I love Carlos Santana, especially his shoe line, but he may need a second or third listen to Beyoncé’s music before saying that she’s not a singer. On the heels of Beyoncé losing Album of the Year at the Grammys, Santana weighed in on why Adele won and Beyoncé didn’t. And it had to do with the fact that Beyoncé isn’t a singer in his world.
“I think Adele won because she can sing,” Santana said in an interview with the New Zealand Herald. “She doesn’t bring all the dancers and props, she can just stand there, and she just stood there and sang the song and that’s it, and this is why she wins.”
Santana went on to say that a Beyoncé performance is all fashion pomp and circumstance.
“With all respect to our sister Beyoncé, Beyoncé is very beautiful to look at, it’s just more like modeling kind of music—music to model a dress,” he said. “She’s not a singer, with all respect to her.”
Shortly after making those comments, Santana did a bit of backtracking on Facebook to clarify what he meant:
I would like to clarify a comment that was reported when I was doing an interview for some upcoming shows in Australia & New Zealand. My intent was to congratulate Adele on her amazing night at the Grammies. My comment about Beyonce was regretfully taken out of context. I have the utmost respect for her as an artist and a person. She deserves all the accolades that come her way. I wish Beyonce and her family all the best.
Taken out of context? Or did the Beyhive get to him?
Either way, the whole singer-vs.-entertainer talk has existed forever. I’m not sure why a person can’t be both. Some people may not like Beyoncé’s music, but to say she’s not a singer is ridiculous.
Did you hear those isolated vocals?
Both women are talented singers. I’ve been a fan of Adele’s since 21, and only within the past five years have I even started liking Beyoncé. But if I had to choose between seeing Adele stand onstage with just a microphone and Beyoncé “entertaining” people while singing, I’m going to a Beyoncé show. That is after I put off paying bills for, like, a month to afford a ticket for a seat where I can actually see her perform.