Tuesday, July 21, 2009

These Are Not Divas


When VH-1 did their original Divas concert the singers they selected were Divas. Do you remember that first concert when all the women were practically shoving each other out of the way to be front and center? That was classic. In fact, each time they did a Divas show I really had no complaints over their selection. Then four years ago the show stopped. I'm guessing it stopped because there were no more divas to be found. A wise choice because they have decided to bring it back and I don't get a diva vibe from any of them.

The past shows had the following singers who I think we would all agree are divas. Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Cher, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige, Shania Twain, Faith Hill, Whitney Houston, Beyonce, and Chaka Khan. I might not like all of the singers, but there is no question they are divas.

Who qualifies as a diva now?

Adele, Kelly Clarkson, Leona Lewis and Miley Cyrus. Umm seriously? Kelly Clarkson is a great performer, but there is nothing diva-ish about her. I love Adele and think she might be a diva someday, but not now. I don't understand why they just don't change the name of the show to something like, "Singers we think are pretty good with Miley Cyrus thrown in so people will watch." That would be a more appropriate title. If I were any of the past divas who have been on the show I would be pissed that they think this current crop is equal. They aren't and I don't understand why VH-1 is doing this.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Miley Cyrus? Boooooooooo on VH1!!

MontanaMarriott said...

Wow this is craptastic!!!
WTF?!!
I always thought they should have done it like a tribute show with one primary Diva being tributed by today's up and comers. These 4 women are FAR from Diva's!

GoddessNow said...

Shame on VH1 for serving fake divas. MontanaMarriott good idea!

Anonymous said...

Miley Cyrus isn't OLD enough to be a diva! Not to mention not talented enough, either.

We live in strange times.

MontanaMarriott said...

Thanks@GN

lmnop123 said...

Miley may not be old enough but she certainly does have the diva attitude. I guess you could call her an early bloomer diva.

Unknown said...

Still tempted to get that Hannah Montana cereal. I wonder what she tastes like.

Unknown said...

oh, I thought they meant divan, as in lumpy sofa.

A diva must be:
Legendary? No I don't think any of these are.

Rarer than rare? no, I don't think so either.

A queen of performing arts who raises the ferver and pulses of those who participate in their performance. Not ths either.

Why don't we call it what it is, a bunch of up and coming female singers.

They're certainly not "Legendary Ladies"

Susan said...

Christina Aguilera is a diva. Has she been on this?

Actually, I consider Lady Gaga a diva in a weird way.

ITA that Adele, Clarkson, Cyrus and Lewis are not divas. They don't have that glamazon/don't fuck with me stage presence that is necessary for a diva, IMO.

Marna Palmer said...

I don't think of diva in the attitude but at least the women they've had on past shows have been around for more than 5 minutes. Adele? Seriously? I think she's talented but she's only been known to the mainstream for awhile. And seriously? 2 women found VIA REALITY SHOWS? That, a diva, doth not make. (unless any of those previous divas were found on Star Search....in which case I stand corrected.)

McDooks said...

Miley Frickin' Cyrus? That HAS to be a joke.
UNREAL.

CDAN Mod said...

vh1 just wants the ratings.

lutefisk said...

sounds like an SNL sketch.

bionic bunny! said...

lutefisk just hit the nail on the head!

RocketQueen said...

lol @ Dave's comment!

.robert said...

Miley is a singer? I thought she just hollered into an autotuner.

Ayesha said...

Maria Callas was a diva. Jessye Norman: diva. I'll give it to Cher and Diana Ross and even Mariah Carey.

To ME, a diva is a singular talent who is a perfectionist. She has worked hard and has ascended to a rarefied place in music through sheer talent. She is formidable.

Acting like an entitled little bitch doesn't make you a "diva". Sorry, ladies, you have to EARN it.

ardleighstreet said...

None of these new "divas" is worthy to polish Miss Tina's 4 inch heels.

Sinjin said...

*hopping onto the Ayesha bus.

what is eight past six? said...

I take exception to Beyonce being considered a diva on the same level as all the other women listed in that paragraph. Otherwise, I do agree that the four 'divas' now don't qualify - and I LIKE three of them. Like DFG, I think of the word 'diva' in terms of career, not attitude, and none of them have been around long enough.

Of the four, I think Kelly has the best chance of still being around in 10 or 20 years with a solid career under her belt. BUT I also don't think I see her being one of those premium A-list stars that packs out Vegas shows or has people clamoring to perform in tribute shows to her like with Aretha or Chaka or Whitney. Kelly is so firmly B-list, and I think she actually prefers it that way (she is as anti-Hollywood life as you can get short of becoming a hermit or suing one of your biggest fansites to make them take down your pictures).

The era of The Superstar is dead, IMO and has been for some time. There are no more Michael's or Princes, no Celines and Barbras, no soul stirrers like Aretha or Mary. There simply are no more people who can work it for 10 or 15 years and literally make 10 million people collectively lose their shit at the sound of one note at any given time. These days if you can get your album to go 3x platinum you've done something amazing. Thriller and Purple rain scoff in disdain of this new low bar.

what is eight past six? said...

Whoa, wait a minute, have they HAD Barbra Streisand on one of the Divas specials? If they haven't then that is especially a travesty, and I'm not even a fan of hers.

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