For Dionne Warwick, the pandemic shutdowns were “like a vacation I’ve never had.” But even without performing she stayed busy throughout that time.
The veteran singer performed a couple of virtual concerts from home during the lockdown and was also seen as Mommy Mouse on Season 3 of “The Masked Singer” and a special guest on a Verzus virtual “battle” between good friends Gladys Knight and Patti Labelle. She’s also the subject of a documentary, “Done Make Me Over,” that premiered last September at the Toronto International Film Festival and will air Aug. 28 on CNN.
But more than anything else Warwick became active on the Internet — a “Zoomer zoomer,” she calls herself” — and used TikTok and Twitter to befriend younger artists such as Taylor Swift, Cardi B, the Weeknd and Chance the Rapper, which led to a collaboration with the latter on last fall’s charity single “Nothing’s Impossible.” Earlier this year, meanwhile, Warwick teamed with Bones Thugs-n-Harmony’s Krayzie Bone and her son NomaD (Damon Elliott) on another song, “Power in the Name.”
Now Warwick, 81, is back on the road, happy to once again sing “Walk On By,” “Do You Know the Way to San Jose” and her 54 other Billboard Hot 100 singles to live audiences again…
* In addition to connecting with younger artists, Warwick has also used social media for “meaningful” messages related to social and political issues. “Apparently people expect me to have a voice of this nature,” she says by phone from her home in New Jersey. “The things that have been going on in the world lately, I’m not too pleased with. We’re going through some madness, unfortunately, but that’s the way the world is at this point in time. I let people know how I felt from the onset, when I first started Tweeting, and it worked. I believe in smiling, and I think it got people to understand that you don’t have to be crazy and nasty. You can smile and still make your point.”
* Warwick says her relationship with Chance has become particularly tight after they connected via the Internet. “It got to know him which was very important. He’s a wonderful man, very personable. What he’s doing in his life and music, the help that he gives to people there (in Chicago), he’s been quite a joy to be around.” Warwick says the two have “talked about” doing more music together “several times,” and predicts that “should be happening very soon.”
* She’s looking forward to more people seeing the “Don’t Make Me Over” documentary when it airs on CNN next month. “We did quite a few festivals, and the reception was phenomenal if I must say so myself. People seemed to want to see it and get to know me. This gave them the opportunity. A lot of people know a lot about me already, and then there are some things they don’t (know) and wish they did. I think (the film) gives them an insight on that. It’s something I’m very proud of.” Warwick adds that she’s also hoping to write a follow-up to her 2011 memoir “My Life, as I See It: An Autobiography” but has not yet put words on paper for it.”
* October will mark the 50th anniversary of one of Warwick’s biggest hits, “I Say a Little Prayer,” a Top 5 single that was certified gold back in 1967. “I kind of follows (lyricist) Hal David, why he wrote the song. It’s based on the Vietnam War, unfortunately fighting that senseless war and his feelings about it, and I actually agreed with him. It’s still among the songs people expect me to sing, and I don’t mind singing it.” The song was most famously covered by Aretha Franklin the following year, and by artists such as Glen Campbell and Anne Murray, Bomb the Bass, Lianne La Havas, Little Mix, Diana King and others.
* This is also the 60th anniversary of Warwick’s first single, “Don’t Make Me Over,” and while she’s still going strong she does acknowledge that “I’m slowing down as we speak. I’ll be in front of people performing until I cannot give them exactly what I know I’m capable of doing. When that happens it’s time for me to say, ‘Thank you very much. You’ve been wonderful. Bye bye…’” She will, however, continue to record music and also has an interior design company that keeps her busy. She’ll also be honored by Fashion Group International at its Night of Stars gala on Oct. 13 in New York. “You’ll be hearing about me and seeing me doing all kinds of things,” she promises.
Dionne Warwick performs at 8 p.m. Friday, July 15, at Music Hall Center, 350 Madison Ave., Detroit. 313-887-8500 or musicalhall.org.
