After the showdown between divas Brandy and Monica, Verzuz has brought together two more legendary names for another legendary battle. Over the weekend, iconic singers Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle battled it out on Instagram Live.
CNN reports that viewers of the Verzuz battle between the 77-year-old Knight and the 76-year-old LaBelle were delighted when the singers actually sang to their respective hits, a departure from the way Verzuz battles usually progress.
As reported by the outlet, Knight and LaBelle sang along to a lot of their hits while also providing commentary along the way. Songs performed in the battle include Midnight Train to Georgia, Licence to Kill, Over the Rainbow, and If You Asked Me To.
LaBelle even offered up that she sang If You Asked Me To before Celine Dion did it. Just like Knight, LaBelle was on the Licence to Kill soundtrack with the song If You Asked Me To.
As noted in an opinion piece published on NBC News, the Verzuz battle between Knight and LaBelle was also memorable because the music played was the soundtrack of a generation of people.
In her piece, writer Mikki Kendall says she still associates the songs of Knight and LaBelle to her childhood, especially since they were played while she was doing chores with her grandparents and aunt.
Kendall described the Sunday Verzuz battle as a way for the “past to speak to the present” and to let a younger generation show their appreciation for those that came before them and made their lives easier today.
Bringing together Knight and LaBelle is just the latest feather in the cap of Verzuz, which was conceptualized by rapper Timbaland and hip hop artist Swizz. Born as a result of boredom during the coronavirus-induced lockdowns, Verzuz has evolved to showcase big-name stars.
Some of the names that have featured on Verzuz include T-Pain, Rick Ross, Lil Jon, 2 Chainz, Erykah Badu, Snoop Dogg, Jill Scott, DMX, Nelly, John Legend, Ludacris, and Alicia Keys.
Before the Knight and LaBelle showdown, Verzuz featured Brandy and Monica, who were able to draw a total of 1.2 million views. There were also a number of celebrity names who watched the battle, such as former First Lady Michelle Obama and Democratic vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Lena Waithe, Queen Latifah, Nas, and Snoop Dogg also watched the battle.
During their Verzuz battle, Brandy and Monica refuted rumors that the two of them had a long-standing feud. Monica expressed her admiration for Brandy’s life and music, while Brandy was all praises when it came to Monica’s career and its longevity.