News: Beyonce Banter

The new buzz is that producers behind her upcoming film "Dreamgirls" are worried that the incessant "B'Day" publicity will cause audiences to be sick of her by the time the film hits theaters in December.

"Beyonce's oversaturation in the marketplace has thrown a major monkey wrench in the 'Dreamgirls' rollout campaign," a source told the New York Daily News. "It will take away from the anticipation of the 'Dreamgirls' soundtrack. She has left Paramount with not a lot of options for rolling out this film."

However, Paramount released a statement Tuesday refuting the reported overkill factor. "The buzz created by the album's release has only raised awareness of the film," a studio spokesman said, noting that Beyoncé's "Dreamgirls" original tune, "Listen," is also on her new CD. "Paramount and DreamWorks are nothing but thrilled with Beyoncé," the PR rep said.

Beyonce's spokesman Alan Nierob added: "I guarantee you that the publicity campaign for the film is in place, and nothing relating to the publicity for her solo album has affected that campaign." Beyonce was originally scheduled to drop her album after the release of "Dreamgirls," but the date was pushed forward to tie in the release with her Sept. 4th birthday.

*In "Dreamgirls," Beyonce plays Deena Jones, the Diana Ross-like lead singer of a group loosely patterned after the Supremes. The budding actress said she used the famous Motown diva as inspiration during filming of the big screen adaptation. "I had my whole trailer filled with pictures of her," she said, according to Contact Music. "It was like a shrine. It's something I thought a lot about. I couldn't help think about the connection. She was the inspiration as far as the look and her mannerisms. Now I'm loving her and playing her. And hopefully one day the same thing will happen for me. It kind of gives you chills to think about it."

*Beyonce has said that "Dreamgirls" is her best film role so far on a resume that includes "The Fighting Temptations" and most recently "Pink Panther" opposite Steve Martin. But Martin will have to shoot the upcoming sequel without his famous co-star. She told Sky News: "I loved making the movie but with the new album I am way too busy to fit the second movie in." Possible replacements for Bey include former 'Spice Girl' Emma Bunton (Baby Spice).

*And finally, folks are looking for hidden clues in Beyonce's decision to record "B'Day" in complete secrecy, most notably, from her own father/manager Mathew. The move rekindled earlier rumors that the singer had given her father the boot as her manager. She tells UK's Belfast Telegraph that Daddy is still on the payroll despite rumors to the contrary. "My dad was never fired. But it took him a while to realize I was getting older," she said. "It was when I turned 19, and started saying 'no' to things. It took him a second to adjust but if we hadn't gone through that phase, then something would be wrong. ...Because I'm so passionate and he's so passionate ... people think that he tells me and I do it but I'm a grown woman and he respects that. He has his own opinions and when we disagree we disagree and we go at it. But we always agree eventually. It just took time to figure out how to get the balance between father and daughter, manager and artist."

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SONY HAD NO A&R POWER OVER BEYONCE ALBUM: Fox 411's Roger Friedman says that's why it's a "shrill dud."

By now, everyone knows that Beyonce recorded her new album "B'Day" without the knowledge of her daddy/manager or anyone at her label, Sony Records. Fox 411 columnist Roger Friedman, who calls the new album a "shrill dud," blames its shortcomings on the singer's insistence on working without an A&R rep.

"This record was [simply] turned in," an insider explained to Friedman. "It was done completely by Jay-Z and his team. They came in, played it for us, and said 'Here.' There was no discussion."

Friedman writes: "The result of Jay-Z's involvement, Sony execs fear, is no obvious single after "Déjà Vu," the lead track, expires. ‘There is no "Crazy in Love,"' says a Sony exec."

Freidman continues: "Unlike Justin Timberlake 's solidly commercial if dully constructed ‘FutureSex/LoveSounds' album, ‘B'Day' is one headache-inducing trip down hip-hop lane. On top of thudding programmed drums, the otherwise gifted singer sings for some reason about an octave above her range. There is no advisory for dogs."