Let's face it Beyonce has been on top for about a good 5 years now but has she actually surpassed Dianna Ross, success wise? That would be crazy if she has.

dancerella said:

Maybe. Consider though that it's a different age and the fact that Diana released 10 track albums every year, along with the occassional movie.

dancerella said:

What are we talking? Record sales? Staying power? Talent? Movies?

Anyway, I'd say it's a big "no" to all of the above.

FunkMistress said:

I assume me means sales and succesful albums. Staying power....She's been climbing for ten years, about half of it, yes was a houseold name. We'll see what happens.

dancerella said:

Beyonce is very young. she has a chance to build on the success that she has. We can only sit back and wait.

dancerella said:

Beyonce C A N N O T S I N G.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

I'm not Diana Ross expert, but Diana Ross achieved something that Beyoncé didn't have:

A country on her feet!

Diana Ross was massive...Critically lauded!

FunkMistress said:

Agreed. Diana couldn't really sing, but she was a phenomenal, charismatic entertainer and could act for days. Diana's reign in the biz lasted decades and her record sales (both solo and with The Supremes) are legend even if Motown didn't treat them as such. So...

Record sales? No! Staying power? Probably not. Talent? Ummm...no. Movies? Girl can't act for shit (but I've heard she's not bad in Dreamgirls, which is about Diana anyway, so there ya go).

bublebath said:

actually....bouncy can sing...she's just annoying.

Rhondab said:

She can sing; she just tends to oversing.

TommyRoss said:

right.

Sounds like fingernails on a blackboard to me.

uPtoWnNY said:

well...she can sing. I think we have to separate the over singing, the rollin' over the floor and the booty bouncin' from her voice.

She can sing. I liked when she did Tina at the kennedy honors.

I do think Bouncy has staying power if she actually tries to evolve.


Diana is Miss Ross FOREVER. I don't know we keep comparing legends with newbies. We don't know what will become of Beyonce in 10-15 years.

Diana, Tina, the Pointer Sisters, Aretha...they were still recording GREAT stuff in their late 30's and early 40's. Beyonce is what....24 or 25.

She is no Diana but she's this generations Diva.

You don't have to like Beyonce but she definately can sing.

dancerella said:

I'd much rather listen to Beyonce sing than hear her talk. She sounds so fake and calculated. Maybe she's a fembot?

Beyonce surpasses Diana Ross? Let's wait another 10 years down the line because you can't compare 4-5 decades of work with only 5-10 years and two solo albums. I will say that popularity wise, they're the same. But Diana has the edge as far as music goes. She had better songs, better producers, better albums. And there's no comparisons between Destiny's Child and The Supremes. The Supremes went toe to toe with the Beatles with the most #1 hits in the 60s. But I agree, Beyonce can't sing...well, she sounds good enough for the music business today, but she would have been killed in the 60s when either voice or songs, not sex appeal, made your career and Diana had weak voice but killer songs.

No, Beyonce hasn't surpassed any of the divas back in the day. But, I feel she has made an impressive start for herself. She's given herself some wiggle room with this latest project.

I used to think this chick couldn't sing for crap, but I've changed my views....or she's grown a voice....something has changed 'cause girlfriend's voice seems more powerful to me now. She's not yodeling like in the early DC days. On "Suga Mama" "Listen" and "Resentment" off the new CD, girlfriend was bringing it....I don't care.

Thriller81 said:

that's bs on Beyonce not being able to sing.

I think Beyonce hasn't sung the DIVA songs to establish her amongst the Whitney's and Mariah's BUT she can sing. If we were talking about Janet, then I would say..ok.

And in every generation, there are plenty of nonsingers with hits...even in the 60's.

Even if you listen to Miss Ross' voice. Its not the strongest if you compare it to her contemporaries like Aretha and Gladys but she can sing.

I think some of ya'll are mixin' your overall hatred of the chyle with her singing ability. She can sing.


and here I go again defending bouncy BUT you have to be fair. There are problems with her image and her song choice and she has the opportunity to establish herself separate from the Cassies and Fergies and Ciaras (even though I sorta like Ciara ).

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Beyonce and Diana Ross shouldn't even be in the same sentence. Diana Ross is something that Beyonce NEVER will be and that's a legend!!!

I seen Beyonce on the View the other day and her performance was uncomfortable for me to watch because it was so bad. She busted out in this Rhythm Nation routine and I almost fell out of my chair laughing.

EverlastingNow said:

yeah....i feel ya on the janet 1814 thing...lol

see, i thought that dance looked like some MJ "Smooth Criminal" era stuff. The "matrix" type back bend....his was a little different but the same idea.

Anyway, I don't really get this thread as Beyonce's just really starting to act and is on her 2nd CD. And her solo debut came out in 2003, so I don't see how she's been "on top" for 5 years??

the first time I knew the girl could sing is when she did the Star Spangled Banner a few years back. It didn't top Whitney's but she made it her own and did a great job. Maybe like someone said, it's a problem of her material if people really think she can't sing.

Rhondab said:

No.....bouncy can hold a tune....there is a difference.

I hate to come across as a "hater" but it just bugs me that she is as successful as she is. Beyonce has 9 Grammy's and Patti Labelle, Jill Scott, Shanice, and Gladys Knight have how many between them....1?

Rhondab said:

Rhondab, if Beyonce would sing a "DIVA" song, you would actually put her vocals in the same category as Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey ? I'm sorry but I strongly disagree with that. Personally, I don't think Beyonce could have survived American Idol. Kelly Clarkson and Fanstasia blow Beyonce out of the water.

Again, I think Beyonce (like Kelly Rowland) can hold a tune but she is not a great singer by any means. I do not see litte girls trying to learn from Beyonce's vocal ability.

Now those like Janet (whom I love), Ciarra, Fergie, etc., shouldn't even be in the business, when it comes to actually singing.

FunkMistress said:

i guees all of the above. i think if beyonce gets recognised as being really talented in dream girls she may have out done the boss. that is really crazy to me.

AlexdeParis said:

i've said it a million times, i can't stand listening to her speak. she should seriously think about a speech coach. she jsut sounds illiterate to me. she says the same words constantly in every interview. "oh i feel so blessed" and that just "amazin"!

Beyonce is just a cunt...Miss Ross is the Boss etc..

With the price of CD's today she probably has outearned Diana in the money department, but not sales, popularity or impact.

Diana is an icon, not that I like her personally, but Beyonce is a just-commer.

She has to stick around for another 10 years to be deserving of such a comparison.

Rhondab said:

I'll agree with you that Beyonce can sing, she just hasn't had a good song to show her talent yet.

How did Ciara come into this, she's sounds worse than Janet or Al B. Sure live, please don't do that again.