It Must Be Magic is the euphoric feeling I got the first time I listened to the Teena Marie album of the same title. I hope anyone who reads my blog will share with me in that feeling.
So, on Friday, the 13th at exactly midnight, Beyonce' decided to drop an entire visual album. 14 tracks, 17 videos, without any promotion, announcements, hoopla - nothing. I watched as my Twitter timeline went into an absolute FRENZY. Then, I decided to preview the album on Itunes. So, at about 12:23, I was clicking the BUY button on Itunes and watching impatiently as each item downloaded on my iPad.
THIS BITCH RIGHT HERE...
She makes you say things like that, but for this post, I won't get into how much of a masterpiece this body of work is, instead I will focus on her and Jay's ode to their love "Drunk in Love"!
So, this video is set on a beach, at night, it's dark and the beginning with the weird almost creepy intro, makes you think this is going to be some tragic op-art piece. Then that bass line kicks and you realize soon thereafter, that this is almost a ghetto love song. We watch as Beyonce' does every street dance that most hoodrats coast to coast are more than familiar with. However, not to get too caught up in Jay and Bey's PDA, it's the lyrics that make this song a star!
"Can't keep your eyes off my fatty, daddy...I want you"
"We woke up in the kitchen saying how the hell did this shit happen, oh baby"
"Graining on that wood, graining, graining on that wood. I'm swerving on that, swerving, swerving on that big body. Been serving all this...surfing all up in this good, good."
"We be all night...LOOOOOOVE!!!"
"Talking bout you be repping that 3rd. I want to see all of the shit that I heard. No, I clink clink Eastwood, hope you can handle this curve."
"Fourplay in the foyer. Fucked up my Warhol. Slid your panties right to the side, I ain't got the time to take draws off."
"On sight, catch a charge I might, beat the box up like Mike! In 97 I bite. I'm Ike Turner, Turner, baby I don't play. Now eat the cake Anna Mae, said eat the cake Anna Mae!"
Okay, so some of these lyrics may come off as being a bit confusing. But really, Bey and Jay are bragging about their great sex life. After more than ten years together and 5 years married, I can't really hate on that. You really get that sense, when the camera catches the light shining off Jay's Rocafella necklace. Jay rapped: "I got the hottest chick in the game wearing my chain!" The Black Album was released 10 YEARS AGO!!! My how time flies.
They really tried to be subtle. (hee hee) There are plenty of metaphors and double entendre's in this song, but at the end of the day, they are still in love and love expressing how much they still are in love with each other. I can't help but laugh at all of the people who just knew this relationship/marriage/baby was all fake. Let them love. Meanwhile, this mess is on repeat!
I was a junior in college when I took Intro to Women's Studies. It was a required core course that I took, thinking it would be fun to study the journey that women have had to take in society just to be not only seen but equal. As a literary geek, I didn't have to do to much research when reading Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen to understand why the elder Mrs. Bennett was so desperately trying to marry off all of her daughters. Women were not allowed at that time, which would've been early nineteenth-century England to own property or trusts. A woman basically wasn't allowed to take care of herself, no matter how smart and capable she was.
When this class first began, we explored these early challenges women faced, discussing how women would and could lose all of their property to a male cousin, brother or husband just for having a womb. Fast forward to the activism of the 60's and 70's. Women ripped off their bras, marched in the street, got "Roe v. Wade" passed, became CEO's, etc. But just like the image above feminism was subtly predominately white. Even for me in that class, it wasn't until we studied the later years that I realized, not one African-American or woman of African descent had ever been brought up in class. We're discussing feminism, and made it all the way to the 60's and not one mention of Harriet Tubman? How was that even possible?
I also realized that I could not personally identify with much of the feminism movement, which literally took up about 50% of the course. So, why am I discussing this today? Well, after Beyonce' literally shut the Superbowl down, the Internet went into a collective frenzy over her announcement of concert dates coming this Spring/Summer. She even released a commercial in the UK regarding upcoming shows at O2 Arena in London. Donned in traditional regal dress fit for a queen, Bey sashayed out in ridiculously high stilleto heels and demurely looked into the camera as the title: THE MRS. CARTER WORLD TOUR scrolled. This angered feminists from Cali to NY. Correction: this angered white feminists.
I follow a good number of progressive and controversial women on Twitter, and none of them even mentioned the promo. However, feminists, all of whom just happened to be white, LOST IT! They weren't upset that Beyonce wore a gold wide-set crinoline (normally worn under traditional gowns to give a wide set bell look) on the outside of a fancy gold corset. They weren't upset that she wore gold encrusted thigh-high red royal 6-inch stilleto boots. They weren't upset that her lightened skin showcased a pouty red-lip that screamed sex! No, they were upset because she called it the MRS. CARTER TOUR! *double sigh*
The teacher that taught my women's studies class was married and pregnant as she taught the course. Week by week I saw girl after girl in my class lose respect for her, as we delved deeper into feminism. They deemed her a feminist in fantasy because she was married to a man. By the end of the semester, it was clear that at least 87% of my class were also lesbians. They felt the professor was not and could not be a feminist because her marrying a man meant that she'd conformed to the patriarchal demands of society. They also felt that her being pregnant by him was her acceptance of this conformity, thus making her unfit as a feminist. WHAT? Me, being the meticulous person I am, went home and read the text practically cover-to-cover. I saw nothing in the feminism chapter regarding marriage, except the right of a woman to choose not to get married if she didn't want to. My poor professor got riled in class by these girls who truly believed conformity of any kind deemed a woman as being weak, and definitely NOT a feminist. I couldn't have disagreed more. I argued that our teacher was married, pregnant and tenured at the third largest university in the state. Needless to say, I was not popular in this class. In fact, I was often excluded, which was due more to the fact that I just didn't feel attached to the majority of their causes.
Black women in America often deal with negative images, as well as prejudices regarding our race. This double-edged sword forces us to stay on top of our game, especially if you work in corporate america, but we have never felt the need to "masculinize" ourselves in order to be equal. Here, silly me, I thought feminism was so women could enjoy the basic rights men enjoy, such as owning property, equal pay for the same work, etc. But, you will not hear me or many of my black counterparts to wave a red flag and claim to be just like men. Not only do we not agree with that, it's just not true! In my opinion, that is the power in being a woman, the fact that we are different in a lot of ways than men. The fact that we can be feminine, bring life into the world, be smart, nurturing and all of the things that God made us to be. So, why then does it seem, that feminists are so determine to make women JUST LIKE MEN? I find that insulting. I did in college, and I still do.
So back to this Beyonce' promo for her tour. She called it the MRS. CARTER WORLD TOUR, because guess what, she IS Mrs. Carter! Her husband is Shawn Carter, a/k/a Jay-Z. Why does she have to just be Beyonce'? She just had this man's child a year ago for goodness sake. And so now, she is expected to deny that she is not only a brand, but a married woman, with a child? When did this become popular? And how come no one railed against Madonna when she married Guy Ritchie, moved to England, where he is from and took up a whole new life? Why are these alleged feminists coming for Beyonce' so hard? I will say it. Because Beyonce' doesn't look like them. Because, even the most progressive black women who stand on the front lines for women's rights, will not deny their husbands or any important man in their life, for the cause. We, unlike our white counterparts, exist in a country that works against us daily. We have no choice but to know who we are. We don't need a movement for identity. Beyonce' was a brand before she became Mrs. Carter, and she will continue to expand her brand. So, to all of the Caucasian women out there using the cover of a movement to hide the fact that it's basically a self-imposed identity for them, HAVE A SEAT! Don't be upset, simply because it is not the be-all for every woman who considers herself down for women's rights. I hope to someday teach my daughter (if I have one) to be self-sufficient, brilliant, brave, feminine and proud. I will also teach her that marriage will only enhance those attributes, and that she will never be less than, because of it.
To Beyonce' - SALUTE TO YOU MRS. CARTER! See you July 17 in Chicago.
So, this little gem popped up on my Twitter early this morning, and I have to say, I was feeling it immediately! This jawn, appropriately titled, "Party," features Beyonce', Andre 3000 and Kanye. It was produced by Ye and Consequence, and it has that late 90's R&B, hip-hop feel to it.
So here it is the middle of April and it is still cold outside. In fact, Sunday before last, which I believe was Palm Sunday, it was FREAKING SNOWING outside!!! I was incredulous to say the least. The irony that I live in Chicago and I am adverse to cold weather is not lost on me. This year though, the weather has been RI-DAM-DICULOUS! One day, it is a warm breezy seventy degrees and the very next, it is 35 and snowing outside like it is December. I'm officially over it already.
So lately, on the bus, I have found that my patience bar is at an all-time low. The Chicago Transit Authority has now gone environmental and for some months now have had Hybrid buses on the street. These large monstrous, yet environmental buses have "touch" back-doors. Yet, every single day someone gets their non-reading arse on the bus and stands there like an idiot at their stop as if the back doors are supposed to magically open on their own. Nevermind the fact that in BIG BOLD letters, it specifically says "PRESS HANDS HERE TO OPEN"! I mean seriously folks, a child could figure this out. It amazes me how everyday, people do the same dumb crap. Reading truly is fundamental.
So Da Bulls (in my Southside of Chicago Irish voice), are in the playoffs. YAY! However, they are playing Boston in the first round. Shall I plan the summer vacay now? Seriously though, I have a hunch that this series won't be the sweep that people think it will be. If my hunch is right, then Boston is in for quite the windy ride against the Chi!
On a political note, can you believe these uber-conservative Republicans throwing these (dare I say) TEABAGGING parties??? I mean I don't know if anyone else is oblivious to the double entendre here, but if we are dealing with idiots, they will be showing up to the party with an entirely different idea than protesting the raising of taxes. What I wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall at one of those mix-ups...LOL! If we don't raise some taxes, then our great-great-great=great grandchildren will be still paying for our debt. Speaking of which, the Obama's paid almost 900K in taxes last year. GEEZ LOUISE! Talk about practicing what you preach.
Music News
I am still amped about the I AM tour coming to the States. Rumor has it that when the tour hits the U.S., Mrs. Carter will be touring with Mr. Carter! Can you imagine that? That freakin show will be sold out in like 5 minutes.
SIR DRAKE!
Yes, I am still on that Drake Mixtape. Right now, he is the only cat out there who is both rapping and singing well. No disrespect to Ye and Weezy, but they need to stick to that initial career of JUST rapping. Drake has an ill flow, with a Hova swagger, although he is killing Mr. Carter in the substance. Then he flips it, and will sing a la Joe/Kenny Latimor-ish and it kind of blows you away. This kid will be around for a while, I am just feeling his swag right now. A friend of mine couldn't get into him because she's not into light-skinneded (ugh) dudes...I will be so glad when black people stop being so color-struck. Truthfully what does complexion have to do with talent? And we say slavery is over with...
This whole Keri Hilson v. Beyonce, Ciara, Pussy Cat Dolls or whoever is just too ridiculous to really be addressed. Get on first. Get established first. Get platinum first. Achieve stadium status ON YOUR OWN FIRST! Now that, that is out of the way. Her album is nice, not awe-inspiring, but radio friendly, clean your house while listening to it kind of record.
I have also been blazing that N.E.R.D. "Seeing Sounds" records. If you don't have this record - go out and buy it, trust, it is such a worthy purchase! Gotta love those Star Trak boys! That Jada record review will be next.
Oceans 7
So, it is no secret, I am like addicted to YouTube. I need to cut back on watching it at work (yeah I know), but Jermaine Dupri has a channel on YouTube called Living the Life. Those who regularly watch it are called Lifers. What has become interesting is this Oceans Boy clique he has put together. The Oceans 7 are: Jermaine Dupri - The General Johnta Austin - Johnny Sinatra Usher - The Light Bryan Michael Cox - The Texas Ranger Tyrone (JD's Asst.) - Intynational Trey Songz - 007/11 Nelly - Moe(?)
These guys are typical men, they are truly an explicit male version of the View. The things they discuss are hilarious, crass at times, but definitely entertaining. Check them out.
Okay, so a few weeks back, Keri Hilson releases the remix to her song, "Turnin Me On," and in the remix she appears to be dissing Beyonce and Ciara. Some of the language in the song, would leave ANYBODY to infer that she is most definitely talking about Beyonce and possibly even Ciara.
Now, I am no R&B peacemaker, however, I do believe in staying in one's place. This remix came out even before her album dropped, so it just seemed premature, not to mention ridiculous for her to be talking shyt! Either way, experience is the best teacher, and she will find out that in the industry, if you don't have the proverbial IT factor, it doesn't matter how many hot songs you write/produce, the spotlight isn't for everybody. Only time will tell.
So, I come across this video on YouTube of this Beyonce stan completely LOSING it about the diss. To say this mess is funny, is an understatement. Check it out!
So, I am perusing LoveBScott.com and I come across a story where apparently, Rihanna's publicist, Jonathan Hay, began fabricating rumors about Rihanna and Jay-Z when MTV first started playing her breakout single, "Pon De Replay".
Hay was introduced to Rihanna via the producer of Replay, Vada Nobles. Nobles who became infamous for the very public lawsuit with Lauryn Hill regarding her breakout album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. So, Hay immediately planted people to hit message boards and chat rooms spreading rumors that there was some romantic dealings between Jay and Rihanna because Jay was dating the super-famous Beyonce, and nothing sells like gossip. This propelled television networks to run stories on her, as well as radio stations to play her. So, in essence, Rihanna has Beyonce to thank for her career.
"Jonathan Hay: I feel awful but, yes, I leaked some of those stories. Looking back, I am ashamed of that; there was zero integrity in that maneuver. But this is entertainment and I wanted to obtain publicity - so I came up with some crazy stories and it worked. Rihanna is one of the biggest stars in the world now, and look at how she stormed into the business! Not to take anything from her - she is a great artist - but every artist needs a launching pad and there is nothing better than a good scandal to get the public’s attention. (Laughing)"
All I can say is that this is lame as hell. And umm Jonathan, it didn't quite work as well as you would like. Although Rihanna has definitely gotten the "crossover" crowd, she still gets upstaged by Beyonce anytime they have to share the same stage. And, Bee and Jay got hitched, so clearly they didn't fall for it. Whatever happened to people selling records because they have the talent to do so???
Okay, so on my previous post, I posted the two new singles that Beyonce dropped on Friday. I was not a huge fan of both songs, but felt they were solid. Then yesterday, Beyonce had the nerve, I mean the absolute audacity to drop both videos on the same day. And just like that, I was sucked in. Both videos are HOT!!! Not to mention, the videos make you LOVE the songs. DAMMIT BEYONCE!
She is one of those people, as soon as you think, maybe she fell off, or needs to go on a two-year hiatus, she comes at you with something so good, you are surfing the net at work to check it out.
SINGLE LADIES
This was the song that I liked the least when I first heard it. I thought it sounded like a bootleg "Get Me Bodied". Then I saw the video, and even in its simplicity, it was fierce! First, let me say, her body is sick! I want to be in "Beyonce shape," because clearly, she has her own anatomy. The black and white was fitting, the dancers were killing it, and they were attractive and very complimentary. But, I think what floored me, was the video had my attention, from the first synth to the very end when she laughs.
IF I WERE A BOY
Now, I did like this song when I heard it, however, I thought it was more feel-good pop than she normally does. The video, however, takes this song to a whole new level. It is, shall I say, DEEP! The message is clear and unlike, Ciara's "Like a Boy," it is not simply a change of wardrobe. Beyonce gutter punches men with this song, but not in a hateful way, but in a vulnerable, this is my side, kind of way. I will predict now, that this song will be a HUGE hit. Even bigger than Irreplaceable! What I love about it is just like "Single Ladies," she has the black and white theme. Yet, in this video she is very stripped down, not too much makeup, no lace front wigs or weave, and she looks great.
I have to be honest, I wasn't wowed by either track. "If I Were A Boy," is a pop ballad. It has that Irreplaceable feel to it. I imagine, she will blow this live, but I am not sure how urban radio friendly this song will be. "Single Ladies," sounds a lot like Get Me Bodied, but a little more futuristic. It will have to grow on me, but both songs are solid. I guess I am waiting on that "oh yes this is it" track. Haven't heard it yet.
Needless to say, media blogs have had a field day with these singles leaking on the day that Michelle Williams' album came out. Don't know if there is some correlation there, but it makes sense. Her album does come out next month.
