In addition to these songs, Janet has reached the summit 10 times, Whitney 11 times and Mariah 13 times — all by themselves. Beyoncé’s count, once again: 0. As it stands, in the mainstream conscious, Beyoncé, for every one of “her” hits, will only be remembered as the siren of an all-star ensemble or duo.
In retrospect, what would “Crazy in Love” have been without Jay-Z’s memorable quip (“yes sir I'm cut from a different cloth/my texture is the best fur, I'm chinchilla”), “Baby Boy” without the Jamaican musings of post-Dutty Rock Sean Paul (“top top – girl / me and you together is a wrap – dat girl”) or “Check on It” without Slim Thug’s infusion of hip-hop (“good girls gotta get down with them gangstas”)?
FACT #4: Although Beyoncé has "sold" over 17 million albums, stateside, 13 million account for her Destiny's Child catalog.
When taking solo (U.S.) sales into consideration, Beyoncé lies at the bottom of the heap. Beyoncé would need to produce two additional renditions of Dangerously in Love to surpass Alicia Keys, three to eclipse Norah Jones, four to stand beside Toni Braxton, five to match Janet Jackson, thirteen to outdo Whitney Houston, and fourteen to compete with Mariah Carey. You get the idea…
Some may wonder why I would take the time to write an editorial on such a non-earth-shattering topic as whether Beyoncé is or is not a diva. The answer, if solely for therapeutic reasons, is to call into question (and shine a spotlight) on what the world considers “good” music. Throughout the new millennium, the music industry has pushed the likes of Britney Spears, Ashanti, and Hillary Duff to superstar status, while talented vocalists like Toni Braxton, Anastacia, and Deborah Cox have faded into the background, with little fanfare.
All things considered, this editorial is the by-product of various “water-cooler conversations” I’ve had over the years. Without a doubt, the ebb and flow of corporate and consumer interests have jump-started and abruptly ended countless musical careers. Consequently, in such a volatile market, it is understandable stars, like Beyoncé, use media machines to meticulously craft their persona, so that it can weather (and, hopefully, resist) external tampering.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Roberta
I agree 100%. Beyonce' is no diva. And Norah Jones has way more talent.
2 - Nikkiejo
I absolutely agree. It's sad that singers like Cassie and Hilary Duff are acknowledge as "good singers" and the true singers with talent aren't appreciated anymore. The music industry is nothing more than a "get rich, quick" scheme. There are only a few artists now that make music for the love of it, and make music that actually means something. I don't listen to the radio anymore, because music has lost it's meaning. Beyonce has a beautiful voice, but I don't really feel her music.
3 - KD
She doesnt have to be a diva to be an ultra successful, super talented superstar. Lets face it, you're writing a stupid column (which probably took you a few hours, seeing how much research you called yourself doing) but she doesn't even know you exist. Who's the loser now? Or did you simply use this to try and drive some traffic here?
4 - luvme
This has to be the most pointless article ever. "Good music" is not something that's defined. "Good music" is based on individual taste. What's good to me may not be good to you.
If this offered constructive comments on how Beyonce can improve her craft I may be interested, but I'm sure there is nothing some idiot sitting in front of a computer can tell Beyonce about how to be a performer. If you dislike something that Beyonce does that doesn't makes you a hater, the fact is that you wrote such long bullshit about it. In the the time it took you to write this crap you could have wrote about artists that you like, or artists that you think deserve more publicity. You could have used this space to promote them, post their songs or videos and expose them to a new audiance, but instead you wasted time trying to knock someone else down.
5 - Martius phillips
Beyonce's Accolades may not be as great as Mariah Carey's, Norah Jones's, Toni Braxton's, or Alanis Morissette's. yet out of them all who do people want to see? Who is the most Beautiful? Who is the most popular? accolades do not mean anything if you don't have a fan base as large as Beyonce's
6 - luvme
Furthermore there is a difference between having to finish an album in 2 weeks and being so inspired that you just happen to finish an album in 2 weeks.
And to be clear, neither Mariah, Janet, nor Whitney accomplished anything ALONE. They may have sang on songs by themselves but there has always been a team of writers, producers, choregraphers, and stylists behind them who were equally if not more responsible for the success of their projects.
7 - Kaikahina
Thank-you !! I am so tired of being forced feed this women. Her talent is limited but due to the PR machine in her camp we are to believe she is all that. But time will tell. If you think this author is wrong about her, ask youself if she will she be popular in ten years - five ?
I don't think so. Just wait.
8 - Sandra
I agree.
Beyoncé is OVERRATED and a COPYCAT.
She copies other singers.
9 - I Know You See It
Wow, why limit record sales to only US markets? Is it because Beyonce sales more globally? Maybe your thesis should be restricted to the label of “American Diva”, lol.
Secondly, the only artist whose career could parallel Beyonce’s is Justin Timberlake.
He left a highly successful pop group and sold less because he focused more on R& B, which is why Beyonce sold less with Dangerously In Love. Lastly, Beyonce’s memorable performance is Crazy In Love. Everyone remembers where they were when they saw the video, the Grammy performance, and the BET version, lol. Crazy In Love is to Beyonce what Control is to Janet, etc…
I’m not a big Beyonce fan, but I recognize her talent…
Too bad we have to be bombarded with it 24/7,lol.
10 - dree
number of awards does not make you a diva. you are quite ignorant on this topic. diva refers to a beautiful singing voice and a demanding stage presence, and beyonce has both of these. there are plenty of actual divas who have never won an award, or even been discovered. you should really research the word. beyonce is in fact a diva. if you have disagreements with me you can reach me at sexii_little_minx at yahoo
11 - dree
and to the loser who thinks norah jones has a better vocal range and stage present than beyonce...ignorant
12 - Bigholzi
HI I totaly Agree with you, but you said "the music industry has pushed" girls like B.Spears ... (thats true) and that talented Singers like Anastacia have faded into Background!
Thats so not true! Anastacia may has no Succeses in USA but shes so big Overseas in Europe an Asia.
She sold more than 23 Million Records since 2000
And she was seen by nearly 1000 000 people during her first Tour in Europe in 2004 and 2005. So i think shes not faded to Background, at least not in europe.
13 - ewok
True, she may not technically be a diva according to your numbers, however, the girl can out sing every one of your mentioned 'divas'. bottom line. her ability to modulate (that's change keys within a song...or a song within a song, if you will, is flawless....ask any musician...she is definitely respected. it is really funny how many dedicate negativity to this girl, but hey, that's when you know you are on top...which is ironic. i am a native houstonian and had the pleasure of watching this girl blossom and really, she has been sounding like this since she was a little girl. not a crack during her performances and her mother always made sure she was diva ready...the whole family has been a part of the houston entertainment scene for years....watched this girl out blow church "divas" and sit them down crying......don't get it twisted...
14 - Roberta
I'd say Beyonce' has to be a selfish artist. She always seems to want the spotlight. Say she doesn't like one of the members of Destiny's Child, she just kicks 'em out. She takes her ball and goes home. I'm not saying she doesn't have any talent, but there are alot of other better singers out there who get no recognition at all.
15 - Kevin
Hey you gotta get your facts straight. Beyonce was nominated for a big four grammy before. Crazy In Love was nominated for Record Of The Year. Also, Beyonce has two solo grammys One for Best R&B Vocal Performance- Female and Best Contemporary R&B Album.
16 - J
I agree completely!
17 - A.L. Harper
I've said this once today and I'll say it again here because it fits here too.
Who decided that Beyonce Knowles was talented? Don't give me that "she has such great range" shite! The occasional bout of vocal epilepsy followed by lyrical diarrhoea is not talent, that's an illness and Beyonce needs to be treated. She is a talentless bore, who only wants fame. She and others like her (i.e. Mariah Carey and Christina Aguilera) should be eliminated from pop music to save it for those with real talent and something genuine to contribute. Something not decided by or in a committee.
Feels even better the second time.
18 - cynthia
Wait until the Dreamgirls soundtrack comes out. Her and Jennifer Hudson sound really good on it.
Roberta, it was the managements decision to get rid of those other girls, not Beyonce. I believe that if someone is stealing your thunder than you need to step your game up.
19 - cynthia
I think being a diva is like a personality trait not whether or not you can sell records.
20 - MID
Love me, you should know that Mariah writes all of her songs (obviously not the covers) but all of them. I agree with this article Beyonce is so overrated, her career is beginning to fade. That's why she's trying so hard to stay in the spotlight and she knows it. After the of Deja Vu and Ring The Alarm these songs peaked at #4 and #12 which in her terms is a flop. We all know both whould've flopped if it wasn't for the downloads. I mean think about Deja Vu peaked at #30 and dropped down to #32 before rising up to #4 thanks to the downloads but then dropped down quickly. Ring The Alarm wasn't even on The Hot 100 it peaked at #17 on the Bubbling Under but debuted at #12 on the Hot 100 and I predict she will fall fast. Her pervious #1's from DIL debuted on airplay only and they were in the top 10 in their 4th weeks but when the downloads kicked in she went to #1 and stayed there for 8-9 weeks. She knows that comparing the material from DIL and B'Day she knows the B'Day doesn't even come close. That's why she was so qiuick on release her single for downloads becuase they weren't her best. She needs to depend on her material knowing people will like it and not throw something to together half-heartedly and release hoping her fans will love it.
21 - Kemmy
Wow. so you only took into account record sales in the USA? So her fans around the world are to be ignored. That is rather arrogant and reflects badly on you the writer and the mentality in which you wrote this. If anything, it shows me that this was written more in envy than anything else and vocal diarrhoea occurred in this editorial just went on and on bashing the girl. There is enough of a fan base to go round to all these people. Funny enough the ones you mentioned who get pushed into the background, I buy their music too, but they really need to not make boring records after they bring out the first great album and are off having babies constantly or seem to be (in the case of Toni Braxton).
If you worked half as hard as Beyonce does, maybe you would actually be writing in a real newspaper or magazine and not on a blog on line????
22 - Unbelievale
Whoever said that BEyonce can outsing the other divas the writer mentioned needs hearing aids. I heard her sing when she was in Seatle, her voice is flat and nasal. She cannot sustain notes so she rifts a lot. No way can this girl blow like a Whitney, Mariah or Christina. As for outsinging a church singer... NO WAY AT ALL!!!!!!!!!!! I'd like to even SEE her try to hit ANY OF THE NOTES A YOUNG MAHALIA JACKSON OR ARETHA FRANKLIN AT ANY AGE COULD DO.
23 - madrit3know
thats the meanest words i ever heard! u people are the only person that they tink that!! i can c dat u dont know any good music...
24 - Wilson
By the way, Mariah Carey has 17 #1's on the Billboard Hot 100. You said she only had 13. But I could have mistaken you talking about something else. Just wanted to make sure you knew.
25 - Rachel M
Why does this site spend so much time dogging Beyonce? Does this writer get paid for it or something? I can't figure it out. Always some long drawn out essay on Beyonce being unworthy.
Like her or hate her, the girl is talented and will be around for as long as she chooses. Get used to it.