Corinne Bailey Rae Says Lily Allen Started a 'Campaign' Against Her, Contributed to 'Boring' Reputation
The Grammy-winning singer alluded to a 2007 interview in which Allen called Rae's music "boring."
Corinne Bailey Rae is making zero apologies for her “boring” reputation.
The singer-songwriter addressed the topic during a recent interview with The Independent, recalling how she was widely dismissed during the early stages of her career. Rae — who released her breakout single “Put Your Records On” in 2006 — said she was considered uninteresting among UK reporters and at least one of her contemporaries: Lily Allen.
“In the British press, I was seen as boring and straight,” she said. “I was making acoustic music, wearing these kinds of old-fashioned dresses. I was also married. I was so not interesting to them.”
Rae continued: “I remember Lily Allen started this campaign against me, ‘Oh Corinne is so middle of the road,’” Rae told the outlet. “She had started talking about me like that, but I wasn’t going to engage in [any back and forth]. I thought, ‘I’m not going to bother with that. Stevie Wonder likes me, so it’s OK that Lily Allen doesn’t like me. That’s fine.’”
Rae was referring to an old Mirror article where Allen criticized Rae’s music as “boring.” The UK singer made the comments ahead of the 2007 BRIT Awards in which both singers were nominated for Best Female Solo Artist.
“Corinne Bailey Rae? I think she’s a bit boring, sorry,” Allen told the publication. “She’s a lovely girl but I don’t think her music stands out and I’d be a bit annoyed if she won. When you do get nominated it’s really nice, but at the same time I’m going to have to put on my ‘Oh, I’m really happy Corinne won’ face’… I’d be really happy if Amy Winehouse wins, though. She’s brilliant.”
The late Winehouse ultimately secured the award for Best Female Solo Artist.
In the years since releasing her self-titled debut album (2006), Rae has secured numerous accolades, including two Grammy Awards. She won Album of the Year in 2008 as a featured artist on Herbie Hancock’s River: The Joni Letters. Four years later, she took home the Best R&B Performance award for her cover of Bob Marley’s “Is This Love.”
In between those awards, former president Barack Obama invited Rae to perform at the White House for an East Room event honoring Paul McCartney. She reflected on the experience in a 2018 Facebook post, which included a photo of her, McCartney, Barack Obama, and former first lady Michelle Obama.
“Going through old photos…. this is when we sang for @barackobama @michelleobama in celebration of @paulmccartney,” she wrote. “What a night!! I sang with Herbie Hancock and got to hang with Stevie Wonder. I never dreamed my music would take me to the places it has . Just feeling grateful and amazed as I reorganise my archive.”
