUEEN STEPS OUT OF THE SHADOWS / Betty Mabry Davis set the ...

A FUNK QUEEN STEPS OUT OF THE SHADOWS Betty Mabry more...0 points

Betty Davis: Game Is Her Name

Betty Mabry Davis doesn't sing. She singes. She le more...0 points

zentronix: dubwise & hiphopcentric: Me On Betty Davis

Here's a piece I did in today's Chron on the great more...0 points

Out On The Stoop: Ahead of Her Time - Betty Davis

Her name was Betty. Now you might be thinking of t more...0 points

Betty Davis : Betty Davis Review on Blender :: The Ultimate Guide ...

Betty Davis Betty Davis review on Blender. We have more...0 points

More Betty Davis @ YouTube 

Funk Poll: Vote for the funkiest Betty song of the all

BETTY DAVIS-SHUT OFF THE LIGHT (1975)

BETTY DAVIS-SHUT OFF... 1 point

BETTY DAVIS- HE WAS A BIG FREAK (1974)

BETTY DAVIS- HE WAS... 0 points

BETTY DAVIS- F.U.N.K. (Part 2)

BETTY DAVIS- F.U.N.K... 0 points

360 Degrees Of "Backseat Betty" 

Fun stuff of Betty's musical men and funky friends

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ViqiFrench

ViqiFrench

Writer, publicist and music reviewer Viqi French pays homage to fusion soul and the definant divas who innovated the sound in the 1970s through a series titled...

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