Chaka Khan = longtime musical crush

The first Chaka Khan album I owned was Rufus featuring Chaka Khan.  My friend Clint introduced me to it when I was about 16.  I lost my mind and thought it was the greatest thing I’d ever heard. Of course, it doesn’t hit me in quite the same way anymore, but that’s the great thing about music – it gets forever linked to certain times and places.

My obsession with Chaka has continued since then, waning only briefly in 2003 when I read her crappy autobiography. It’s one of those tell-all books about a lifetime of drugs and 1000 bad relationships – barely anything about music.  Turned me off for a while.

My crush was fully restored when I watched her performance in Standing In The Shadows Of Motown.  This single performance is one of my most favourite things on the planet earth. The other singers in the film are alright, but Chaka raises the bar to another level…a high class, world class level.  That’s why they save her for last.

I can’t embed this video, so just click where it says “Watch on YouTube”…