Game Was Her Middle Name

February 10, 2022 7:01 AM

RIP Betty Davis, the Trailblazing Queen of Funk and former wife of trumpeter Miles Davis. They said she was different, and they weren't lying. You can learn more by watching the 2017 documentary (Betty: They Say I'm Different), or maybe just playing some of her tunes (a lot of which really are NSFW). More here, here, and hear the last song she wrote here.
posted by SystematicAbuse (42 comments total)

.
posted by djseafood at 7:03 AM on February 10, 2022

(this is my first FPP, so apologies if anything is wonky)
posted by SystematicAbuse at 7:13 AM on February 10, 2022 [6 favorites]

.
posted by mumimor at 7:33 AM on February 10, 2022

.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 7:38 AM on February 10, 2022

Previously
Here`s the Music. Raw and way ahead of its time.
.
posted by adamvasco at 7:43 AM on February 10, 2022 [2 favorites]

.
posted by Laura in Canada at 7:44 AM on February 10, 2022

.
posted by adekllny at 8:15 AM on February 10, 2022

I've only been getting into funk in my old age. I'm unfamiliar with her. I love this, thanks
posted by Oh_Bobloblaw at 8:16 AM on February 10, 2022

. and wow
posted by Alex404 at 8:24 AM on February 10, 2022

.
posted by trip and a half at 8:44 AM on February 10, 2022

.
posted by panglos at 8:46 AM on February 10, 2022

Excellent post, this is great music. Thanks!
posted by chavenet at 8:52 AM on February 10, 2022 [1 favorite]

learned about her music from my good friends at WNCU
posted by thelonius at 9:05 AM on February 10, 2022

.
posted by Trivia Newton John at 9:09 AM on February 10, 2022

I've only been getting into funk in my old age.

Check out Howard Burchette's "Funk Show" on WNCU Saturday at 4 PM EST. If he does anything other than a Betty Davis tribute this Saturday, I'll eat my hat. Streaming link.
posted by thelonius at 9:19 AM on February 10, 2022 [3 favorites]

Here's the Tales From The Tour Bus episode about her.

.
posted by Catblack at 9:21 AM on February 10, 2022

Funk is among the most significant musical styles the U.S. as a culture has produced, and Betty Davis's recordings are phenomenal demonstrations of funk's lineage from blues, especially through the great women singers of the style, while being truly innovative in their own right. Three albums in three years, each one too far ahead of what folks were ready for to be commercially successful, so she just...packed it up. Her albums are really, really terrific.

.
posted by LooseFilter at 9:25 AM on February 10, 2022 [3 favorites]

.
posted by pernoctalian at 9:55 AM on February 10, 2022

.
posted by Kattullus at 9:57 AM on February 10, 2022

.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 10:30 AM on February 10, 2022

.
posted by BlueHorse at 10:45 AM on February 10, 2022

this track has been in my rotation. Careful, it's something of an ear worm.

He was a big Freak
posted by philip-random at 10:49 AM on February 10, 2022

Mike Judge did a "Tales from the Tour Bus" on Betty Davis
posted by mbo at 11:19 AM on February 10, 2022 [2 favorites]

Thanks for this post!
posted by box at 11:33 AM on February 10, 2022

.
posted by drezdn at 12:29 PM on February 10, 2022

.
posted by HandfulOfDust at 1:00 PM on February 10, 2022

.
posted by kitten kaboodle at 1:14 PM on February 10, 2022 [1 favorite]

.
posted by Lyme Drop at 1:22 PM on February 10, 2022

I only discovered her in the last 5 years or so and those 70s albums are just incredible. It's extremely my thing so I have no idea how I missed her for so long.

.
posted by rhizome at 2:03 PM on February 10, 2022

.
posted by viramamunivar at 2:17 PM on February 10, 2022

She owned her own sexuality and expressed that onstage and wasn’t afraid to sing about that in her music’
Jamila Woods
posted by adamvasco at 2:17 PM on February 10, 2022

.
posted by luckynerd at 3:04 PM on February 10, 2022

.

Huh, apparently she's been living quietly here in Pittsburgh for the last forty years. Who knew?
posted by octothorpe at 3:13 PM on February 10, 2022 [1 favorite]

.
posted by awfurby at 3:13 PM on February 10, 2022

.
posted by mikelieman at 3:37 PM on February 10, 2022

Damn, I had no idea who she was, but these tunes are fucking great.

.
posted by soundguy99 at 3:59 PM on February 10, 2022

.
posted by The_Auditor at 7:36 PM on February 10, 2022

.
posted by hap_hazard at 2:32 AM on February 11, 2022

I was delighted to find her first and second album are available on Bandcamp.
posted by sonascope at 7:53 AM on February 11, 2022

The documentary is fantastic.
posted by mediareport at 7:55 AM on February 12, 2022

this is terrible
posted by maiamaia at 4:22 PM on February 12, 2022

.
posted by pt68 at 9:48 PM on February 14, 2022