Would Beyonce be taken more seriously if she was white?

[Riot Poof 2,236]

I can't imagine a world where Beyoncé would be taken more seriously than she already is. 

Perhaps many black musicians would be taken more seriously if they were white, but this doesn't really apply to a superstar like Beyoncé. She gets more respect from the GP and from music publications than her white contemporaries (as far as I know).

[StrawberryBlond 14,862]

I don't know what planet the OP's living on, but Beyonce is one of the most successful, awarded, critically acclaimed and respected artists today. If anything, she's taken TOO seriously. Because she is also one of the most over-rated artists that ever lived. Yes, she's a good singer and performer, but I've never found her songs to be all that brilliant and she certainly doesn't possess much musical talent outside of singing (can't play an instrument, doesn't write many of her songs). Yet, she's praised to high heaven, called a queen, considered a legend (she is, I don't know who would dispute that), gets the critics raving, gets every award going. So, no, I don't think she would be taken more seriously if she were white.

On the contrary, I think she's taken more seriously because she's black. This is a difficult concept for most non-whites to understand. But whites know exactly what I'm talking about. There is a general feeling of white guilt among us, that we have an obligation to be nice to minorities wherever possible, to make up for the sins our ancestors placed upon them and also for the sins some of our current fellow whites are still placing on them. As such, we have a tendency to overly praise minorities when they do anything that wouldn't be considered as amazing if it was done by a white person or they are even seen as superior because they're black. And music is where this concept is most obvious. We tend to believe that blacks are the best singers, have the most soul, can write "real" songs about struggles, can dance the best, are the coolest. As such, we tend to rank black females as the best singers, we're a lot kinder to black rappers than we are white rappers (even whites bring them down - see any white rapper who ever existed, even Eminem), rate black artists as the best dancers and so on. But for some reason, even when we see whites performing at this level, we don't appreciate them as much and I can't understand that.

Don't get me wrong, there are many racist aspects to the music industry (black artists being forced to make urban music and not experiment, black artists only nominated in urban categories even if their music isn't urban, black soul and jazz artists not being as promoted as much as white soul and jazz artists, etc). but in terms of critic/public reception and commercial sales, I don't see the racism. Black artists are some of the most bestselling, awarded and acclaimed of all time. Once the extreme racism started to die out in the 60's, black artists getting far was no longer an issue.

[Tokyo Rose 1,475]

Everyone's life is influenced in some way by race.

Race and diversity should be celebrated, instead of being always on the negative note about African heritage.

In a way, I find this question disrespectful to Beyonce.

[Harry 26,836]

It feels like Beyonce is universally respected and praised though. She's probably the only current artist next to Adele that seems to tick all the boxes for people. Even if they don't buy her music, they at least respect her and acknowledge how talented she is. I honestly can't see how she could be looked up to any more than she is now... How 'perfect' she is has almost become like a running joke now in popular culture.

Beyonce gets more respect and more awards because she's black. Most music critics are liberal or progressive, who are afraid they'll be called racist if they trash a black icon. They are much less inhibited about trashing Katy or Gaga.

Being black puts her in the less competitive R&B category, but if Bey was white she'd be in pop category at Grammies (see Adele). Thus it's been much easier for her to win than pure pop acts like Madonna and Katy

On the other hand, she'd probably sell more to white girls in Middle America if she was white, and Bill O'Reilly wouldn't have been as nasty about her being s-xual.. 

That's bulls--t. Why isn't Rihanna as big then? Or Nicki? Beyonce is just amazing at what she does and nothing about her is polarizing. Why are you so consistently reluctant to give props to a black woman? I've never seen you do that.

People trash Gaga because she's seen as "weird" and her music doesn't appeal to everyone. People trash Katy because they think she's untalented. There's nothing weird about Beyonce that people could find off putting like they do with Gaga. She's obviously immensely talented. Even if you don't like her music, it's fairly easy to see why so many people do like her.

[Sister 9,907]

No, not as long as she is still so pretty. I think that she is respected, but can also seem not to be, because of her stunning looks. She is more pretty than most other performers. I see her as the Angelina Jolie, in most people's minds, of her entertainment category.

[ARTPOPdidntflop 3,987]

 but I've never found her songs to be all that brilliant and she certainly doesn't possess much musical talent outside of singing (can't play an instrument, doesn't write many of her songs).

anyways TL;DR

She can play piano

[ryhanna 3,507]

I'm not sure it's possible for Beyonce to be taken any more seriously. The woman is treasured. 

[Harry 26,836]

On the contrary, I think she's taken more seriously because she's black. This is a difficult concept for most non-whites to understand. But whites know exactly what I'm talking about. There is a general feeling of white guilt among us, that we have an obligation to be nice to minorities wherever possible, to make up for the sins our ancestors placed upon them and also for the sins some of our current fellow whites are still placing on them. As such, we have a tendency to overly praise minorities when they do anything that wouldn't be considered as amazing if it was done by a white person or they are even seen as superior because they're black. And music is where this concept is most obvious. We tend to believe that blacks are the best singers, have the most soul, can write "real" songs about struggles, can dance the best, are the coolest. As such, we tend to rank black females as the best singers, we're a lot kinder to black rappers than we are white rappers (even whites bring them down - see any white rapper who ever existed, even Eminem), rate black artists as the best dancers and so on. But for some reason, even when we see whites performing at this level, we don't appreciate them as much and I can't understand that.

While I agree with your overall point about race definitely not holding Beyonce back, this entire chunk is ridiculous.

This is an enormous display of white arrogance, and once again your personal bias is coming into play. You simply can't accept that a lot of people actually love Beyonce because you have this weird grudge against her for some reason. Beyonce is outstanding. She outdoes virtually all of her contemporaries in terms of performing. If you don't like her songs then fine. But a lot of people really do and they aren't going to shell out their hard earned money on songs just because an artist is black and they "feel bad"

Like I asked craig. If Beyonce's success comes solely from her race and "white guilt", then why aren't Rihanna and Nicki - among pretty much every other current female black artist - as acclaimed and respected as Bey is? Why do people constantly call their talent into question? People look at someone like Beyonce and someone like Rihanna very differently, but they're both black women. So as you're suggesting, that's clearly not the deciding factor in how people judge artists.

I also can't believe you brought up Eminem as someone who is brought down when he's literally one of the most successful rappers ever. Probably the most, actually. At the beginning of his career he was looked at as the "white boy" but he overcame it with his talent and authenticity and people saw that he was the real deal.

I imagine that it's quite offensive to a lot of people that you think black artists that achieve acclaim are only praised because of their race when they still face a lot more than you or I could relate to. You're right, music is a sector where a lot of blacks have excelled... But you don't even want them to have that.

[Higher 2,406]

She's literally the most liked/successful pop star if this generation. Everyone calls her Queen B.  

[Killa 17,476]

If she's not taken any more seriously isn't due to her being black or whatever, but the usual thing about over s-xual imagery. Be it justified or not, simply that it takes a toil due to the over s-xual appeal in pop culture. Either than that...she's way respected (and yeah overrated)

[Killa 17,476]

Someone like Jazmine Sullivan and other r

Or simply why on earth so many R&B and soul singers have been off the radar while the white versions of Duffy, Joss Stone,  Adele's, Winehouse's get recognition, while being very good but not always as good. Let's see Jill Scott have that kind of promotion and so on... Oh and that lady that won American Idol, it's crazy how she didn't make it when soul music has been a thing. But a thing only when sang by white girls...

 

[craig 680]

Like I asked craig. If Beyonce's success comes solely from her race and "white guilt", then why aren't Rihanna and Nicki - among pretty much every other current female black artist - as acclaimed and respected as Bey is? Why do people constantly call their talent into question? People look at someone like Beyonce and someone like Rihanna very differently, but they're both black women. So as you're suggesting, that's clearly not the deciding factor in how people judge artists.

Rihanna further proves my point. She's won 8 Grammy awards vs. Katy with 0 and Madonna with 0 until Ray of Light 15 years into her career. She's also got 2 Brit awards and hs been bigger in UK than Beyonce, Katy, or Taylor..

I never said Bey's "success"  was helped by race. We're taking about respect and awards.

Pop girls get dismissed for many reasons beyond vocal ability and performance skills. (She's manufactured, or isn't involved enough in songwriting, or relies on s-x appeal, costumes, and gimmicks). Beyonce isn't immune here, any more than Gaga.

[craig 680]

Or simply why on earth so many R&B and soul singers have been off the radar while the white versions of Duffy, Joss Stone,  Adele's, Winehouse's get recognition, while being very good but not always as good. Let's see Jill Scott have that kind of promotion and so on... Oh and that lady that won American Idol, it's crazy how she didn't make it when soul music has been a thing. But a thing only when sang by white girls...

 

My theory is that white people like older styles of black music from the 1960's-80's more than stuff from hip-hop era. Amy and Adele are retro compared to contemporary R&B. Or look at Uptown Funk and Get Lucky both created by white European, with a sound out of late 70's or early 80's. Not to mention Robin Thicke with his Marvin Gaye ripoff.

Do you know any young blacks trying to be the Next Stevie Wonder or Prince?

[Harry 26,836]

Rihanna further proves my point. She's won 8 Grammy awards vs. Katy with 0 and Madonna with 0 until Ray of Light 15 years into her career. She's also got 2 Brit awards and hs been bigger in UK than Beyonce, Katy, or Taylor..

I never said Bey's "success"  was helped by race. We're taking about respect and awards.

Pop girls get dismissed for many reasons beyond vocal ability and performance skills. (She's manufactured, or isn't involved enough in songwriting, or relies on s-x appeal, costumes, and gimmicks). Beyonce isn't immune here, any more than Gaga.

Rihanna's never won in a pop category though. 5 of her 8 Grammys are from features. One is from a dance category (say no more) and one was for a video that she didn't direct. The only Grammy she has for her music is the Urban Contemporary Album award for Unapologetic. I like Rihanna but the amount of Grammys she has is misleading... She as an artist is not very acclaimed. Katy's music is not eligible in many other fields than pop where there's always bait like Sam or Adele sweeping.

If we're talking about respect and awards why bring up how big Rihanna is in the UK?

If you think that Rihanna is as respected and acclaimed as Beyonce is then you're clearly more out of touch with pop culture than even I thought. This is just another example of your racial intolerance and misogyny. Why is it so hard for you to believe that a black woman is successful and appealing for her talents?

[craig 680]

If you think that Rihanna is as respected and acclaimed as Beyonce is then you're clearly more out of touch with pop culture than even I thought. This is just another example of your racial intolerance and misogyny. Why is it so hard for you to believe that a black woman is successful and appealing for her talents? 

I have a lot of respect for Beyonce. I guess you missed the thread where I stood up for against the Adele stans. . http://gagadaily.com/topic/166971-adele-wants-to-collab-with-beyonce/?page=4

The way you throw around words like "racial intolerance" and "white arrogence" on very little basis proves Strawberry Blonde's point perfectly.