Have you watch/ heard Beyonce’s new video for her album Lemonade? It aired on HBO over the weekend and I dvr’d it and just finished watching. It’s an hour long video with her new songs. Some are saying it is all about Jay Z’s infidelity. Lots of cameos from different people. I have always loved her music as she can really sing. I remember when we took our girls when they were very young in 2000 to see Christina Aguilera and Destiny’s Child was the opening act. We could tell then Beyonce would be a star.
We saw Christina Aguilera and the two members of Destiny’s Child (I think it was Beyonce and Kelly) at the big radio station concert, in the 90s 
I saw it. The video/visual album was VERY deep, full of awesome cinematography. The fallout from the video, well, that has been a whole different story. Anyone who is a beyonce fan knows that she has a legion of fans called the “Beyhive”. This group of individuals are absolutely fanatics for any and all things Beyonce. They were convinced that Bey was referencing Jay Z cheating with Rachel Roy, so they went after her on Instagram and Twitter with a vengeance after she(Rachel Roy) posted a pic captioned “good hair dont care”, which is a line in one of the songs referencing Jay Z cheating with Becky with the good hair. It has been quite entertaining. Unfortunately, some of her superfans decided the rachel roy=rachel ray, and the latter(famous chef) has been getting miserable tweets as well.
Yet another reason to be glad I don’t do twitter… ^#(^
Poor Rachel Ray!
I find that bewildering! I’m not such a fan of anyone I don’t know personally that I would get that into their personal affairs so ferociously. It’s a teeny bit pathetic. Be a fan, not someone poor Beyoncé needs to worry is a potential stalker! Yikes! X_X
I watched it last night at loved it. Quite haunting and beautiful. Beyonce is very talented but I’ve never personally loved her music. I think I will buy some of the songs from this album though. The one where she sings about fathers and the one she sang about forgiveness (that showed a lot of Jay Z). The acting, dancing, cinematography - really well done!
I still find Beyoncé at the level of “oh, she will be a trivia contest answer 10 years from now.” Disappointed that the NYT ran an above-the-fold feature on this. She’s not a musician / songwriter of any repute. I don’t think any of her songs will stand the test of time. Other than Single Ladies at a wedding bouquet toss, lol.
The video does appear interesting from a cinematography standpoint. But how much of that is her versus people around her?
^^^Disagree. I see her being super well respected among teens/20’s/30’s - her music and more. And they will be the ones determining who stands the test of time. I would put her in the ranks of Justin Timberlake - who male-wise, is one - if anyone - currently popular who can “stand the test of time”.
I also think that her music will stand the test of time. I though the Lemonade video was beautifully done and enjoyed watching it.
I haven’t listened to or watched anything to do with Lemonade. However, just a comment about this:
I don’t agree. I don’t think Beyonce is just a passing hit wonder. I think she is a huge star that has not only been around for some time already, but will be for some time to come. She is a very well respected artist. My D, who is a professional performing artist and singer/songwriter, is in total awe of Beyonce and has been for many years.
There was a lot of vitriol in the comments on that NY Times article. I was a bit shocked. If you don’t like her musical style, fine, it’s not for everybody. Nothing is. But calling her names, insulting her work ethic, criticizing her clothing - especially after she’s put out something so emotionally revealing, is just awful.
I enjoy Beyonce’s music, but I do not understand the fanatical worship of her among many around my age. Beyonce is undoubtedly incredibly talented and I understand how she’s gotten to megastar status (and I also disagree with the trivia question in 10 years) but I just don’t understand why so many people hang on her every word and put their lives on hold when she releases a new album. It’s just bizarre to me.
I haven’t seen the new special because my attention span isn’t that long. I’ll probably watch it eventually.
I forgot Justin Timberlake existed. I didn’t like anything he did after “Sexyback.” I think Bruno Mars might end up having more longevity than him.
I think it’s easy to revile pop music while it’s happening but I really do occasionally like hearing some old pop music like Donna Summer these days! I think Beyonce and Bruno Mars will stand the test of time. I don’t like Justin Timberlake, so he’ll probably stick around too.
The comments on that NYT article sounded like parents in the 60s. “Yuck–you call that rock and roll music???”
They were an embarrassment. A real get off my (musical) lawn moment.
Musicians I know totally respect her talent. But you know, she’s not talking to us. (and the Beatles weren’t talking to our parents, either.)
Sure they were. How old were your parents, for goodness sakes? Both my parents and my grandparents loved the Beatles. And the Stones while we are at it. My then-pregnant-with-me mother hung around a hotel in Atlantic City trying to catch a glimpse of the Beatles so I come by my own Beatlephile tendencies honestly :-). This isn’t at all about “get off my lawn” and there is plenty of great young talent out there. I do like Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars. For me, I haven’t seen anything from Beyoncé that wows me other than just general danceable pop but heck, I’ll check this out more and maybe my opinion will change!
Btw I don’t have any “issue” with her, she’s certainly talented enough and I have no reason to doubt her work ethic. i just don’t get the adoration of her, that’s all.
I’m cynical enough to believe the whole “infidelity” theme is a marketing ploy to increase Lemonade’s sales & profile. After all, isn’t JZ’s company streaming the music?
Thank you, Katliamom, that’s my thought too. They will only stream Lemonade on Tidal, Jay-Z’s struggling music streaming service. Tidal’s membership spiked over the weekend after Beyonce released the album. He basically came out with a statement today saying that he knew what she was releasing and that they had worked through all of it. He went on to say that it was a good financial decision to put this music out there. They are both shrewd business people.
Lemonade was a visual album about many things, including forgiveness, and the marginalization of Black women. I dont expect everyone to get it, but for those of you are interested on some great pieces, here ya go.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/jamelia/dear-piers-morgan-beyonce-lemonade_b_9778470.html
http://www.elle.com/culture/music/a35903/lemonade-call-and-response/
@partof5, I agree that the infidelity thing is the LEAST interesting aspect of Lemonade.
I love how more & more she’s incorporating social issues into her music. To some extent she’s always been vocal about women’s self-awareness and esteem, for example, but I think she’s now clearly moving beyond her pop-culture-goddess status and consciously becoming more relevant by being more political.