If there is one thing with which all of Hollywood could agree is that Beyonce is anything but original. After being heralded as the next Tina Turner by Kanye West and the second coming of Michael Jackson by her husband Jay-Z, the singer has been cast in the molds of two other great artists – Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan.
Speaking to Les Inrocks about his upcoming projects, Clint Eastwood revealed a fascination with Beyonce, with whom he will be working in the upcoming remake of ‘A Star is Born’. The noted director claimed that she offered to “write” material for the movie’s soundtrack but he intends to introduce her to the fundamentals of Jazz music so that she could realise her potential to become the next Fitzgerald or Vaughan.
Read what the 81-year old Eastwood had to say about Beyonce below as we ponder whether his age has started to affect his brain:
Did you discuss music with Beyonce, that we will see in your next film, a remake of ‘A Star is Born’?
She asked if she could write stuff for the movie, I said yes, great. But I also told her I would make one or two things very classical. Still classicism. But I don’t want Beyonce to be too classic! She has a superb voice. She could become a new Sarah Vaughan or the next Ella Fitzgerald. She has the same class. I dont know if she knows their music, but I intend to do a good education for the movie!
Beyonce has yet to even film a scene for ‘A Star is Born’ and the propaganda has begun already? Yet, before we get dismissive or defensive, let’s review some key points.
Fitzgerald was not known for having the most amazing voice with power and range in the league of Barbra Streisand or Aretha Franklin but she was quite adept at using tricky vocal styles and arrangements. In that sense, the parallels between her and Beyonce are understandable because the latter’s voice does sound a bit average when compared to the greatest voices of today, such as Christina Aguilera, but she is has a clear understanding of her instrument. If you doubt me then ask any random person on the street to choose the better voice between Beyonce and Aguilera.
However, what made Fitzgerald and Vaughan so magnificent was that they were never repetitive or scripted. Both women found brilliant new ways interpreting ever piece of music that left listeners constantly guessing what they might do next. Beyonce, on the other hand, has been using the same ‘Crazy in Love’ vocal runs since 2007 and even had a teleprompter to cue her every move during the ‘Live at Roseland’ shows.
The real issue that arises from Eastwood’s statements is the fact that people don’t see the potential in Beyonce to be an original. Unlike Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, who were only compared to other artists at the beginning of their careers and not 15 years after their respective debuts, Beyonce is always viewed as a faint shadow of someone else; a diet-Michael Jackson with some of the talent and none of the originality.
Yes, Beyonce’s fans will probably throw a tantrum and share every Wikipedia quote that they could find but that won’t dismiss this disturbing trend. The again, perhaps Beyonce only has herself to blame. She is the person who always claims to be “inspired” by someone else after all.
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