Pop songwriter Diane Warren stepped in it on Twitter yesterday when she seemed to throw shade in Beyonce’s direction. Seemingly in reference to Beyonce’s song “Alien Superstar,” she tweeted, “How can there be 24 writers on a song?” followed by the rolling eyes emoji.
How can there be 24 writers on a song?đ
— Diane Warren (@Diane_Warren) August 1, 2022
After presumably getting dunked on in the responses, she then added, “This isn’t meant as shade, I’m just curious.” Warren is a very successful songwriter, whose credits include Celine Dion’s “Because You Loved Me,” Milli Vanilli’s “Blame It On The Rain,” Ace Of Base’s “Don’t Turn Around,” Monica’s “For You I Will,” Brandy’s “Have You Ever,” Michael Bolton’s “How Can We Be Lovers,” Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing,” and Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time,” among others. She also wrote “I Was Here” for Beyonce (from her 2011 album, 4).
The-Dream, who has worked with Beyonce on a number of songs including “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It),” “Run The World (Girls),” and “Break My Soul,” responded to the songwriter. “You mean howâs does our (Black) culture have so many writers, well it started because we couldnât afford certain things starting out,so we started sampling and it became an Artform, a major part of the Black Culture (hip hop) in America.Had that era not happen who knows. U good?”
You mean howâs does our (Black) culture have so many writers, well it started because we couldnât afford certain things starting out,so we started sampling and it became an Artform, a major part of the Black Culture (hip hop) in America.Had that era not happen who knows. U good?
— MUSIC ICON THE-DREAM (@TheKingDream) August 1, 2022
Warren responded by saying, “I didn’t mean that as an attack or as disrespect. I didn’t know this, thank U for making me aware of it. No need to be mean about it.” But it was too late for that, and lots of other folks on Twitter had thoughts about Warren’s tweet. Take a look at some of them:
