BY: Denver Sean
Published 9 years ago
Shelia E. is responding to comments made by Linda Perry that she isn’t ‘relevant’ enough of an artist to tribute Prince at this year’s Billboard Awards.
As you may know, that honor went to Madonna.
“So this Sunday, the Billboard Awards, Madonna is scheduled to be the only artist to pay tribute to Prince and there’s an uproar right now because there’s 5000 fans who signed a petition so they’re kinda upset by this,” Linda Perry told audiences during her appearance on The Talk Friday.
Sheryl Underwood suggested Sheila E. as one of the artists she’d like to see take the stage with Madonna, and that’s when Linda explained why she understands Billboard’s decision to go with a more high-profile artist.
“In all fairness, Madonna was asked to do this and she was friends with Prince but you also have to think about it’s really the Billboard Awards, they think about who is hot and popular,” she argued. “They’re not gonna call up Chaka Khan and re-put together The Time and Sheila E. because they’re not relevant right now.”
Linda does have a bit of a point, although it would be great to use a bigger name to draw in the audiences for advertisers (it is a show, after all), but then pair that name with someone more fitting for the tribute.
Shelia from responded to Madonna’s comments. In a post via Facebook, she wrote:
“On behalf of musicians, artists, creators, performers and anyone aspiring to be one of those, YOU ARE RELEVANT!” Sheila E. wrote that same day. “It was exactly that type of attitude and comment, recently conveyed on a talk show by a misinformed guest, that Prince, Paisley Park and those who have been an extension of, continually fought, and still fight, against. The creations and the creators, contrary to fleeting popularity or fame, is what breathes life into art. The lack of understanding, and myopic view of dollars over sense is what perpetuates the ignorance that continually works against the artist, and the industry. I am offended! #RELEVANT”
Take a look at Sheila’s post below.