Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Universal Studios Fire Destroyed The Original Recording Of Etta James's 'At Last' -- And 500,000 Other Songs
A studio set is engulfed in fire at Universal Studios, Sunday, June 1, 2008. A large fire tore through a backlot at Universal Studios, destroying a set from "Back to the Future," the King Kong exhibit and both video and music reels. (Mike Meadows/AP)
()
A fire burned on the Universal Studios backlot more than a decade ago. We knew that it damaged Back to the Future's Courthouse Square, and the King Kong Encounter attraction -- but the extent of the damage to the Universal Music Group vault wasn't fully known to the public until a New York Times investigation was released today.
Around 500,000 songs were destroyed, including scores of classics. And that likely includes the master recording of Etta James' iconic "At Last."
Master recordings are the canonical ones that all copies are made from -- it's impossible to precisely replicate a master, particularly one from the pre-digital world.
Support for LAist comes from
It's the song that launched a million wedding first dances. It's the one that rang in America's first black president, with Beyoncé belting it out for Barack and Michelle Obama's first inaugural ball dance.
Etta James was born in Los Angeles, and she died in Riverside in 2012 at 73 years old. Her debut album, At Last!, was released in 1960.
The title track was put out as a single in 1961, reaching number 2 on the R&B chart. It wasn't an original -- the song was first written for the 1941 musical movie Sun Valley Serenade -- but it's the one that burrowed its way into the feels of generations.
Firefighters help remove film canisters from a burning video vault at Universal Studios on Sunday, June 1, 2008 (Juan Guerra/AP)
()
At last
My love has come along
My lonely days are over
And life is like a song
The song's structure is simple, but not a pure verse/chorus like we expect in a pop song. There is no chorus -- unless you count the repeated words "at last" in each verse as a chorus.
Support for LAist comes from
At last
The skies above are blue
My heart was wrapped up in clover
The night I looked at you
Those two simple words get their own moment -- they don't try to put anything else on those lines, the song just lets those words hit you in the gut. This song and those words are about finally finding your dream, finding a love that changes everything.
I found a dream that I could speak to
A dream that I can call my own
I found a thrill to press my cheek to
A thrill that I have never known
The song's bridge offers more of a look back, explaining what came before that "at last" moment. It's about accomplishment, and the giddiness that comes with that kind of love.
Oh yeah yeah
You smiled, you smiled
Oh and then the spell was cast
And here we are in heaven
For you are mine... at last
The song's last verse breaks the pattern set up by the first two -- no "at last." It makes you wait for it -- the words come back one last time to close the song out... at last.
Support for LAist comes from
James's final appearance on television was performing "At Last" on Dancing With the Stars in 2009. The crowd came to their feet, with the dancers paying tribute to the legend.
Firefighters (C) walk past debris after approximately 400 firefighters from the Los Angeles area battled a huge fire on the backlot of Universal Studios June 1, 2008. (Pool/Getty Images)
()
James died in 2012, days before her 74th birthday. She'd dealt with addiction for decades, and died after suffering from both Alzheimer's and leukemia. The impact of James, especially through "At Last," brought Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé, and Christina Aguilera all to deliver tributes at her funeral.
The master may be gone, but the song remains -- and will likely be played at wedding receptions near you for generations to come.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist