The Temptations singer Otis Williams thinks Beyoncé’s performance at the Grammys was too sexual.
The 72-year-old Motown legend is a big fan of the former Destiny’s Child star but he is unimpressed with the erotic new direction she has gone in on her latest album ‘Beyonce’.
Otis was particularly unimpressed by her performance of ‘Drunk In Love’ with her husband Jay Z at the awards show in January – which saw her wear a black thong bodysuit as she grinded against a chair, twerked on stage and suggestively danced against the rapper who at one point clasped her butt and kissed her.
Otis – who is the last original surviving member of the soul group – told BANG Showbiz: "I watched Beyoncé at the Grammys, and I have to say I’m a huge Beyoncé fan, but what she did with Jay Z I thought, ‘No you ain’t girlfriend!’
"But I guess she feels she’s at the point in her life and her career where she can test things out and do whatever she wants, so I’m not mad at her for that."
The ‘My Girl’ singer also thinks Rihanna’s videos and lyrics are too sexually explicit and he believes many modern artists are too eager to push boundaries just to make money.
Otis – who is on tour in the UK with The Temptations and The Four Tops – added: "I love Rihanna but I’m shocked by her and a few others that are coming out with very explicit things but it’s very reflective of us as a people. When we started out, if we said ‘damn’ straight away we’d be told, ‘Temps you can’t say that’ … When I listen to some of the stuff that’s being played on the radio I am appalled, and I’m an artist and I don’t try to rain on anyone’s parade but some of the stuff I hear today … it’s pathetic. I think to myself, ‘Have we really lost our morality for the bottom line of money?’
"Music is simple, a great song will always stand the test of time. Great songs with great melodies, people can easily understand and relate to it."
The Temptations and The Four Tops – featuring Duke Fakir, the band’s last surviving original member – are playing a series of concerts of across Britain in March and April.
The two legendary Motown groups will be joined by special guests The Platters and Freda Payne and tickets are available from Ticketline.co.uk
The Temptations and The Four Tops UK tour dates:
March:
Fri 21 – LIVERPOOL, ECHO ARENA
Sat 22 – BOURNEMOUTH, BIC
Sun 23 – BIRMINGHAM, NIA
Wed 26 – GLASGOW, CLYDE AUDITORIUM
Thurs 27 – NEWCASTLE, METRO RADIO ARENA
Fri 28 – NOTTINGHAM, CAPITAL FM ARENA
Sun 30 – CARDIFF, MOTORPOINT ARENA
April:
Tues 1 – LEEDS ARENA
Wed 2 – MANCHESTER ARENA
Thur 3 – LONDON, The O2 ARENA
Otis Williams: Beyoncé was too sexy at the Grammys
