Dionne!

Dionne Warwick is my favorite Motown diva! There's something very accessible about her voice and her songs that puts her into a category all of her own. She's no ice queen like Diana Ross and she certainly doesn't have the raw intensity of Aretha Franklin or Tina Turner. Dionne doesn't need to play the extremes. Her mid-range voice allows her to add a very wide range of emotions to her songs that isn't forced or contrived. Unlike other Motown ladies, Dionne falls in-between the ballbusters and the doormats. She's completely honest with her flaws and expects that you are going to love her anyway.

Check out her song "Don't Make Me Over". Written for Dionne by Burt Bacharach as a peace offering over a studio misunderstaning. According to the story, Dionne snapped at Burt, "Don't make me over, man!" and then stormed out. "Don't Make Me Over" is, in my opinion, just as powerful as Franklin's "Respect".

Dionne's also a complete wack-job. She's been busted for drug possesion at 61 and she is the very famous host of the Psychic Friends Hotline. She's very much like another crazy diva, Whitney Houston, which is no surprise since she is Whitney's cousin.

Don't make me over
Now that I'd do anything for you
Don't make me over
Now that you know how I adore you
Don't pick on the things I say, the things I do
Just love me with all my faults, that way that I love you
I'm begging you
Don't make me over
Now that I can't make it without you
Don't make me over
I wouldn't change one thing about you
Just take me inside your arms and hold me tight
And always be by my side, if I am wrong or right
I'm begging you
Don't make me over
Don't make me over
Now that you've got me at your command
Accept me for what I am
Accept me for the things that I do
Accept me for what I am
Accept me for the things that I do
Now that I'd do anything for you
Now that you know how I adore you
Just take me inside your arms and hold me tight
And always be by my side, if I am wrong or right
I'm begging you
Don't make me over
Don't make me over
Now that you've got me at your command
Accept me for what I am
Accept me for the things that I do
Accept me for what I am
Accept me for the things that I do