Why Are Singers Mean To People? | A Video Essay

This is a great video. I would also add to these reasons that there is also pressure to consistently create excellence. In this day of technology, one bad performance can ruin you and not all bad performances are a singer's fault. Sometimes a conductor does a tempo you can't sing or an assistant brings flowers or wears perfume that you're allergic to that closes up your throat and results in your not being able to sing well. These examples have all resulted in 'diva behavior' when it is just singers trying to do what they're paid to do, sing well. But we can't control all of the elements that create that end and that creates stress. If we don't do perform well, it's our names splattered and bashed all over the newspapers and blogs. Very few people could cope with that pressure regularly.

Singers are also the only musicians who have to build their own instrument, can’t buy it, and you only get one— can never buy another. The pain and sacrifice are indeed greater

But even Beyonce's mom says she can be mean to those who work for her. The reasons for diva behavior are relative.

Just because you are good at something doesn’t mean you’re a good person. People for some reason equate success to being a good person and that’s not true.

I object to your thumbnail: serving Callas after a performance was plain mean! The amount of sustained work, concentration and artistry that goes into an opera then to steal her moment of triumph from her WITH THE PAPARAZZI ready to capture the moment. She had every right to explode.

"You sing on 'em!"

One’s singing ability, regardless of how it is coveted, does not grant license to look/talk down to others. Just no. No no

As someone that works in show biz. The " out of line " behaviour is intentionaly highlighted to keep control from all employees. The main start is irreplaceble, but you staff are not. Also makes the moral of the crew to the start worst, even so everyone is at their limit is kind corageous to express them self with contious of the consequences.
And expect things to go well techically is the bare minimum. And sometime the only control that one have is their choice of water and snacks, not their working hours, not their down time, not their clother or makeup, not their lunch or dinner, not their hotel, not have friends or family around... fight for a little of confort or choice that you have is not a " diva" moment but a fight for diginity and autonomy.

It's true I have always wanted to sing simply because I grew up listening to song birds. My self-esteem was shattered when I discovered in the 4th grade that I cannot sing...but at least I own up to it. I find it amusing when people who obviously cannot sing (but can hold a note or just have a cool sounding talking voice), genuinely think they can sing.

There are a few in Hollywood too who have record deals and tour but they only sound mid at best.

I can sing too and it's very lonely because most people can't sing and don't do it well but they do other art forms instead.

Whats the song in the beginning?

“ I’m hearing too much keyboard “
Diana Ross

sad fact: just about everyone In Whitney Houston's life treated her like an ATM, smh

...but what about the "struggle vocalists" like: Jlo, Ashanti, Janet, Sade, Mary J, et. al....

idk ask Keyshia Cole! just a bitter betty

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

A lot of the reactions that are being called mean, diva like or tantrums aren’t, IMO. And I appreciate the other commenters that have pointed out that even a BIT of firmness, shortness or unpleasant tone of voice coming from a marginalized person is taken at a high offense.

I know that Prince was a bit of a dick during rehearsel 😂😂😂

Screeching is not singing.

I firmly believe every singer, actor, anyone who acthvely pursued fame in any way - even the kurt cobain types - are narcisstic personalities.

Everyone can sing.
But they become convinced at an early age that they can't sing.
Because they can't sing as good as someone else....but what's really bad is when people think they can't sing because they can't sing like an artists sings on pop radio..

Guess what, the professional singers cannot sing as good as their recordings. Those recordings are multiple takes spliced together.

Good point

I don’t think in any of this the singers were being mean. Shirley Bassey was being ignored she looks at where she throws the mic to avoid hitting someone, Diana Ross was having sound issues at her concert where people are there to see her, Jennifer, Phyllis, Prince and Whitney are talking honestly about their experiences with the industry. It’s actually quite professional in the same way that Mariah saying ‘somebody’s singing the wrong note is’ because those BV’s in that moment represent her. Whitney’s is the most telling speaking on how other industries encroach on the artist within the music industry and it’s symbiotic. Thanks for this.

It cannot be denied that ego plays a role on how some singers behave towards the public. Without auto-tune we'd have less "singers" in the industry, but the few that remain would surely be able to carry a tune. Nowadays we have talentless people who are 99% ego and 1% auto-tune thinking they're the biggest thing on Earth.

interesting I always wondered why all my favorite singers were such troubled people

Not all of them. It's usually just the black singers who were endowed with exceptional singing skills and range, and Mariah. And then to be fare, maybe a few other white singers. But MOSTLY black female divas. Aretha, being the queen in that regard.

I don't know why.

It ruined George

Excellent video. Thanks.

I think you have to sing because you want to and not because you have to in order to stay happy and free. I think you sing because you are free.

Quick TRUE story on how I met the LEGEND Kathleen Battle; I was a soloist for my alma mater's university chorus, and we toured nationally and internationally seeing lots of celebrities and prominent people in power, including Kathleen Battle. We were warned beforehand that she'd be coming to one of our concerts in NYC and to not disturb her due to her alleged "volatile" attitude and temper. Well, me being a HUGE fan, when she first walked past me, I totally fan-girled out, startling her causing her to initially dismiss me, which my fellow chorus members laughed and stated "oh you know shes's a diva, I heard she's a B****", etc. BUT, after singing a few solos, and the concert was over, Ms. Battle walked right up to me afterwards complimenting me on my voice and kissed me on my cheek! She truly had a sweet, highly sensitive nature about her that I totally connected with. My take from that was artists, who often times are highly sensitive in some capacity, have to be assertive AND protect their energy so that they're not constantly taking advantage of or being used. And, that in most cases leaves artist being labeled "difficult, irritable, b*tchy" etc.

Well, sometimes I also can't others'treatment towards FEMALE singers. Like if they remind their crew about something they must correct in their performance like when the keyboard is too loud or if someone's singing the wrong note, people would consider them rude. When a female singer has a negative remarks toward another singer, they'd call her a dive in the most negative sense there is. While you see MALE "singers" fight everyday like goats and yet people will still be supporting their arguments.

Thank you, I think there is a big truth about it❤

The first min of the video sums it up perfectly in my opinion. “Everyone wants a voice.”

Everyone want to be heard, to be seen (and not even in a vain or fame hungry way) to feel like what they have to say matters, and that what they have to say has the ability to move people, shape culture and make a difference in the world. The voice is the key parts of your identity, and music is spiritual. Music has the ability to break cultural barriers and connects us as humans beings to ourselves and to our creator. When it comes to music it doesn’t matter where you’re from, what race/nationality/ethnicity you are or what language you speak, music is universal.

The behavior of most singers is a response to everyone around them being Aholes. Plus everyone wants singers to do what they want singer to do. Some singers do whatever they want

I thought this was really insightful. I think this same principle can be applied to singers' (or models, actors, anyone in the public eye's) looks as well. They lose control of that, too, and have to pose, dress, and show up to places dictated by their team or managers, etc. It's gotta be a crazy life!

A picture of Maria Callas on the cover on a video about bitchy singers.

Your voice is just…. where’s your accent from?

I was at the concert where Diana shshes the musicians. She actually wasn't being mean at all, and she was absolutely right. They were really loud. It was distracting and it was hard to hear Diana.

Damn I wanted that to be longer. Very interesting

Good thing i can say my fave isn't mean to anyone✨(well, at least nobody came publicy and said she is/was)

Is it because it’s either their way or the highway?

….I always thought it was because they sold their soul for money and fame and they know the devil will come to collect.

Being a singer doesn’t make you mean to people, that means you were already disrespectful, and I can’t stand Divas.
There a lot of people behind the scenes working their ass off even harder then the artist, especially those background singers who most of the times can sing better then the star, a lot of times they get treated terribly by those “Divas”
This is why I don’t like a lot of them
From Aretha Franklin to Prince
They just enjoyed abusing their privilege and power

You hear numerous stories about the kindness and "light" that Olivia Newton John had and brought throughout her 60 year career, she considered by Billboard to be number 7 female of all time, huge sales of 100 + million worldwide besides her philanthropic works all over the world..and then there is these hateful/entitled women/ men, not even a blip on the screen of life/career and they act horrible, yuck!

This is very interesting. I wonder if aging has something to do with it as well. Considering how much your voice changes as you get older, as well as many other physical factors, the vocal talent of a person might be unreliable or fleeting. If I had a good voice and "lost" it (or anticipated losing it) I'd probably be a bit bitter about it.

Musicians are naturally very fine tuned souls. The industry FORCES mental breakdowns “for the art” & when the artist is too pretty for pressure, they hit targets in pursuit of the pain that writes the lyrics. 😢 fucked up shit.

Oh my goodness! You hit the nail on the head, WOW.

That's a stupid option. People are dicks because they want to and because they can

Thank you for including Phyllis Hyman....so overlooked (and my favorite fenale singer of all time)