Jan. 25--Though Mavis Staples and singer-songwriter Neko Case collaborated on Staples' upcoming album "Livin' on a High Note" and performed at the Hideout Block Party and A.V. Fest in 2013, Staples said she recently learned something new about Case.
"Neko cracks me up. I went to her show in Chicago recently, and I wasn't aware that she cursed so much! I said, 'Neko, you drop so many F-bombs up there,'" Staples, 76, told New York magazine in an article posted online Monday.
"She said, 'Mavis, that's what they want to hear! You should drop a few F-bombs.' I'm not going to be dropping no F-bombs. My F-bomb would be 'fun.'"
Staples, who hails from the South Side, told the magazine that Case, who once lived in the Humboldt Park neighborhood, is one of her favorite singers. She also named Rihanna, Salt-N-Pepa, Adele, frequent Case collaborator Kelly Hogan, Justin Bieber, Bonnie Raitt, Prince, indie pop band Lucius, Chuck D, folk singer Valerie June, Joan Osborne and Pharrell Williams among her favorites.
"I've always tried to keep a young frame of mind," Staples said. "I'm 76 years old, but when I go shopping I don't look for clothes for old people. Right now I have me some orange neon sneakers. I don't deal with age."
"Livin' on a High Note" is slated to be released Feb. 19, ahead of Staples' scheduled March 19 show at Thalia Hall. "Mavis!," a documentary about Staples, is set to air on HBO Feb. 29.
