When your trying to make a name for yourself in the musical world, individuality is key – and not just in sound, style and attitude are just as important in making an original persona in the industry, which is why being compared to someone else can often be taken as a negative thing. These 5 stars have all commented on what they think about their musical comparisons. Some take it as a huge compliment because of the level of success the person they’re being compared to has achieved, while others just don’t see how they are like someone else or deny the comparison completely.
Carrie Underwood
Carrie doesn’t think she sounds like Taylor Swift but believes their music makes country more mainstream and appealing: ”Our songs are definitely different. She sings a little bit lighter sometimes and it’s just a difference in our brand of country. For me it’s more exciting than anything if somebody likes me and start listening to country music over other all those other artists. People want so much ‘real country music’, but for me it’s cool that we can bring more people into country music by being different.”
Rita Ora
Rita is happy that she is so often compared to Rihanna because she is so successful: ”It’s a compliment to be compared to someone like her. She’s so successful and an amazing woman. I’d rather be compared to her than someone not as successful, so it’s good. I’ll take that!”
Nicki Minaj
Commenting on the Lady Gaga comparisons, Minaj says they aren’t similar: “First of all, I’m a rapper. I’m from south Jamaica, Queens. What are the similarities?… Wigs? Every female in this game wears wigs. Over-the-top costumes? Ehh. Try again.” She then says she is tired it: “No, it’s getting tired now though, to me. In the beginning I was like, okay, it’s cool, hahaha, when they get to know me they’ll understand me. Gaga is a fantastic artist. She’s paved her way. She’s opened her own lane. But I feel like I have my own lane. And we never cross, ever!”
Mariah Carey
Mariah jokes that if there is a “new her” they should do her job for her: “They’ve been comparing people to me for longer than I can remember. I’m just like, ‘Whatever.’ If they’re the new me can they come and do my interviews for me or get in the studio and write one of my songs? Seriously though, I love everybody, it’s not a competition for me.”
Kid Rock
Kid Rock had a rivalry with Vanilla Ice because of constant comparisons but these days they get on: “I’ve seen him a few times since then. We’ve hung out and talked; he’s a nice kid. It’s like anything else. You get money, and all the s**t suddenly seems unimportant, but when you don’t have money it’s important.(So) when your grandparents come over for Thanksgiving and they say, ‘What are you up to?’ and someone says, ‘Oh, Bobby’s a rapper,’ and they go, ‘Oh, like Vanilla Ice,’ that makes you want to kick his ass.”
