Would Beyonce be taken more seriously if she was white?

[Emvee 8,403]

Beyoncé has a tremendous amount of respect from all sorts of audiences, so I don't really know what you're talking about. All of the points you made about "black artists" can also be applied to white artists who don't necessarily appeal to minority groups like Kelly Clarkson or Taylor Swift. Beyoncé doesn't make pop, nor is her music universal. It's very much rooted in "black" influences and does not appeal to people who don't like hip-hop. Success, on the other hand, is a completely different story. She probably would sell more if she were white, because she would appeal to white people, who are the majority group. But, again, Beyoncé doesn't make pop and her numbers won't reflect that any more than Carrie Underwood's numbers would. 

It is all about appeal and accessibility. Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson are two of music's most revered artists in music history because their music and images were accessibile. Beyoncé isn't going to achieve that singing songs like Flawless or with dance moves. 

[JusKeepBreathin 19,311]

I heard this saying that Black woman have to be twice as good to get half as much. Is it true

What if a white pop girl came out with this performance

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think she's one of the best performers of this generation but doesn't get enough praise for it imo  

Since when does Beyoncé not get praise. I love her and she gets plenty of praise. Beyoncé sings for the president and gets praise she sings at the Grammys and gets praise, she is phenomenal. Don't get confused with this some negative opinions of a few members on GGD with that of the GP. 

The saying you were referring to is about women not just black women.

"A woman has to be twice as good as a man to get half the praise."

OT- Its funny, the saying was actually in this weeks episode of Supergirl. 

 

[PaperIz 7,346]

Beyonce is loved by everyone. Literally they think she's a literally queen of something. She's actually a bit overated if anything. Everyone loves her lol

[craig 680]

 If she were so respected because she's black then they would've through her AOTY by now.

 

There was unprecedented outrage from a lot of media at her not winning last time. Lot of great pop albums have been snubbed, with no reaction.

[JusKeepBreathin 19,311]

Nah. Beyonce gets more respect and awards because she's the best in the game. Look black  at artists who have came and gone like Ashanti, Aaliyah, Ciara, Brandy etc. Beyonce outlasted them ALL through immense talent and hard work. Plus incredible marketing. She had to actually work twice as hard because she's black. Your point about her being in R&B categories contradicts your original statement. If she were so respected because she's black then they would've through her AOTY by now. I don't think her being black is why critics are scared to bash her, I just think she has amazing talent and makes damn good music.

Katy and Gaga are easier to bash because they make pop music. 

And let's be honest, the BeyHive has a lot to do with why people aren't really sharing their honest opinions about Bey.  

Please don't jumble Aaliyah with the rest of the artists you mentioned. She died when her career was in the middle of being catapulted to super stardom. Her last album sold 13 million world wide. Each album rose in sales by millions more than the one before and she was set to have one of the lead roles in the Matrix sequels before she died so it had to be recast. IMO she could have been just as big as Beyoncé. 

[Jesse Pinkman 4,660]

Please don't jumble Aaliyah with the rest of the artists you mentioned. She died when her career was in the middle of being catapulted to super stardom. Her last album sold 13 million world wide. Each album rose in sales by millions more than the one before and she was set to have one of the lead roles in the Matrix sequels before she died so it had to be recast. IMO she could have been just as big as Beyoncé. 

Omg you're right. Aaliyah was a terrible example.  I was just listing off artists in my head and I totally forgot that Aaliyah died at such a young age. Pardon my mistake, I'm so tired and typed this up  in the middle of a study break. But my point still remains.

[ARTPOPdidntflop 3,987]

Since when does Beyoncé not get praise. I love her and she gets plenty of praise. Beyoncé sings for the president and gets praise she sings at the Grammys and gets praise, she is phenomenal. Don't get confused with this some negative opinions of a few members on GGD with that of the GP. 

The saying you were referring to is about women not just black women.

"A woman has to be twice as good as a man to get half the praise."

OT- Its funny, the saying was actually in this weeks episode of Supergirl. 

 

Yes but black woman don't get treated as equal as white woman do, so the saying is that black woman have to work twice as hard to get half as much

[Whispering 18,865]

Half those people on your list are not even fully "black" and many of them gaines success when pandeirng towards white audiences. If you notice, when Bey stopped making pop music she didn't sell as much as she did before. There are tons of artists who make actualy "black" music and aren't nearly successful. It has to do with a bit of discrimination, and the fact that many black consumers don't support their music.

What? Explain what it means to be "fully black". 

R&B music, that doesn't cross over to pop, is going to appeal to a smaller segment of the population in the US. Urban and Urban AC radio formats have always had smaller audiences than CHR and HAC formats. If an artist wants to have their music reach more people, they need to make their music appeal to Pop and adult pop stations. The same holds true for artists on AAA and Alternative Rock stations. It holds true for Country artists. If you want the attention and numbers of the major pop artists, your music has to crossover to pop radio. 

[Killa 17,476]

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?

Well that last question is... are you sure you want me to answer it?

There's more than race to it, off course. It so happens that vintage became a thing some years ago and around 2010 that thing really got mainstream.

So, besides fashion, music also embraced that factor and those artists brought back some Motown sound into live again. Not like that hasn't been happening for a while but... It just got more mainstream with the white folks.

And it's a bit like, we all know black girls can sing and it's for granted. Even in talent shows i sometimes feel that. I mean, what the hell but okay.

 

But "Get lucky" and the Robin Thicke weren't very great examples.

[Jesse Pinkman 4,660]

What? Explain what it means to be "fully black". 

R&B music, that doesn't cross over to pop, is going to appeal to a smaller segment of the population in the US. Urban and Urban AC radio formats have always had smaller audiences than CHR and HAC formats. If an artist wants to have their music reach more people, they need to make their music appeal to Pop and adult pop stations. The same holds true for artists on AAA and Alternative Rock stations. It holds true for Country artists. If you want the attention and numbers of the major pop artists, your music has to crossover to pop radio. 

But that's my point. R&B music isn't nearly as big as those other genres you've listed and certainly not pop music. The only way for R&B to sell is when white artists sing them. Its been like that for about a century now.

[Dominikko 355]

Lol she's dragged because she's stealing writing credits. Race isn't the issue here.

[craig 680]

Half those people on your list are not even fully "black" and many of them gaines success when pandeirng towards white audiences. If you notice, when Bey stopped making pop music she didn't sell as much as she did before. There are tons of artists who make actualy "black" music and aren't nearly successful. It has to do with a bit of discrimination, and the fact that many black consumers don't support their music.

Likewise, if you are gay or Canadian and aspire to make specifically gay or Canadian music, with lyrics and themes all about being gay or Canadian, you are gonna limit your audience. Even many people from your own demo will prefer music with more universal or at least different themes.

I don't think it's fair to accuse Motown or MJ of pandering towards whites, when they just tried to make music with wide appeal (the same way most gay or Canadian musicians do).

It's true, hip-hop in the 90' and 00's made specifically blacks themes about the thugs and the ghetto cool with young whites worldwide. But you can't expect that to stay fresh and commercial forever.

[Whispering 18,865]

But that's my point. R&B music isn't nearly as big as those other genres you've listed and certainly not pop music. The only way for R&B to sell is when white artists sing them. Its been like that for about a century now.

It's when artists from these smaller genres of music crossover to pop, whether they are white or black. Robin Thicke had a huge following for years on Urban and Urban AC stations, before Blurred Lines. He had to cross over with the right song to go mainstream. Adele was the AAA and Alt. Rock Queen with 19. It took the right song and right album to crossover to Pop. Same thing holds true for Beyonce and her music. If she releases a good pop song, then it helps her numbers. 

[Paper Gangsta 6,693]

"I think she's one of the best performers of this generation but doesn't get enough praise for it imo"

 

gurl? not neugh prasie? she is probably the most praised artist in the media. If anything she gets more than needed

[AlphaMonster 1,806]

Exact opposite. 

Stereotypes are not always bad. Fierce black woman image always worked in favor of Beyoncé's career in my opinion. 

PS: I don't know what OP exactly meant by being taken seriously... But I don't think people would care this much for her if she was white.