The last few notes, she sings Maya, Maya, Maya, This was for her new daughter, Maya Rudolph. (SNL, etc.)

@jmclen7

Ай бұрын

Yes. Maya was a baby. She was singing this song to her baby. Blew my mind when I first learned that. This beautiful song and her untimely death is always a little too much for me to take. What a song!

So sweet how she incorporated her daughter's name into the song. What a treasure for Maya to have.

I can only imagine the thousands of quiet moments when Maya would listen as her mother spoke to her spirit. Such a tragedy of early demise, such a powerfully sweet gift to a still enraptured audience. Minnie Riperton, still ‘Loving You.’

Minnie was truly one of the greatest voices of the 20th century, if I recall correctly, she had a 6 octave range which was apparently quite rare. Always a joy to hear her.

"She's singing it so different!" That's why The Midnight Special was(is!) so great! Never apologize for doing a Midnight Special version.

She was bigger than you think. She sang backing vocals for Stevie Wonder then released at least 2 lovely albums. Lovin’ You was her biggest hit but she did have several others. We all loved her and were heart broken when she passed.

Memory Lane is ❤ she died so young 😢

" Back down memory lane" was another hit by her, this was her last hit song right before she passed away from cancer in the summer of 1979.😔

I could listen to this song every day for life. I could never tire of her lilting, bird-like vocals. I've loved this since the 1970's. There are some singers who use the whistle tone to show off. They are imitating the queen. Minnie Riperton sang this so effortlessly it makes me smile. So sad that Maya Rudolph lost her mother too soon. The world lost a magical voice. She must be singing with the angels now.

She could saaaaaaaaaannng, and that last note tho ........ my heartbroke when she died. I was in elementary school when she passed. I worried about her kids, how were they going to make it with out her. They turned out just fine, but as a kid, I was sad because they didn't have a mom. RIP Minnie Ripperton

Minnie Riperton, so much talent.

The high note she hits raises the hair on my neck.

for someone to actually be able to sing words in the whistle register, as she did at the beginning, is just simply amazing.

I don't think she had another hit as big as this one... and she died in 1979, so the world lost that beautiful voice way too soon...

That live performance still gives me chills down my spine. So effortless. Tow of my other favorites by her are "Baby This Love I Have" and "Inside My Love" from her album Adventures in Paradise. That entire album is a banger.

Your reaction to this performance exemplifies why going to see a concert back in the day was so special. Artist often incorporated changes sometimes subtle and sometimes huge on their live performances. Much of it was made possible because the artists were actually singing or playing their instrument. Their talent was on full display in live events.

@revdp2010

Ай бұрын

I stand corrected. This single was featured on the Perfect Angel album. But the look, set, and wardrobe are from Adventures in Paradise.

The stacked-bell instrument is called a "bell tree". She did have other R&B and funk songs, and undoubtedly would have had many more hits if her career hadn't been cut short by breast cancer when she was 32. But what a legacy she left us!

Such musical grace. Emulated but never duplicated.

This LIVE version is _made better_ by the fact that you know the song and can appreciate her Live nuance. Without knowing it, it would just be cool that she did it this way, but you wouldn't understand the nuances. That's the whole point we have about Live vs. Studio

She was very big when this record came out and yes - she has other songs that are very good too. Sadly she passed away from breast cancer only a few years after this song came out at the age of only 31. She sings her daughter's name Maya at the end of the song. I bought her "Perfect Angel" album when it first came out after hearing "Loving you" on the radio - I was captured. The title track Perfect Angel is another favorite of mine. Another good one on that album is Reasons.

Minnie was one of the best singers out there. She is your favorite singer favorite singer and the one many try to sing like. Unfortunately, Minnie died of an aggressive form of breast cancer when she was 31 when her daughter Maya was 8 and her brother 11.

She had lots of beautiful hits. Inside my Love, Memory Lane, Adventures in Paradise, Here We Go, Lover and Friend, Woman of Heart and Mind (written by Joni Mitchell) and many more.

I forgot how beautiful her voice is...great song.

It's like your sitting in an English 16th century Forrest....green grass and a garden full of fairies.....damn that high note is next level....peace and love to all.

She started out with the band Rotary Connection. They did some incredible versions of some great songs.

Maya has a great voice too. She's in a PRINCE cover band with a friend and they are amazing and so much fun. Princess - go see them if they come to your area.

@brittreacts

Ай бұрын

I'll check it out!

Please listen to her hits..Back Down Memory Lane and Inside Your Love.. You will love her even more.

I remember that song.... just a pure melody that fit the era..lots of great songs back in the day.

My mom had a ton of Midnight Special DVDs, but I would always replay the one with this performance. I always thought she looked and sounded just like a fairy.

This song was a bolt from the blue when it dropped. It was my introduction to Minnie Ripperton. It's always paired in my mind with the song "Free" by Deniece Williams because it came out around the same time and had the same mellow vibe and vocal register (minus the whistle tones). I have 7 albums by Minnie including "Love Lives Forever " released posthumosly in 1980 and 2 Best of collections. She couldn't produce more because of her death in 1979 from cancer. My favourite album is her third, "Stay in Love" from 1977, probably because it's the first of her albums I bought, and my favourtite track is the opener "Young, Willing and Able" which is a funkier song that is followed by the mellower "Could it Be I'm in Love" which is closer in feel to "Lovin' You". Only 5 albums spanning 10 years. A huge loss but a legacy that we can be grateful for.

Gorgeous live version ❤ she sounds amazing, you are so funny with your reaction 😂

@brittreacts

Ай бұрын

Thank you!! 😁

Gosh this was beautiful. I remember this song from radio airplay but I've never heard this version. Thank you for bringing this to us.

In my book, Minnie Riperton is the gold-standard for Whistle Register! 🥰😍🤩🏆😘

I used to listen to this over and over and over....I loved Minnie so much, the good Lord took her away too soon. Many artists have emulated her, but none really compare. She was an Angel Cancer is a horrible way to go.

This is the unedited long version of the record but when played on radiany station managers cut the ending off to make way for advertising and some believe possible religious content when she repeated her daughter's name.She completed 2 albums before developing metastatic breast cancer and was one of first woman to announce her diagnosis to public resting with other angels now.

Thank you for this. I've seen this performance so many times and each time is like the first...

That last note

Her wardrobe for this song reflects the art from the album "Adventures in Paradise". This was the top single from that album. Also if you go back and listen you'll hear many of the percussion instruments and even the bird singing in the original.

Such a great talent who left us way too soon

OH my Lord, love her. Short career, she died young, of cancer.

There is a well known thing that she is known for... Back in the days they printed the words of the songs in a vinyl insert or in a cassette inlay... In the lyrics of that song she sings "'Coz you're beautiful"... The first ever use of "Coz" meaning 'because'.

Great reaction. The ones who insist on studio performance are the kids who want songs to stay just how they heard them radio.

I love watching this video, she was so beautiful!

One of the all-time great singers who left us too soon. R.I.P Minnie. And yes Maya Rudolph is her Daughter. She also has a son name Marc Rudolph. Her husband's name is Richard Rudolph.

Back when everyone was understandably wowed by Mariah Careys high notes I could imagine Minnie Riperton saying "Hold my beer!"

I have to say, watching you react to the very songs of my youth, I am in agreement with you. I felt the same 50 years ago. With respect, smooches. This was from "Midnight Special" , a Saturday night music show

The original released version was nearly impossible and this was even better and more impressive. WOW!

always thought the original was unreal...but this version.. man, she sure hit some notes, I've never heard before...unbelievable , pretty sure she died a heap of years ago...like way back just after this song still in the 70s

Those high notes are not falsetto, but are actually in the Whistle Register. Wikipedia actually has a picture of Minnie as a top example! "The physiology of the whistle register is the least understood of the vocal registers. Unlike other types of vocal production, it is difficult to film the vocal cords while they are operating in this manner..., vibration occurs only in some anterior portion of the vocal folds. This shorter vibrating length naturally allows for easier production of high pitches." Sounds to me that Minnie is using harmonics similar to a stringed instrument (like the guitar). Amazing!

Minnie Riperton had another minor hit with a song called "Inside My Love", which you may have heard without realising it if you've seen the 1998 Tarantino movie, Jackie Brown. But before she was Minnie Riperton solo artist she sang background on a few hits and was in a psychedelic soul band known as Rotary Connection. She also collaborated with Stevie Wonder, who produced her most successful album and invited her to sing on tracks for his Fulfillingness' First Finale and Songs in the Key of Life shortly before she was diagnosed as terminally ill.

Listening to her beautiful voice, song, your look, is beautifully priceless in the end ❤️ 💕 💖 Maya Maya. Maya, her daughter

Maya was Minnie Rippertons youngest of four children with music producer Richard Rudolph.

Minnie could hit those notes because she had an incredible five octave vocal range. It always amazed me when she hit those high notes is perfect tune. But that last note in this video, what a surprise, that's not on the recorded song. My jaw dropped then I looked to see your jaw dropped too. And I betcha that Minnie knew everybody was going to have that reaction. I had to rewind just to hear that again. I guess when you're that good you can get away with showing off like that. :)

She really meant that or just a great performer or perhaps just a bit of both combined - amazing

Amazing vocals by Minnie, thank you for the reaction video. You have a wonderful talent for tapping into any song and conveying the emotional feel: John Lennon’s “Mother,” Harry Chapin’s “Taxi.” But yeah, love Minnie. We lost her too soon.

She has another beautiful song in French ❤

She co-wrote this with her husband. The white guy playing guitar.

Maya was a schoolmate friend of Gwyneth Paltrow and Jack Black. When Gwyneth host SNL, Maya was reunited with her as an SNL regular, so they sang together. You can find it on KZread.

She was definitely ICONIC!

Live is always. 💯 better❤❤❤❤love ya Brit

Inside my love, Memory Lane, Les Fleur, Reasons, Baby this love (a tribe called quest used the track) Here we go, Perfect Angel and If I ever lose this heaven (quincy jones, minnnie, leon ware and al jareau) are all great songs!!!!

Her posthumously released duet with Peabo Bryson on "Here We Go" is also great.

She was on it that night, she did not always hit that super high A at the end. It's insane.

With good artists, the live can be better than the record 😁

Almost everyone in Hollywood is the kid of a famous person.

Her husband wrote this song sitting at the kitchen table while just watching her......her story is such a beautiful and sad one.....thank you so much for reacting to this!!!!

@brittreacts

Ай бұрын

Oh wow!

Brit thank you so much. You said you grew up listening to this song. But were you old enough to have heard her sensually iconic "INSIDE MY LOVE"? Minnie sang 3 songs on the Midnight Special that morning. And that one was her finally. Including a 16-18 second WHISTLE. Still makes me emotional today.

One of my top fav songs ever.... I remember watching this episode in '75. Lovely reaction!

Look for Maya singing… she can sang! 😍

Rest in power Minnie 🌹🌹

She’s got a great upbeat funky song - Reasons. There’s a Soul Train video of it

Never seen this before. That was just unreal.

As others have written, Minnie sadly left us too early due to Cancer. She was a Classically trained Vocalist with a Focus on Opera. In the Late 60s she Joined a Little known Up and Coming Electro -Funk Soul Band called, The Rotary Connection. They made some awesome, Psychedelic type tracks along with a variety of soundscapes that set them apart. She later went solo in the early 70s , released an album or two (can't remember 2 well) until she caught the Ear & Attention of Stevie Wonder. He fell in Love with her talent and Voice and offered to produce her next album (Perfect Angel) . This song is from that Album, along with another hit the 1st lead track, Reasons (which FYI has an Amazing Live Performance on Soul Train 😉) - Inside My Love - Memory Lane - Adventures in Paradise - Baby,This Love I Have - Les Fleurs & Lastly a Personal fave of mine from her days with The Rotary Connection, Turn Me On. Interestingly enough Solange (Beyonce's sister) samples part of this song in her 2019 album ,When I Get Home.

She is opera trained!My others favorite song of hers was Memory Lane.

Beautiful... loved this song from day one. Babys breath is the flowers and they are beautiful in everyones hair... love your ❤ felt reactions.

That was such a beautiful performance, how are you not bawling?! PLEASE react to Les Fleur? That song was way ahead of its time and is so amazing!!

I love Mini Rippleton's voice! If you like whistle tones, check out the live version of Lisa Fisher, singing "How can I Ease the Pain". She's singing live in Concert (Japan 1992) and it will blow your mind! You would never know she didn't like being up front and would have rather have stayed in the background. She sang background for some very famous people.😊

OMG! This is 6000x better than the recorded version.

⭐️👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 STANDING OVATION!!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼⭐️ ❤️ 😪 Unfortunately, Minnie passed away at age 39 from breast cancer. ❤️ Did I hear her sing “Maya, Maya, Maya, Maya, etc. at the end of that AMAZING LIVE version on “Lovin’ You?” ❤️✌🏼🫶🏼🤗 ❤️

Minne has other songs, one of the best that you MUST react to is, "Memory Lane". It's so beautiful and it will have you in your feels. She died way too soon from breast cancer.

minnies on from in vis performance, sucha sweet memorable song, feel sad whn she sings 'when we grow old', sadly she never had that opertunity. tnk its her husband playing guitar. tink thats a guitar doing v run. tik her whislte note wnt half an octave even higher in vis live one at v end?. yeah she was stunning in vis.

Other Minnie Riperton songs -- I think "Back Down Memory Lane" was the biggest hit behind "Lovin' You." My favorite of hers is "Les Fleurs."

Maya Rudolph from Saturday Night Live ,Bridesmaids,Grownups etc is her daughter.

Her high notes are 'whistle register', which very few singers can do.

La la la means I love you by Prince ❤️‍🔥 my King Sunshine ✨️

Minnie was the Truth

She had Other great songs like Memory lane -and inside my love -and Here we go with Peabo Bryson and Les Fleur (Acapella) version is one of my favorites

She was a soul that departed too soon! The only other popular song would be Back Down Memory Lane. If I'm not mistaken, she was in her 30's when she made her transition. 😢

Yes Minnie Riperton is Maya Roudolph’s and she even name drops her at the end of this song. If you didn’t catch it.

Those high notes are called whistle tones. It has mostly been used by female singers, with notable examples being Betty Wright, Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, and Ariana Grande. Nobody had better control of them than Minnie Riperton.

@free1855

Ай бұрын

Lisa Fisher "Ease the Pain" live versio , is probably the closest singer to have that talent, she just never made it big.

She was a one off, loved her the time. So whimsical.

My very favorite Minnie Riperton songs are Lover and Friend and Memory Lane. You should check them out.

A couple other songs by her: "Les Fleurs," which you might recognize from the soundtrack to Jordan Peele's "Us" and "Inside My Love," which should have been a bigger hit.

THE best live being better than the studio version is Chicago's 25 or 6 to 4 live at Tanglewood. The BEST guitar solo ever captured on film.

You fooled me, how you know that song. Maya Rudolph SNL cast member is the daughter of MINNIE RIPERTON. Oh yeah, you have to checkout Minnie's song "Back down memory lane" you're going to love that song. Great reaction.

All these songs you love were the soundtrack to my childhood in the 70s and 80s

Sweet song

Truly saving the best for last! Wow I never heard this version before, thank you Britt for showing us.

How does Minnie sing and hit those high notes so effortlessly? Hey, it's a GOD given Gift and Blessing. I miss Minnie so much; she was a Phenomenal Woman and Singer. Maya can sang, too y'all, although she admitted on an interview that she can't compare to her mom, and how she just thinks her mom was a great and awesome singer a one of a kind. Maya is great too! Michael Jackson, once wrote a song for Minnie Riperton called, 'I'm in Love Again' and Minnie hits those beautiful angelic high notes. Also, Minnie's song 'Back Down Memory Lane' which was a hit and came out 2 months before she passed away.

First time hearing this live version. Generally, when you hear a live version of a song, it’s never better than the recorded version. But this live version beats the recorded version by a mile.