Music Blogs

Aretha Franklin's Grammy Wrath Is Out Of Control

Posted Wed Feb 13, 2008 6:15pm PST by Billy Johnson, Jr. in Hip-Hop Media Training

Aretha Franklin just received a MusicCares Award last week from the Grammys.

She deserved it. A sweetheart friend of mine pulled some strings for me to get a ticket, but I was ultimately unable to attend when a dear relative passed away days before the event.

But when I got the news that I was going to see Aretha perform, I was humbled. I attended a MusicCares event for Natalie Cole (stay tuned for the irony) several years ago, and it was incredible. The MusicCares event is essentially a night devoted to a singular artist. So if you are a genuine fan, it is a privilege to be in attendance. I could not believe that I was going to get to see the undisputed QUEEN OF SOUL in this setting.

But now, I'm glad that I didn't go.

Today, Hip Hop Media Training launches its own awards show. It's called the WhoCares Awards, and Aretha is the first recipient.

Aretha is upset with the introduction Beyonce made for Tina Turner at the Grammys. Beyonce referred to Tina Turner as the Queen and Aretha felt disrespected, and had enough nerve to complain out loud about it via a statement issued by her publicist (news):

"I am not sure of whose toes I may have stepped on or whose ego I may have bruised between the Grammy writers and Beyoncé. However, I dismissed it as a cheap shot for controversy," Aretha wrote.

Yo, Aretha, Beyonce didn't call Tina Turner the Queen Of Soul. She simply referred to her as the Queen. Ugh, didn't you see the movie "What's Love Got To Do With It?" How about the book? Did you see how great Tina Turner looked on stage at the Grammys, next to Beyonce, who is 42 years younger? Did you see her moves? I know you're a woman, but did you check out her body? Did you see the kind of shape she's in even though she eats off of the Senior Citizen menu at Dennys? Do you know that she will be 70 years old next year? Did you hear how great she sounded? Do you remember how she found the strength to turn everything around after years of abuse from Ike Turner? Didn't you know that she was penniless, but went on to become one of the most successful women in entertainment? Don't you know that Anna Mae Bullock is from Nutbush, Tennesse? Nut-bush! (Do you even know where that is?) You don't remember how she helped revolutionize rock 'n roll, not to mention soul?

What is wrong with you?

You don't think she deserves to be considered a queen?

Not even on the night she is being honored?

Come on now, Aretha. Don't be greedy. Show Tina some R-E-S-P-E-C-T?

If you want to be upset at someone for handing out titles that you think are inappropriate, where were you on the night of June 19, 2001 when your god daughter Whitney Houston referred to her ex-husband Bobby Brown as the King Of R&B at the 1st Annual BET Awards?

We needed you to issue a statement then. That would have been perfect. It would have been fitting for the Queen Of Soul to announce, "Here ye, here ye! Bobby Brown is not the King Of R&B."

But you left us hanging.

Thankfully, Jamie Foxx told us that Whitney apparently meant that Bobby was the King of "Reefer & Beer."

And just because I'm all pumped up, I think I should also toss a couple words in Natalie Cole's direction.

Man. Aretha and Natalie are two of my favorites. I'm telling you. I love some Natalie Cole. Baby Girl, you are underrated. You have some of my favorite songs?

But why are you hating on Amy Winehouse? (news)

Why?

What did she do to you?

Why do you think the Grammys were wrong for giving her those awards?

Because she's on drugs?

Is that it?

Natalie, we are not talking about Britney Spears here.

I don't care that Sharon Jones And The Dap Kings are getting shaft and not receiving the credit they deserve for being Amy's backing band. I love them too. But don't try to act like you don't like "Rehab."

Don't try to act like you weren't surprised when you found out that "Rehab" was some blue-eyed soul?

Let the moral courts judge Amy. But the Grammys is supposed to recognize the most outstanding recorded works in the related categories. If you are implying that Amy's work is not worth recognition, you are wrong. How about you go back to the height of your own drug issues and return all the awards you received during that time? How would you feel if your honors were erased from the history books?

We are all proud that you were able to overcome your own bout with drugs. You're looking good Natalie. Try to meet with Amy. Talk to her. Tell her your story. Maybe you can help her.

Just don't do her dirty like Dr. Phil did Britney.

Don't be a hater.

And that's the message for the day. It's for both you and Aretha.

Stop the hateration.

You are legends and you're setting a bad example.

1971 Comments

41. Yahoo! Music User -
Aretha is the Queen and has a right to be upset.....Tina is an excellent performer, but there is only 1 Queen and that is Aretha Franklin. Beyonce needs a music history lesson and a lesson in tact.

42. JUST THINKING -
WOW!! You just took the words right out of my mouth that Aretha needs to chill she is still the queen of soul and Tina is the queen of queens. Thank you for writing this it felt like I said it good job. Those two need to just give it a rest they are not the only talent in the music industry.

43. Roger G -
I think the US Constitution explains Free Speech somewhere in the lyrics, doesn't it? Anyway....Aretha is the Queen. As long as we all know that!

44. my opinion doesn't matter -
Can't we all just get along and mind our own business?

45. Jackie -
Admittedly and without a doubt, Aretha Franklin and Natalie Cole have made their marks in the history of music with their awe inspiring talent but I think that too much is being made of this entire situation. Everyone over age 35 with a pulse knows who the Queen of Soul is so, because of that, Aretha should not feel disrespected or pushed aside. but, now let's be real, Tina Turner is the B-O-M-B. She is, by far, one of the best performers to grace a stage in the last 5o years. Aretha needs to remember that there's always room at the top when it comes to greatness and she should feel blessed to share the glory with the Undeniably Sexy Tina Turner.

46. Nicola -
tina turner is from east st. louis, illionis

47. Yahoo! Music User -
First off, I think that a war goin' and Presidential primaries on don't mean that we all have to stop blogging. Please, aren't we constipated yet? (pardon the language)

Well anyway, I agree with ALL your points, Mr. Billy. I believe that if a person is totally secure and confident with how accomplished he/she is, it wouldn't matter how people perceive him/her to be. Titles are titles. That's just it. For all we know, some people may even think that Britney IS the queen or maybe Miley Cyrus is, or Oprah or Condi Rice or Hillary Clinton or Michelle Obama or Tia Tequila or yadahyadahyadah.

I honestly don't think that R-E-S-P-E-C-T means slammin' poor Beyonce and Amy Winehouse just like that.

48. Yahoo! Music User -
Out of control, a little. But does it really matter?

Stars are fighting, don't they always fight?
I'm not seeing any new trend happening here.

While I see your many good points, and I agree, Franklin was creating unneeded drama, it's pretty much just expected. Even if just a little.

49. patricia -
the aretha beyonce conflict i really dont get but i am so with you on the amy situation. her album is fierce. girl is putting her heart into it and brings so much emotion. for natalie to even try and take the luster off of her shine is sooo whack. drugs or not amy is the shizznit

50. Brian -
Wow, talk about talking out of both sides of your mouth. You don't even know who's side you're on! On one hand, you rightly admonish Aretha Franklin for showing a lack of respect to TIna Turner and Beyonce. Kudos! You had it right the first time.

But then , in a bizarre 180, you moan and whine about people who complained about Amy Winehouse? Is someone who was CAUGHT on video snorting cocaine, had frequent run ins with the law over her drug habit, badmouths and trashes fans at her own concert, and then wrote a song "no no no" that basically DUMPS on rehab that she herself needs more than anyone else right now.

How about if YOU make up your mind about which side of the fence you're going to sit on regarding this issue. If R-E-S-P-E-C-T is good enough for Aretha Franklin, Beyonce, Tina Turner, and YOU, why isn't it good enough for Amy Winehouse when it comes to R-E-S-P-E-C-T-ing HERSELF??

51. EARLY_GREEN -
Well in all do respect, Beyonce referred to Tina Turner as "THE QUEEN" and Aretha is known as the "QUEEN OF SOUL". I think Beyonce was careful not to call TINA the QUEEN OF SOUL and just the QUEEN. STILL both women are music legends in my book.

52. Yahoo! Music User -
It is Beyonce's opinion and Aretha should just accept that even if Beyonce was trying to be hateful to Aretha or not.

53. Lindsay -
Aretha is just jealous because Beyonce can wear that mini dress thing! Beside they told Beyonce to say that. Aretha should use her common sense and be mad at the writers!!! (well she did) but leave Beyonce out.

54. Yahoo! Music User -
as in the inauequlous words of Snoop DO double G !! CHURCH!!!!!

55. M B -
Seems to me the only "ego" or "toes' she stepped on were her own...but then again, of course she's gonna step on her own toes, she can't even see her own feet anymore !!!

This woman is out of control, whatever records you made decades ago don't give you the right to demand that you are the "Queen" of it all !

Beyonce has already had more hit's than her. There were not that many real black singers put out into the mainstream when she was young, so yes she stood out. She wouldn't stand a chance today, that is for sure.

Time for Aretha to get over herself, everyone else is !

56. John -
Who cares what some blogger thinks? Tina owes a lot to Aretha for being a trailblazer for black women in popular music. Without Aretha before her, Tina's rise would have been much more difficult.

It's hard to take a "columnist" seriously when he publishes an article with atrocious grammar. IE: "I've attended a MusicCares event for Natalie Cole several years ago..."

*shudder*

57. bailie28 -
I totally agree with what you have said...to both of them...they should show some respect..not everyone is perfect and should be honored for what they have done in their life to promote what they do for a career.

58. RT -
I agree the media is to blame for much of this making it bigger than it is, anything to make a quick buck in my opnion.

But even though I respect Aretha and stuff, if she did really send that exact quote, there are different classifications for the word Queen eg. The Queen of Hearts etc, so in my mind that would class her as the "Queen of Pettiness".

The title of Queen is given to someone that has been ordained, and someone that is deserving of it, and Tina Natalie, Aretha and all the rest not mentioned deserve this title respectively.

"ALL HAIL TO THE QUEEN"

59. Brittney Sherrell -
Yea who cares but you still cared enough to comment. Because there is a war going and so much hardship in the world , let alone America, you need something a bit light-hearted to take your mind of these intense matters

I did think that "Re-Re" was a bit off her rocker on that. If Beyonce wants to refer to an idol of hers as Queen so be it at the end of the day there they are all queens for their contributions to music PERIOD....

60. Yahoo! Music User -
Tina has alot of talent but to be honest she is no aretha!
Page:  1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 
Leave Your Comment
You must sign in to leave a comment
Select a Blog Posts
And The Winner Is...
by Paul Grein
30
As Heard On...
by Lyndsey Parker
48
Chart Watch
by Paul Grein
149
Framed
by John Kordosh
123
GetBack
by Shawn Amos
346
Hip-Hop Media Training
by Billy Johnson, Jr.
239
List Of The Day
by Rob O'Connor
337
Maximum Performance
by Lyndsey Parker
167
Musictoob
by Andy Pemberton
200
New This Week
by Dave DiMartino
126
Reality Rocks
by Lyndsey Parker
610
Rock's Backpages
by Ben Myers (1999)
199
Stop The Presses!
by Lyndsey Parker
88
That's Really Week
by Billy Johnson, Jr.
128
The Blender Burner
by Blender Magazine
27
The MOJO Blog
by Bill DeMain
92
The NME Blog
by Luke Lewis
50
The Spin Blog
by David Marchese
80
The Y! Music Playlist Blog
by Robert of the Radish
533
Video Ga Ga
by Lyndsey Parker
74
Viva NashVegas
by Wendy Geller
66

Billy Ray Cyrus becomes his dad in Hallmark movie

AP
Wed Dec 23, 2009 5:00pm PST

AP - Billy Ray Cyrus has been preparing his whole life for the role of Daniel Burton in the Hallmark Channel movie "Christmas in Canaan." "I started digging through like old boxes of stuff and finding old… More »

More Music News