Dionne Warwick Says Beyonce Isn’t An Icon Just Yet
Apparently, Dionne Warwick doesn’t believe Beyonce is an icon, just yet.
Warwick, 78, recently did an interview with Essence magazine, and raved about the “Formation” singer, calling her “quite refreshing,” but she questioned whether or not Beyonce has reached icon status.
Warwick didn’t seem to feel that Beyonce’s career will reach the same level of success that her peers from the sixties have, referring to artists like Frank Sinatra, Patti Labelle, Gladys Knight, Sammy Davis Jr., and Johnny Mathis.
“I have an admiration for Beyoncé Knowles, Carter now. Watching her growth has been quite refreshing. It’s wonderful to see how she’s been able to create what and who she wanted to be and who she is… very proud of that, I really am,” Warwick, who released her new album She’s Back earlier this month.
“Now sustaining and becoming a big icon that Gladys Knight, or Patti LaBelle, or Johnny Mathis, or Frank Sinatra, or Sammy Davis Jr. is? I doubt that,” Warwick said.
Warwick reiterated that she loves Beyonce “to death” and can appreciate her talent, but she has “a long road [ahead]” to become iconic.
During Warwick’s interview, she didn’t just talk about Beyonce, she also talked about current artists in general. She’s unsure if people will be able to sing today’s artists’ music a decade later.
“I don’t know if 10 years from now, anybody can actually sing the songs of our babies today. That’s not, as you guys say, ‘throwing shade,’ it’s looking at it with reality,” Warwick said.
Although she feels that way, she thinks that “the youngsters are doing it.”
The Grammy Award-winning artist, who started her music career at 19-years-old is known for her songs like “Anyone Who Had a Heart” and “Walk On By.”
Glennisha Morgan is a Detroit-bred multimedia journalist and writer. She writes about intersectionality, hip-hop, pop culture, queer issues, race, feminism, and her truth. Follow her on Twitter.
