There’s a British wannabe-diva battle brewing, and I can’t pick a side. Joss Stone gave a recent interview in which she claimed that Lily Allen “can’t sing” and that Lily is “more of a personality than she is a singer”. Now… here’s the thing. I don’t hate Lily Allen, but I think she’s a famewhore. And I like Joss’s voice, but her personality seems very… vanilla? Like, smug vanilla, though. Joss also seemed to be criticizing any singer (or perhaps any person) who wanted to, you know, actually make a lot of money doing what they love. As in, “Who said that musicians have to be millionaires? Who made this a rule? We don’t need that much money. We just don’t. We only need enough to make music and to eat and to go on tour.” Uh…
Joss Stone has launched an attack on fellow British singer Lily Allen, saying she “can’t sing.” She believes that Lily is more of a personality rather than a singer.
Lily is currently campaigning to try and make internet file sharing a criminal offense, to which Joss says, “She needs to sell records because she’s not a singer, and that’s not an offense to her because I think that she knows that too.”
“I think she’s a performer and she’s more of a personality than she is a singer. But I think when musicians are really making real music people come to the show and that’s what we make our money from, from playing live. And I think it’s probably harder for an artist like Lily and any other pop acts.”
“It’s really about the track and about their personality and their celebrity and that’s how they make their money is selling those records.”
“So the downloads – she’s not going to win that fight. None of us will win that fight. So let’s just accept it and let’s see it as something that can be beautiful and it might change music for the better. It might sort the weeds from the flowers.”
“Who said that musicians have to be millionaires? Who made this a rule? We don’t need that much money. We just don’t. We only need enough to make music and to eat and to go on tour.”
We highly doubt a lot of musicians agree with Joss on that one! We’re sure they’ve all gotten used to their cush lifestyle and could never go back to having a regular life with a lot less money! Do you agree with Joss here?
[From Hollyscoop]
So, if Joss wants to just make enough money to get by, good for her. But she seems a bit judgy about other people actually wanting to stock up a few million dollars for a rainy day. As far as the Lily Allen stuff goes… well, I’ll give Lily credit for actually co-writing most of her songs, and for using her mediocre voice to it’s fullest potential. I just don’t know which side to choose… probably neither.
Joss Stone is seen outside of a studio in London, UK on November 2, 2009. Lily Allen is seen attending The Q Awards 2009 held at the Grosvenor House in London, England on October 26, 2009. Credit: FAME.
Actually I prefer Lily Allen’s voice to Joss Stones which I cannot quite get anymore than I do Bob Dylan-hear a lot of how wonderful they are but meh!
What I also like about Lily Allen is the wit in her songs. Is she a fame whore-yes, apparently from the remarks so is Joss Stone.
Don’t really care for either. I personally can’t stand Joss Stone’s voice. And Lily’s Allen’s just kinda “meh” for me.
Why do stars have to bash eachother? Is that really necessary? Just put out good music, and your music will speak for itself.
I like Lily Allen’s hair. I guess that sways my vote (obviously I care so much).
Oh Joss Stone. I love your music. Please don’t be so trashy.
Now that’s an obvious swipe. I don’t know either of their work, but I hate when one needs to publicly put the other one down. Seems very insecure.
I rather like Lily’s voice, it’s deceivingly clear, but if you listen closely of surprising complexity.
That first picture of Stone is horrible, what an arrogant look! Yeah, Allen is a fame whore but her songs make me laugh and it’s always nice to see celebrities so drunk they can’t walk. Kinda makes them human to me!
Lily is a famewhore who spends most of her time criticizing other artists, so what’s good for the goose… And I personally think that Joss has a great soulful voice and doesn’t rely on antics to get attention.
Meh, I am not fond of either one’s music. Just not my cup o tea.
I like Joss Stone, always have.
I think what she is saying is true. I think both ladies are doing what they want to do the way they want to do it.
Some artists rely on their ability to give a good live show and some are more about catchy tunes and cute videos. Everyone has their something.
Lily Allen just tries to stir attention to maintain her bank account, when really, she is mediocre. Hopefully she’ll retire soon.
Joss shouldn’t throw stones at a glass house. First of all, her style of singing…that whole “blue-eyed soul” shit is quite interesting as it isn’t as natural as her record label would lead you to believe. Apparently, she had to have Al Green and Betty Wright flown in to learn to sing R&B music and to hone in on her “natural talent”.
As far a Lily Allen goes, I think her style of singing is quirky, witty and airy. She’s not an obvious Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey with mad range, but she still can hold a note. IMHO. *Whatevs*
“its potential”
not “it’s potential.”
I am just glad Joss changed her hair from the horrible pink and purple. Never suited her.
Nicely put, CaramelKiss. Singing isn’t just about hitting high notes or sounding like good singers from the past. Lily Allen writes good songs herself, about things other than the usual love cliches, and sings them expressively. Her success has also opened the doors to many other women singers who weren’t thought “commercially viable” before Allen’s success.
Joss Stone can shove it. I don’t have a single song of hers on my iPod (they all sound like lame Janice Joplin impersonations — think Jenna on ’30 Rock’), and I’ll be making a point of not adding any now. You can get on in the music business without slagging off successful, independent-minded, singer-songwriter women artists.
I hate Joss Stone. She is a stupid bitch.
I agree with Joss. Musicians, actors etc don’t need that much money. In fact she said all that needed to be said on the subject, nothing more to add there. Well said Joss- but next time don’t drop any other singers names, it just rubs people the wrong way (as evidenced in this thread lol).
Lily Allen may not have a voice and really just talks thru the songs, she and her muso father write (but she gets all the credit for), but she’s doing well. Good on her, Joss is right but….what has Joss done lately?
Lily is really just a
Kate Moss with a microphone….drugs, alcohol, the wrong men and a potty mouth….but she’s rich!
You go girl!
aww team lily!
It’s funny that Joss would say that considering producer Dallas Austin has already blown the whistle stating that Christina Aguilera and Joss stone “f*cked for tracks”.
I think Lily has a lovely voice: it’s so sweet and sing-songy. Her songs are clever and funny and she writes them herself…can’t say the same about vanilla Joss Stone.
Joss Stone was accussed of exchanging sex for songs and beats a few years ago along with Xtina, so I don’t take her very seriously.
team Joss!
these people already make more money than they deserve: they dont’ work that hard (let’s be honest here, with all those people around them making things incredibily ease for them) .
let people share files in peace, if they like one’s job, they still will buy their cds and go to their concerts.
Most people that read gossip columns are looking for that negative slant that the tabloids & gossip blogs, use too much, because its what draws you’re attention. A fame whore? no… not really, Lily Allen sues magazines and gets court orders to keep the paparazzi away, so its a matter of judgment. She’ll use it but not the way it was used last year, she took care of that. As far as bad mouthing anyone, again she just just won a lawsuit for saying she didn’t bad mouth Cheryl Cole. Her opinion of Susan Boyle was just that, with the tabloids focusing on the idea that she doesn’t like her, when in fact Boyle admitted that her performance that night wasn’t up to par. So Lily Allen did what everyone does with Talent Shows. The Katy Perry remark by Allen was total self defense, she mentioned only once that she said it and that was the end of it. A lot of information about Lily Allen isn’t true at all.
i luv ya lily your the best singer im 1 of your biggest fan and i luv ya plz have a concert at sydney plz if u do i will seya there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! gooooooooooooo lily allen aaaaaaaaaaaa
Joss Stone is a has-been. She is jealous of Lily’s success and angry that no one likes her anymore. Hope the record company drop her soon. I hate her attitiude.
If Lily Allen “writes all her own songs” then why is she never shown playing a musical instrument? Can she play anything at all?
Oh I see, she writes some trite ‘lyrics’ which her _very_ good backing band turns into a song so she can provide some mumbling ‘singing’ and then claim ownership of the whole thing.
So that’s how it’s done!