You will never be as cool as Ronnie Spector. To be fair, none of us will ever be as cool as Ronnie Spector. She was sexy as hell when female singers were supposed to project innocence and softness, crooning pure desire on The Ronettes’ “Be My Baby,” one of the definitive 1960s girl-group songs. She’s tough as hell too, having escaped an abusive marriage to record producer Phil Spector, who masterminded The Ronettes’ success before marrying Ronnie and keeping her virtually imprisoned for years in his California mansion. These days, 74-year-old Ronnie Spector is simply overjoyed to still be singing. She’s touring with The Ronettes again (although not the original ones; her sister Estelle Bennett died in 2009 and her cousin Nedra Talley retired from the industry in the 1970s). And she’s taking her annual Christmas show on the road — given how much Spector loves Christmas, that’s a joyous event indeed.
The Scene caught up with Spector just before she started decorating her house for the holidays.
So what’s it like playing with The Ronettes again after all these years — even though it’s not the original Ronettes?
It’s so great. I did a show a few years with Adele in Glastonbury, and having the girls dancing live onstage with me was so great that I wanted to keep doing it. It’s a great feeling and fun — I love it. My shows always have videos of The Ronettes, you know, singing in the ’60s, but now there are Ronettes onstage too!
Y’all released a single called “Love Power” over the summer. Are there plans for more studio time?
I never think about studio time much these days. I’m just so thankful to have the hits that I have that have lasted for decades. I mean, I don’t ever stop thinking about it, but if I’m going to go record something, I have to love it. But I just love what I do, I just love the crowds, I love that they’re there. Every time I go out onstage I’m amazed that there are still so many people who want to see me sing.
“Be My Baby” is the song you are best known for — one of the best songs of all time. But because you are so closely associated with that song, do you ever just get sick of it?
I never get tired of it. I never say, “Oh, no, not that again.” Maybe if my career had been different, if I’d never stopped touring and playing it, I’d be sick of it? I don’t know. But I was taken out of the industry for seven or eight years, although I didn’t realize that was happening at the time — you know, with Phil not letting me sing — so I just feel blessed to still be able to to do this, every time I sing it.
Since your career started, women’s experience in the music industry has changed for the better in many ways. But in others, it’s still very much a boys’ club, as we see more and more sexual harassment scandals come to light. What do you think needs to happen before women aren’t mistreated in the industry?
You know what I think, deep down? I don’t think it’s ever going to change. Because there are still so many young girls coming in hungry to Hollywood, from Oklahoma or Utah or wherever, and that competition is there. Everyone wants a career, and some women are just going to do whatever it takes. Which is awful, but until the powerful men stop using that power. ...
But I’m so glad it’s it out, that it’s all coming out, because come on — if you’re in the industry, everyone knows it’s been going on for decades. But maybe this will cause people in power to think a little different these days? I hope so. I mean, I was in love with the guy who did that to me, and I married him, and he was powerful, and he used that power against me. But still, I know it was worse before my time. Can you imagine the Marilyn Monroe days? The Judy Garland days? The studio was feeding her pills. And that was horrible then, and it still goes on. It’s a new day now, and people might just think a little different. But it’s still everywhere.
Most years you do a handful of Christmas shows. For some people, it’s so polarizing — you have the people who love Christmas music and the people who simply can’t stand it. What is it about Christmas music that you love?
Everything! Since I’ve been a little girl, I’ve loved Christmas. I remember sitting on Santa’s lap in Macy’s when I was 5 and thinking, “I love Christmas!” It was everything in my neighborhood growing up in Spanish Harlem. I’d walk with my dad up to Amsterdam Avenue and pick out a tree. I was one of those kids who could not wait for Christmas — I’d be ready to open my presents at 8 p.m. and my mother would say, “Not until tomorrow!” And I couldn’t sleep.
I think I drove my sister crazy. She was much calmer than me. I remember once when my dad was reading me a story about Santa coming down the chimney to deliver presents, and I was like, “We don’t have a chimney! How can Santa come?” And I was so upset, because of course we didn’t have a chimney in our apartment. And my dad said, “Butchie” — that’s what he called me when I was little — “Butchie, when Santa comes to Spanish Harlem, he uses the fire escape.” So I put cookies and milk for Santa outside on the fire escape, and in the morning they were gone! That’s when I knew Santa was real. I thought he lived on the top of Macy’s, you know — I thought that was the North Pole, the top of Macy’s. I got very upset when I got older and realized there was a Santa at Gimbel’s and a Santa at other stores, and not just at Macy’s.
You’ve collaborated with so many artists over the years. Is there anyone you’d kill to work with who you haven’t had the chance to yet?
You know who I love? I love Ed Sheeran. I’d love to do a duet with Ed Sheeran. Or Bruno Mars. I love his voice, I really do. But honestly, I don’t think about any of that. I’m so happy just getting to do what I do, to go onstage and sing for people that are happy to watch me, and that’s basically all I care about. Because they leave the show happy, and there’s so much sadness in the world, that means everything, to be able to make people happy for a night.
So what music are you listening to and loving right now?
Besides Ed Sheeran? I like some of Rihanna’s stuff. But I’m not a person who listens to music like I used to. I come home and I read, I watch TV, I go to yoga class. I just can’t keep up with music these days, but I’m OK with that.
