#2
Posted: 5/9/25 at 3:11pm
She is my all time favorite female vocalist. It will be interesting to see how much of her personal story and history with Rufus will be included. Also wondering why the article is calling her collaborations with Joni Mitchell, Prince and Robert Palmer "run-ins".
Unless this is REALLY good, I don't see it being a massive hit. (I could be wrong). Rufus and Chaka were huge in the R&B world from the mid 70's to the early 80's. Of course, her career continued after they disbanded. But even with a few big hits, she really wasn't a big crossover artist. Her personal life story is interesting. And they will have to find an actress/vocalist to match her style. I have been a hardcore fan since the Rags to Rufus album. Have seen the group in concert and have seen her several times in concert. I really hope to see this show and I hope it is good! I too wish them all the best. Just my random thoughts for now!
Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder
#3
Posted: 5/9/25 at 3:56pm
As we begin to get lower on the list with some of these biomusicals the biggest issue I see if that while every star is a star, every star is not a character. The appeal of seeing Chaka Khan is Chaka Khan. She's not surrounded by myth and legend like many of her peers. Animated though she may be, she's really a musicians singer. A woman whose appeal is the music.
Judy has a myth. MJ has a myth. Jersey Boys and Beautiful "revealed" things about their stars. What is a biomusical going to reveal to me about Chaka Khan? That she was a great singer who struggled with addiction and a bad marriage or two? We already know that!
If you wanna give me musical theater Chaka Khan than put her in Hadestown!
#4
Posted: 5/9/25 at 5:03pm
I would love to see them center this around the time she went solo. She was part of the band Rufus but her name was always separate from the band's name on the albums as "featuring" Chaka Khan. I remember the tension at the time and us all waiting to see if they were going to do a final full album together. It could possibly be done like they did MJ: The Musical. I think they picked a perfect time in his life to set the story.
Not everyone who knows Khan's music knows her personal life or history with the group. So for those who know about her marriages and drug use, it may not be of interest and you don't have to go see it. But there is more to her career than those things.
Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder
#5
Posted: 5/9/25 at 5:27pm
uncageg said: "But there is more to her career than those things."
I don't mean to suggest that there isn't! To me, few singers prove that the voice is an instrument like Chaka does. But is a biomusical about the career or about the woman? I'm sure more happened in her life than addiction and bad marriages but is any of it theatrical? Can any of it be scaled upward to support the weight of a production? Even her going solo is fairly undramatic. A singer outgrowing her band and going solo at the urging of her label. I don't see a way to make that truly engaging while being forced to stick to the "reality" of her life.
#6
Posted: 5/9/25 at 5:53pm
Again, it may not be engaging to you. For those of us who have followed her since day one and know what was going on surrounding her departure from the band, we may find it engaging if done well. And Bio Musicals cover bad marriages, etc. In the article she states that we may not know the full story. So, we will see. Also, she says that London holds a special place in her heart. It may only run there.
Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder
Updated On: 5/9/25 at 05:53 PM
#7
Posted: 5/9/25 at 6:35pm
Assuming everyone already knows her backstory is beyond ludicrous. I’m old enough to have been around during every era of her long career and I know zero about her backstory. I only listened to her music and never once followed any aspect of her personal life. Never cared, quite honestly.
