“We have a tendency in this country that when we say Black it automatically means Black Americans. But that's a big mistake, and that keeps us divided. There are Blacks all over this entire world-even in Africa.” -Irene Cara
That doesn't keep us divided! Alot of them don't wanna be associated as black Americans unless it benefits them and have negative things about us....that is what keep us divided!
Exactly. I don't understand why people get so confused. There are black Hispanics. The same African blood is running through our veins. The only difference is the language and culture.
Irene CARA, got her hair done at the shop I worked for on 79th and Lexington. She was kind and beautiful,……The stylist would hide her in the corner of the shop as everyone of my generation knew her. 😊
@MrYeeYuh1 No they meant the Hispanic/Latino communities as well. People forget that a lot of people circumvent both aspects and it is NOT fun. If anything if being black in the white American majority of the US is hard being black in the Latino communities can be a hot mess. Colorism is a blight over the world.
I grew up loving her! She was such a triple threat. (Singer, dancer and actor) And the industry refused to pay her worth. She stood up for what was right back in the 80's and they made her suffer for it!!! I truly miss this beautiful talent!💐💐💐
I was so shocked and absolutely devastated when I heard about her passing 😢 💔 That's one of my favorite songs too. Her whole What a Feelin playlist is wonderful 💜💜
That song and movie bring back my early adulthood. I'm sad she passed away 😢. Her upbeat sound always brings a smile to my face and some pep in my step. Good times!! May she 🙏 RIP
Naaaw, she was doing good until she got big headed and told everyone that she Cuban/Puerto Rican... not black. She thought that she had made it, but she quickly found out that there were no roles out there for Cuban Puerto Ricans, and the white people definitely were not going to give up their roles to her..
Black or white, all women need women like this to look up to. Strong minded, bold, having high standards, and pride in herself. Beautiful, talented lady. Thanks for telling her story.
Hearing Irene makes me want to get the girls together, wear off shoulder sweatshirts and go to the gym and lift dumbbells. Still one of my favorite movies. ❤
Josephine Baker (1906-1975) One of the first black women to leave her mark on the dance world, Josephine Baker’s legacy is synonymous with sensuality, bravery and uninhibited passion. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Baker grew up with little and quickly developed an independent spirit, learning to provide for herself and make her own way. This free and bold behavior led her to perform across the country with The Jones Family Band and The Dixie Steppers in 1919. By the time she sashayed onto a Paris stage during the 1920s, she was confident in her abilities and performed with a comic, yet sensual appeal that took Europe by storm.
I cried when she passed. Hollywood was and is a crazy lifestyle. That beautiful woman probably did not bend for them. I can careless what they thought about her getting an award. She was an actress, she earned it and she repped women. RIP QUEEN 💐🌺🌸
My heart broke when I heard Irene Cara passed away. She was SO talented in an industry in the 70/80s that was truly ruled by the old boys club. If you look at any picture of her, she is always smiling and glowing! Her music and talent will always live on in our hearts.
I swore I was going to grow up and give birth to 3 daughters just like the Sparkle movie. 😂😂😂 It didn’t work out like that for me but I did get 1 daughter
Yes black Hispanic are not acknowledge in the Hispanic community. There are lots of actors who are great actors and the Black American community acknowledges their talent, at the end of the day the world sees you as black and there is nothing wrong with that I think is wonderful. Irene Open doors for Black African American and also Black Hispanic American and I think that is wonderful! 💐🌹🌺🌷🌸💮🏵️🌻🌼
@@Cinnam0nr0ll have you ever have seen in the Hispanic community any black actors being awarded, and the only one who was awarded was Celia Cruz and she was a singer. There is no black people giving the news except for one black Hispanic news caster . There are no black actors in novels I know because I watch...
@bbltz1440 Don't deflect what does that have to do with blk people in America saying she's not African American & shouldn't have those roles? She didn't speak Spanish, how would she be in any hispanic roles...especially in America. She was American sweetheart, you do know that right? Celia Cruz was Cuban...there are blk people all over Cuban soap operas & in music so I really don't know where you're getting to.
@@Cinnam0nr0ll even if she tried for a role in the Hispanic community, sweetheart she was not going to make it, she had a choice and she made a smart choice. Irene was Black Hispanic raised in The United States
@bbltz1440 No, she wasn't African American enough...in the 70s there weren't too many hispanic roles on TV or film anyway what are you talking about? Not every hispanic role was played by hispanics even Tony Montana in the movie Scarface was played Robert DeNiro which is of Italian decent, he's not Cuban. Steven Bauer was actually Cuban but didn't get the leading role.
Irene Cara is so beautiful & Very Talented. What did you expect from Hollywood? Look at the mess that Hollywood & Jennifer Lopez, P Diddy & Clive Davis & J-Z including Ellen DeGeneres have Done!!!! Plus so many other Uber Rich People.
I also was curious after Fame why I never heard too much about her. I used to love watching the show Fame when I was little, I'm 49. I remember when Debbie Allen was on the show Fame. I remember watching Flashdance.
Just because you’re not African American doesn’t mean you’re not black it’s just a different history. Growing up my family always called me sparkle ❤ my mom is half Puerto Rico and she is a black women our dna comes back majority Nigerian
When are people going to understand that genetics and nationality are 2 different things? People need to know that being born in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, or any other country does not make a black person any less than that, but they can be identified as the country they were born in. Born in Puerto Rico = Puerto Rican which is usually nothing but mixed black people that can speak another language. The roots of the people are black though(from all nations). Black people come in different shades of brown and hair texture. White people integrating themselves to cause this mania really has messed people minds up. It is a shame how much power everybody gived white people. I am sick and tired of people playing dumb trying to water down being black yet their culture is black but just in another form. People really need to grow tf up! This is elementary school stuff.
Irene Cara was an american idol in the 80’s. She deserved every award she received because she was a hard worker and because she was so talented. It’s a shame that she was cancelled, because she was fighting for her own money and this hasn’t changed a bit nowadays. Wow it’s so sad how her career ended. 💐💐💐💐💐💐💐
Flash dance was a Huge HIT I was in jr high & we loved all the dancing music & Irene . 🌹🌷 and we didn’t care if she was black or afo Latina.. all we saw was a great dancer& singer. & a great movie!! ❤️
I met her a few years before she passed, and she was looking and just an amazing person. We sat down and had a conversation which loves you girl she was amazing still is.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
*_🎶Baby, look at me and tell me what you see. You ain't seen the best of me yet. Give me time, I'll make you forget the rest. I've got more in me, and you can set it free. I can catch the moon in my hand. Don't you know who I am? Remember my name!...🎶_* I ❤️ Irene Cara! RIP. 💐🌹🌷🌺🌻🌼💐
"What A Feeling" is a God-given song. It lifts your spirit to another level. You can feel it!"The opening portion was from her movie SPARKLE from the 70s.
Thanks for making this vid!!! I always wondered why Irene disappeared 😕. I'm a multi-ethnic blk woman. Yes, that's a thing. I'm Latina, Black and Caucasian. More than one thing can be true at once. How can you take away roles from a group you're still in??? White presenting Latinas get to play the roles of Hispanics, it's just how it goes. Colorism exists in every race and ethnicity; darker=bad, less than, and that's still happening now. Irene could've been Diana Ross and Beyonce before Beyonce!!! She could sing, dance, AND act. She was an entire triple threat! This just goes to show you that talent is NOT enough to be a permanent star in the entertainment industry. You only can by doing unsavory things behind the scenes. Check out Karine's other vids if you don't believe that yet 😐...
She was so talented. I longed to go to a school like Fame. My favorite song of hers is Out Here On My Own. Once again the industry strikes again. May she rest in peace💐⚘💖💞💕🕊
I loved that song. You brought memories flooding back. I think I am going to have to go listen to that song now. We had an excellent performing arts department in my high school. We sang and won chorale awards all over the country. We would have an open mic day and this song was a favorite of ours to sing. My best friend could play it on the piano. Class of 1983 & 1984. ❤
Irene was so beautiful and talented. I loved her growing up. Over the years, I used to wonder what happened to her and why she wasn't working. Thank you, Karine, for covering her.
Irene Cara was a part of my youth. When I moved to London for work years ago, the first theater production I watched was "Fame." I wanted to see if there were differences between the film, the tv series and the theater production when it came to the songs featured. "Anyone Can See" and "Out Here On My Own" were a part of my go to songs during karaoke nights with friends and family. Just recently though, after the pandemic, she replied to us, her fans (I think it was in her YT channel for her music videos) in real time in the comments section when we mentioned how we loved her music and praised her voice, (it is quite difficult to sing her songs in its original key, to high) thanking everyone. We didn't know or expect that she was reading the comments at that time. So, I felt very sad when she passed away. Had to watch and listen to her music video of "Out Here On My Own" as my tribute to her. Such a humble person and a gifted artist. Rest in peace, Ms. Irene Cara. ❤🎉🎉🎉
Wow she was georgous! I truly believe it was jealousy surrounding her career was hindered by so many negative people that was not in her best interest. I didn't know it was her that made that song too. May she rest in peace she definitely deserve her flowers 💐
So happy you're talking about Irene. She was multi-talented and beautiful no matter her heritage. However, I understand how some black women, especially equally talented actresses who were looked over. But, I blame racism and colorism which has affected communities of color for centuries, and Hollywood, unfortunately mirrors those concepts. Her passing was so sad. She deserved better treatment. Btw, my favorite song is "OUT HERE ON MY OWN". So moving. RIP Irene Cara🌹
Irene was a multitalented entertainer. She was beautiful and could sing. She wrote two back to back monster hits of the 1980’s that shot to number one; Fame & What a Feeling. Her unique career in film, music, and television was a rarity. The fixation on race is really daunting. Irene was a multifaceted entertainer who unfortunately was black balled and had to travel to Europe later in her career to sustain her livelihood.
Irene Cara had the beautiful hue of the indigenous people of Puerto Rico just as some of us have it from here! I grew up admiring Irene Cara and never thought about her ethnicity. Thank You for you videos Karine Alourde!
Thanks for covering Irene!! But "a little bit of colorism?" Even to this day, the intra-racism in that community is off the chain. You know their saying...improve the race and it's meaning. I remember her on The Electric Co. However, Irene was Afro-Latina. Period. She broke ground but during that time if you wanted to work you had to basically pick a group for lack of decent opportunities from either side in the industry. She did consider herself "Blk." 🌹🌷🌸🌸🌺🌺
Anyone with eyes can see she is black or at the very least, mixed with black. Then they say full-fledged Puerto Rican? well I have news for everyone. Puerto Rican is not a race but rather and ethnicity. And there are both black and white Cubans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, etc.
The first time I saw Irene Cara was in Roots the Second Generation. I thought she was so beautiful. Thank you for your story about her 🎉. I would like to hear about the other two women of Sparkle if you haven't done so already. Lonette Mckee was in quite a few movies in the 70's. I don't know much about the other woman Dwan Smith but it would be interesting to learn about her as well.
My favorite movie role she played was in the original Sparkle, still my fav and I still know all the dance moves 😂. But this was interesting...I always wondered why she didn't receive the credit she deserved and sad what she encountered back then with her identity and colorism is still occurring today . Rest on to this talented beauty
She had a sadness in her eyes. She was so beautiful and talented. It’s a shame how the industry did her. Yes she absolutely deserves her flowers! May she (Sleep In Peace) 🎭🏆🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️❤️🙏🏽💐💐💐
Her name was Irene EsCAleRA. hence, her stage name CARA.Her father was Gaspar Escalera, and her mother was Luisa Escalera ( though I don't know her maiden name, and she never told me). She had 1 older brother whose name was Mario Escalera, and 1 sister Mirta (aka Eva) Escalera. Both of them were my half-brother and half-sister, who were related by mother. My mother was their mother and was later divorced, and soon father married Luisa I had the honor of briefly seeing her and her then fiance, who visited our brother. The Escalera family, unfortunately, was not as close as I had hoped it would be. Empathy, love, and all the beautiful things that a family could have been seemed nonexistent. Everyone lived a solitary life without not even a Happy Birthday or family reunion. Unfortunately, if I am not mistaken, and please correct me if I am wrong, Irene died alone with no one at her side. Though she had Fame, was she truly happy? I would have loved to get to know her, not because of her stardom, but as a human who needed so much more beauty, love, and grace. I miss her, even though I met her once. I am happy that she has so many admirers, and may those beautiful people keep sending her contiuned love. 🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤
I must have been six or seven. My dad lived in the same apartment building in NYC as she did and he introduced me. She was the most glamorous woman I had ever seen. She had something like a light about her that as a child made me think "goddess". Very kind and friendly, gracious to my father and so otherworldly beautiful. ❤
In elementary school music class we learned What A Feeling and it was such a vivid memory for ppl in the class. The soundtrack of my life. Thank you for making this video. May she rest in peace and her legacy keep being passed down to the younger generations
OMG!!!! No lie, I was LITERALLY thinking about Irene Cara and how I'd love it if you did a video about her, and then BAM!! Karine, you read my mind 😂💖💖 What a Feeling and Love is the Reason are some of my all-time favorite songs!! God bless Ms. Cara, may she rest easy 🙏🏼💜💜
Thank you so much, Ms. Karine. I love Ms. Irene Cara. I’m going to be honest, the racial divide between Black and Latino runs deep. It had nothing to do with her. People unfortunately like to place people in categories. I’m 100% Nigerian Igbo from both my parents and was born in the United States. I do accept being identified as Black due to growing up as US citizen. There are always be people who will tell me I’m not black or Nigerian enough. Celebrity figures suffer this and then some. Irene Cara was proud of her Latina identity. Afro Latina is a term that should be used if you have both African and Latin roots. It is often used incorrectly and applied to a person who is a Latin with a darker complexion. Racial identity is often controversial and contradictory because it places people in categories that incorrectly describes their cultural identity and heritage.
Irene Cara💐almost passed on working with Giorgio Moroder for the “Flashdance” soundtrack because people had been comparing her to Donna Summer, and working with him would have added to it. Moroder was Summer’s producer and sometimes co-writer on some of her huge disco hits. Summer also sued her record company but was able to come to agreement with them. Cara💐and Summer both died at the age of 63.
I loved Irene Cara. What a beauty with a beautiful voice! I often wondered what happened to her. The music industry is so dark and mean. She had class and style that the other so called Latino sensation has none.🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌹
💐💐💐🕯As a child, "Fame" was the go-to. But with age, "Out Here On My Own," is an all hitter. I sang along to "What A feeling" aisle to aisle at the supermarket tonight when it came on. 😂😂
Clicked on this IMMEDIATELY! Irene Cara was/is one of my FAVORITES. So beautiful. So TALENTED! I still own multiple movies featuring her songs and great acting. I haven't seen Sparkle or Fame since.... My heart STILL hurts. May Miss Cara rest in paradise! 💐😔🙏🏾❤️🕊️
Was the term AfroLatina even used back then. She should have had Latina roles. Oh this ? Jennifer Lopez wants to escape her roots, plays “white”, roles mostly, then she’s happy!
What don’t you understand? They were both Afro Latinas. When Celia called herself black and sang about being black nobody said anything. There was no backlash. Now when Irene claimed the same thing as Celia, she got a lot of push backs. The push backs were from jealousy from her stunning good looks and she was the hit girl back in her days . Had she looked like Celia and playing black maids nobody would have cared what she was .
She was an AFRICAN WOMAN PERIOD!!!! AND SHE WAS "BROWN". MY FAMILY IS THERE TOO, LIKE "AAAASLLLL BLACK PEOPLE!!!. LEAVE HER ALONE .!! SHE'S AN AFRICAN IN SO CALLED AMERICA. VISIBLY BLACK. MY MOTHER CAME TO THIS COUNTRY CALLED NON-BLACK AS I WAS LATER ON. ACCEPT IT THEY DIVIDED US UP !!! WHY DON'T YOU CALL US ENGLISH AMERICAN'S. IN THE USA. YOU CAN SEE SHES OUR BLACK SISTER!! Have a blessed day. @@longbranch11207
Irene was a very talented female of the human race. This lady entertained, still does and will always. i believe in God...i am white...i am human. Thank you Karine for this.
❤️💥❤️💥❤️💥❤️💥Sparkle is still my favorite movie and soundtrack & the movie Fame made a long lasting impression of the entertainment industry pertaining to dance, music & the arts on me ... I Lo♡ed her singing the song "Out Here On My Own" & "Flashdance,What a Feeling". My hairstylist,I used to go to had her as a client too. Miss her so much. I cried when she died. Still upset,I just hope that she's in a better place & looking down smiling at everyone. R.I.P. 🙏🕊May this beautiful 👑Queen,Irene Cara💐Rest in Paradise. -
I wrote a book on Irene's life called Cinderella Superstar: Remembering Irene. It goes into a lot more detail about her lawsuit and her desire to be an independent artist. It's available on KDP Amazon for those fans that wish to understand Irene's spirit and belief to spread love and peace.
I love how she was able to show off her powerful voice in so many of her movie roles. She sued the big wigs and won. She owned her music. If you’ve noticed they’ve started using her songs in commercials now that she’s passed. 🌸🌸🌸🌸
“We have a tendency in this country that when we say Black it automatically means Black Americans. But that's a big mistake, and that keeps us divided. There are Blacks all over this entire world-even in Africa.” -Irene Cara
🌺she was very talented🌺
Karine ... Irene Cara was a talented STAR😊😊😊😊
SHE DIDN'T SOLD HER SOUL, TO THE INDUSTRY 😊😊😊😊
THIS‼️
That doesn't keep us divided! Alot of them don't wanna be associated as black Americans unless it benefits them and have negative things about us....that is what keep us divided!
Exactly. I don't understand why people get so confused. There are black Hispanics. The same African blood is running through our veins. The only difference is the language and culture.
Saying a woman is difficult to work with is code for she can't be controlled, mistreated, or lying on her back for some producer with power.
💐🕊
Bingo!
BOOM! You hit the nail squarely on it's head. By NOW people should easily SIDE-EYE that statement and see it for what it is.
Absolutely!!! Say that again...louder for the folks in the back. So true!!!
Amen!!!
I get that same code language from women!
She was different and wouldnt compromise with the "industry" standards. We miss you Irene Cara..RIP Queen.
It's so sad that untalented executives take advantage of Talented people
She died?. Wiki time...
I'm glad she continued to fight for her royalties. Took ten years but she won a million dollar settlement. But she deserves much more
She passed away a few years ago
I didn’t know that, I’m crying and praying for her.
Irene CARA, got her hair done at the shop I worked for on 79th and Lexington. She was kind and beautiful,……The stylist would hide her in the corner of the shop as everyone of my generation knew her. 😊
They never paid her. They claimed bankruptcy. Not much of a win.
There’s ALOT of colorism still in the Hispanic / Latin / Spanish speaking communities! 😩😞
You mean in the black community.
@@MrYeeYuh1the black community is add on. It’s current in all that’s stated+
Understatement
@@MrYeeYuh1open your eyes
@MrYeeYuh1 No they meant the Hispanic/Latino communities as well. People forget that a lot of people circumvent both aspects and it is NOT fun. If anything if being black in the white American majority of the US is hard being black in the Latino communities can be a hot mess. Colorism is a blight over the world.
I grew up loving her! She was such a triple threat. (Singer, dancer and actor) And the industry refused to pay her worth. She stood up for what was right back in the 80's and they made her suffer for it!!! I truly miss this beautiful talent!💐💐💐
@TaniaEvansmrvain Yes! So talented with such humility and class. We'll sorely miss her!
She was so beautiful and talented. RIP Irene
She was the real thing.
Yes she was Beautiful ❤️
Hollywood has a terrible habit of abusing their best, then throwing them away.
She was an incredible talent. RIP
I cried when Irene Cara passed. "Flashdance (What a Feeling" is one of my favorite songs 💐🌸🌹🌼
She was so talented.
I was so shocked and absolutely devastated when I heard about her passing 😢 💔
That's one of my favorite songs too. Her whole What a Feelin playlist is wonderful 💜💜
That song and movie bring back my early adulthood. I'm sad she passed away 😢. Her upbeat sound always brings a smile to my face and some pep in my step. Good times!! May she 🙏 RIP
She took the clot shot.💔
What a Feelin, was a great song i miss Irene Cara, may her memory live on forever.❤
Racism comes in many colors and nationalities. It is extremely tiresome. Everyone should have just been focused on her TALENT.
She definitely was talented and beautiful.
This!!
💯 truth!!
@@jazzyjay3885And a culture vulture
@@jolenesimon6123 How was she a culture vulture? 🤔 Explain.
What a true gem we lost. REST IN POWER QUEEN IRENE.
I remember her when her as a child star on THE ELECTRIC COMPANY, when I was young.😊💐💐💐🕊
She probably didnt sleep around and the industry banned her.
EXACTLY 😒
Naaaw, she was doing good until she got big headed and told everyone that she Cuban/Puerto Rican... not black. She thought that she had made it, but she quickly found out that there were no roles out there for Cuban Puerto Ricans, and the white people definitely were not going to give up their roles to her..
I say the same thing
YES!!!
I believe that!
Black or white, all women need women like this to look up to. Strong minded, bold, having high standards, and pride in herself. Beautiful, talented lady. Thanks for telling her story.
Yes indeed! Well said
Hearing Irene makes me want to get the girls together, wear off shoulder sweatshirts and go to the gym and lift dumbbells. Still one of my favorite movies. ❤
I know right. It’s fun music 😍😍
🌹🌺 I 💕 loved her 🎵🎶🎼 MUSIC & her Acting talents 🎥👑📸. I 💖 her Afro Latina background .
😂
Josephine Baker (1906-1975)
One of the first black women to leave her mark on the dance world, Josephine Baker’s legacy is synonymous with sensuality, bravery and uninhibited passion. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Baker grew up with little and quickly developed an independent spirit, learning to provide for herself and make her own way. This free and bold behavior led her to perform across the country with The Jones Family Band and The Dixie Steppers in 1919. By the time she sashayed onto a Paris stage during the 1920s, she was confident in her abilities and performed with a comic, yet sensual appeal that took Europe by storm.
Black is global way of saying all of migration overseas everywhere however they do use it to separate everyone
I cried when she passed. Hollywood was and is a crazy lifestyle. That beautiful woman probably did not bend for them. I can careless what they thought about her getting an award. She was an actress, she earned it and she repped women. RIP QUEEN 💐🌺🌸
My heart broke when I heard Irene Cara passed away. She was SO talented in an industry in the 70/80s that was truly ruled by the old boys club. If you look at any picture of her, she is always smiling and glowing! Her music and talent will always live on in our hearts.
Irene was the real deal, a remarkable talent and beauty. Truly underrated. She should have been a bigger star.
She was a beautiful woman of color. Period!
IkR 😂
She was a beautiful woman...PERIOD..
Calling someone “of color”
Is extremely problematic and offensive.
I swore I was going to grow up and give birth to 3 daughters just like the Sparkle movie. 😂😂😂
It didn’t work out like that for me but I did get 1 daughter
Lovely comment
She could sing, act, dance and was beautiful 🌺
Yes black Hispanic are not acknowledge in the Hispanic community. There are lots of actors who are great actors and the Black American community acknowledges their talent, at the end of the day the world sees you as black and there is nothing wrong with that I think is wonderful. Irene Open doors for Black African American and also Black Hispanic American and I think that is wonderful! 💐🌹🌺🌷🌸💮🏵️🌻🌼
Who the hell told you that? Did you hear the video? It was ya'll hating on this woman not no hispanic people.
@@Cinnam0nr0ll have you ever have seen in the Hispanic community any black actors being awarded, and the only one who was awarded was Celia Cruz and she was a singer. There is no black people giving the news except for one black Hispanic news caster . There are no black actors in novels I know because I watch...
@bbltz1440 Don't deflect what does that have to do with blk people in America saying she's not African American & shouldn't have those roles? She didn't speak Spanish, how would she be in any hispanic roles...especially in America. She was American sweetheart, you do know that right? Celia Cruz was Cuban...there are blk people all over Cuban soap operas & in music so I really don't know where you're getting to.
@@Cinnam0nr0ll even if she tried for a role in the Hispanic community, sweetheart she was not going to make it, she had a choice and she made a smart choice. Irene was Black Hispanic raised in The United States
@bbltz1440 No, she wasn't African American enough...in the 70s there weren't too many hispanic roles on TV or film anyway what are you talking about? Not every hispanic role was played by hispanics even Tony Montana in the movie Scarface was played Robert DeNiro which is of Italian decent, he's not Cuban. Steven Bauer was actually Cuban but didn't get the leading role.
Irene Cara is so beautiful & Very Talented. What did you expect from Hollywood? Look at the mess that Hollywood & Jennifer Lopez, P Diddy & Clive Davis & J-Z including Ellen DeGeneres have Done!!!! Plus so many other Uber Rich People.
I also was curious after Fame why I never heard too much about her. I used to love watching the show Fame when I was little, I'm 49. I remember when Debbie Allen was on the show Fame.
I remember watching Flashdance.
🌺🌸🌼🌻🌼🌺🌸🌼🌺🌸 I never saw her as black or latin, I just saw her as talented!
Just because you’re not African American doesn’t mean you’re not black it’s just a different history. Growing up my family always called me sparkle ❤ my mom is half Puerto Rico and she is a black women our dna comes back majority Nigerian
Same history just a different stop ❤
Shes dope but still should have been marketed and awarded for who she was and not as black.
@@2intriguing1 Black with a capital B.
@2intriguing1 She was Black. Just not American...
When are people going to understand that genetics and nationality are 2 different things? People need to know that being born in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, or any other country does not make a black person any less than that, but they can be identified as the country they were born in. Born in Puerto Rico = Puerto Rican which is usually nothing but mixed black people that can speak another language. The roots of the people are black though(from all nations). Black people come in different shades of brown and hair texture. White people integrating themselves to cause this mania really has messed people minds up. It is a shame how much power everybody gived white people. I am sick and tired of people playing dumb trying to water down being black yet their culture is black but just in another form. People really need to grow tf up! This is elementary school stuff.
Irene Cara was an american idol in the 80’s. She deserved every award she received because she was a hard worker and because she was so talented. It’s a shame that she was cancelled, because she was fighting for her own money and this hasn’t changed a bit nowadays. Wow it’s so sad how her career ended. 💐💐💐💐💐💐💐
Flash dance was a Huge HIT I was in jr high & we loved all the dancing music & Irene . 🌹🌷 and we didn’t care if she was black or afo Latina.. all we saw was a great dancer& singer. & a great movie!! ❤️
❤❤❤❤❤Rest in eternal peace Irene Cara
I met her a few years before she passed, and she was looking and just an amazing person. We sat down and had a conversation which loves you girl she was amazing still is.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Irene Cara was so beautiful and talented. Another one who didn't receive her flowers she deserved before she passed away. R.I.P.❤❤❤
Simply beautiful, I still love the old version of "SPARKLE"🌟🌟,May she cont'u to RIHP🕊🌹🌹🌹🌹🕯
*_🎶Baby, look at me and tell me what you see. You ain't seen the best of me yet. Give me time, I'll make you forget the rest. I've got more in me, and you can set it free. I can catch the moon in my hand. Don't you know who I am? Remember my name!...🎶_*
I ❤️ Irene Cara!
RIP.
💐🌹🌷🌺🌻🌼💐
❤
*FAAAAAAME...I'm gonna live forever, I'm gonna learn how to fly, high....*
I thought that was Donna summers song
"What A Feeling" is a God-given song. It lifts your spirit to another level. You can feel it!"The opening portion was from her movie SPARKLE from the 70s.
Thanks for making this vid!!! I always wondered why Irene disappeared 😕. I'm a multi-ethnic blk woman. Yes, that's a thing. I'm Latina, Black and Caucasian. More than one thing can be true at once. How can you take away roles from a group you're still in??? White presenting Latinas get to play the roles of Hispanics, it's just how it goes. Colorism exists in every race and ethnicity; darker=bad, less than, and that's still happening now. Irene could've been Diana Ross and Beyonce before Beyonce!!! She could sing, dance, AND act. She was an entire triple threat! This just goes to show you that talent is NOT enough to be a permanent star in the entertainment industry. You only can by doing unsavory things behind the scenes. Check out Karine's other vids if you don't believe that yet 😐...
She was so talented. I longed to go to a school like Fame. My favorite song of hers is Out Here On My Own. Once again the industry strikes again. May she rest in peace💐⚘💖💞💕🕊
"Out Here on My Own" is the Best! My favorite. Sad to hear that she died, RIP, Rest in Peace, Rest in Power... 💕💓💯💫
She worked really hard ❤
I loved that song. You brought memories flooding back. I think I am going to have to go listen to that song now. We had an excellent performing arts department in my high school. We sang and won chorale awards all over the country. We would have an open mic day and this song was a favorite of ours to sing. My best friend could play it on the piano. Class of 1983 & 1984. ❤
She was also very kind. I played drums with her in the Budhist Marching band.
Wow
Thanks for sharing. Wish someone would interview her family members.
Afro Latina representing ❤
Not accepted as Black. Totally not accepted in Latin community. They don't like y'all
Irene was so beautiful and talented. I loved her growing up. Over the years, I used to wonder what happened to her and why she wasn't working. Thank you, Karine, for covering her.
Ms. Irene was a beautiful Afro-Latina and an excellent artist. My favorite role of hers was as Sparkle the original and best 💐😍✨️
Irene Cara was a part of my youth. When I moved to London for work years ago, the first theater production I watched was "Fame." I wanted to see if there were differences between the film, the tv series and the theater production when it came to the songs featured. "Anyone Can See" and "Out Here On My Own" were a part of my go to songs during karaoke nights with friends and family. Just recently though, after the pandemic, she replied to us, her fans (I think it was in her YT channel for her music videos) in real time in the comments section when we mentioned how we loved her music and praised her voice, (it is quite difficult to sing her songs in its original key, to high) thanking everyone. We didn't know or expect that she was reading the comments at that time. So, I felt very sad when she passed away. Had to watch and listen to her music video of "Out Here On My Own" as my tribute to her. Such a humble person and a gifted artist. Rest in peace, Ms. Irene Cara. ❤🎉🎉🎉
Wow she was georgous! I truly believe it was jealousy surrounding her career was hindered by so many negative people that was not in her best interest. I didn't know it was her that made that song too. May she rest in peace she definitely deserve her flowers 💐
So happy you're talking about Irene. She was multi-talented and beautiful no matter her heritage. However, I understand how some black women, especially equally talented actresses who were looked over. But, I blame racism and colorism which has affected communities of color for centuries, and Hollywood, unfortunately mirrors those concepts. Her passing was so sad. She deserved better treatment. Btw, my favorite song is "OUT HERE ON MY OWN". So moving. RIP Irene Cara🌹
I miss her! She was way underrated. ❤
She deserved way more flowers than she got.
💐 🌹 🌸 🏵 🌼 💐 🌹 🌸 🏵 🌼 💐 🌹 🌸 🏵 🌼 💐 🌹 🌸 🏵 🌼 💐 🌹 🌸 🏵 🌼 💐 🌹 🌸 🏵 🌼 💐 🌹
Irene was a multitalented entertainer. She was beautiful and could sing. She wrote two back to back monster hits of the 1980’s that shot to number one; Fame & What a Feeling. Her unique career in film, music, and television was a rarity. The fixation on race is really daunting. Irene was a multifaceted entertainer who unfortunately was black balled and had to travel to Europe later in her career to sustain her livelihood.
SPARKLE!!!! I absolutely LOVE Irene Cara!!!!! Gonna go watch Fame in her honor!!!❤❤❤🌹🥀🥀🥀🌹
You’ve just inspired me to go looking for it. Found the movie to rent from Amz. I think I’d only watched the tv series 😮
Sister and the Sisters
Irene Cara had the beautiful hue of the indigenous people of Puerto Rico just as some of us have it from here! I grew up admiring Irene Cara and never thought about her ethnicity. Thank You for you videos Karine Alourde!
What a voice! Irene Cara is one of the 80's pop Star, she will be always remembered!
Loved her in Sparkle and Fame...such a great all around artist.
Oh I have always liked her song "Out Here On My Own". And she sings it with so much feeling so much heart.
R.I.P Irene💐💐💐
I had no idea she sung all of these amazing songs. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for covering Irene!! But "a little bit of colorism?" Even to this day, the intra-racism in that community is off the chain. You know their saying...improve the race and it's meaning. I remember her on The Electric Co. However, Irene was Afro-Latina. Period. She broke ground but during that time if you wanted to work you had to basically pick a group for lack of decent opportunities from either side in the industry. She did consider herself "Blk." 🌹🌷🌸🌸🌺🌺
❤
Anyone with eyes can see she is black or at the very least, mixed with black. Then they say full-fledged Puerto Rican? well I have news for everyone. Puerto Rican is not a race but rather and ethnicity. And there are both black and white Cubans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, etc.
@@dawnbryant6784 Yeah, that one blew my mind.
The first time I saw Irene Cara was in Roots the Second Generation. I thought she was so beautiful. Thank you for your story about her 🎉. I would like to hear about the other two women of Sparkle if you haven't done so already. Lonette Mckee was in quite a few movies in the 70's. I don't know much about the other woman Dwan Smith but it would be interesting to learn about her as well.
My favorite movie role she played was in the original Sparkle, still my fav and I still know all the dance moves 😂. But this was interesting...I always wondered why she didn't receive the credit she deserved and sad what she encountered back then with her identity and colorism is still occurring today . Rest on to this talented beauty
She had a sadness in her eyes. She was so beautiful and talented. It’s a shame how the industry did her. Yes she absolutely deserves her flowers! May she (Sleep In Peace) 🎭🏆🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️❤️🙏🏽💐💐💐
She was a pure gem..may she rest easy 🕊🤍🌺
Her name was Irene EsCAleRA. hence, her stage name CARA.Her father was Gaspar Escalera, and her mother was Luisa Escalera ( though I don't know her maiden name, and she never told me). She had 1 older brother whose name was Mario Escalera, and 1 sister Mirta (aka Eva) Escalera. Both of them were my half-brother and half-sister, who were related by mother. My mother was their mother and was later divorced, and soon father married Luisa I had the honor of briefly seeing her and her then fiance, who visited our brother. The Escalera family, unfortunately, was not as close as I had hoped it would be. Empathy, love, and all the beautiful things that a family could have been seemed nonexistent. Everyone lived a solitary life without not even a Happy Birthday or family reunion. Unfortunately, if I am not mistaken, and please correct me if I am wrong, Irene died alone with no one at her side. Though she had Fame, was she truly happy? I would have loved to get to know her, not because of her stardom, but as a human who needed so much more beauty, love, and grace. I miss her, even though I met her once. I am happy that she has so many admirers, and may those beautiful people keep sending her contiuned love. 🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤
RIP Irene..💐🌸🌺🌻🌹🥀
I must have been six or seven. My dad lived in the same apartment building in NYC as she did and he introduced me. She was the most glamorous woman I had ever seen. She had something like a light about her that as a child made me think "goddess". Very kind and friendly, gracious to my father and so otherworldly beautiful. ❤
In elementary school music class we learned What A Feeling and it was such a vivid memory for ppl in the class. The soundtrack of my life. Thank you for making this video. May she rest in peace and her legacy keep being passed down to the younger generations
I grew up listening to her and luckily for her May she rest in heaven ❤💐💐💐 💐
OMG!!!! No lie, I was LITERALLY thinking about Irene Cara and how I'd love it if you did a video about her, and then BAM!! Karine, you read my mind 😂💖💖
What a Feeling and Love is the Reason are some of my all-time favorite songs!! God bless Ms. Cara, may she rest easy 🙏🏼💜💜
She was one of the best. She was an actress...period!! This should not be about race!!
Rip Beautiful Queen 💐💐💐💐💐🙏🏾❤🙏🏾❤
Sparkle was the movie.
I’m so sorry to hear about what she went through in her life. Thank you for sharing this information 🥰
Thank you so much, Ms. Karine. I love Ms. Irene Cara. I’m going to be honest, the racial divide between Black and Latino runs deep. It had nothing to do with her. People unfortunately like to place people in categories. I’m 100% Nigerian Igbo from both my parents and was born in the United States. I do accept being identified as Black due to growing up as US citizen. There are always be people who will tell me I’m not black or Nigerian enough. Celebrity figures suffer this and then some. Irene Cara was proud of her Latina identity. Afro Latina is a term that should be used if you have both African and Latin roots. It is often used incorrectly and applied to a person who is a Latin with a darker complexion. Racial identity is often controversial and contradictory because it places people in categories that incorrectly describes their cultural identity and heritage.
Same here, I'm a 1st generation Igbo American. ✊🏾
@@Igboman87 Igbo American 😅😅😅.
@@beverleytheglobalcaregiverforu What's funny?
I love Irene Cara!!! ❤❤ she was so beautiful and talented.
And uplifting
Fame & Flash Dance still make me feel ALIVE! 😃🌺🪻🌼💐
Irene Cara💐almost passed on working with Giorgio Moroder for the “Flashdance” soundtrack because people had been comparing her to Donna Summer, and working with him would have added to it. Moroder was Summer’s producer and sometimes co-writer on some of her huge disco hits. Summer also sued her record company but was able to come to agreement with them. Cara💐and Summer both died at the age of 63.
I remember those comparisons. Ugh, the industry.
I just love her voice so much ❤❤
Always the best of the best gets the ish end of the stick...smh...RIP Sister Irene🎉❤
I loved Irene Cara. What a beauty with a beautiful voice! I often wondered what happened to her. The music industry is so dark and mean. She had class and style that the other so called Latino sensation has none.🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌹
What a beautiful talent. Sparkle one of my favorite childhood movies.
She reminds me of Aliyah R.I.P 🙏🏾🥰🥰
You mean Aaliyah reminds you Irene she was lovely
🛑✝️🙏🏾SHE IS MUCH PRETTIER THAN AALIYAH. THEY LOOK NOTHING AS LIKE. ✝️
@@userSTAR3330anyways they both gorgeous
Oh wow I didn’t even know she passed! I looked up to her when I was a little girl. She always played strong women roles. 💐
💐💐💐🕯As a child, "Fame" was the go-to. But with age, "Out Here On My Own," is an all hitter. I sang along to "What A feeling" aisle to aisle at the supermarket tonight when it came on. 😂😂
Clicked on this IMMEDIATELY! Irene Cara was/is one of my FAVORITES. So beautiful. So TALENTED! I still own multiple movies featuring her songs and great acting. I haven't seen Sparkle or Fame since.... My heart STILL hurts. May Miss Cara rest in paradise! 💐😔🙏🏾❤️🕊️
She's so beautiful ❤
💐💐💐💐💐🌺🌹🌹🌹🌹So beautiful Ms. Irene and Ms. Karine🌷🪷🪷🪷🪷🌹🌹🌹
Karine I love your work!!! Yes, Irene does deserve her flowers. 💐 💐🌷🌷🌷🪻🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🪷🪷🪷🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹❤️💕🪷🪷🪷🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹💕❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️💕💕💕💕💕💕💕
She was beautiful & talented. May.her gentle soul rest in perfect peace. ❤🌹 🌸 💐.
I wanted to be her when I was a little girl 💚💚💚 thank you for covering her story! You are the best!
She was a stunning black woman. People were just jealous of beauty. Nobody bat an eye when Celia Cruz whom was Afro Latina claimed her blackness.
Don’t quite understand your comment…Celia was Cuban: Irene was both Puerto Rican and Cuban! Why always lumping everyone of color!?
Was the term AfroLatina even used back then. She should have had Latina roles. Oh this ? Jennifer Lopez wants to escape her roots, plays “white”, roles mostly, then she’s happy!
She was stunning for any color and she radiated joy which has no color
What don’t you understand? They were both Afro Latinas. When Celia called herself black and sang about being black nobody said anything. There was no backlash. Now when Irene claimed the same thing as Celia, she got a lot of push backs. The push backs were from jealousy from her stunning good looks and she was the hit girl back in her days . Had she looked like Celia and playing black maids nobody would have cared what she was .
She was an AFRICAN WOMAN PERIOD!!!! AND SHE WAS "BROWN". MY FAMILY IS THERE TOO, LIKE "AAAASLLLL BLACK PEOPLE!!!. LEAVE HER ALONE .!! SHE'S AN AFRICAN IN SO CALLED AMERICA. VISIBLY BLACK. MY MOTHER CAME TO THIS COUNTRY CALLED NON-BLACK AS I WAS LATER ON. ACCEPT IT THEY DIVIDED US UP !!! WHY DON'T YOU CALL US ENGLISH AMERICAN'S. IN THE USA. YOU CAN SEE SHES OUR BLACK SISTER!! Have a blessed day. @@longbranch11207
Irene was a very talented female of the human race. This lady entertained, still does and will always. i believe in God...i am white...i am human. Thank you Karine for this.
😢🥀🥀she special. She was moving up it was💔
🌺🌺🌺Great video. I never really focused on whether she was black or Latin., I just loved her in Sparkle.❤
I love about Irene she's beautiful ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
❤️💥❤️💥❤️💥❤️💥Sparkle is still my favorite movie and soundtrack & the movie Fame made a long lasting impression of the entertainment industry pertaining to dance, music & the arts on me ... I Lo♡ed her singing the song "Out Here On My Own" & "Flashdance,What a Feeling". My hairstylist,I used to go to had her as a client too. Miss her so much. I cried when she died. Still upset,I just hope that she's in a better place & looking down smiling at everyone. R.I.P. 🙏🕊May this beautiful 👑Queen,Irene Cara💐Rest in Paradise. -
And classy. She kept her clothes on.
I wrote a book on Irene's life called Cinderella Superstar: Remembering Irene. It goes into a lot more detail about her lawsuit and her desire to be an independent artist. It's available on KDP Amazon for those fans that wish to understand Irene's spirit and belief to spread love and peace.
She was black ⚫ bc she probably rejected somebody ( if u know what I mean) singer mya said that's why her career didn't go far.
Did u listen to the videos? She was not black at all.
@@vibe2248 I meant blackballed
@@vibe2248AFRO Latina…did YOU see the video…
She definitely inspired me💐💐💐💐💐💐💐
Remember..Remember..FAME!!!!!
Oh I’m getting the chills. I used to yell that part out loud as a kid 😊
She was a beautiful an talented artist, regardless of her race. Still an always will Sparkle.🌺🔥🔥🔥
I loved her..she was brilliant 💐💐💐💐💐💐RIP Irene Cara ❤
👏👏👏👏👏👏
So sad when I heard of her passing I couldn't believe it I enjoyed her talents in music and acting Gone too soon we Miss her 😢❤
Happy Heavenly Birthday Irene 🌸🌸🌸
Her music was so 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 I REMEMBER “WHATA FEEELLLIIINNGGG” constantly playing on my dad’s radio in the 80’s 💃💃💃💃💃
I love how she was able to show off her powerful voice in so many of her movie roles. She sued the big wigs and won. She owned her music. If you’ve noticed they’ve started using her songs in commercials now that she’s passed. 🌸🌸🌸🌸
💐🌹🌻🌷💐🌼 props to Irene 😍
I always wondered why she didn't make it bigger, SO talented!!!!
I adored Irene Cara! I wanted to be just like her.