Beyonce is receiving some backup on her much controversial history as a songwriter. Since debuting with Destiny’s Child over 10 years ago, the 30-year old performer has been plagued with accusations of forcing writers to give her credits on a song. It was noted that on Destiny’s Child Survivor album Beyonce was credited as a songwriter on 17 of the album’s 18 tracks and listed as producer or co-producer on all 18.
Last year, R&B singer alluded to why the “Single Ladies” singer and other popular artist receive the credit,
“If Janet Jackson and Beyonce is given a song, they get a songwriting credit regardless. That’s like if you get into somebody’s car to get a ride, you got to give them gas money. They’re taking you where you want to be”
Earlier this week R&B crooner Ne-Yo who’s had artist take his songs without giving the appropriate credit explains why he has no problems giving Bey credit.
“That’s happened before. Here’s my thing, when I write a song for an artist I want that artist to take that song and make it their [own]. If you listen to my version of “Irreplaceable” and listen to Beyonce’s version of “Irreplaceable”, its two damn totally different songs with all the harmonies and extra stuff she put in there. So yea, I gave her her writer’s credit because that counts. That’s writing. That harmony that you put right there. That little background part, I didn’t write that originally. You put that in there, so for her to take the song and make it her’s, I didn’t mind her saying ‘I wrote this song for my girls’ at a concert or whatever the case may be. Because in a way, technically, she did put her spin on it. If you gonna do it the exact same way I did it, you might as well let me keep it.”
There’s no doubt the whispers will continue though it should be obvious that they’re not working.
Meanwhile, Beyonce who’s working on her fifth studio album shared some advice with Roc Nation artist Rita Ora
“She just wanted to see that I believed what I was singing — just to be comfortable in my skin, and to really understand what I’m about to do. That’s what she was trying to do, and that was the best advice ever.”
