Can't hold a candle
I just don't see this. It is a marketing, not an artistic, nomination. But then again, the Grammys and American Music Awards often, IMO, don't take artistic merit into consideration.
Sidebar: Aretha Franklin has worked in many stylistic idioms. She even did jazz in the 1960s, and her 1960s Atlantic work was the best.
When will Ashanti (and for that matter, people like Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Whitless) do jazz or standards albums? At least Natalie Cole's doing jazz now, and I think someone like Anita Baker could do jazz, great vocal instrument.
Aretha and Natalie have grown as musicians. I just am not seeing that potential for today's singers.
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