Grammy Awards 2015: Garbage singer Shirley Manson blasts Kanye West in Facebook letter
GARBAGE singer Shirley Manson has penned an open letter on Facebook, slamming Kanye West for his behaviour at the Grammys.
GARBAGE singer Shirley Manson has called Kanye West “a complete tw*t” as musicians have lashed out at the rapper’s “disrespectful” treatment of fellow artist Beck.
West repeated his own history by storming the stage when Beck’s Morning Phase won Album of the Year, beating Beyonce’s self-titled release, which the rapper felt was a more worthy winner.
While it initially looked like an uncharacteristic display of self-deprecating humour from West, the rapper later pointed out he was serious and only left the stage for the safety of his daughter.
Beck is being polite about the incident, telling US Weekly of the stage invasion “I was just so excited he was coming up. He deserves to be on stage as much as anybody. How many great records has he put out in the last five years, right?” He also added “I thought she was going to win. Come on, she’s Beyoncé!”
He also said he has no ill feelings for West, stating “You can’t please everybody, man. I still love him and think he’s genius. I aspire to do what he does.”
However Beck’s fellow artists are leaping to his defence by slating West’s actions.
Kiss’ Paul Stanley said “Beck should’ve kicked Kanye right in the nuts last night and said Get the f--- off MY stage!”
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In her letter on Facebook, she claimed he was “disrespecting artistry”, and told him to “grow up” and to stop throwing your toys around”.
Her letter said the following:
Dear Kanye West,
It is YOU who is so busy disrespecting artistry.
You disrespect your own remarkable talents and more importantly you disrespect the talent, hard work and tenacity of all artists when you go so rudely and savagely after such an accomplished and humble artist like BECK.
You make yourself look small and petty and spoilt.
In attempting to reduce the importance of one great talent over another, you make a mockery of all musicians and music from every genre, including your own.
Grow up and stop throwing your toys around.
You are making yourself look like a complete tw*t.
PS. I am pretty certain Beyonce doesn’t need you fighting any battles on her account. Seems like she’s got everything covered perfectly well on her own.
West launched into an epic rant on Beck and the organisers of the Grammy Awards after he stormed the rocker on stage.
The rapper ran after Beck as he accepted his award in what appeared to be a nod to his 2009 stage ambush on Taylor Swift when he told the audience Beyonce should have won over Taylor at the VMAs.
However this time Kanye decided against addressing the audience and it looked like he was joking as he smiled as he walked away and Beck good naturedly told him to come back.
Scottish band Django Django initially wrote “Beck being far too nice about Kanye Breast. Should have gone to town on him. Just pure ripped into the c---.”
They then deleted the tweet and toned it down.
Why's that guy so obsessed with other folks awards ? You never saw guru or k r s one acting like such a bell. Stay at home.
— django django (@thedjangos) February 9, 2015Lady Gaga tweeted “It is very strange to see people who don’t know Beck or don’t realise how important he is to music. He’s a musical genius, listen to him.”
That tweet angered the Beyhive — Beyonce’s fans — who felt Gaga was indirectly disrespecting their idol.
It is very strange to see people who don't know BECK or don't realize how important he is to music. He's a musical genius, listen to him.
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) February 10, 2015Ok @ Lady Gaga's shady ass. Just because you're a has-been at 28 doesn't mean you have to be salty at Bey for still running the game
— Mike Wass (@mikewassmusic) February 10, 2015Uptown Funk hit maker Mark Ronson was also on Team Beck, saying Morning Phase’s victory was a “triumph of art over commerce.”
Morning Phase is the lowest-selling Album of the Year Grammy recipient since 2008, selling around half a million copies in the US before this week.
Ronson later clarified “Every album nominated was artistically valid, of course, especially Beyonce’s. It’s just encouraging someone like Beck finally get his due.”
.@beck is pretty much the living embodiment of artistry in our industry. His win is a triumph of art over commerce
— Mark Ronson (@MarkRonson) February 10, 2015The Grammys have had minimal impact on the Australian iTunes album chart so far.
Sam Smith’s In the Lonely Hour is at No. 10 however Beck’s Morning Phase is at No. 62, after
debuting at No. 5 in Australia last year.
Morning Phase has returned to No. 1 on the US iTunes chart today, with Sam Smith at No. 2 and another Grammy performer, Ed Sheeran, at No.3.
After the awards, West clarified his actions
“The Grammys, if they want real artists to keep coming back, they need to stop playing with us. … And Beck needs to respect artistry, he should have given his award to Beyoncé. At this point, we tired of it. What happens is, when you keep on diminishing art, and not respecting the craft, and smacking people in the face after they deliver monumental feats of music, you’re disrespectful to inspiration.
“We, as musicians, have to inspire people who go to work every day, and they listen to that Beyoncé album, and they feel like it takes them to a different place. … I am here to fight for creativity. That’s why I didn’t say anything tonight, but you all knew what it meant when ‘Ye stepped on that stage.”
Followed by paparazzi at the airport, West insisted he knew who Beck was, despite his independent filmmaker wife Kim Kardashian mouthing ‘who?’ when his name was read out.
“Come on man, I love Beck, but he ain’t have album of the year,” West said.
“Beck knows Beyonce should have won.”
West said he stopped himself from interrupting West due to being a good father.
I’m not gonna do nothing to put my daughter at risk, but I am here to fight for creativity.”
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