This week in real life "Snob News" I took dear Mama Snob to see "Cadillac Records." Despite her disdain for all profanity (and the fact that she hadn't seen a film in a theater since "Harlem Nights" back in 1989), she wanted to see the film because she is a fan of the blues, hardcore.
Mama Snob spent much of my formative years teaching and torturing my sisters and myself with blues music. Everything from Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf (who's doppelgangers were in the film) to B.B. King, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Johnnie Taylor (who is actually R&B if you ask my mother), ZZ Hill, Denise LaSalle and Koko Taylor. Some of it I grew to love. Others I still can't stand to this very day. (I truly do not want to pitch a wang-dang-doodle all night long. Or put on my "wig hat," as LaSalle suggests on one ditty.) But watching the film and, most notably, Beyonce Knowles' portrayal of Etta James reminded me of what separates great art from great pop art.
In the film, Beyonce is playing Etta James, a woman with a distinct, passionate voice that hits you emotionally to your core. Some of her songs are joyous. Some are gospel. Some are blues. All hit with an undercurrent of suffering.
Beyonce is a perfected R&B/Pop princess with a pristine, over-worked voice who can kill stylistically, but has never moved me emotionally. Basically, her acrobatics are amazing, but she could also be the T-888 of pop singers.
She has been successful in moving me to the dance floor. That's been a capability of hers since I was in college and someone would throw on "Bills, Bills, Bills." She's the queen of the "all-sass, all-the-time, independent/strong black woman" song. The "I'm so awesome and don't need your tired ass" song, that -- as I've mentioned before -- is more science fiction than reality in relationships. Yeah, sometimes you get to wave it in a guy's face and sing "if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it," but most of the time it's just you, drunk, at home, watching "Mo' Betta Blues" for the millionth time wondering why-oh-why won't Denzel Washington come to your house and beg you to save his life?
Did I ever stand in your way, Denzel? Did I ever try to stop you from doing what you wanted to do!?! The only reason you're here is because you can't play anymore!
As I watched Beyonce emote her way through the film (and she tried to emote her little ass off), there was something not quite right. Knowles admitted that she really had to dig deep as an actor because of Etta's anger and inner turmoil, (Etta had it rough and really, really liked liquor and smack, etc., etc.) At the end of the day, she came up with a convincing facsimile of suffering, but I never, for the life of me, believed in that suffering.
It's not that I don't think Beyonce has inner drama. Everyone does. Everyone has doubt and failings and pain. My argument is that Beyonce does not want you to know of this drama, any real drama, that is. She's closely guarded with an even more tightly guarded image. She is more about being the fantasy of what she thinks you want her to be (cue "Sasha Fierce!") rather than revealing anything of character.
In "Cadillac Records," Adrian Brody's character, Leonard Cohen, argues with Beyonce's James' lack of emotion in her initial takes of the song "All I Could Do Was Cry." He makes the point that the song is about a woman watching another woman marry the man she loves. James' digs deep and finds that pain, albeit it's not about being dumped by a long-lost love. A scene later you learn about her being the neglected, bastard child of a white man.
Beyonce does good work with the scene, as she does with her few scenes in the movie (the film rushes in so many huge personalities that no one seems to get any justice as a character, including Etta James). But the scene underscores the point that it really doesn't matter when the song is about pain. The pain has to be real for the song to have meaning. And that's what separates someone with a wonderful voice who makes an outstanding pop artist from a true artist.
A true artist brings the pain.
I don't have to convince you that original Fugee's member, musical genius and lost child, Lauryn Hill has issues. We all know, homegirl has issues. But often, when I wanted to think of a modern song, like Etta James' classic "I'd Rather Go Blind" or Issac Hayes' cover of "Walk On By" that makes me want to curl up in a ball and cry, I think of Hill's "Ex-Factor."
"Ex-Factor," on its face, can be taken as a brilliant love unrequited/love denied ballad, but it doesn't stop there. As Hill explores deeper and deeper into the song and lays out her blueprint of pain, it becomes very apparent that this song doesn't have to be about a crappy boyfriend or a wayward husband or a married man who won't leave his wife for you. By the end of the song it is a plea for undying love, the kind you're supposed to get from the first man to ever love you -- your father. And once you cross that threshold suddenly the song is about abandonment -- by anyone. Did your mother abandon you? You may cry while listening to "Ex-Factor." Did you grow up and age out of the child welfare system? You may cry while listening to "Ex-Factor." Were you abused as a child? You may cry while listening to "Ex-Factor." Did you spend 35 years as a housewife, raising five kids to find out that your husband has another woman and another five kids, secretly, on the other side of the country? Cry! Ex-Factor is for you.
Hell, you don't even have to be a woman to cry during Ex-Factor. Just be from the land of broken toys. Be the neglected. Be the rejected. Once you get to the end where Hill pleads, "you said you'd be there for me" over and over she could be singing Pslams for all I know, wondering where is God and why He abandoned her. That's how universal, yet specific, her vocal pain is.
And what does Knowles have? "If I Were A Boy?" a song, I HATE WITH EVERY FIBER OF MY BEING. It's a nice enough song. But it's not particularly deep or painful. It basically entails that if Knowles were a man all she'd do is drink and hang out with guys without question. The video doesn't hit any harder, which didn't seem to relate to gender politics at all if you ask any guy whoever had a girlfriend cheat on him with a co-worker. It also resonates if you're a man who has been routinely emasculated by the woman you love. (BB once sang how he gave you seven children and now you want to send them back!) These things are pretty common place. If anything, I thought the video was about gender equity among cheaters.
Women! We can cheat too! Except, we always have! So never mind!
And, gee. I think Gwen Stefani and the rest of No Doubt addressed this issue better on "Just A Girl" back in 1995. Or Leslie Gore on "You Don't Own Me" in 1964. Or hey, how about less than two years ago, by Ciara, on a track called "Like A Boy," a song I actually enjoyed despite it being a blatant Aaliyah rip-off, down to the baggy pants, hair weave and wonderful pop n' lock routine. At least on the somewhat gimmicky, but fun single it was about being angry that the rules of sex and sexuality were different for men and women. Both Ciara's and Beyonce's songs tread similar gender role themes (staying out all night, turning off your phone, etc.) But Beyonce's "If I Were A Boy" is a sappy, whiny "This Used to Be My Playground"-esque ballad about pseudo-feminism.
Ciara is doing her best Leslie Gore of, "how would you like it if I did it to you, huh? You wouldn't like that would you! We totally aren't going to prom now!"
And it's not like Ciara has a catalog of pain to draw back on (that I know of). But she makes it work. Largely because it's a revenge fantasy, not about how awesome Ciara is and that she could do that to a guy, but that she WISHES she could do that to a guy. Never once does she say, "Screw this. I'm converting to being an ass."
And I'm not a big fan of Mary J. Blige, but I call feel the capillaries bursting on every one of her tracks. When she sang that she couldn't be without you, I believed she could not be without that person. Same went for "No More Drama," another song which makes me cry despite my best efforts, because, in the end, you are responding to her raw emotion, her appeal to wanting to leave a tumultuous life behind and be the person she wants to be.
Some people say Beyonce wants greatness, hence why she chases those who already have it (see James, Etta). I can't blame her. A lot of us do. This would also explain why at the last few of Grammy Awards she sang with Tina Turner and Prince as if their true measure of pain and "fierce" would rub off by osmosis. She's obviously a hard worker, but no amount of hard work can fake pain. When Prince sang "When Doves Cry" you may not have known what the song was about in 1984. Maybe you still don't. But you know he's broken up over something. A woman. His parents. God. Himself. Ultimately, for me, the song is about obsession. But, sex, Jesus or obsession are good fallback explanations for nearly every Prince song.
Turner is the same way. She didn't even write "What's Love Got to Do With It," yet the emotions, the sound, the pain were all Tina's. No amount of wonderful song writing can create that.
I'm not saying Beyonce needs to get in a dysfunctional relationship, be abandoned by her family, pick up a drug habit (or several drug habits), become completely disillusioned by fame and moved to the islands, become a conflicted Christian who went pop or go nutbar on me but the great ones give up some pain. There's really no way around it. Without the pain, you're just a more charming Mariah Carey who can actually dance. Or worse, Janet Jackson with better vocals.
Both Mariah and Janet have outstanding pop careers. And if you want to be a wealthy, beloved, popular singer, you're on their heels of catching and surpassing them in sales and accolades. But Whitney, the trainwreck everyone roots for, you will not. Beyonce Knowles can't convince me she knows the blues. It's her only real flaw as a performer. Her kryptonite. But she shouldn't feel bad. It's a pretty common flaw among pop singers. Usher can kiss Dead James Brown's ass all he wants. He'll still sound like someone said "just push play."
74 comments:
I was just discussing the other day how Beyonce ruined "At Last" and sucked the soul out of it. I really don't think Beyonce has been though anything in her life to pull deep dark emotion from. As she stated recently in a magazine she's from an "upper-class" background and had a pretty good child hood (not to say people woth money don't have problems too)... she's just one of the fortunate ones who had drama free life. Her parents kept a good eye on her and were there every step of the way--of course because they benefit from her success. She does havea few emotional songs of her own: "Resentment"...and... well I can't think of the other at the moment... but you're right. There are very few Beyonce songs that have soul and true feeling in them. I wish she would stop acting and focus on adding extra perfection to her music. With this who "Sasha Fierce" act sdhe now has, it's obvious she doesn't really know who she is herself...or want to admit to it.... so until she finds out, she'll continue to leave the folks who want something REAL from her waiting.
Great post! I'm glad to see someone else analyze the musical machine that is Beyonce. I've written a few blogs about the topic, especially about her attempts at acting! Lord, don't get me started. The fact that while on Oprah "oscar buzz" was mentioned to her! I had to stop things right there. She's barely in the movie (Cadillac Records) and is it really that hard for a Grammy award winning singer to play another? Beyonce is a wonderful performer but I don't believe her as an actress. Despite the role I always see, well - - Beyonce! I didnt' see Etta. I saw Beyonce.
In her interview with Oprah she said that she was hesitant to take this role because it was "dark" and she wasn't sure if her "fans would get it" or understand the separation between her as Beyonce and her playing Etta! Are you kidding me? She's protecting her "image" even as an actress and that's the problem. You have to be able to go there and that's something she'll probably never do.
"If I was a boy" isn't that great of a song and I'm glad you brought up Lauren Hill, among others. I really do believe that timeless, soulful SANGERS have the ability to make you feel their pain and that's something I have yet to feel from Beyonce. I guess I'll keep shaking my ass to her in the club because I don't think the sound of her voice will bring tears to my eyes.
I suspect, perhaps erroneously, that Beyonce has an incredibly vast vale of pain. Otherwise she wouldn't be so diligent in guarding against vulnerability. You can't be a good actress without being vulnerable, and she refuses to go there. I've had more than one client tell me that they can't look at their pain for fear that they'll start screaming and never stop. I suspect that Beyonce has that kind of pain.
Ex Factor: "Where were you, when I needed you? You you you you youuu..." Girl that song has got me through some STUFF.
roslyn: I'm a believer that everyone has pain, some more messed up than others, but pain nonetheless. I think Beyonce is so guarded about her public persona and image and has been micromanaged by her family so much of her life that she's probably horrified of being a a real person in front of people who aren't her friends and family -- hence the plastic after taste. People went gaga over some photos of her slightly tipsy after a club one night because her image is so controlled.
She'd be a better artist if she'd open up and cared less about what people may think about the "real" her, but she'd also be vulnerable and sometimes the most rigid people are the ones with the biggest issues.
Or she could be soulless and vapid. But I too am going to give her the benefit of the doubt. Anyone who's been singing and dancing since she was in underoos has some issues.
This is a pretty good post, Snob.
Beyonce is a wannabe. She's not that deep, and is unwilling to put everything she is into her 'music'. She'll put everything into the ' show', but the ' music'?
No.
There are voices that grab you. Voices that just hypnotize you. There are folks that put themselves out on the line, and are begging you not to stomp all over them, because their very nerves are being heard.
Mary J is that.
Sade is that.
Aretha Franklin is that. Old School Aretha is so raw she stops you in your tracks.
Hell, Jennifer Hudson was that in Dreamgirls. Nobody in their right mind EVER considered Beyonce for the part of Effie. She was talking bullshit about being considered for Effie.
Beyonce has NEVER BEEN nor EVER WILL BE that.
20 years from now, folks will still be listening to Aretha, Sade, Mary J.
Tell me one Beyonce song that you'll be playing and talking about ' back in the day'. It hasn't been done...maybe in the future, but not now.
Just like there are actors and there are movie stars, and more often than not, they are SO not the same.
Beyonce should just accept her limitations and keep on doing the hustle that has enough folks entertained so far. But, she needs to stop going for movie roles - they could be done well by REAL actresses.
Great post! You put into words why I love Lauryn and cannot stand Beyonce. Thanks so much!
If I Were A Boy makes me want to bang my head against a wall to block the sound out (I change the channel instead). Beyonce needs to get real and ACCEPT the fact that she just doesn't have the acting chops she so badly wants. She seems so set on being seen as some sort of an icon/legend or whatever that she is willing to force feed us even more of her impeccably marketed sass and hip thrusts. We're full Beyonce, stuffed, bursting and ready for a detox. Pop and feather weight rnb are her domain, she does it well, why is that not enough? Go chill for a minute with your man and make a decent album. Please. Oh and stop claiming songs you know you didn't write a line for. Oscar is not putting your name on the ballot and Ne-Yo served you well so give the man props where props are due. Sheesh.
Astute pop culture analyses such as this are why I LOVE your blog!
Where do you see Alicia Keys fitting into the scheme of things?
Great post Miss Snob!!
I have to tell you that I'm from rural Alabama. I listened to more Johnnie Taylor, Denise LaSalle, ZZ Hill than I did Run DMC. When ever I feel a little homesick, I go to Itunes and I download songs like "Don't Jump My Pony" and "Shade Hill Mechanic". Good times.
As for Beyonce, I don't she has developed the skills needed as an actress to credibly tackle challenging roles. I suspect that she hasn't taken classes. I'm not an actress, but I would think that reading extensively would be fundamental to the development of craft. At the very least, she would have exposure to different characters and different points of view.
But what do I know?
TBS, you must be a mind reader because this blog is my exact thoughts.
Beyonce does have a good voice, but her overused ad libs and screams can ruin a song. I heard the original version of "If I were a boy" by another artist and I must say it was SO much better than Bey's version.
Has anyone else noticed that Beyonce is not a good actress? She says her lines like she's in a church play instead of a major motion picture! I think they should have hired Faith Evans to play the role of Etta James. Beyonce is too cookie cutter to play this role.
Damn..!? If Beyonce doesn't know pain she will after she reads this. And you were harsh too comparing her to Mariah.
But the best part was I spent 30 minutes watching Lauryn video's. I am not one whom can keep music in my head but I'll never forget how I called my mother whom would die for Roberta Flack and told her to listen to the cassette I sent w/ Lauryn doing "Killing me softly" She told me whe hadn't cried like that in years.
So here it is but one last thing please put her on your great wall of sexy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ighu4gGlaUE
i didn't like it. not a whole lot of substance behind the characters. you see howlin wolf in the movie for about 10 minutes before you see him talkin about burying little walter. come on dude.
Thank you SO much for saying exactly what I've been thinking! It's not that Beyonce isn't talented, I think she's a really good performer. But her vocals have never touched me, or got me throw anything. Sade, Amy Winehouse, Adele, Duffy, Aretha, Nancy Wilson, Mary J. Blige...these are the women I go to when I'm going through some drama. I go to Beyonce when I want shake my a**.
Thank you SO much for saying exactly what I've been thinking! It's not that Beyonce isn't talented, I think she's a really good performer. But her vocals have never touched me, or got me throw anything. Sade, Amy Winehouse, Adele, Duffy, Aretha, Nancy Wilson, Mary J. Blige...these are the women I go to when I'm going through some drama. I go to Beyonce when I want shake my a**.
I really like your analysis on Beyonce, snob. Personally I liked Destiny's Child so much better than Beyonce as a solo artist. But, I didn't like her DianaRossification, after a little bit the group became "Beyonce and Friends". I think Kelly and Michelle especially were very underrated.
I'm interested in what you think about the mainstream male R&B/pop artists like Chris Brown, as opposed to someone who doesn't get as much radio airplay like Anthony Hamilton. I have yet to find a CB song that I don't just dance to. I love, love, love AH, his songs have substance and soul...
First, any writer who correctly uses Prince as a measuring stick for musical excellence should have a Congressional Medal of Honor pinned to their chests as quickly as possible.
(Popular music over the last thirty years should be divided into two divisions: Prince ... and the rest of the riff-raff.)
After reading this, and totally agreeing with every word of it, I'm wondering who's to blame for getting Beyonce to believe she's capable of being the 'acting embodiment' of Nina Simone. The casting directors who continue to say yes to her? And if the answer is 'yes' then aren't we set to see her 'hit the wall' at some point?
If our over inflated housing market can receive a 'market correction', why not overrated pop stars?
Lastly, on a slightly disturbing note, you wrote:
" I think she is so guarded about her public persona and image and has been micromanaged by her family so much of her life that she's probably horrified of being a a real person in front of people who aren't her friends and family -- hence the plastic after taste."
The same could be said for Michael Jackson. And we all know how well that turned out.
Boy, Snob, have you nailed this girl. There has always been something about Beyonce, that kept me from being a fan. I have liked a few of her songs, but I liked her with Destiny's Child better.
Beyonce wants stardom, pure and simple, she wants to totally conquer the entertainment world, and be the Diva's Diva. She doesn't want to delve too far into the "art" of acting or singing. That's probably why she's trying to buy her way into biopic roles, (she's allegedly buying rights to the Eartha Kitt story) thinking they will get her that Oscar that alluded her in "Dreamgirls." I don't think she feels she has anything else to learn, which is a pity.
I don't want 24/7 of Beyonce, or any other singer/actor for that matter. I appreciate artists who strive for excellence of the work, not their own glorification, but that seems to be the trend now, in music and in movies.
Audiophile Girl I am feeling you on those Brit singers and Mary J. I LOVE Adele!! Ive noticed that their sounds and influences are the very same people from the 60s Motown era that Beyonce CONSTANTLY talks about, but I dont see reflected in her music.
Its not that I dislike Beyonce or anything cause I played the hell outta those early DC cds, but for so long people(the music industry?? idk who) have shoved Beyonce down our throats for the past few years as she is the ultimate black artist or something and if you didnt have the weave, light complexion, the creole-nonsense or whatever, than you were out.
Im so grateful for these new black artists overseas(SANTOGOLD!!) who dont exactly fit the mold of what a black female singer has to be that I find myself wanting to push Beyonce aside and welcoming the new talent.
I know this has nothing to do with her acting abilities, but how I feel about her has made me biased towards her movies.
bouncey wants an oscar...somehow she has convinced herself she needs this prize...and so she'll butcher other people's songs until she gets one...
There is nothing else I can add here that hasn't already been said so I'll just say kudos to you Snob on this post.
And second Santogold. Everyone should listen to her if they haven't already.
Isn't Santogold from Philly?
Team Beyonce doesn't want to be the next Janet Jackson or the dark, sane Britney Spears that got her pop star boyfriend to marry her.
She wants to be Whitney Houston 2.0.
The team saw, if it wasn't for the drugs, Whitney could have sold records as ling as Celine Dion will. They saw Whitney starting to get acting roles where she didn't have to sing (Waiting To Exhale). Unfortunately, she doesn't have the talent as a singer or as an actress that Whit had.
She is already Janet 2.0, down to the inability to act (and her rapper man doesn't need a booster seat at restaurants). The only thing Janet had over Beyonce is empathy. Men of a certain age have loved Ms. Jackson since she was Penny; the first time we saw Bey, she and three other girls were telling us we weren't worth ish.
So Beyonce is trapped. Her goals (Whitney) don't match her talent (Janet 2.0). But she is too driven to settle.
And to be truthful, she is lucky L Boogie lost her mind and Aalihah died, or she would be to them what Christian Millian is to her now.
I have always found Beyonce to be overrated and I think Dreamgirls would have been a better movie without her. Unfortunately she was cast in order to get a white audience to see the movie. I don't see why Hollywood thinks it's okay to substitute a black singer in a movie but you don't see them substituting Britney Spears for Reese Witherspoon.
I think people (myself included) are biased regarding Beyonce because of the callous way the original members of DC were treated. And not to slam Ms Knowles but she tries to croon and she always winds up sounding like a wounded animal. If it weren't for music videos, I don't think she'd have lasted as long as she has.
Terri in Philly said it perfectly.
Comparing Knowles to the likes of Janet, Whitney, Mariah and especially, Lauryn is a joke. She has no business being compared to any of those icons/legends.
Her achievements, both comerically and more importantly, artistically don't merit her to be put in the same category as them.
She's merely product. Always was, always will be. A product of nepotism and a manically driven showbiz-kid-derived work ethic. The reason why she seems 'souless' and 'vapid' is because, she is. Plain and simple.
In reality, Knowles will not go down in the history books. She was just the centerpiece of a highly successful group who had a nice little (albiet slightly less successful) solo career in the ringtone era.
Actually Soapbubble,
Whitney Houston and Lauryn Hill were strongly considered for the role of "Deena Jones" in "Dreamgirls", back in the 1980s and 1990s, respectively.
Knowles was only cast because at the time the most publicized black female in the industry at the time. (Like Whit and L-boogie were during their heydays, listed above).Not to cater to the white audience. She wasn't even the star of the film. Jennifer Hudson was the "cat's meow" with the white mainstream (audience and press).
Plus, Jamie Foxx (Oscar winner), Danny Glover, Eddie Murphy were all getting top-billed yet Knowles' inclusion was for the "white audience"? Get real.
Just had to correct that.
"Lastly, on a slightly disturbing note, you wrote:
" I think she is so guarded about her public persona and image and has been micromanaged by her family so much of her life that she's probably horrified of being a a real person in front of people who aren't her friends and family -- hence the plastic after taste."
The same could be said for Michael Jackson. And we all know how well that turned out."
Michael and Beyonce are both Virgos - the critics/perfectionist of the zodiac. Just a little fyi tidbit.
thank you for putting to paper what i have thought all along about beyonce.. she has talent no doubt.. a kind of x factor talent.. ie doing a good impersonation (swagger jacking LOL!) of tina t..
the comparisons to janet and lauryn is spot on..
game knows game.. and i believe beyonce has just dissed janet's talent and the jackson family's background in order to separate herself from that particular talent pool...
janet will always have my vote because she was driven by something more than her parents in the end.. she had to run away from home and become herself.. you know you all still sing 'what have you done for me lately'... it's even part of everyday language for stand up comedians, yt folk.. children even..
beyonce should work on her craft.. leave jz after a huge bust up and find alcohol/drugs, then come out of the other side... then and only then can she reach me...
oh.. and lest i forget...destiny's child could never touch en vogue.. not ever, ever, ever..
Yes! This is exactly why I love reading this blog. You said what all of us have been thinking. Beyonce/Sasha are fun to shake your groove thang to if you're so inclined. But something about that Beyonce just ain't right! I think she's a robot sometimes. Soul stirring emotion just doesn't come out of her. I suspect it may never surface. so we'll have plenty of time to be offended by her non sensical lyrics and feeble acting.
Beyonce can.not.sing. Not compared to Chaka or Patti or Gladys or even Donna. I can just never take Beyonce seriously as an artist. She does have a great work ethic but she's trying to force us to support her acting career and I say NO! Lauryn sang about reciprocity 11 years ago. She had it right and I've only just gotten that's what Black women are missing in all their relationships. Mariah may technically be a better singer but her songs are crappy. I need to believe that person when they sing. I need goosebumps. I need to not want to dance or watch a music video to be moved. Most of the artists out today aren't offering anything put a sweet candy coating.
Once again Ms. Snob you nailed it.
I am not a B. fan at all. I actually prefer Destiny's Child.
She is not an artist. When I listen to Ms. Hill sing Zion I am moved. That whole album is amazing.
I agree Mariah may not have the best lyrics but her voice is a lot stronger than Beyonce's.
I work in the business and every single movie project we had with a black female lead, folks would say "What about Beyonce?" even if she was completely wrong for the role.
It seems for black women to get any kind of acting job they have to be singers or model.
Beyonce says she wants to be like Barbara Streisand. Not going to happen. Babs is an incredible singer and had some terrific roles (The Way We Were etc.)
B is pop celebrity. There is nothing wrong with that. She has made a lot of money and works with some great producers. Crazy in Love was a fun track.
Just don't call her an artist. It's insulting.
@The Black Snob, man, you are making a stan like me scared to come here lol. Just kidding. I love your breakdowns as usual, even if I don't agree with what you wrote on Beyonce.
Even as a stan, I still love your blog :)
What's fascinating for me is that I have always been a fan of Destiny's Child since I was a tiny splodge.
Living in England, there are no other massive black female R&B singers who are relatively young. Shirley Bassey is the only one I can think of but she is not of this generation but still sings her arse of.
When Beyonce started releasing her first and second albums here, something changed.
Here was a black female singer who was selling out to massive crowds in London, Scotland, Ireland.
Of course, it is de rigeuer now with Rihanna and Leona Lewis playing to massive crowds.
But it was not before. I think what I am saying is even before her music, I respect what she has done as an artist because she has truly built her career on hard work on talent.
I don't think that can be denied. It's okay if she doesn't appeal to all of us but in regards to her fanbase, she always delivers.
I saw her in Paris last year and she kicked arse. I am going to see her next year in at the O2 in London and I know she will top what did in Paris.
I think for me, I just respect her graft and I love her style which is what makes me a huge fan of hers. She does have sides to her that are calm and songs like Disappear and Halo do show that she does have soulful tones to her voice.
--aulelia
What a great post!
I have been anti-Beyonce from the beggining. She's a great singer within her range and a nominal actress (much like her predesessor Diana Ross). But I just never really hopped on the "I love Beyonce" bandwagon
I think we'll still be listening to Miss B in 20 years but another poster had it right. She's not Aretha, she's sure as heck aint Sade or even the great Etta James. Why they casted Beyonce as James I will never know (much like Ross and Billie Holliday). They are polar opposites - James has grit where Beyonce is shimmery and light.
I love the breakdown of the film, comparison of the singers - I will definitely rent the movie.
Mamma Snob hasn't been to a theater in 19 years???
Geez
Bey is to pop music what Salieri was to classical. Except that Salieri knew he was a cheap knock off and Bey doesn't.
Great post!
I have yet to see the movie, but from the previews I never had any confidence that Beyonce would nail the role.
I do have to say that I love Beyonce's music. I do feel that she is guarded, but celebrity status is a helluva world to deal with so I can't be mad at her for keeping herself that way.
So many people hate on Beyonce (yes I said hate because they attack her as if they know her personally) but I give her props because even though her acting is not up to par, she is a wonderful entertainer. I would pay to see her perform any day over these other singers who stand in one place and sing songs that they didn't write.
And if nothing else she is a hard worker...we can't say that for many of the singers these days.
She is often ridiculed and called a copycat, but honestly I don't see an artist of this day and time who isn't copying something off of someone from the past. Even Alicia Keys. Every song Alicia Keys has my mom swears is a remake of an oldie but goody lol
As for Lauryn, she is definitely one of the best. Her music will always be around, it's classic!
**oh and P.S. the old Janet Jackson was good ish..the new Janet ain't hittin on nuffin lol***
Even though there is the disclaimer at the end I think it is really wrong to say that a person is not a true artist without "pain." What's Aretha's rich father is a preacher pain and I have been paid to perform since I was a teenager pain? What is Janet's I don't even remember being poor pain? What is Lauryn's middle class went to a performing arts high school pain? Oh I forgot she messed with some other woman's man, my bag.
I keep reading about Lauryn Hill. She had one good album over ten years ago and riched herself crazy. Go back and listen to that extremely terrible unplugged album. That ain't art.
I am not even going to mention all the forgettable albums Aretha Franklin made.
In addition I don't think the snob really listened to the song If I Were a Boy. The point of the song is not that I would get revenge. The point is that I wouldn't do all those things(cut my phone off, flirt, etc.) b/c I understand how much doing those things hurts. Plus a white folk singer wrote that song. How much do you know about her pain?
Ciara absolutely sucks at singing but she can dance. She is lucky Aaliyah died. I love Janet but vocally she is in the same category- can dance but I dont need to hear her sing.
I am not a super fan but a voice/talent like Beyonce's is a rarity in this industry nowadays. She literally can do it all. She kills vocally. When she performs she really puts on a show. She never looks like she is just going thru the motions. I actually do feel a range of emotions from her. Sad, hurt, lonely, and brokenhearted aren't the only recipes for a good song. If you wanna hear a lack of
emotion go listen to Rhianna.
I forsee a very "Britney Spears like" breakdown in Beyonce's future...
The "revolution" in the "Black community" is the "right" to be mediocre---just like "my white suburban friends" and Beyonce is like Lola Falana to Eartha Kitt. Eartha Kitt talks bad stuff about the Vietnam War, Lola does not. Who will work on the next show in the white man's media?
You did a great job exploring this one. It's too easy for brown, urban people who think Beyonce is "cool" to assume that we "attack" her because she is young and for the new generation.
We can do better. Even Etta James is not that great. I am certain Aretha Franklin has canceled many projects with punk-ass suburbanite Negro actors trying to play her. So far, only Ray Charles got a fair deal.
Check out her latest article in ELLE
Check out the digs against the Jackson family
Rikyrah - I read that crack about The Jackson family. She needs to tread lightly and check her tone on that one.
I started reading it but I stopped after she talking about writing songs. Why does she expect us to believe she's a writer? She claimed to write the song Listen from Dreamgirls but when the song was nominated for an Oscar, she got left off the credits and didn't she just get into a big bruhaha over a song on her latest album?
I'll be glad when she 'ages' out and entertainment companies can start promoting real talent again.
Thank you, thank you and thank you ONCE AGAIN for taking my thoughts and putting them on electronic paper. Same Black Snob time, same Black Snog place over and over again. I am your biggest fan.
BTW - I am not anonymous (its just the only way I can post to the comments section), I just can't stand to register for another anything. My namey is Dietrich...nice to be apart of the Snob family.
Excellent, excellent analysis. I was just watching a Beyonce concert on cable and thinking "all the parts are there and yet, I feel nothing."
Also, I have to give you props for mentioning that Ciara song. I can't even tell all those "...ara, ...ana" girls apart but I loved that song and the whole persona she brought to it. It was definitely an Aaliyah reference, but I think she took it further, even unto drag, and that seemed extremely interesting for a pop/r&b performer.
I've only just started reading your blog, but I really enjoy it!
I just read the Elle article on Beyonce. The end says there is more. It's a puff piece as articles goes and little is in her voice. Let's hope she finally talks w/o having to undergoing a breakdown or drugs. the latter we can do without period and as a people wish there never was. the person who wrote that is what she needs to become an artist needs to check themselves regardless of what race you are.
Maybe "Sasha Fierce" is her (childish) way of trying to get out from underneath the superficial.
And Snob, you're a great daughter to take your mom to see it. I decided the minute I saw Bey cast as Etta James...psssshh! they were not getting my $ - not even for a bootleg copy...
Not a Beyonce fan, never have been. That said, she does have talent. She has a nice pop vice and knows how to drop it like it's hot. Is she an "artist"? Hell to the no. Put Beyonce in a room with an instrument and she'll produce nothing. To me, the only thing she has on a Rhianna or Ciara is vocal skills. So I'm sick of hearing how she's the voice of generation and the greatest thing to happen to music since Aretha. Give me a break!
And yes, something is totally off to me about her. She's obsessed with being "perfect". This is a person who has frolicked on the most beautiful beaches in the world wearing a lace front wig glued to her head. That's craziness. She can sing all the songs she wants about female empowerment, but I just can't take it seriously coming from someone who has so drastically altered her appearance. Take a look at her from her DC days, and don't tell me her nose isn't sharper and her skin isn't lighter.
Also, I don't like how she talks trash about other artists. Her recent comments about the Jacksons were uncalled for. To me, it was just another example of her snobbery. For someone claiming to be so "upper middle class" why does she sound like a poor undereducated woman from backwoods Arkansas then? And she also made some comments a few years back about Mariah believing her own hype as the reason she had that breakdown some years back. As if she is Ms. Humility.
I can't wait for this phony chick to disappear.
Thank God for you, Snob. I thought I was the only one who hates, Hates, HATES "If I Were a Boy"!
You did not quote my favorite movie and I did not recognize Joie Lee's feeble acting, LOL. Brava.
kellybelle: I was waiting for someone to call out "Mo' Betta Blues" in there!
And yeah, Joie really couldn't hang, but she tried. (What a trooper!) That's why she represented us, and our non-acting selves, in the relationship with Denzel we would never have.
It was the ultimate Hollywood moment when the "nice" girl, not Miss Hot-to-Trot Cynda Williams with her awesome voice, gets the guy. Because know, that shizz is not real life. But we NEEDED IT anyway.
I love that movie.
I have said it for years my fellow snobs. Black entertainers have a limited pool in Hollywood because our people allow the roles to cirrculate between two or three well connected actors and actresses. For example, Halle Berry gave a speech where she said, "This Oscar is dedicated to all the nameless women of color." Thanks to actresses such as Knowles and Berry, those starving black actresses remain nameless because they refuse to mentor a black unknown, they refuse to use their connections to uplift a struggling black actresses, and worse yet, they refuse to get out of the limelight long enough to let another black actress shine. When Halle Berry dies, she will die a legend, but her legacy will be gone because she is not mentoring a new black face to take her place. Beyonce is a horrible actress, but because her name sells, quality black parts are put in jeopardy because of name recognition versus true merit. I think Beyonce was one of the producers, so she had the power to seek a new black actress for the part of Etta James. As usual, she decided to continue her legacy of being overexposed.
researchbuff: It's hard to get things greenlit for black actors period, so Hollywood, being lazy, casts the same folks over and over hoping for cash to jingle out of everyone's pockets. So some of it's Berry and Beyonce, but a lot of it is the system which is limited in who they consider risk worthy, bankable actors.
A studio, who would be putting up the funds for the film, may balk at someone they consider a lesser known despite their talent (see Wright, N'Bushe). Black actors in general get so few roles, so you don't have situations like "The Talented Mr. Ripley" or "The Departed" where an actor can start out developing a role for themselves, but passing on it and giving it to someone else. (In the case of The Departed, Brad Pitt originally produced the film with the intention to star, but passed the role over to Matt Damon.) But tons of films are being produced, independent and major studio, starring white actors, so, by virtue, there are more known entities, hence, a studio wouldn't balk at losing a Pitt, but gaining a Damon.
But lose a Berry and you have ...??? And this isn't just a black actress problem (although it's very pronounced with black actresses). Actresses of all races have horrendous times getting decent roles. The few available are all being monopolized by the same five people (Kate Hudson, Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, Renee Zellweger and Reese Witherspoon). And Berry isn't even a guaranteed money earner, she's just a household name. Like Beyonce.
Studios are simply buying the brand.
If they had any sense, they would nurture talent instead of waiting for talent to bite them in the ass, but this is how Hollywood prefers it when it comes to black people. You make a name for yourself first (re: Tyler Perry) and then MAYBE we'll give you some money to make your little film.
Maybe.
Black men have it slightly better (but not by much). I can at least name five or six black actors who can "open" a movie by Hollywood's definition -- Denzel, Jamie Foxx, Will Smith, Samuel L. Jackson, Eddie Murphy and sometimes Morgan Freeman. Seven if you count Wesley in the 90s before he ruined his career. But actresses have always had it bad with "the girlfriend of the hero" being the number one role for women and most black actresses NEVER get cast as the girl who gets loved up or needs to be rescued. Not even Berry. We usually get "Brittany Murphy's BFF." I think Kerry Washington has played that role five or six times now.
So, I think this is more Beyonce capitalizing on Hollywood's lazy system, not so much of her or Halle hogging the parts (when there seriously are no parts. Berry has an Oscar. What is she in right now? Is she even working?)
There aren't any parts and the film industry has no imagination and WILL NOT take "risks" (real or perceived) on black talent.
What would be great if black entertainment types banded together and came up with their own production/studio house to churn out better quality films and more parts to prove to Hollywood there is a market for the "unknown" black actors. But until then ... Prepare to see Beyonce in EVERYTHING from now until she's not hot anymore.
Snob, you seem surprised that the 'chosen ones' like the Beyonces' of the world are vapid, soulless and robotic. You have to DIG DEEP to find real beauty and talent amoung the tripe marketed to the masses.
Most folks are lazy. They don't even TRY to find quality artists. How many people here regularly go to independent cinema or venture out to tiny lounges to see and support real artists?
Given the responses you received to the Beyonce-alternatives...well I say the alternatives even suck, and it's indicative of the taste level of your posters. If Lauryn Hill is the only artist you can scare up, that says a lot.
I can tell you guys grew up post-MTV, and didn't have the luxury of LISTENing to fantastic artists, and never SEEing them. Most music was on vinyl with a hole in the middle, and the artist's name & record company emblazoned on the label and, well, that was it. I grew up in a time where they didn't have to peddle someone 'recognizable as talent.' That was left for the consumer to figure out on their own.
Those artists could never get signed today in the shallow, looksist, hopelessly-perfectionistic, artless society we live in.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm accustomed to seeking out artistry and not having ad-execs market a handful of so-called artists to me. Posters seem to be content to do without real black artists. How many of you support black filmmakers in the beginning stages of their careers (to MAKE a film?) How many of you go to out-of-the-way art galleries the minute a black artist has an exhibition?
I can tell you for a fact Snob, so many of us ask these questions but don't realize the cause/effect connections. Much of the time we say, we want this or that, but our actions dictate who we support. You can't talk about the lack of great black films, while you're out buying bootleg DVDs. You can't argue about the depiction of black women in film when you support Tyler Perry.
Anyway, this is a topic I can go on and on about. I'll stop here for now.
Black Snob, you're speaking my language now. You know what's funny. When Angela Bassett tried to have that conversation about the quality of roles offered to black actresses, what happened? People felt that somehow she was berating Berry. Unfortunately, there are a number of conversations that we refuse to have because we don't want to be labeled as haters. Bravo, I agree with your post.
Wonderful analysis on Ms. Knowles. She has always bothered me, by the amount of attention she garners from fans and the media. I don't knock her talent as a singer. But she needs to stay away from film. She always comes across as either wooden or very plastic to me.
Thank you so much for the Breakdown on Beyonce! I think that Ms. Knowles can sing, and has genuine, world class talent, but she isn't my go-to girl when I need to hear real, true, bodice bursting, tears running down my face emotion from a vocalist.
(With that in mind,I'm going to seek out Lauryn's "Ex-Factor". It sounds like my type of song.)
Aulelia, I absolutely love Shirley Bassey, too, however I disagree that there are no other massive black R&B singers who are relatively young out here (England).
You will have heard of one 20 year old Alexandra Burke by now, and the world will get to know her name, too, soon enough.
That young lady has the vocal cords, the charisma, and the looks. It has been quite a while since I heard a voice that I kept wanting to hear over and over again.
Having heard and seen her go toe to toe with Beyonce singing "Listen" on TV's X Factor a few weeks back, I was surprised -and very pleased! - at how Alexandra not only held her own, but gave more than a hint of how things are going to be changing soon in the league of top women singers. She's just finished 2008 with the biggest selling record of the year, broken European download records and topped the Christmas charts with Leona at 2, and Beyonce at 3. And she's only been out here for about, what, 3 weeks or so.
Also, she was just singing live a couple of hours ago from the O2 Arena, as a guest of Elton John (love him), and that audience just ate her up. She has longevity written all over her.
I revisited my "Dreamgirls" CD, and, well, listened to "Listen" again. Alexandra sings it as it it was written for her and her alone. Can't wait to hear more from this young lady.
Love Mo' Better Blues, Denzel at his finest.
My little neice and nephews love her and one had the nerve to say that Bey was to them what Whitney was to us.
So young, so ignorant.
Anyway, enjoyed the post. Anywhere else and this discussion would have dwindled down to haters versus stans with a lot of name calling in between.
Love Mo' Better Blues, Denzel at his finest.
My little neice and nephews love her and one had the nerve to say that Bey was to them what Whitney was to us.
So young, so ignorant.
Anyway, enjoyed the post. Anywhere else and this discussion would have dwindled down to haters versus stans with a lot of name calling in between.
(Without reading any other comments...)
Oh Leslie Gore... I was just watching "The First Wives Club" today (that's my default movie when my non-cable TV is churning out a bunch of BLEH). I've had "You Don't Own Me" stuck in my head all day...
Good stuff :)
Mary J. Blige can't sing as well as Beyonce. I like Beyonce , the singer.
Girl you hit the nail on the head!!!!
Great post and analysis. I'm new to the blog and have been reading anonymously but I had to add my two cents.
Beyonce as Etta James was miscasting at it's best (worst?) She was miscast in "Dreamgirls" as well but that's a whole other story.
I must add another sit down, pour yourself a stiff drink and cry song. "Sit Down and Cry" by Aretha Franklin was never released as a single (I don't think), it's on one of her albums, and it never fails to leave me in a sodden heap on the floor.
Keep up the good work.
Wow! This is really excellent writing.
And I totally agree with you about Lauryn Hill's "Ex-Factor" (and almost any down-tempo track on that amazing album.) Another person who could sing (and write!) with real pathos is Tracy Chapman. Every song on her debut album is chilling.
Let me spread some info here since people seem to be completely unaware of what is going on with this chick.
It is really nice that the people that mention she is a great singer and the best pop star in the industry also conveniently forget to mention how she got there.
First of all she is NOT an artist she is a BRAND like McDonald. A lot of money has been spent (bought) to get her success. Lying about writing songs to get credit, stealing of complete songs, law suits that go a mile long, fraud going on behind the scenes to make her appear successful and basically the copying of other singers or celebrities that have done the hard work to create their craft. It's really cute of some people probably (stans) to quickly glance over that. If you have to do so much dirt to even become famous what is the point.
Well all i have to say to everyone here who thinks she is a real artist, you might want to do some research on her and find out the REAL reason why she's not saying anything and it has NOTHING to do with being private.
Two reasons!
1- she's a moron, she doesn't have the intelligence to conduct a normal interview because she didn't even finish high school. A lot of effort has been put to have her do as little non-scripted interviews as possible to hide this fact. Since education has never been placed high for her and her family, the point has come where she can't fake it like in the music industry. Acting is about being honest with yourself and not letting you ego control your emotions (see jennifer lopez, madonna). Unfortunately she and her family and quite delusional and really think she can act. This is going to be one hell of a train wreck because of their stubbornness to see that.
2-like i said there has been so much dirt and fraud going on behind the scene to make her APPEAR successful that she has to be very careful about what she says.
Unfortunately for her she is NOT a hustler but a MORON so she is not able to be smart enough to not let her mouth run all kinds of nonsense. Which is why she got busted numerous times.
I can tell from different blogs that more and more people are starting to find out about her dirt but right now those are just little pieces of the puzzle. Once the media or someone else picks up on ALL the dirty methods she and her family have done to get her where she is, it is going to be GAME OVER!
In my honest opinion that is going to be her real karma. The one thing that she is going to want (which is become an icon) is something she will never get!
You can't be an icon if your whole career was based on lying, cheating and most important taking work from other artists and making it your own.
That only makes you a copycat AND a fraud. And THAT what people are going to remember her by when everything is revealed!
Also just one more thing.
People need to stop saying she is the only black actress chosen in Hollywood. She is NOT and putting her name against Halle Berry is an insult to an Oscar winner.
She has only been offered small roles (AS A SINGER!) up to dreamgirls. She has NEVER opened a movie by herself and has always hid behind other actors, so this whole she is putting butts in the theater talk is nonsense. And after dreamgirls she is now BUYING ROLES AND CASTING HERSELF!!!!. She is not in high demand she and her team are just making it seem that way but as i was talking about KARMA earlier on that will make no differents, she can't act, doesn't have enough people that want to see her act (cadillac records) and she WILL continue to flop until it becomes painfully clear she is way out of her league.
Thank god acting is a skill where there is just no way to cheat.
I am no huge fan of Beyonce but she is what she is -- a pop star. It is no deeper than that. To try to ascribe to her a depth she shouldn't necessarily have or to lament the fact that she isn't more than she is a exercise in futility.
I applaud her because she is doing her thing. She is dancing and signing and striving and working her ass off. What she is doing may not be to your taste but she is what she is.
She shouldn't be blamed for taking a role that she was offered and given the opportunity to strive even more. The blame, if there is place to blame anyone, is the Hollywood system. Like Snob mentioned above Hollywood as a system in casting for films is incredibly shortsighted and lazy. They don't want to find and nurture talent, they want a sure thing (someone people already know) or they want lightning in a bottle. If it were up to them Angelina Jolie would be in every movie (and imo she's not that great of an actress either).
In regards Halle Berry -- Halle is not a power broker in Hollywood. She never appears on the power broker lists. She is the most recognizable black actress but even she herself continues to mention that she is still subject to racism in Hollywood. If you want to point fingers to black people who are in a position of power to nurture or introduce new talent then look to Oprah or Shonda Rimes (who continues to piss me off that she doesn't bother to cast any other black actresses on her show but has a revolving door of young, nubile white actresses).
I totally agree with Anonymous no.81 about Alexandra Burke. Alexandra really held her own against Beyonce when singing but let her self waaay down by blubbing all over the place and kissing Beyonce's arse. (Seriously find it on youtube - X Factor 2008 final, girl should have just said "Beyonce, hook me up and be my friend, pleeeeeease!) That girl has some soul in her and knows what it means to SING not just give a show, unfortunately Beyonce doesn't seem to understand that the former needs to be mastered if you're gonna be giving shows in 20 years. When she's 55 and can no longer rock a pair of knickers and a sparkly top and call it an outfit, how many people will be lining up to hear her warble through "Green Light"?
I agree with the Anon who said not to blame Beyonce, blame the Hollywood casting directors. That being said, I refuse to watch Beyonce play Etta. It is a totally preposterous and impossible thing for me to pretend like America's Favorite Black Pop Princess has even a scintilla of the soul and life that Etta had.
Great breakdown, Snob!
You broke things down quite well. And I'm glad that I'm not the only one who has such a strong hatred for that got-damn "If I Were A Boy".
I just disagree with one small thing - you have to love Mary J. Blige LOL! I love her music. It reaches to the deepest recesses of my soul. Tina, Chaka, Aretha, Mary, Faith, discombobulated Lauryn, Whitney, Anita, Mavis, etc..... you ccan just feel them throughtout every fiber of your being when they sing.
Beyonce, on the other hand, is shallow and superficial. She's like cotton candy - a lot of fluff and no substance. She reminds me of a friend of mine actually, who happens to love Beyonce.
I'm so glad that I'm not the only one who is annoyed by Beyonce.
And I have to agree with Anonymous January 1, 2009 8:23 PM - she's also a f---ing moron.
I've never been a fan of Beyonce but I can't be mad at her attempts of shielding her real self from the world.
Lauryn Hill gave up her pain and spoke truth and now everyone has something to say... she's crazy for having so many kids, insane for walking away from a red hot career, a maniac for shaving her locs, loopy for her husband.
Beyonce's misguided way she's just trying to protect herself. Which in the end is futile because now we criticize her cuz she won't give us enough to criticize.
Of course the sacrifice she makes is real passion, intensity, and grit in her music.
Wow...this has to be one of my favorite blogs of yours to date. You actually brought me to tears, the way you described where the emotion in the songs come from, the underlying father issues, family issues, etc...you are so on point. This was beautifully written and so deep! I love it.
Beyonce is a joke in Hollywood.
Now I see where intelligent dialogue convenes, your blog is refreshing, you have a new fan.
brilliant!
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