‘Guess What’ hitmaker Syleena Johnson didn’t leave fans guessing about how she felt about Adele‘s recent polarizing statement on singers covering her megahits.
As fans of the British diva know, she served as the covergirl of the latest ‘The Hollywood Reporter‘ (THR) in which she talked about everything from new music to praising her peers like Beyonce, SZA, and Dua Lipa.
And while most of the chat was well-received, one quote that raised eyebrows was Adele weighing in on the many vocalists who have attempted to sing her chart-topping hits like ‘Rolling in the Deep,’ ‘Hello,’ and others over the years.
“I think I’m not the best singer in the world at all, but no one else can sing my songs like me because they didn’t write them,” she shared. “No one can sing my songs like me, period. They can’t sing. The lyrics are not their own. And I don’t think anyone else should sing my songs… I don’t mind it when they do, but I’m just saying they’re never going to be able to emote it.”
To her credit, she did say there are exceptions.
“Same way that I can’t sing other people’s songs. I didn’t write the lyrics, and I can’t sing as well as them,” she revealed. “Apart from Aretha Franklin. No, I don’t mind it when they do, but I’m just saying, they’re never going to be able to emote it.”
The latter comment did little to quell detractors, however, many of whom believed the GRAMMY-winning songstress was being self-indulgent.
Among the critics was GRAMMY-nominated Syleena Johnson, who took to social media over the weekend to reply to Addy’s statement.
“Girl bye,” she started in the comment section of our friends at TheNeighborhoodTalk. “We don’t make these records so that WE can sit and listen to them and have our own emotions. We make them so that others can heal, be inspired, and/or motivated.”
Later in the lengthy statement, Johnson weighed in on Adele’s reference to Franklin.
“Aretha is the QUEEN OF SOUL, the very soul Adele’s music appears to be influenced by,” Syleena said. “So, her covering your song is the highest to say. To say ‘They can’t sing’ gotta be a typo cuz that’s crazy.”
Read the full comment below.
At the time of this report, Adele has not responded to the mixed reactions to her statement.