Beyoncé won the Album of the Year award at the Grammys this year for her project Cowboy Carter. Her win sparked debate online about which album deserved it most, with some comparing her songwriting credits to those of other nominated artists.
A viral tweet pointed out that Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter has 72 songwriting credits, while past AOTY wins like Midnights (Taylor Swift) and Harry’s House (Harry Styles) had minimal credits. Some argued that this makes Beyoncé less deserving of the award, but this narrative is damaging and inaccurate.
Cowboy Carter was inspired by Beyoncé’s feelings of exclusion from the country music space. She delved into the history of country music, studying its rich musical archive, to create a genre-bending body of work. The album features covers of classic hits like Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” and Chuck Berry’s “Oh Louisiana.”
Many songwriting credits on Cowboy Carter are actually honors for samples and interpolations featured on the album. Beyoncé is known for using songwriting camps to encourage collaboration, and she always credits each person involved in her song-making process.
Giving credit to collaborators is not only a good thing but also essential for paying royalties and spotlighting talent. However, Beyoncé has faced scrutiny over this practice, with some questioning why one of her songs had 24 writers on it. This criticism ignores the value of collaboration and the importance of crediting those who contribute to an artist’s work.
Many fans have defended Beyoncé, pointing out that her willingness to collaborate is what makes her unique and talented. They argue that her albums are about erasure and restoring cultural memory, and she gives credit to every single person involved in a song as a matter of citational ethics.
In conclusion, the insinuation that Beyoncé is less creatively talented because she credits her collaborators is tired and ignorant. Her dedication to giving proper accolades and promoting collaboration is something to be celebrated, not criticized.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/people-seem-think-beyonc-didn-170020770.html