Kanye West almost Kanye’d again at the 58th Annual Grammy awards on Sunday, February 8, 2015. As Beck was accepting his Album of the Year Award, West walked onto center stage. At the time everyone thought it was a joke; but after the Grammys, Kanye West stated in an interview during the E!’s Post-Grammy show: “Flawless Beyoncé video, and Beck needs to respect artistry, and he should have given his award to Beyoncé.” While we start by saying that Kanye West is an incredible artist with 21 Grammys under his belt, the reason he is now the topic of conversation is not because of his art but because of his lack of respect for another artist. What makes an artist an artist? Is it the number of Grammys the artist wins or is nominated for? The record sales of the artist? Is it the popularity of the artist? Or should we consult with Kanye West to see if who fits the mold?
Beck, winner of Album of the Year, plays multiple instruments and was the sole writer of his album Morning Phase. Beck has undeniable talent and has a total of only 5 Grammys. Now lets take a look at Beyoncé as an artist. She plays zero instruments, and has acquired 20 Grammys. For her self-titled album, Beyoncé, she reportedly collaborated with Pharrell Williams, Justin Timberlake, Frank Ocean and more. Her album changed the music industry forever by being released without marketing and selling 617,000 copies in just three days. It is undisputed that she is one of the greatest entertainers of our times.
Every artist should be respected for their talent. Winning a Grammy should not define an artist, instead an artist should be defined by their body of work and level of creativity. More than half of the songs we hear on the radio have no lyrical content. It takes courage as an artist to have a vision, to execute said vision, and then share their masterpiece with the world. Many were shocked to see Beck win album of the year, but why? How could they compare the albums if they never listened to either album? Music awards have become a popularity contest. Beck deserved his Grammy just as Beyoncé deserved all of her 20 Grammys over the years. For those who have listened to both Beyoncé’s and Beck’s album, we want to hear your opinion on the matter. Congratulations Beck, on this outstanding achievement.