I have always stayed quiet about the Beyonce hype... well, "always" is relative. But, I know a lot of people really like her- including the Obamas. And including my dear friend, Kayla, whose opinions I respect. Anyway, I wasn't surprised that Bey ripped out her heart. I kinda think that Beyonce ruins everything. The inauguration, the power grid at the Super Bowl, and the axiom for black women's looks are just a few examples. But, I tried to like her. I like "Love on Top." I don't really like much of her other solo work, but I attribute that to my general taste in music.
Anyway, back to Kayla's heart. First, she was offended that Bey named the song "Bow Down." I was not too offended because, sometimes Bey is ratchet. eg. "Ring the Alarm," chinchilla coats!?! Ok, Pimps-R-Us frequent shopper! Second, there was the cussing- especially "bitches." I was surprised at this. Bey doesn't cuss! (or didnt used to-- but today is her and Jay-Z's 5 year anniversary, and I think a lot of women's language gets more colorful during marriage). I know Bey considers herself a feminist. I also know there are a lot of ways to be feminist. She did write a song about who "Run the World," but it's (Girls), not women...hmmmm...no comment.
When I first heard the song, I thought it was nothing I would want to dance to, but I was happy that Mike Jones was working again. I had just been trying to remember his phone number and here he was! Then, I realized it's Beyonce the whole time!! I should have known because Beyonce ft. Mike Jones would've appeared on some headline. Also, sometimes she doesn't work with others. She does most of her own backup vocals and, even at the Super Bowl, she did much of her back-up dancing- with those giant screens and her video duplicates. She did allow Michelle and Kelly to make an apperance--how nostalgic *sigh*
Then -back to "Bow Down"- to exacerbate matters, Rush Limbaugh got into the mix.** Beyonce brought Rush into the media's commentary of R&B. Like I said, she ruins everything!! He interpreted her song to mean that women should bow down, know their place, and accept a good man when they have one. Oh, Rush! We already know nothing is too unimportant for him, especially when he can use it to make black people, Obama, women, or anything liberal look bad. So, it's not entirely her fault. Bey is just always in a place that has wide-reaching effects. I guess that is what super stardom and "queen-ality" is.
So, in conclusion, I am sorry to all those who have been hurt, shocked, offended, insulted by Beyonce. All I can advise is to let her have her pedestal, but to keep it in the realm of music, and *gulp* fashion. (But don't tell that to PETA. She is always angering them because she wears a lot of animals. Again, no comment)If you recognized the title from another R&B Royal... all I can say is, Bey is no Mariah! I had a vision of a pop/R&B queen and it was not what Beyonce turned out to be.
No comments:
Post a Comment