The shade was real on Twitter last night as Madonna attempted to pay tribute to Prince during the Billboard Music Awards.
Related: This Prince Tribute From Jennifer Hudson And ‘Color Purple’ Cast Will Wreck You
The Queen of Pop belted out the late singer’s song “Nothing Compares 2 U” before being joined onstage by the great Stevie Wonder for a joint rendition of “Purple Rain.”
Related: If Prince Was A Homophobe, What Does That Make You?
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
We’ll withhold judgement on the performance and instead share with you what other folks have been saying.
Scroll down to see Twitter’s reactions to the performance…
Let me be the first to say…….she sounds awful. #Madonna #BillboardMusicAwards
— Karla M (@TheNFL_Chica2) May 23, 2016
Madonna just sung purple rain. And it was horrible. 2016 is off the Percs
— Chuck (@Chuckisdope) May 23, 2016
Madonna could have done something uptempo and just danced through it, but no.
— Michael Arceneaux (@youngsinick) May 23, 2016
Madonna is really ruining everything for me
— wigs at the ready (@moisturizeds) May 23, 2016
https://twitter.com/cocainezayn/status/734578394701135873
Madonna dug such a soulless and spiritless hole that not even the great Stevie Wonder could save her #Prince tribute. #BMAs
— A Tribe Called Chris (@ChrisPaulComedy) May 23, 2016
As an artist, surely there are times when you have to raise your hand and say "Thanks for the offer. I'm not right for this" #Madonna #BBMAs
— Shadé (@TheShadyFiles) May 23, 2016
Madonna just won her ticket to hell
— jesus is my boyfrien (@yungeateat) May 23, 2016
stevie is incredible, cuz he just bailed madonna out for real. we really didn't need her if we had stevie.
— El Flaco (@bomani_jones) May 23, 2016
Madonna, girl… pic.twitter.com/gWSYmNsbtv
— District 11 Tribute (@FeministaJones) May 23, 2016
And here’s how Madonna responded to the criticism on Instagram this morning…
DCguy
Not one to usually defend Madonna, but it was kind of a no win situation. If she did anything she is going to be mocked. If she didn’t do anything she would be attacked for not “Honoring” Prince.
Stefan
Leave it to Madonna to dance on Prince’s grave. Couldn’t find Sheila E., Chaka Khan, Wendy and Lisa or anyone else?!?!?
Caine
I usually do defend Madonna – but ballads have never been her strong suit. I thought after the first verse she was going to break out into delirious or little red corvette or 1999 or SOMETHING upbeat. It’s not the tribute I would have put together – personally, I would have had Madonna do the first verse then sprung Chaka Khan and Cyndi Lauper on us with Feel For You and When You Were Mine. But let’s take it in the spirit in which it was given shall we?
dusty
She made it rain
mickie1
when is the woman going to hang it up ???? talk about off key —- holy s–t!!! she cant sing anymore and is not aging gracefully !!!! time to get off the stage !!!! and stevie wonder???? that’s another story !!!!
scotshot
They should have had the cast of The Color Purple do it.
Sublime.
dannyboi2
Wow- wow wow- Judgement – Walk in her shoes and then judge wow- she was given a minute to prepare for one and we all grieve differently. It wasn’t a Parade it was a tribute and that’s what she and Billboard found befitting. Damn how quickly we turn, It’s Madonna for God’s sake! All she needs to do is show up, off key or not move on. No reason to be so judgemental. Jeez, I hate to see comments on her when she passes… Damn, So evil, she’s brought happiness and joy to millions over decades and this is the Thanks she gets! We need to chill with all this divisiveness and negativity. She’s still the Queen!
Mkiel
@dannyboi2: well said.
Matt Achine
@dannyboi2: Undue judgement has nothing to do with it. That’s the problem with this community, total deference to any bleach blond pop star, even when they suck. Why should we be silent about a bad performance? They want our viewership but give us nothing of substance except a bad attempt at ego building. She most certainly was not given a mere “minute” to prepare either. That’s completely made up. She was the wrong person for the tribute, end of story.
Sansacro
Mo, Michael, and Prince were the pop triumvirate of the 1980’s; she’s the only one left living to tell. The homage was meant to be an event, not American Idol contest.
Sansacro
@Matt Achine: ‘End of story?” Great! So that means we won’t hear from you again.
Matt Achine
@DCguy: Not true. If she sang well, she wouldn’t be getting so much shit about it today. It was her choice to do an underwhelming job just because protocol says her status affords her the opportunity. Then she doubles down about it on social media as if she were Maria Callas. The performance sucked and blew harder than your favorite porn stars when their rent is due.
Matt Achine
@Sansacro: You’ll hear a lot when you goad me into a response. Don’t be so sure that what you want is the group consensus, Mary.
Caine
@Sansacro: well said
Doughosier
Oh please. When has Madonna ever been known for great singing?
DCguy
@Matt Achine:
But lets be honest, She couldn’t have crushed it because she doesn’t have Sinead O’Connor’s voice, and Price already put on killer shows so there wasn’t a lot ot do in that direction either.
I usually think that anything she does is to call attention to herself and this may be no different, but I assumed that anything she did was going to get criticized, I’m just surprised she didn’t see it coming.
NH Mike
Not good at ballads? Live to Tell? You Must Love Me? Crazy for You? I’ll Remember? Take a Bow? Madonna and he were born the same year. They did a duet together. “Love Song” on her “Like a Prayer” album. Respect history and longevity.
Arconcyyon
Fan page Fan club internew society ! She DIVVA MEGA DIVVA MDNA MADONNA new doctor clinical doctor produtte´s BOTOX GOOD BOTOX FACE AND FACE She luck .
Random
@Stefan: She wasn’t ‘dancing on Prince’s grave’. That comment says a lot more about you and your negative attitude than it does about Madonna.
stanhope
Shelia E would have brought down the house. Stevie Nicks would have been better than Madonna and has a Prince connection. The cast of the Color Purple would have been fantastic but to be a real tribute it should have featured artists who had a connection to Prince musically. Stevie always talks about calling Prince and his contribution to “Stand Back” and she is well regarded as a writer.
He BGB
I would think Madonna does what she wants and doesn’t give a hoot what anybody thinks. She probably thought it was great .
Now about Britney Spears performance. Did anyone notice she sounded and danced like Janet Jackson and in one song even sounded like Madonna from Bedtime Stories in her opening performance? Maybe she uses the same producers. Maybe she’s lost her stylebut doing impressions of Janet and Madonna should be left to drag queens.
Curtispsf
Wait. That was Madonna performing and NOT some diva drag queen impersonator? Seriously, strong vocals have never been Madonna’s forte and this was CLASSIC Madonna. This was a tribute performance and she gets a passing grade from me. Perhaps something a little more upbeat might have worked a bit better…like Red Corvette, but it wasn’t that bad. I think she hit the mark. Kudos to her for giving a damn to put herself out there. RESPECT.
Terrycloth
Oh my ears ! More like Purple Pain.
Sweetie Pie
Madonna can`t sing….period
Rob91316
Yes, Madonna proved ultimately to be a poor choice to pay tribute to Prince — because it was actually way beneath the indisputable, indefatigable, unparalleled, one-and-only Queen of Pop — still at the top of her game at the same age Prince dropped dead from decades of opioid medication abuse — to be honoring a drug-addicted mess who allowed his demons to short-circuit the talent he was gifted with. It would have been much more fitting for a posse of the washed-up, one-hit-wonder has-beens Prince foisted on all of us — like Appollonia, Morris Day, Sinead O’Connor and Sheila E. — to pay tribute to a pathetic cliche whose career reached its apex with the “Purple Rain” album more than 30 years ago.
Matt Achine
@DCguy: She can’t be in that small of a bubble to not know Prince himself would’ve run her little red corvette off a cliff for that performance. After almost 40 years in the industry, she understands her limitations. Adele, who could sing her into permanent retirement, apologized profusely for a gaffe at the Grammys that most people didn’t even notice. Instead Madonna played it like she’s auditioning to be Trump’s running mate. The hubris is unbecoming.
Matt Achine
@Rob91316: The tribute wasn’t beneath her. It was over her head. Let’s get the snark right, at least! Insulting Prince and everybody he ever worked with doesn’t change her shitty – I mean, top of her game vocals. Where was she when he was championing artist rights & challenging unfair contracts to benefit all artists? Practicing her British accent? That’s one way to vocalize, I guess.
Brian
Madonna has never been very talented as a vocalist. Her success was due largely to the visual image calculated to create outrage, much of it fake. Trans-gays worshipped her because she had the vagina they could never have.
Evji108
Madge is getting seriously cranky in her old age. She’s beginning to sound as grumpy and thin-skinned as Azealia Banks. It isn’t necessary to respond to every criticism. Let your performance stand or fall for itself dearie.
batesmotel
Well the bottom line is that anyone who would’ve done the tribute to Prince would’ve been mocked. It’s impossible to do what he does in his own way. And Madonna is always mocked. She’s been mocked since 1983, so that’s nothing new. And although the person that chose to shine a light on the negative by pulling out the negative tweets, if they did their homework they would’ve found equally praising tweets, but that’s not the world we live in anymore. People would rather focus on the negative.
strix1
I thought Madonna did great…but I am a prejudice fan…Not a fan of the song choice, makes me think of the horrible artist for which the song was written for (O’Connor), that said it was a fitting tribute – I think they wanted one of the last big 80’s icon signers to do the tribute since Whitney & Michael are gone…I know, there are others.
On a side note, totally impressed by Kesha and glad they let her perform, great vocal & can’t wait to see her at San Diego Pride!!
adrianjurado310
I saw the video on my iPod at Starbucks and she looks like a fat Avon lady. I want to ask her to buy some makeup if I see her at the Mexican mall in Los Angeles I think she has some really good cheek bone products.
dean089
I’ve seldom ever had anything nice to say about Madonna but in this case I think people are just being needlessly mean.
rmarin776
I don’t think it was one of Madonna’s best performances, to be sure. But can we knock it off with the comments about her looks and age? I think she looks great (and, frankly, has earned the right to keep performing however she looks). You are entitled to tell her when she should stop as soon as you’re ready to step up and create the kind of career she’s had.
OhHellNo
Gaga butchers Bowie, Madonna butchers Prince. I assume when Mick Jagger Dies Iggy Azalea will be there. Sad about Madonna, though – she got fresh cheek implants and a face pullback and it didn’t help a bit.
jtroi
@dannyboi2: well said! Also, I thought she sang nothing compares to you beautifully!
Sluggo2007
I can’t believe the media is still crawling all over the death of Prince! For God’s sake, you’d think it was Streisand who died! Enough, already!
Chris
Madonna turned a bunch of up-tempo songs into an endless dirge. That seemed so out of character with the person known as Prince. It would have seemed more fitting if she had taken a page out of the Black Churches and brought the house down with the Saints Marching In and a Celebration of this Thing Called Life. That would have been more in keeping with the man who gave us not only When Doves Cry but also Party Like It’s 1999.
odowd4sure
Not a fan, BUT. Cant we all just agree that she has something to say and just be happy someone is doing something? Negativity breeds Negativity and as much as I have bashed her in the past, I reach out to her and offer my humblest apologies! I will subscribe to her doing what she wants to do and will never talk shit about her again. Good for you, Madonna, for standing your ground! Madonna for PRESIDENT 2016, she will be my write in, someone who can take all this criticism and never flinch, she’s got my vote!!!!!!!!!!!!! Still not a fan!!!!
DCguy
@Matt Achine: stated: “The hubris is unbecoming.”
But, in all honesty, is it surprising?
TimberWolf
No matter what Old Madge she will never change in being obnoxious and rude. While the old material entertains herself with tired crotch grabbing with rehashed dance moves her tribute to Prince made most people cringe as well as her appearance, dressed a pimp intimating Liberace on the Vegas strip. If these producers had any insight or understanding of Prince’s music rather select Madonna they should have selected Joss Sone to sing Purple Rain or Nothing compares to U. Joss Stone would have rocked the house with her soulful voice, professional yet elegant stage presences. Not that Madge can’t sing, she is better at pop dance music. Some music is just not meant for Madge to sing.
ShaunNJ
I think BBMA and Madonna tribute had good intentions but was kind of an afterthought. I get BBMA is about current, top charting artists, but I would have cut Fifth Harmony and shortened either Britney or Bieber to have time for a proper Prince tribute. It would have been nice having other talents Prince worked with – aforementioned Sheila E., Chaka Khan, Wendy/Lisa, Stevie Nicks, etc. doing a medley perhaps. Those are artists who can perform live and sing, with 3-4 decades of experience. Ex: The Go-Go’s sang live without the glitz and backup singers and sounded great even starting a bit off key.
Madonna is of the same age and stature as Prince (and Michael Jackson, to whom she gave a tribute years ago). It doesn’t mean she has to be tapped as the standard for every momentous occasion – let others have a chance to showcase their talent.
UWSguy
I didn’t see it. Does anyone know where I can watch it online? TIA
Tommy25
@ShaunNJ: Belinda and the Go-gos sounded terrible. I don’t think that’s a good example of great live performing and singing. Belinda’s voice is very messed up from drugs. Their song sounded nothing like the original recording. You yourself admit she was off key.
Madonna also sang live and while her vocals weren’t perfect, she had a beautiful tone and sounded a million times better than Belinda. Madonna has over 3 decades of experience too!
How come no one said anything on social media about Belinda singing badly? Is it because people don’t have the negative image of Belinda than they do of Madonna? Explain that to me!
strix1
…opinions, that’s all they are, thankfully.