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Chaka Khan's Greatest Hits: According To Queue Points
Episode 163 • 5th November 2024 • Queue Points • Queue Points LLC
00:00:00 00:18:29

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Dive into the ultimate Chaka Khan playlist with DJ Sir Daniel and Jay Ray as they discuss Chaka Khan's Greatest Hits, according to Queue Points. In this episode, our hosts break down the jazz, funk, and hip-hop influences in Chaka's music, exploring why tracks like "I Feel For You," "Clouds," and "I Know You, I Live You" have cemented her place in music history. From her 80s anthems to soulful ballads, this episode is packed with Chaka facts, memories, and a few surprises.

What’s your favorite Chaka Khan song, and why? Let us know by leaving a video or email message here: https://qpnt.net/fanmail

Your message might end up in an episode!

Topics: #ChakaKhan #IFeelForYou #FunkMusic #RnBMusic #BlackPodcasters #BlackMusic #MusicPodcast

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Transcripts

Speaker:

DJ Sir Daniel: Greetings and welcome to another episode of Queue Points podcast.

Speaker:

I am DJ Sir daniel.

Jay Ray:

And my name is Jay Ray.

Jay Ray:

Sometimes known by my government as Johnnie Ray Kornegay III.

Jay Ray:

And let me tell you something, sir.

Jay Ray:

Daniel, I got the air back on.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: We're going to have a very warm fall season.

Jay Ray:

That's right.

Jay Ray:

But you know, and we're going to keep it even hotter here on Queue Points podcast,

Jay Ray:

because we are the podcast dropping the needle on black music history.

Jay Ray:

And Jay Ray, speaking of the holidays, guess who's heading or

Jay Ray:

guess who's headlining DJ Cassidy's pass the mic live for the holidays.

Jay Ray:

Ah, the person that we are talking about this evening.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: That's right.

Jay Ray:

The one and only Chaka Khan.

Jay Ray:

But.

Jay Ray:

We're talking about Chaka Khan because as of October 7th of this year, 2024,

Jay Ray:

I feel for you was certified platinum by the RIAA, which is the Recording

Jay Ray:

Industry Association of America.

Jay Ray:

Yes.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: And it's a core.

Jay Ray:

Apparently I feel for you out of nowhere has surpassed 85.

Jay Ray:

8 million streams on Spotify.

Jay Ray:

So Chaka is in the zeitgeist.

Jay Ray:

She is, people are streaming that song and enjoying it, which is, you

Jay Ray:

know, I feel for you as a dope song.

Jay Ray:

Is that one of your favorite Chaka Chaka Khan?

Jay Ray:

Is that one of your favorite contracts?

Jay Ray:

Actually, it's not one of my favorite Chaka Khan tracks.

Jay Ray:

It's not a bad song.

Jay Ray:

Um, it's just not one of my favorite Chaka Khan songs, but I

Jay Ray:

will say there's a lot of childhood nostalgia attached for me to that

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Absolutely.

Jay Ray:

featuring Grandmaster Melly Mel on the rap, which itself was controversial

Jay Ray:

because Chaka was like not into that.

Jay Ray:

but it actually helped that song to be in the, the hip hop

Jay Ray:

zeitgeist of the era of 1984.

Jay Ray:

So, uh, yeah, I feel for you deserves all the love that it gets.

Jay Ray:

And I mean, it's written by Prince.

Jay Ray:

I mean, come on.

Jay Ray:

Yes.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: cover of Prince's song.

Jay Ray:

And, um, yeah, she hates, I think she, what she really despises about the

Jay Ray:

song is the repetitiveness of her name.

Jay Ray:

Like she hated hearing her name over and over and over again.

Jay Ray:

But I mean, Hey, you're Chaka Khan.

Jay Ray:

People are going to want to say your name over and over again.

Jay Ray:

And so this, um, Jay Ray, this achievement actually coincides

Jay Ray:

with the 40th anniversary.

Jay Ray:

Of the album of the same name

Jay Ray:

Yeah.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: of October 1st, I feel for you.

Jay Ray:

The album is 40 years old.

Jay Ray:

Can you believe it?

Jay Ray:

Now, I, that, if time flies, man, and Sir Daniel, I know you'll

Jay Ray:

agree with me when I say this, I know we talking about, I Feel For You, but you

Jay Ray:

know what the jam from that record is?

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: What's your jam from that record?

Jay Ray:

is my night, baby,

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: I'm going to tell you this thing, which is so funny because.

Jay Ray:

Well, like we always do, you and I are going to compile a list of

Jay Ray:

our favorite Chaka Khan records.

Jay Ray:

And so, you know what, since you said that first one, I'm going to go first.

Jay Ray:

And I'm going to tell you what my first pick for our ultimate.

Jay Ray:

Ladies and gentlemen, our ultimate Queue Points podcast Chaka Khan playlist.

Jay Ray:

My first submission, ladies and gentlemen, for your consideration, this is my night.

Jay Ray:

I promise you it is on my, it is on my list.

Jay Ray:

I love this song.

Jay Ray:

I have the 12 inch that, that, um, remixes a jam.

Jay Ray:

Why do, why do you like that song so much?

Jay Ray:

Um, it is the melody.

Jay Ray:

It is, um, just the, the right combination of like early eighties production.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Oh, yes,

Jay Ray:

Um, and I think it's just like dope.

Jay Ray:

I just think it's a well-produced song and well-written song.

Jay Ray:

It's a party jam.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: it is a quintessential 80s jam with synthesizers and, you

Jay Ray:

know, and those doubled up vocals with your, um, the phrases being repeated.

Jay Ray:

So, you know, in 1984, that's like falls right into like a set if you

Jay Ray:

want to do like a freestyle set

Jay Ray:

Mm-Hmm.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: and it just fell right in with the rest of those.

Jay Ray:

Dope jams from 1984.

Jay Ray:

So

Jay Ray:

Yes.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: this is my night.

Jay Ray:

That's my first pick.

Jay Ray:

So Jay Ray, what is your submission?

Jay Ray:

What is your first submission for the ultimate Chaka Khan playlist?

Jay Ray:

Oh my God, this is so hard.

Jay Ray:

So what y'all can't see is there's one, two, three, four, five, six.

Jay Ray:

We're not doing six.

Jay Ray:

We're only doing three.

Jay Ray:

And so my first pick for my number three actually going to be clouds.

Jay Ray:

So let me explain,

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Okay.

Jay Ray:

All right.

Jay Ray:

how I am thinking of this.

Jay Ray:

I decided to approach my list from songs that I consider to be Chaka songs, so they

Jay Ray:

didn't necessarily have to be singles.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Okay.

Jay Ray:

they had to at least be like, if somebody said, I know nothing about Chaka

Jay Ray:

Khan, I would be like, play this, play

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Play that.

Jay Ray:

Yeah.

Jay Ray:

songs.

Jay Ray:

So clouds is the first song that I'm going to pick.

Jay Ray:

So clouds, of course, written by Ashford and Simpson, who also

Jay Ray:

wrote Chaka songs I feel for you.

Jay Ray:

sorry.

Jay Ray:

Um, uh,

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: every woman.

Jay Ray:

You

Jay Ray:

It's a lot of imes.

Jay Ray:

Um, um, and so what I love about clouds is it has that quintessential

Jay Ray:

Chaka mix of jazz and dance like, uh, subdued Chaka and loud Chaka.

Jay Ray:

You get like all the versions of her.

Jay Ray:

So I tend to like Chaka songs that you get like.

Jay Ray:

The mix of her.

Jay Ray:

So clouds is like the perfect thing of that.

Jay Ray:

And you could play clouds in a gospel set or in a dance set and it will fit.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: know, you took the words out of my mouth because I love clouds.

Jay Ray:

My favorite part is the, it's gonna rain.

Jay Ray:

It's gonna rain.

Jay Ray:

I love that.

Jay Ray:

That is very, that's very gospel.

Jay Ray:

That's very, the repetition.

Jay Ray:

The, um, I really feel like if you.

Jay Ray:

Saying that outside on a clear night with the moon you could call for rain to

Jay Ray:

actually start pouring Um, yeah, it's it.

Jay Ray:

I look I don't have any faults with that pick clouds is definitely dope So

Jay Ray:

are you ready for my number two pick?

Jay Ray:

two.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: All right, i'm gonna slow it down

Jay Ray:

Okay.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: come to a very slow a halt with this one, but this song um actually

Jay Ray:

popped up on the Um And the clockers soundtrack as well as on epiphany,

Jay Ray:

which was her greatest hits album.

Jay Ray:

Um, it is her collaboration with what is his name?

Jay Ray:

The pianist.

Jay Ray:

Bruce Hornsby.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Bruce Hornsby.

Jay Ray:

It is love me still.

Jay Ray:

And you're probably wondering, well, you, you want to slow jam and

Jay Ray:

certainly there's something very beautiful and sentimental about, and

Jay Ray:

it's a simple song, it's a very simple song, but it's a very poignant to me.

Jay Ray:

Um, I love the way it was placed in the McClockers movie.

Jay Ray:

Um, And I just really, it just does something for me.

Jay Ray:

I like that song, Love Me Still.

Jay Ray:

So that is my second submission for Chaka Khan's Ultimate Playlist by Queue Points.

Jay Ray:

Yeah.

Jay Ray:

Yeah.

Jay Ray:

Yeah.

Jay Ray:

The Chaka Crescendo.

Jay Ray:

what I consider to be a quintessential Chaka song lyrics by Chaka.

Jay Ray:

And that is, I know you, I live you once again.

Jay Ray:

Once again, you get of the hallmarks of Chaka.

Jay Ray:

You get the sweet, you get the calm, you get the jazzy, you get the, you

Jay Ray:

know, the thing that Chaka does.

Jay Ray:

the Chaka crescendo.

Jay Ray:

Um, and so I know you, I live you.

Jay Ray:

And we've talked about this before.

Jay Ray:

This is one of those songs that in today and forevermore, you can

Jay Ray:

absolutely hear at any block party, at any family picnic, It's a multi

Jay Ray:

generation song where people know it.

Jay Ray:

And Sir Daniel, you know this as a DJ, you can't not play that most

Jay Ray:

important part, like that bridge to the end, the people waiting for that.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: All the way I call that the flowy the flowy skirt song

Jay Ray:

you have to have ladies have to have on a flowy skirt and non binaries to

Jay Ray:

Yes.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: have on a flowy skirt because you have to pick lift it up by

Jay Ray:

the size and you spin around to that song to I'm to I know you I live you I

Jay Ray:

actually I kind of knew you were going to go for that because I, I have a

Jay Ray:

feeling, I have a feel for your taste

Jay Ray:

Okay.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: shotgun taste.

Jay Ray:

And we've had conversations about shotgun.

Jay Ray:

We both love that song.

Jay Ray:

So I'll let you have that one because that's one of my favorites as well.

Jay Ray:

But dope, dope pick.

Jay Ray:

And my, our final pick, my final pick is I'm going back to Epiphany.

Jay Ray:

Okay,

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: There was a song on there called everywhere

Jay Ray:

baby.

Jay Ray:

That's the jam.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: everywhere is such a jam everywhere It was kind of has that that

Jay Ray:

slick dancehall feel that 90s that mid 90s dancehall feel where you can we can

Jay Ray:

drop it in the dancehall set and you could put it in between like any one of

Jay Ray:

the top shelf rhythms or And put it next to the Chaka Demus & Pliers and just

Jay Ray:

really go in Or start off your reggae set with that song, but it's so cool.

Jay Ray:

It's so it's laid back, but it's still, it's still, that beat is still

Jay Ray:

driving and it gives you a good, you know, a good dance hall feel,

Jay Ray:

but Chaka is doing her Chaka thing.

Jay Ray:

She starts off kind of mild and then she goes into the Chaka crescendo,

Jay Ray:

which I think is one of her superpowers.

Jay Ray:

Cause I, and I think it's something that we kind of look forward to

Jay Ray:

the only song that I don't think.

Jay Ray:

She does the Chaka crescendo where she really comes out the gate hard.

Jay Ray:

It's disrespectful when Mary J.

Jay Ray:

Blige, I don't think they come, they both come out,

Jay Ray:

just come out.

Jay Ray:

Like

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: they come out swinging like, ah, they come out like mad.

Jay Ray:

yeah.

Jay Ray:

What, you know, that was part of, you know, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

Jay Ray:

Um, during that funk, this era, from what I recall, um, were, wanted Chaka.

Jay Ray:

to be Chaka full out.

Jay Ray:

And because prior to that, she had come off of that classy con, which is amazing.

Jay Ray:

Chaka did this jazz standards album.

Jay Ray:

I think it's with the London Philharmonic or whatever, because Chaka is that girl.

Jay Ray:

I

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Absolutely.

Jay Ray:

Mm hmm.

Jay Ray:

yeah, she they came out full out But so it's interesting

Jay Ray:

that for your number two you went with the slow jam because for my

Jay Ray:

quintessential Chaka song my number one now keep in mind We had a conversation

Jay Ray:

with the dream like two years ago.

Jay Ray:

I probably picked, I think I know you, I live, you was on my list for

Jay Ray:

that, but I think the other songs were different, which is fine.

Jay Ray:

Cause I got plenty of Chaka songs.

Jay Ray:

Like I said, I got.

Jay Ray:

six right here, my number one Quintessential Chaka song is actually

Jay Ray:

from the rufus and Chaka days and it's sweet thing so Yeah, so sweet

Jay Ray:

thing From a cultural standpoint is once again a multi generational song,

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: For sure.

Jay Ray:

Young folks still singing that song in

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Uh

Jay Ray:

shows today.

Jay Ray:

No matter which version you play, either the Chaka version or the Mary version,

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Uh huh.

Jay Ray:

the difference.

Jay Ray:

They know how to sing it either way.

Jay Ray:

But what's so beautiful about the Chaka version of that song is it's,

Jay Ray:

it's sweet and it's seventies Chaka.

Jay Ray:

So.

Jay Ray:

One of the interesting things about Chaka is her voice has changed over time.

Jay Ray:

It's actually gotten more Chaka.

Jay Ray:

I call it more Chaka.

Jay Ray:

It's gotten more Chaka over the years.

Jay Ray:

So when you listen to 70s Chaka, her, her voice is much lower.

Jay Ray:

Um, and now she sounds more like a horn today, even way more than she did then.

Jay Ray:

that was her hallmark is Chaka Khan kind of sounded like a trumpet, you

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Yes, she's a living instrument.

Jay Ray:

She's a living instrument, but Sweet Thing, um, is a beautiful song.

Jay Ray:

She sings it so lovely.

Jay Ray:

You get a little bit of that crescendo, but it's not like, know, it's sweet.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Yes.

Jay Ray:

um, you can play it at any, uh, event and people are

Jay Ray:

going to be able to sing along.

Jay Ray:

And that's my quintessential number one Chaka song.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: So I think you and I have started off a really

Jay Ray:

dope Chaka Khan playlist.

Jay Ray:

And I'd like to invite our listeners.

Jay Ray:

If you out there, our viewers and listeners, if you want to add and

Jay Ray:

make submissions to, uh, Our ultimate Chaka Khan playlist, feel free.

Jay Ray:

As a matter of fact, in the comments below this video, please

Jay Ray:

go ahead and leave your submissions.

Jay Ray:

Let us know what you think is your, what are your favorite

Jay Ray:

Chaka Khan songs and why?

Jay Ray:

I mean, cause Chaka Khan is just, she's just one of those omnipresent.

Jay Ray:

People that has been in our lives since as long as we can remember,

Jay Ray:

Yes.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: the it's the voice.

Jay Ray:

It's the hair.

Jay Ray:

It's all of those things.

Jay Ray:

The, the person that Aries personality.

Jay Ray:

And now, you know what I love now, Jay Ray is that she's turned to this earth mother.

Jay Ray:

Who's doling out advice so calmly while she's meditating, you

Jay Ray:

know, in her backyard somewhere.

Jay Ray:

I love that about her, but she's still singing.

Jay Ray:

Absolutely.

Jay Ray:

That tiny desk.

Jay Ray:

Woo.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: excuse me?

Jay Ray:

Yes.

Jay Ray:

That's rutabaga that tiny desk was amazing, but Jay Ray listeners.

Jay Ray:

Did you all know this Chaka?

Jay Ray:

Her sister Taka

Jay Ray:

Yes.

Jay Ray:

Yeah.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: that is being submitted for a Grammy consideration.

Jay Ray:

Well, they're featured on the song.

Jay Ray:

The artists are called a million sons and.

Jay Ray:

They are the featured vocalists on the song Misty blue, too.

Jay Ray:

If you look on, um, iTunes, whatever, there's like a hundred

Jay Ray:

remixes of this one particular song.

Jay Ray:

Yeah.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: it's being submitted to the Grammys.

Jay Ray:

So shout out to Chaka, Taka and Mark and a million sons.

Jay Ray:

And here's looking, hoping that you get this Grammy nomination for the song.

Jay Ray:

Misty blue.

Jay Ray:

To

Jay Ray:

The

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Jay Ray

Jay Ray:

Khan.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: people love them some Chaka Khan.

Jay Ray:

That's right.

Jay Ray:

She's won quite a few

Jay Ray:

Yeah, they

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: She is they love a Chaka car So Jay Ray, um, if if the

Jay Ray:

listeners want to go ahead and submit their favorite Chaka Khan songs to us

Jay Ray:

Or just want to subscribe to the show.

Jay Ray:

Let them know what they need to do

Jay Ray:

Absolutely.

Jay Ray:

First of all, if y'all can hear our voices, if you can see

Jay Ray:

our faces, thank you so much.

Jay Ray:

We really appreciate y'all.

Jay Ray:

Make sure that you subscribe wherever you are tuning in.

Jay Ray:

Do us a solid.

Jay Ray:

Tell a friend, tell a family member, tell a co worker.

Jay Ray:

If you love Queue Points, chances are they will love Queue Points too.

Jay Ray:

You can support the show.

Jay Ray:

You could definitely, we, we love a coffee.

Jay Ray:

10, 20 coffees.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: Yes, please

Jay Ray:

that it helps to keep the lights on here in Queue Points land.

Jay Ray:

We'd really appreciate it.

Jay Ray:

And also we have a lot more content over on our Patreon.

Jay Ray:

Visit our website at Queue Points.

Jay Ray:

com because that's where you can get information on

Jay Ray:

completing, uh, submitting your.

Jay Ray:

Favorite Chaka song and why for the Um, and by the way, if you submit your

Jay Ray:

video, if you submit a video or some audio, it might end up in the live show.

Jay Ray:

So, you know, we do our Queue Points live on Thursdays.

Jay Ray:

So your video might end up in that show.

Jay Ray:

So visit the website, Queue Points.

Jay Ray:

com there.

Jay Ray:

You can, of course, participate in submitting your song, but you

Jay Ray:

can also, uh, read our newsletter.

Jay Ray:

You can sign up, uh, you can read our blog and sign up for the newsletter.

Jay Ray:

Rather.

Jay Ray:

We really appreciate y'all.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: We sure do.

Jay Ray:

Thank you for checking out this latest episode of Queue Points podcast.

Jay Ray:

As I always say in this life, you have a choice.

Jay Ray:

You can either pick up the needle or you can let the record play.

Jay Ray:

I'm DJ Sir Daniel,

Jay Ray:

My name is Jay Ray y'all.

Jay Ray:

DJ Sir Daniel: and this has been Queue Points podcast, dropping

Jay Ray:

the needle on black music history.

Jay Ray:

We'll see you on the next go round.

Jay Ray:

Peace.

Jay Ray:

Peace y'all.

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