Songwriting veteran Diane Warren f*cked around and found out after she posed a seemingly shady question about Beyoncé crediting numerous songwriters on a track.
On August 1, Warren penned with an eye roll emoji, “How can there be 24 writers on a song?”
How can there be 24 writers on a song?🙄
— Diane Warren (@Diane_Warren) August 1, 2022
Anticipating the blowback from Beyoncé’s fans, she immediately followed the tweet up with another, implying that there was “shade” in her question.
This isn’t meant as shade, I’m just curious
— Diane Warren (@Diane_Warren) August 1, 2022
Unfortunately for Warren, the damage had already been done.
Black Twitter gathered the 65-year-old songwriter expeditiously.
The Dream wrote, “You mean how’s does our (Black) culture have so many writers, well it started because we couldn’t afford certain things starting out, so we started sampling, and it became an Artform, a major part of the Black Culture (hip hop) in America. Had that era not happen, who knows? U good?”
You mean how’s does our (Black) culture have so many writers, well it started because we couldn’t afford certain things starting out,so we started sampling and it became an Artform, a major part of the Black Culture (hip hop) in America.Had that era not happen who knows. U good?
— MUSIC ICON THE-DREAM (@TheKingDream) August 1, 2022
Warren doubled down with a passive-aggressive response to The Dream’s thorough and brilliant read.
“I didn’t mean that as an attack or as disrespect. I didn’t know this; thank U for making me aware of it. No need to be mean about it.”
I didn’t mean that as an attack or as disrespect. I didn’t know this, thank U for making me aware of it. No need to be mean about it.
— Diane Warren (@Diane_Warren) August 1, 2022
FOH, Diane.
The snatching of her edges continued.
How can you not be minding your business about something that does not pertain to you … Then you want run and play the victim … Listen Linda, Beyoncé will be number 1 on every chart next week and all you’ll have is shed tears and questions. Stay out of black peoples business.
— Amos Koffa (@TheyThem224) August 2, 2022
— matt (@hot_tamalee_) August 1, 2022
Warren could take a lesson from the “Break My Soul “artist as fans reminded her that she faced a $20 million lawsuit for plagiarism in 2018.
Maybe if you credited everyone involved in the creative process like she did, you wouldn’t be facing a 20 million dollar lawsuit for plagiarism and would have at least one award to your 13 nominations. No shade, though.
RT
— Renascido 🪩 (@4NDY4NDRADY) August 1, 2022
Easy, it’s called ‘sample’, you give credit to artists instead of stealing it. Have you practiced that today Diane? pic.twitter.com/FTaFc3Foee
— ᴮ (@yoncespears) August 1, 2022
Perhaps this will assist you in lessons regarding acknowledgment and recognizing collaboration and inspiring appropriately: https://t.co/w9eN6OTtcQ
— Where’s Sally’s Wellies (@s_wellies) August 1, 2022
\
— Raquel Willis (@RaquelWillis_) August 1, 2022
Quest Love from The Roots took a more diplomatic approach.
“In these post ‘Blurred Lines’ times, you’re gonna see a lot of it. I actually applaud her giving people a seat at the table who otherwise woulda NEVER been considered otherwise. Like she didn’t “have to” credit the ‘Show Me Love’ crew, but just outta respect, she did them a solid.”
In these post “Blurred Lines” times you’re gonna see a lot of it. I actually applaud her giving people a seat at the table who otherwise woulda NEVER been considered otherwise. Like she didn’t “have to” credit the “Show Me Love” crew but just outta respect she did them a solid.
— Dr. Love (@questlove) August 2, 2022
Every few months you trend on here for judging how other musicians make music. Perhaps you should just accept that you do one thing, and other people do other things. You’re a great writer. Other peoples’ successes don’t need to make you insecure about your own.
— Brad Walsh (@BradWalsh) August 1, 2022
One person even ran down Beyoncé’s accomplishments– just in case Warren was unaware.
“I mean, she does have a Grammy and 12 nominations, 13 Oscar nominations, 2 Golden Globes, 9 #1 songs and 32 top 10 songs, and was the 1st writer to have 7 Billboard hits by different artists on the singles chart at the same time, so let’s not pretend she’s a nobody.”
I mean, she does have a Grammy and 12 nominations, 13 Oscar nominations, 2 Golden Globes, 9 #1 songs and 32 top 10 songs, and was the 1st writer to have 7 Billboard hits by different artists on the singles chart at the same time, so let’s not pretend she’s a nobody
— hoagiesleep hoagiesleep (@BMcCarthyPGH) August 1, 2022
According to the Songwriters Hall of Fame website, Warren has had over 60 songs appear in films. She’s written for artists like Elton John, Laura Branigan, DeBarge, Patti LaBelle, Mary J. Blige, Lady Gaga and Whitney Houston.
The 65-year-old woman got her start in the 80s in California– where she is from originally. She’s also had over 80 songs in the Top Ten. Warren was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001. The website also revealed that Warren’s hits span different genres.
“Her number one Adult Contemporary hit “If You Asked Me To” has been recorded not only by Celine Dion but also by R&B diva Patti LaBelle. Her song “Don’t Turn Around” has been recorded by eight different artists – from Tina Turner to Aswad to Ace of Base. Her number one pop hit, “I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing,” performed by Aerosmith for the movie Armageddon not only received an Oscar nomination but simultaneously hit number one on the country charts with a version by Mark Chestnut. Additionally, Diane’s song, “How Do I Live,” recorded by both Trisha Yearwood and LeAnn Rimes, was not only a #1 hit that won Yearwood the Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance but also carries the distinction of being the longest-running song in the history of Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.”
Hopefully, Warren learned a valuable lesson– she should mind the business that pays her.
