First, the legendary Patti is one of the best vocally no doubt. However, personally I'm a bigger Aretha fan because in my opinion she has more classics and a slight edge on vocal style. Second, @ THE G-LIST SOCIETY and others, I'm not sure about other contemporary artists, but I know for a fact that not all of Beyonce's fans are youngsters. Let's just say that I, for example, have been buying music long enough to have purchased Prince's 1978 debut album "For You" from the record store on vinyl. Although I grew up listening to ladies like Aretha, Patti, Gladys, Natalie Cole, Stephanie Mills, Deniece Williams, Teena Marie, etc., I STILL appreciate Beyonce's vocal ability. I think Beyonce can hang with the ladies above vocally, even at their peaks, and she can certainly out perform her contemporary competition. Beyonce may not "blow" the entire time she is on stage, but that's not because she couldn't if she wanted to; she'd rather display that ability along with the sultry, soft, beautiful side of her voice that compares to such artists above like Stephanie Mills, Teena Marie, and Natalie Cole. Beyonce takes a little from all of the ladies above and throws in her contemporary R&B/pop style and it all adds up to a highlly capable vocalist.