Aretha Franklin's Grammy Wrath Is Out Of Control
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.
All I know is, I hope I look and move that good when I'm 69.
Instead of complaining about bloated, over-rated "stars", try arguing for the minorities, the poor, the abused children, the genocide in Darfur, animal abuse, etc.
You could be making a BIGGER difference than arguing about some person who said something so trivial that doesn't mean a thing in our lives or make a difference.
Why not argue for the weak and the weary?
The starving and the meek?
Their stories are trampled and forgotten because of some "big-shot" celebraties who donated to McCain or Clinton or Obama, who insulted Ms. Turner, who ODed or hit up rehab.
There are thousands out there whose stories are never told and there a thousands out there who have been dragged and gone through worse times than Amy Winehouse or Lindsay Lohan and they've lived and succeeded.
Why not blog about their courageous stories instead of these idiotic doings?
Make a difference, help others.
Don't be another petty blogger with a wworthless topic to rant about.
Then the question is: So, Aretha doesn't fit into this category? Nor Whitney? Nor Ella? NOT EVEN JOSEPHINE BAKER?
When you make exclusionary comments like that, tongues will wag!
Aretha has every right to feel slighted and i'm sure she is not the only one in that list of singers who was like "WTF?".
The bottom line is we all know that Beyonce idolizes Tina Turner, however, at the same time because you idolize someone does not mean you have to discredit others.
Everyone is quick to jump on Aretha and call her a hater, but lets flash forward 50 years from now and see if Beyonce would like to sit among her peers and watch the new IT girl say those things about Ashanti or Ciara, after all the things that Beyonce has done to prove herself to be a true talent.
Some people are so quick to jump to Beyonce's defense because in their eyes Beyonce can do no wrong, but Beyonce is human and makes mistakes. If she wasn't on top of it to know that comment sounded, not only bias but misguided, the producers of the show should've had the foresight...specifically since they were honoring Aretha Franklin that evening.
I know they were in the middle of a writer's strike and a good write up was a hard to find, but I've seen 5th graders who could've done a better job at not only praising Tina Turner for her mark as an extraordinary entertainer but also given the other women who laid the foundation for Beyonce their credit.
There are other things that are more important than what Aretha said.
When all is said and done, Tina is as much musical royalty as Aretha is. Aretha's ridiculous tirade just makes her appear ugly beyond the physical sense!!