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

81. tracyt -
Right on, Billy. I love it.. You hit the nail on the head.

82. Joshua -
Aretha has always had a chip on her shoulder

83. fiesty312 -
I THINK YOU ARE DEAD ON. ARETHA IS MY ALL TIME FAVORITE ARTIST. I WAS SO DISAPPOINTED WHEN I SAW HER. SHE HAS SO MANY SONGS OF HER OWN TO SING AND SHE SPENT MOST OF THE NIGHT SINGING SONGS THAT OTHERS MADE. THE PEOPLE IN THE CROWD WERE YELLING FOR HER TO SING SOME OF HER BELOVED SONGS. I PROMISED MYSELF THAT I WOULD NEVER GO SEE HER AGAIN. I PAID ALOT OF MONEY FOR TICKETS AND TRULY DID NOT GET MY MONIES WORTH. STOP HATING ARETHA!!!!! TINA IS A QUEEN IN HER OWN RIGHT.

84. Berty -
I think what Natalie was saying is that the Grammy's should have honoured Amy after she cleaned up because they are not doing her much favour by honourin her while she in this self destructive nature. I think teh album and records are great but I can understand what Natalie is saying. As for Beyonce, I was suprised when she mentioned the queen thing, I was like what did she say. We all know Aretha is the queen.

85. Yahoo! Music User -
(what?....no star grid??!? I wanted to give this story no star's sooo BAD! from how one-sided and bias it is......)

P.S: When you've seen and done it all, you do and say as you please, and get away with it. Kinda like Rick James. (now respect aretha's hustle.)

86. Yahoo! Music User -
Well put Mwalker!...This celebrity "who said, she said, he heard & and she saw" business is getting on my last nerve. Aretha, Tina, and many others are legends because they have naturally perservered doing what comes natural. I applaud them. HOWEVER, If society would spend less time focusing on this BULL, and focused on real "everyday people" and real everyday issues "critical issues that face the "majority" and not the minority (celebrities), then we wouldn't have articles or comments like those plastered all over Yahoo and CNN- WHO CARES!!

87. Brittany -
lol nice...i enjoyed reading! Tina rocks

88. rrrusty -
John S - 2 minutes ago
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.

Evidently YOU care, JS, since you bothered to comment.

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*

The only thing that makes me *shudder* is that you've hopped onto the petty wagon right along with ReRe and Sista Nat...welcome!

89. david -
this blog say it all..Areath is just jealous that Tina looks better than she did and that Tina can still wear small clothes unlike her...LOL STOP THE HATERATION!!!!I think Beyonce's duet with Tina was incredible,and will be a Grammy moment to remember!!

90. LawGBall -
I totally agree with you Billy. Aretha has no right whatsoever to attempt to discredit Beyonces' comment about Tina. First and foremost even if Tina wasn't a queen, which she is......it doesn't mean that she's not a queen to others. Let alone Beyonce. Heck, Tina's a queen to millions. Aretha has lost points from me.

91. Mike -
For God's sake!! Queens are not suppose to be FAT and are suppose to have manners! It's over for you Aretha, queen of the pigs!

92. Sonia -
liked your blog.

93. Mizzcakes -
Well said.

94. Courtney -
I totally agree.

It's not even about whether Aretha is better than Tina or not. It's just a matter of Aretha's nitpicking, petty attitude about it. How egotistical is it to get angry because someone else was being called a Queen? Tina Turner was being honored that night, and I think that it was completely out of line for her to issue a statement like that.

95. Yahoo! Music User -
tina is hotter at 70 than aretha at 17. beyonce smokes them

96. Yahoo! Music User -
Aretha Franklin is a fat pig and she should lose weight before she talks about anything or anybody.

97. Cynic -
Apparently, comment #96 poster, YOU care, since you took the time to post a "who cares?" comment.

98. Leonardo -
Oh for god sakes, Billy. If you don't have anything more important to blog about, you are totally clueless! You're an a**.

99. sams -
Does anyone find it just a little ironic that on a night where she performed AND was nominated for a performance of a GOSPEL song (i.e. Christian) the "Queen" displayed some very unchristian behavior? I'm not hatin' here, but the words of Scripture are so appropriate:

"Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment..."

It's sad to see one with such amazing talent not only let herself go physically, but allow the world's praise to bloat her ego as well.

100. SunaDK -
This is by far the most pathetic article I've read in months.
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
145
Framed
by John Kordosh
122
GetBack
by Shawn Amos
342
Hip-Hop Media Training
by Billy Johnson, Jr.
234
List Of The Day
by Rob O'Connor
337
Maximum Performance
by Lyndsey Parker
167
Musictoob
by Andy Pemberton
194
New This Week
by Dave DiMartino
126
Reality Rocks
by Lyndsey Parker
601
Rock's Backpages
by Barney Hoskyns
196
Stop The Presses!
by Lyndsey Parker
87
That's Really Week
by Billy Johnson, Jr.
127
The Blender Burner
by Blender Magazine
27
The MOJO Blog
by James McNair
91
The NME Blog
by Luke Lewis
49
The Spin Blog
by David Marchese
80
The Y! Music Playlist Blog
by Robert of the Radish
525
Video Ga Ga
by Lyndsey Parker
72
Viva NashVegas
by Wendy Geller
64

Nick Jonas' band has gig on Critics' Choice Awards

AP
Wed Dec 16, 2009 10:44am PST

AP - Nick Jonas is used to performing in front of screaming fans who know all the words to their favorite Jonas Brothers songs. Now his new band, Nick Jonas & The Administration, is getting ready to perform as the … More »

More Music News