Podcast Summary: Hit Parade | "Killing Me Softly Part 2" (April 1, 2022)

Overview

In this episode of Slate’s Hit Parade, host and pop-chart analyst Chris Molanphy continues his in-depth exploration of Black female vocal legends—Patti LaBelle, Dionne Warwick, Roberta Flack, and Chaka Khan—charting their remarkable transitions and reinventions from the late 1970s through the 1980s and into contemporary times. The episode focuses on how these artists navigated evolving musical landscapes, especially the challenges and opportunities presented by disco, early synth-pop, and the era of charity mega-singles, solidifying their legacies and influence across generations.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Challenge and Opportunity of Disco (Late 1970s)

• Disco’s Impact: Black, gay, and especially female artists thrived in disco, but for a generation of pre-disco R&B singers, it was sink or swim. Legends like Diana Ross adapted successfully, while Aretha Franklin’s disco attempt La Diva (1979) flopped critically and commercially.
  • "[Diana Ross’s] hits in this era were intermittent but were by and large classics. And on the other hand, some legends, like the Queen of Soul herself, really face planted in this period." (01:24, Chris Molanphy)

How the Four Queens Navigated Disco

• Dionne Warwick:
  • Experimented with disco-adjacent sounds, guided by collaborations with Barry Manilow, achieving success with “Déjà Vu” and “I’ll Never Love This Way Again”.
  • "Manilow had made Warwick current by making her disco adjacent, not disco." (05:52, Chris Molanphy)
• Roberta Flack:
  • Favored disco instrumentation on slow or mid-tempo ballads, most notably “The Closer I Get to You” with Donny Hathaway (number two pop).
  • "What really worked for Flack in this period was disco instrumentation on slow or mid tempo songs rather than dance songs." (07:05, Chris Molanphy)
• Patti LaBelle:
  • Labored to find footing post-LaBelle; modest club success with “Music Is My Way of Life” (number 10 disco). Solo career emerged as group fortunes faded.
• Chaka Khan:
  • Adapted and thrived, shifting from Rufus’s funk to more disco-oriented solo material, notably launching with “I’m Every Woman”.
  • "Solo career launching songs don’t get much more definitive than I’m Every Woman. Chaka Khan’s single Statement of Purpose." (11:08, Chris Molanphy)

Reinvention and Emergence in the 1980s

• Roberta Flack’s Loss and Return:

  • The tragic loss of Donny Hathaway shaped her early 80s work. Posthumous duet albums and partnerships (notably with Peabo Bryson) anchored her career through a challenging era.
  • "But Donnie would never live to see that new album’s release. He committed suicide in January 1979. A devastated Roberta Flack completed the album..." (15:25, Chris Molanphy)

• Patti LaBelle’s Breakthrough:

  • Transitioned to ballads and Broadway before finally notching her first R&B #1 with “If Only You Knew” (1983).
  • "Dexter Wansel wound up giving LaBelle her first RB number one, the 1983 single If Only You Knew..." (18:48)

• Dionne Warwick’s Pop Revival via the Bee Gees:

  • “Heartbreaker” (1983), written and produced by the Gibb brothers, returned Warwick to the pop top 10.

• Roberta Flack’s “Sophista-pop” & Duets Era:

  • 1983’s “Tonight I Celebrate My Love” (with Bryson) achieved massive and enduring radio success, marking her last pop solo hit but a major adult contemporary triumph.

Shaka Khan’s 1980s Sonic Evolution

• Technological Innovation with Rufus:

  • “Ain’t Nobody” (1983) melded the new LinnDrum technology with Khan’s dynamic vocals, producing one of Rufus’s signature hits.
  • "What Hawk Wolinski did on Ain’t Nobody was truly inspired... Then he added a monster kick drum... None of this would have mattered if Chaka Khan weren’t singing the song." (27:06)

• Prince Collaboration and “I Feel for You”:

  • Khan’s 1984 take on Prince’s “I Feel for You” featured Melly Mel’s pioneering rap and Stevie Wonder’s harmonica. The “Chaka Khan, Chaka Khan” sample, born from studio happenstance, became iconic.
  • "The signature element of Chaka Khan’s I Feel for You, the part that everybody loves... to some extent an accident." (30:51)
  • "It had the bones of Prince’s R B classic, Stevie Wonder’s joyous harmonica, rap from one of the country’s top rappers, and the stately vocals of Chaka Khan herself." (31:27)

Charity Mega-Singles and Late-Career Pop Crossover (Mid-Late 1980s)

• Patti LaBelle’s “New Attitude” (1985):

  • Jumped into synth-heavy pop with tracks from the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack, notably “New Attitude”—reinventing herself with a “four minute aerobics workout that doubled as a pop song.”
  • "New attitude was both synthetic in sound and authentic to Paddy’s personality..." (36:09)

• Live Aid and Other High Profile Platforms:

  • LaBelle’s dazzling performance at Live Aid 1985 (Philadelphia) marked her as a show-stopper, performing six songs and standing out even in the “We Are the World” finale.
  • "But nobody missed Patty visually or vocally. Of course." (38:19)

• Warwick’s “That’s What Friends Are For” (1985/86):

  • Iconic AIDS charity single featuring Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, and Elton John became her biggest ever hit and raised millions for research.
  • "It was the biggest hit of Warwick’s career, and it was later named Billboard’s number one song of 1986." (41:03)

• Patti LaBelle’s “On My Own” (1986):

  • Legendary duet with Michael McDonald (recorded in separate studios) went #1 pop and R&B, cementing her crossover status.
  • "They met the night they performed it together on the Tonight Show. By then, On My own was number one on both the Hot 100 and the R B chart..." (44:27)

Enduring Legacy and Modern Impact

• Songs Reimagined Across Generations:
  • Whitney Houston’s The Bodyguard (1992) revived “I’m Every Woman”.
  • The Fugees’ “Killing Me Softly” (1996) introduced Roberta Flack’s classic to a new era.
  • The “Lady Marmalade” (2001) remake (Aguilera, Lil Kim, Mya, Pink, Missy Elliott) brought Patti LaBelle’s hit back to #1.
  • Nelly and Kelly Rowland’s “Dilemma” (2002) interpolated LaBelle’s “Love, Need and Want You.”
• Trivia: Last Top 10 Hit
  • "Who was the last of our four queens to score a top 10 pop hit?... Nope. It was the reclusive Roberta Flack, who in 1991 got all the way to number six in yet another duet..." (50:39)
• All Queens Still Active (as of 2022):
  • Chaka Khan, Roberta Flack, Patti LaBelle, and Dionne Warwick continued to release music and perform into the 2010s and beyond.
• Dionne Warwick’s Modern Resurgence:
  • Renowned as a Twitter icon and even parodied (and appearing) on SNL, Warwick remains culturally relevant.
  • "More famously, Dion has become the queen of Twitter, popping off with thoughts about popular culture tweeted by a woman with no fucks left to give." (53:57)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Adapting to Disco:
  • "Manilow had made Warwick current by making her disco adjacent, not disco." (05:52)
• On Donny Hathaway’s Death:
  • "But Donnie would never live to see that new album’s release. He committed suicide in January 1979. A devastated Roberta Flack completed the album..." (15:25)
• On Chaka Khan’s innovation:
  • "It had the bones of Prince’s R B classic, Stevie Wonder’s joyous harmonica, rap from one of the country’s top rappers, and the stately vocals of Chaka Khan herself." (31:27)
• On Patti LaBelle’s 80s reinvention:
  • "New Attitude was both synthetic in sound and authentic to Patty’s personality..." (36:09)
• On “That’s What Friends Are For”:
  • "It was the biggest hit of Warwick’s career, and it was later named Billboard’s number one song of 1986. Reportedly, that’s what Friends Are for has raised more than $3 million for AIDS research." (41:03)
• On Legacy and the Rock Hall:
  • "Dionne Warwick revealed that she doesn’t, quote, give a damn if she is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And I gotta say, I respect this. She doesn’t need the Rock Hall. Warwick is already a legend, a queen..." (55:25)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:00–03:52] – Setting the stage: 1970s disco challenges for veteran R&B stars; adapting or struggling.
• [05:47–11:08] – How each singer responded musically to disco trends.
• [15:25–17:32] – Roberta Flack’s partnership and loss of Donny Hathaway; duets era begins.
• [18:48–20:55] – Patti LaBelle’s first #1 R&B solo hit ("If Only You Knew"); Dionne Warwick’s pop reboot.
• [23:46–24:40] – Roberta Flack’s “Tonight I Celebrate My Love” and her adult contemporary reboot.
• [27:06–31:27] – Chaka Khan’s technological and pop breakthroughs (“Ain’t Nobody,” “I Feel For You”).
• [36:09–38:19] – Patti LaBelle’s major 80s comeback (“New Attitude,” Live Aid prominence).
• [39:56–41:03] – Dionne Warwick and the making/impact of “That’s What Friends Are For.”
• [44:27–47:56] – Patti LaBelle’s “On My Own” and ensuing crossover success.
• [49:53–56:22] – The four queens’ music being revived, sampled, and celebrated in subsequent decades.
• [53:57–54:43] – Dionne Warwick’s modern social media fame and SNL appearance.
• [55:25–56:28] – On legacy, the Rock Hall, and what it means to be a "queen."

Conclusion

Chris Molanphy’s detailed storytelling in "Killing Me Softly Part 2" compellingly illustrates how four iconic Black women performers not only survived pop culture's tumultuous shifts but innovated and thrived through disco, 80s pop, and beyond. Their unique adaptations, collaborative duets, signature songs, and continual influence on new generations are a testament to their enduring artistry and innovation. The episode affirms these queens' lasting impact as groundbreakers and timeless inspirations in music history.