“The louder they applauded, the more mascara we put on the next time.”

January 12, 2022 10:07 PM

Ronnie Spector has died at age 78. Best known as the frontwoman of The Ronettes (and the only one who actually sang on their signature hit, 1963’s Be My Baby), she survived a bright spotlight and a tight wardrobe at a young age, and later, an abusive marriage to a certain murderous record producer.

In 1986, she connected with a new generation of sweaty-palmed listeners as a guest vocalist on Take Me Home Tonight by Eddie Money (previously).

Artists from Brian Wilson to Amy Winehouse credited her as an inspiration.

She is predeceased by her sister, Estelle Bennett, leaving their cousin, Nedra Talley-Ross, as the last surviving original Ronette.

posted by armeowda (42 comments total)

She went through hell with Phil. I can’t even imagine. Her voice and Be My Baby specifically takes me to a better place. It’s always been one of my all time favorite experiences. Her voice, I mean.

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posted by OnTheLastCastle at 10:25 PM on January 12, 2022 [6 favorites]

She is one of my favorites. I have been thinking of her because of an episode of Andrew Hickey’s excellent podcast The History of Rock Music in 500 Songs explained that at the peak of her fame her abuser prevented her from recording new material, as he feared losing control of her, depriving all of us of something wonderful.
posted by chrchr at 10:34 PM on January 12, 2022 [10 favorites]

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posted by Joey Michaels at 11:18 PM on January 12, 2022

Man, 2022 is coming out of the gate hard. She was one of my all-time faves and I still have my vinyl copies of her music. I loved the sound of her voice, that almost raspy, low from the chest sound. An icon.
posted by kitten kaboodle at 11:25 PM on January 12, 2022 [8 favorites]

All my beloved heros are melting away like snow in the sun. Kids, never grow old. It's a trap.
posted by y2karl at 11:43 PM on January 12, 2022 [9 favorites]

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posted by potrzebie at 12:13 AM on January 13, 2022

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posted by mpark at 12:39 AM on January 13, 2022

. Such a talent.
posted by ellieBOA at 12:52 AM on January 13, 2022

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posted by talking leaf at 1:26 AM on January 13, 2022

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I still remember, as a young teen in the 90s, hearing Be My Baby for the first time. That powerful yet fragile voice just latched onto my brain and, in some way, it’s still the perfect pop voice in my mind.
posted by Kattullus at 1:52 AM on January 13, 2022 [5 favorites]

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posted by whatevernot at 2:19 AM on January 13, 2022

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posted by Atom Collection at 2:54 AM on January 13, 2022

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posted by acb at 2:56 AM on January 13, 2022

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posted by Dhertiiboi at 3:22 AM on January 13, 2022

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posted by Faint of Butt at 3:40 AM on January 13, 2022

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posted by Lawn Beaver at 3:52 AM on January 13, 2022

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posted by gauche at 3:54 AM on January 13, 2022

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posted by mersen at 3:55 AM on January 13, 2022

♪
posted by lapolla at 4:09 AM on January 13, 2022

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posted by james33 at 5:17 AM on January 13, 2022

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posted by jquinby at 5:54 AM on January 13, 2022

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posted by mikelieman at 6:01 AM on January 13, 2022

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posted by martin q blank at 6:28 AM on January 13, 2022

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posted by dsword at 7:06 AM on January 13, 2022

Despite being the simplest, most hackneyed language, that chorus on "Be My Baby" is indelible due to her performance.

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posted by praemunire at 7:08 AM on January 13, 2022 [2 favorites]

"Be My Baby" is an objectively perfect pop song. There are maybe three or four songs in American pop music that can stand next to it. Maybe.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:42 AM on January 13, 2022 [8 favorites]

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posted by Cash4Lead at 7:44 AM on January 13, 2022

One of the greatest of all singers.
posted by Dr. Wu at 7:53 AM on January 13, 2022

Gotta love that Cyndi Lauper actually posted homage comment on that YouTube.
posted by thecincinnatikid at 8:15 AM on January 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

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posted by Splunge at 8:20 AM on January 13, 2022

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posted by kuppajava at 8:28 AM on January 13, 2022

And Be My Baby is also on the Dirty Dancing soundtrack, cementing her place in many peoples' brains forever.
posted by kimberussell at 8:29 AM on January 13, 2022 [5 favorites]

♪
posted by Gelatin at 8:59 AM on January 13, 2022

The rest is silence.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:08 AM on January 13, 2022

Requiem aeternam dona Infanti Meo, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei. Requiescat in pace.
posted by ob1quixote at 10:14 AM on January 13, 2022

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posted by hap_hazard at 10:46 AM on January 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

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posted by brujita at 3:10 PM on January 13, 2022

RIP.

Love her.
posted by chaz at 3:30 PM on January 13, 2022

I love “Be My Baby”. Reading this thread yesterday I remembered that Patti Smith covered it when I saw her in Portland. But Ronnie has a lot of other songs!!

Is this the definitive Frosty the Snowman?

Walking in the Rain (Mann/Weil)

Paradise (Harry Nillson)

Is This What I Get for Loving You (Goffin/King)

Baby, I Love You
(Greenwhich/Barry)

The Best Part of Breaking Up

Do I Love You

I Wonder (Greenwhich/Barry)

You Baby (Mann/Weil)

I Wish I Never Saw the Sunshine (Greenwhich/Barry)

I Can Hear Music (Greenwhich/Barry)
posted by chrchr at 5:50 PM on January 13, 2022 [6 favorites]

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posted by Mutant Lobsters from Riverhead at 6:50 PM on January 13, 2022

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posted by bryon at 7:40 PM on January 13, 2022

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posted by ahimsakid at 7:45 PM on January 13, 2022