Why Don’t You Love Beyonce?
Step into my office. And just for a second, let’s leave our ultra-feminist/womanist egos at the door. The imagined barriers that separate us from our “other” sisters. The “I graduated from college–she didn’t” wall. You understand. This isn’t another postmodern feminist read. This is rather best received as an unsolicited response. Guns down ladies. I come in peace.
Why does Beyonce get under our skin?
Beyonce presents a hybrid of stan allegiance, angst and utter disgust. And dare I say, closeted envy? She’s pretty dumb, pretty blonde, pretty fake, pretty married, pretty paid and pretty pretty.
Face it, the sista has it all. Or at least all we were sold on having. She has the dream career and the dream marriage (would you have ever thought we’d describe the “Girls, Girls, Girls” Jay Z as such?). But we no longer gag at these classic “I have arrived” formulations. We’re more interested in substance. Why do we presume this is the very thing Beyonce lacks?
The singer’s early interviews revealed she wasn’t the smartest chick off the Houston block. She fumbled over words, appeared uneasy, and at times her eyes roamed to the ceiling. Beyonce quickly earned Black music’s airhead title and we’ve given her little room to out grow it. Beyonce’s ’60 Minutes’ interview however shuts down those staining coming of age moments. Albums later, the strings were seemingly unfastened. A 28-year-old confident and mature Beyonce emerged. In charge of her brand, the superstar declared she puts herself first.
She’s far from the loud mouthed industry prima donna– she saves her “Diva” antics for the stage brilliantly marketing an alter ego Sasha Fierce. The gusty temptress allows space for a more private Beyonce she leaves only to a curious public imagination. We actively wonder what of Beyonce, the woman and Beyonce, the wife.
On Jay: “Make him think he’s in control”
Beyonce gives the Southern Belle makeup able to compliment a larger than life hip hop king’s ego. She stands in demure posture; the 16 Grammy Award winner is a quiet storm who quietly upgrades. Imagine the couple vacationing on a private island (as they probably are right now). In the company other wealthy lads Shawn Carter boasts on a yacht about his latest capitalist venture and his “on to the next one” spend. The men blow out hearty laughs and cigar smokes. Somewhere in a noiseless corner Beyonce sits near a pool smiling on the inside giving only the gracious *sigh*. Nearly 10 years later she epitomizes Destiny’s Child’s chart topping “Independent Women Part 1″ single — she tops the Forbes list and yes she makes more dough than her man. Lest we forget with a pretty crafty prenup in tact.
She simultaneously offers her latest alter ego creation B. B. Homemaker. A stylish 50′s housewife where dusting in 4-inch designer heels is a fashionable inconvenience. Beyonce belts out lyrics Betty Draper could only imagine. A nostalgic symbol of Americana juxtaposed by sassy temper–to many of our counterparts this is a shock factor. But for Black women in America, it’s in our matrilineal blood–audaciousness is what we do.
“You ain’t never seen a nigga like me ever in your life.
And that’s what you can’t understand!” — Diddy, “Hate Me Now”
Beyonce the branded brainless girl is no distinction. The artist has clearly taken cues from her mother. Tina Knowles quietly dismissed herself from a cheating husband, managing to skip Wade-like controversy. Beyonce’s squeaky clean image is perhaps more than due to a PR strong hold, could it be her rearing? Beyonce’s success rivals if not out performs her counterparts. Yet we’ve seen little of a wild party girl. No DUI. No criminal court appearances and no panty-less car exiting. She seems to have mastered old school ‘good girl’ rules — the kind that will make him ‘put a ring on it’ while concocting an unparalleled career arguably unseen in recent memory. Beyonce sells sex and ‘House of Dereon’ sheets. What’s outwardly unusual about it all is that she anchors and sails her own ship.
What’s wrong with being sexy?
Decades after the women’s/feminist movement, some how we still conceptualize the feminist or more liberally, the socially conscious woman as a makeup-less, bra-burning, hair wrap wearing butch. A disregarded or misinterpreted sexual revolution unrealized, today a woman in towering Brian Atwoods and a cute mini is still not taken seriously. Beyonce’s stage costumes and sidewalk paparazzi shows are visual appetizers to men and an eye-rolling, nose-turned up presentation to some Black women. No doubt some looks and moves are suggestive and we aren’t co-signing ‘Single Ladies’ children. But why can’t a near 30-year-old woman be sexy? Much of her off-stage looks are often casual and understated ensembles, excluding her signature fire-hydrant red lips.
A friend-less Bey?
Notice she never runs in packs. That is outside of her own entourage. Beyonce isn’t spotted conveniently lunching at a California camera hotspot with the coveted Hollywood BFF crew. Her friends much like her image is protected. Entertainment’s female rat packs often appear to be constructed to solicit some kind of media attention. Twitpics of peace sign and kiss throwing images shows industry camaraderie gone fake. Ever since Beyonce tied the knot with Jay Z, she’s rarely seen with anyone else. This is met with relative contention and understandably so. But when you’re on top of the world its presumably hard to have genuine friendships, even with a cousin. Damn.
Beyonce vs. Black Women
Beyonce strikes a strange discord with Black women. We’ve undoubtedly witnessed a decade of Beyonce-over load–making her the woman we love to hate and perhaps the woman we’d like to miss. What really stops the singer from receiving the kind of nobel Alicia Keys praise? Even amid the Swizz Beatz-MaShonda controversy, Alicia Keys escapes the fight nearly blameless. We spare no punches with Beyonce. We deconstruct her every flaw–such is the life of an international celebrity.
But can we stand to consider the things we can learn from her? Is there some concealed part of our collective selves that admires her? Perhaps her pleading vocals in “Why Don’t You Love Me” speaks not only to an ungrateful man but also to her estranged sistas, “Why don’t you love me? Tell me (sista) why don’t you love me?”
114 Comments – Add Yours
Latest Articles
Most Popular This Week
Recent Comments
-
aurora on
Dear H&M: Thank You For Reminding Us Beauty Doesn’t Stop At Size 6
Many plus sized models ARE healthy. How much fat you have on you has very little to do with your actual fitness level. While its good to...
-
Elle Michelle on
Meagan Good Tells Life & Style She & Her Fiancée Are Waiting For Their Wedding Night
Exactly.
-
Elle Michelle on
The Black Beauty Standard
Love it! Thanks for sharing. My dad has been telling me to read that book. You inspired me to check it out.
-
Elle Michelle on
The Black Beauty Standard
Clap, clap. Bravo. There is no need for us to criticism each other's body types.
I had the pleasure of watching her grow up and perform (she was in my mother’s P.E. class before signing to Columbia) plus, she was always in singing competitions such as myself….I was never in her category because she was younger than me. (thank goodness lol!)
I got to see her sing when she was 8 and the room stopped because this little girl was acting a donkey (in a good way) on stage to be so young…..
Her mother owned a very nice beauty salon and you would always see pics of her babies (headshots) on the mirror and so on.
My idea of a singer is someone who can SING….it’s simple. Beyonce can blow any of her competition out of the water…..let’s name a few…..CIARA (boo, just stop singing please), ALICIA KEYS (yeah I said it…she can play the piano…but she’s flat most of the time…hard to listen to being a musician myself….and she has a piano right there with her…no excuse), FIONA WHAT’S HER NAME? (she can’t either), and let’s not forget everybody’s favorite ghetto superstar. MARY J BLIGE…I know ya’ll love her but she hollers most of the time and is all over the place.
Beyonce is a triple threat: beauty, dance, and she can blow. It was always one or the other with her competition…she covers all three plus she could blow at a gospel concert, jazz (saw it for my own eyes) and anything else she puts her mind to.
What people fail to realize is that she and her family are smart…don’t let the southern drawl confuse you……that is what most southerners have to deal with….being thought as dumb until we have passed you up because we caught you slipping.
Respect her gangsta and move on…..you don’t have to like everything she does, but give her her props….
Houston Baby!
It’s weird, but it seems there has always been a disconnect with Beyonce. I don’t dislike her, but I don’t feel any connection with her either.
I have no idea who this woman is…..and I think it’s that disconnect that keeps her from being a true icon, which is something she seems to crave.
And I think when you hear women (in comments) talk about not relating to her as an artist or a woman…..it’s that gap again, that disconnect.
I don’t know what she can do to connect. And I am not talking about gossip about her private life. I think the mechanisms she uses to protect her private life, also keeps her from connecting with her audience. She is unable to reveal herself, without jeopardizing her privacy, which is a hard wire to walk. Also, I don’t know if she’s just uncomfortable talking in interviews, but she always lacks genuineness. I get no sense of her as a person, no substance.
I don’t think much of Beyonce. She’s like a pretty, entertaining cardboard cutout.
I don’t know her outside of her music and vids. I like some of her catchy tunes and she may have me snapping my fingers and tapping my feet, but that’s about as deep as it gets.
I think that until she finds a way to open up, she’ll go down as one of the most successful female entertainers, but she won’t be an icon.
i completely agree, i see beyonce more as an entertainer, who sings great pop music but it starts and ends there. whenever i hear some of her ballads though, she sings it well , i can never connect with her on an emotional level that i can with say chrisette or a celine dion or corinne bailey rae, and i get the feeling that that is what she wants to convey, but it does not come across. i would also like her to give credit where it is dues sometimes, particularly songwriting.
i seems to me that beyonce wants to be a lady gaga and a sade. but beyonce is more of a pop artist than the soulful one she wants to convey, though there is nothing wrong with that
but there are a lot of unfortunate assumptions being made about people who are not fans of beyonce’s music, sure some dislike her for no apparent reason, that does not mean all of the people who do not like her music, are fat, obese dark skinned and lonely as one commenter, disparagingly stated.
I have never felt genuinely moved by her work even though I will dance to her songs and watch her music videos. It’s all something that’s been done by someone before. Save for the fact that she’s got a brilliant marketing machine that keeps forcing her stuff down our throats. And she won’t take a break cause they are afraid that some REAL stuff will pop out of the wood works and expose her so-called ART for just the pop machine gimmick that it is. If she were clothed, and not jumping all over the place hollering(singing) would her stuff still catch your attention. Music marketing preys on the fact that there is a sucker born everyday and there will always be that person who has never listened Whitney, Mariah(old skool), Lauryn, Ella, (and many other artists whose music you wont come across)… for whom Beyonce is as good as it gets…. Until she steps away for a minute to allow an artist who is a REAL game-changer(not in terms of sales but substance) to come through and impress us all over again. P.S: Even Lady gaga has got her beat on this one cause despite being just as empty, she has shown a little glimpse of her creativity(aka wild outfits) which despite being a desperate cry for attention, people admire for the innovation. Queen B wants to be an icon and is afraid to step away for 2 seconds, less she be forgotten…
^It’s sad when people assume that a certain accent means that the person is dumb. People have said that Beyonce is shy. I’m shy too and talk the same way: not making much eye contact, thinking about what I’m going to say, etc.
I’m a Beyonce fan, but even a small part of me hates her because she’s so good at what she does. She does questionable things e.g. her songwriting=adding two or three words, her clothes are sometimes TOO raunchy, and it would be nice if she got in contact with her fans more like others do on Youtube, Ustream, Twitter, etc. She’s already said that she doesn’t go online and doesn’t see the point in Twitter (neither do I…), so that’s going to happen.
I understand being shy but let’s be real. this woman has been singing/performing since she was a teen.. actually before then.. she should know how to fake it by now. and there’s no why she’s that shy doin what she does on stage and in videos. there is a difference between being shy and being unfriendly and she seems to be a bit of both but i think moreso she doesn’t feel the need to please her fans.
AnonyMiss wrote: “I understand being shy but let’s be real. this woman has been singing/performing since she was a teen.. actually before then.. she should know how to fake it by now. and there’s no why she’s that shy doin what she does on stage and in videos. there is a difference between being shy and being unfriendly and she seems to be a bit of both but i think moreso she doesn’t feel the need to please her fans.”
*************************************************************************************
Fans leave a Beyoncé concert knowing she’s given 110% and more, but I especially disagree with the bold.
One of my favorite artists is Prince (well, specifically, everything he did before the start of the millennium) and this is a musician whose short scrawny behind would rock pants with his bootie cheeks showing and hanging out. A lot of his joints were the naughtiest, raunchiest songs ever written (but in a classy way IMO) and he’s also always been media-shy, rarely did/does interviews, in the game over 30 years, and still explosive in concert.
Michael Jackson started when he was around 5 and was similarly shy with the media. He was infamous for his crotch-grabbing, hip-thrusting and rubbing his package and, on stage, none could touch him.
The same can be said for the paparazzi -avoiding Robert DeNiro and others.
Yes, well, I think Kamika sums it all up quite nicely regarding Beyonce.
Personally, I still have a number of Destiny’s child albums/CDs, however that is where it stops, I have never and will never buy any of Beyonce’s music. With that said, I haven’t bought any new music in years, simply because a lot of today’s music is just too boring for me to want to collect.
I love most of the 70s, 80s and 90s music.
There is one reason I don’t like Beyonce: her music is LAME.
I see you, Will and Jada, but Bey’s a piiiiiiimp!
TOP EARNING COUPLES (JUNE 2008-JUNE 2009)
1. Jay Z and Beyoncé Knowles – $122 Million (Last year [2007-2008] Beyoncé out-earned Jay Z by bringing in $87 Million (£53.6m) to his $35 Million (£21.6m))
2. Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart – $69 Million
3. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie – $55 Million
4. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith – $48 Million
5. David and Victoria Beckham – $46 Million
Source: Forbes
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8456181.stm
Just thought I’d give haters who “don’t love” Bey a lil more to steam about!
I am not about to read 67 comments……
Alicia Keys is a pianist, a songwriter, a humanitarian and a homewrecker… it is what it is. It dont matter if they were seperated or not…. they were STILL married…. (and yes i have the right to comment on that because I’ve been in the situation before) She can sing and can play the heck outta piano… but she’s not a versatile star(only because she hasnt proverd herself to be one as of yet)… shes just an r&b singer-but unthinkable is my JAM!
Melanie Fiona shouldnt have even been mentioned…. her 2hit wonder…
Ci-never should cut out her vocal chords and donate them to charity! She should channel all that energy towards an aerobic video series.. now THAT would make her great!
Beyonce has been in the spotlight since before she was even legal to drive a vehicle so naturally people are going to hate on her because she was molded and portrayed to be that all around “it-girl”.
I think the hate comes in for people because she has had that longevity and she maked sure shes visible and worth talking about. whether its her walking down the street or falling down the stairs, she’ll always be around until she retires and even after then she’ll still be out and about.
Whats wrong with her being on a yacht with her husband? <-it is HER husband and it is THEIR yacht right?
Whats wrong with her not showing her closet friends to the papparrazi? <- everybody knows that fame-even 22 seconds- changes people just like money does… so why even let people know WHO she hangs with so that they can be influenced to go behind her back and spill tea?
Why can't us black women just give credit where credit is due? The b!tch works hard and spends harder. Maybe if she was tearing up married homes then maybe you'd cut her some slack!
But think about this….
Maybe she has haters because she is doing something right….
(See-error has haters-i am one-cause of her gorgeous legs and abs)
Maybe people are mad because she has-or has had-a hand in just about every musical genre there is…. (country,latino,r&b,pop,etc) If you had the opprotunity you would too!
Maybe its because of the costumes and the alter-ego…
Whatever your reason is just needs to at least give shawty credit on the fact that she has made a name and an image for herself because of her and her entourage's plot and plan to make sure she is notable. You dont have to like her just respect her grind!
@HauteTAUpic
I can’t speak for all Black women, but I can tell you why I personally disdain her. “Ave Maria.” In her underwear. That performance at the BET Awards a couple of years ago sealed the deal for me. Apparently, this woman has no sense of boundaries. How are you gonna sing a song to God nearly naked? What is that about? In every video she’s gyrating, jiggling, and sticking her ass out. And some of it can get kind of vulgar. I see in her (and most artists in hip hop and R&B/pop, really) the elevation of stripper culture. And many of our girls are starting to aspire to that as an ideal. Not good for us a people. We need doctors, lawyers, geneticists, etc., not strippers.
What’s more, I don’t think she’s dumb at all. She comes across as very calculating. And I don’t think she’s has a lot of regard for other Black women in the industry. If you’re not on a level on par with her where you can’t be touched, watch out! There have been stories that she’s sabotaged other sistas in the business. I’m sure we’ll learn the truth when Kelly, LaToya, and LaTavia write their tell-alls.
Huh? Ave Maria simply means “hail Mary” and neither Schubert’s or this version is to/about “God.”
The majority of Louisiana Creoles (like Tina Knowles) are Catholic and – though I don’t know if this is still Beyoncé’s faith – she did attend a Catholic school. At our first communion in Catholicism, little girls wear white dresses ands veils to symbolize a pure commitment but Bey was not dressed in underwear. http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/1887/slide_1887_25155_large.jpg
Chorus aside, her Ave Maria has totally different lyrics and is about a woman thanking Mary for interceding and bringing her love. She rocked white and a wedding veil and (I’m assuming) it was symbolic of her marriage and commitment to Jay Z.
Ave Maria is about Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, son of God. So, the song isn’t really about or to or for God. It’s kinda sorta in a roundabout way about the mother of the divine being that can bring you salvation. I may be Protestant, but I know the faith just the same. And I went to the link to check out the picture, just to refresh my memory. She’s still under-dressed.
She’s an entertainer that was not wearing a thong or cootie-cutter poom poom shorts with ass cheeks hanging out. Her midsection was covered, legs draped in white, and boobs were not hanging out all over the place – yet you call that “under-dressed?”
Okay! Even though I disagree, I respect your POV and right to it. I just didn’t want anyone to believe the hyperbole that she was wearing “underwear” or even remotely “naked” as falsely claimed.
But if you really already knew what the song was about, why write that Bey was ‘singing a song to God’? I found that accusation odd having sung Ave Maria in Latin, Italian, Spanish and English since I was 3 years old.
And, considering Beyoncé’s version has totally different lyrics and none of the original song’s words outside of “Ave Maria,” I was curious as to what you actually heard.
Anyway…general comments on the overall topic of the article…I’ve often noticed how a lot of individuals attempt to justify their dislike, hate or “disdain” for Beyoncé based on things that either have no basis in fact or are unsubstantiated gossip.
Haters are so ridiculous that – because she keeps her business about her relationships, close girlfriends and man to herself – what do they do? Dig deeper up their behinds to pull out some bullshit about Bey not having many friends.
Another example is a previous comment on this page singing Alicia Keys’ praises for “constantly giving of herself to help women, children and entire communities that are less fortunate.” Next came a blast of Beyoncé when her track record for donating millions, setting up a foundation to assist Katrina victims and supporting various organizations that help abused children, victims of domestic violence etc. is long and substantial.
Now, if there is integrity, and community service is truly important to someone, I’d think they would’ve educated themselves on the facts and applauded her efforts before erroneously criticizing. However, when people flat out make up shit then use it to justify not liking the woman, it’s crystal clear the dislike is solely about them, how they feel about themselves, jealousy, lack of self-esteem etc.
People that know, met or worked with Bey have all described her as very sweet, humble, genuine and a bit shy upon first meeting; never as some mean, calculating person that hates other BW and on some mission to sabotage others. Haters gon’ do what they do and make up stuff but the negative gossip has yet to from a credible mouth or source, so I’m not inclined to believe the rumors and worst about Beyoncé when her public behavior has revealed no reason to do so.
It takes more than money and a business plan to start ,( who ever said that never started jack) maintain and grow a business. These folks ( Matthew, Mom and B) did not have like that, they were a family that turned their little girl into a super star, an icon and money spouting fountain.
The reason she is hated and their are so many articles about her ( this one was balanced and I like it) is the simple fact she is not you. She is not the average sista and has not been one for a very long time. Nor will she ever be you, get over it.
AK caught hell over her involvement with Swiss, so that is bogus as hell.
She is rich beyond belief and married, something 68% percent of the sista’s out there can’t seem to do. More than likely in a few years she will have fab children to enhance her fab life. She has the good sense to keep her private life, well private unlike so many other celebs. More than likely she does have drama in her life, but she keeps that ish at home. All marriage have challenges, that is life.
Market lesson for those who say here music has not grown, most cd sales are to a demographic that is under 25, so why in the hell would she make music to a smaller , cheaper market?
I thinks she is wise beyond her talent. Most of the distention of what she is or she is not say 85% is straight up hate. While most of us were going to proms, dating and having fun she was working, dancing, prepping for her future. To be successful in life you often go through so much that a person on the outside has not clue about.
The biggest reason she is talked has nothing to do with her fame, money or status. Its the fact that most people do not have the strength of conviction to go after their dreams, no faith in self., no courage, just a pocket full of dreams that sit heavy in there soul. These same folks blame the world for their lot in life.
For those who are going say I just don’t like her, I say BS there is way to much heat on this thread for it to be a causal dislike, there is so much more to it. Here is a lesson to learn from B, have a plan, work it, keep your mouth closed, keep your business at home, keep your man so less is definitely more.
“Its the fact that most people do not have the strength of conviction to go after their dreams, no faith in self., no courage, just a pocket full of dreams that sit heavy in there soul. These same folks blame the world for their lot in life.”
Because race and privilege have no bearing on access to resources and opportunity . . . So, we’re really going to sit here and pretend that the only thing keeping people down is a lack of strength and motivation? Look, I’m a fairly staunch Rihanna stan, but I wasn’t always. Her last 2 albums won me over. However, I’m not oblivious to why the mainstream finds her look so appealing. Lady Gaga will probably go on to sell more albums than Beyonce, probably because Lady Gaga has more strength of conviction and courage than Beyonce, right? Brintey too, huh, since she’ll probably net more revenue in the long run?
“She is rich beyond belief and married, something 68% percent of the sista’s out there can’t seem to do.”
To you and all the others who seem to think that finding favor with Beyonce hinges upon relationship status, Beyonce had haters way before she ever married or took up with Jay Z.
Why do black women who express a dislike about Beyonce’s media personna have to be lonely, have deep seeded resentment, and self esteem issues? Is Beyonce infallible, now? At the end of the day, she’s a pop star, and not everyone is required to like her or her music.
You know what this reminds me of? This, if you don’t like Beyonce you’re lonely, jealous and depressed, etc? It reminds me of if you don’t like Obama, you’re racist or if you’re black and don’t like Obama, you’re a sell out.
isolde
I am a black man that started not one but eight different business and guess who my customer base was white folks. So yeah race and access has no bearing on success, a jacked up attitude does most folks in. The environment that enabled Obama to win has been around for a minute the problem is so many people are not prepared to take advantage of the opportunities that abound in the world today.
Not it not just a lack of motivation it is deeper than that, but strong motivation will lead you to fill in the gaps of knowledge and skill sets that keep you from reaching your goals. Desire is more important than talent and skill.
As for her being married, it does burn the buttons of a lot of women. To denounce that as not be plausible is intellectually lazy, just because you don’t subscribe to that notion doesn’t mean many others feel the same.
Fact many women want to be a wife, not a girlfriend, not a jump off but a wife. My point was many hate her because of it, not that they find favor in it.
Do all women that dislike her have issues of course not, do many that dislike her to the point of obsession have issues yes they do.
I dislike a lot of music but you do not find me in a forum belly aching about it. When one invests as much energy in a debate about someone they do not like that is telling of a deeper issue. I like B and what she has accomplished on the professional and personal level.
@Glendon
Intellectually lazy? Really now . . .
“So yeah race and access has no bearing on success, a jacked up attitude does most folks in.”
Yeah, I’m not even particularly liberal, and I know better than that. Do you even know what you’re inferring with that sentence? Ok, so according to you, not only do the poor choose to be poor, but there’s no such thing as systematic racism? The reason why being born white, as opposed to being born black or Hispanic, makes a person less likely to be born into poverty, is because white folks don’t have jacked up attitudes? Uncle Ruckus, is that you?
No one’s saying that you can’t be successful if you aren’t born a cis-gendered, able-bodied, heterosexual, white male. However, the more you differ from that ideal, the more obstacles you’ll have to face impeding your success that wouldn’t be there if you fit the ideal standard. Arguably, the most privileged class of women is white. Women that are other than white are held to the ideal of whiteness, and those “other” women that resemble the ideal tend to have more privilege than those who do not. You figure out the rest about how Beyonce fits into that paradigm. While you’re at it, ponder what I was hinting at with the concept of white privilege when I alluded to Lady Gaga.
“Fact many women want to be a wife, not a girlfriend, not a jump off but a wife. My point was many hate her because of it, not that they find favor in it.”
As I recall, I wrote, “To you and all the others who seem to think that finding favor with Beyonce hinges upon relationship status, Beyonce had haters way before she ever married or took up with Jay Z.”
. . . which flies in the face of your generalization about why you suppose she’s hated. Instead of people being able to discuss what they think of her as an artist and public figure, some people have to turn it into a forum about why black women who don’t fall in line with popular opinion are negatively stereotypical, angry, lonely, catty, etc. and why? Because some don’t like a pop-star? Really?
“As for her being married, it does burn the buttons of a lot of women. To denounce that as not be plausible is intellectually lazy, just because you don’t subscribe to that notion doesn’t mean many others feel the same.”
Oh, and so now, it’s “a lot of women,” as opposed to just all black women or all black women who don’t like Beyonce, like before when you said, “She is rich beyond belief and married, something 68% percent of the sista’s out there can’t seem to do.” You know, someone just alluded to the obvious in another comment about how there are non-black people that don’t like Beyonce, but I’m certain that’s just because they’re all racist (sarcasm).
Glendon Cameron wrote: “…my customer base was white folks. So yeah race and access has no bearing on success, a jacked up attitude does most folks in. The environment that enabled Obama to win has been around for a minute the problem is so many people are not prepared to take advantage of the opportunities that abound in the world today.”
********************************************************
Don’t agree with all your statements but I do agree with some of them. I’d say jacked up attitudes combined with laziness and lack of drive, innovation and work ethic are key things that does a lot of folks in. I’d also add ‘poor choices’ because, for example, if a child of a single parent living in public housing makes a choice to drop out of school and have child after child then, for all intents and purposes, they’ve made a choice to be poor and continue the poverty cycle.
There comes a point when statements regarding race, privilege and access to resources should be injected with a long-overdue dose of honesty and reframed. Is the problem access to resources or where/how a lot of people choose to spend their resources? AAs are projected to have a buying power of over $1.1 trillion in 2012 yet lead in depreciable spending via $23 billion on clothes, $4 billion on electronics, 80% more on fake hair, cosmetics etc. than others etc. etc.
The billions in resources wasted on things that depreciate is mind boggling and (being the granddaughter of an immigrant) I contrast that with some Asian immigrants and their cultural tendency to own/occupy a home with extended family members which saves money, translates into Asians having high home equities etc.
It’s not always the case that those who immigrate are the upper classes/more educated and a lot of immigrants from Asia, the continent and the Caribbean come with not-a-lot (hardly loads of ‘racial’ advantage or privilege) then make their own opportunities. Some of them open businesses, work their asses off and become successful by living within or below their means, nixing frivolous spending, delaying gratification, saving/pooling resources, driving hoopties (instead of new whips) that are paid for, investing in property that becomes future sources of rental income or passed down to their children etc.
Even if talking access to the resource of education there are just too many grants, scholarships and other kinds of assistance and options available; no one can force people to take advantage of the opportunities that are out there.
Anyway (general comments) I don’t know if there is a belief that all pretty females have to do is stand there and be gorgeous while wealth and success flies out then sticks like magnets. Yes, looks can open certain doors and allows some privileges but they only get you so far and most have to work damn hard for what they get and want. And any mother worth their salt teaches her daughter to keep her intellect tight if she wants to be more than a trophy.
I sense an avoidance to come right out and state the only reason Beyoncé is successful is because of her skin tone and features (as if plain ol hard work, sacrifice, practice etc. hadn’t a thing to do with it). If so, good, because the LS vs DS argument is way tired and the argument doesn’t hold up with examples like the uber-successful Oprah who has a different skin tone and features or the successful and educated First Lady who has yet a different skin tone and features etc.
I don’t hate her. I just don’t like her. Lol. Honestly, i’m just tired of seeing her face and hearing her voice. She’s been there since I was a kid… and she never takes a break. Other people take breaks… you know you get to miss them for a while and then when they come back you’re glad but she won’t do that. I do however hate that new video with her and Gaga. Beyonce just seems awkward in it. It’s just not her.
1. I certainly see more black women who love Beyonce than hate her .
2.There are also people of other races who dislike Beyonce.
3.No one cares that Beyonce is married to jay-z ugly ass and although he may have money that in no way makes him perfect and like someone said above he has always disrespected and degraded women for years and he was never as big before as he is now that he is married to Beyonce
3.When i think of the marriage i wanna have they don’t even come to mind simply because i don’t want a marriage where there i no P.D.A and if i really love a man i would want the world to know it and they really seem very staged all the time it just seems boring and i will bet money that they barely even make love so anybody that is waiting for her to get pregnant better not hold there breathe and i have also read that they sleep in separate rooms….How weird is that?
4. She lies to much everyone knows how talented she is it’s very prevalent you don’t have to pretend to write or create everything we don’t even expect that from you gee sh just sing the damn songs.
5.Of course i can’t leave with out mentioning the Destiny’s child scandal. How scandalous was that? And for those people that think she’s so brilliant for being private about her life need to get off it she’s probably hiding something bigger than we can even imagine,not to mention the things that she does like her and jay-z always walking around doing something like we ain’t gone see them in the tabloids they are both total media whores and that’s the real reason lot’s of people can’t stand her.
BUT BEFORE YOU RIGHT ME OFF AS A HATER I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I HAVE EVERY DC ALBUM AND EVERY BEYONCE ALBUM OR SONG.I TRULY LOVE THIS BITCH BUT SOMETIMES IT’S OVER KILL AND I HAVE TO BE REAL MYSELF AND JUST SAY …….BEYONCE IM GONNA NEED YOU NOT TO DO THIS AGAIN!
“No one cares that Beyonce is married to jay-z”
Seriously. This is the first I’ve ever heard that the reason why haters hate Bey is because they’re jealous of her marriage to Jay.
I completely agree with #4…I get so tired of hearing people say that she writes her own music. Clearly she doesn’t write all of her own songs. And honestly I think she needs to just stick to singing and let other people handle writing the music.
i agree with everything said with the exception of the jay-z fame aspect if you remember correctly there was a one hot album every summer going on before they were even that public with their relationship he also already had the 40 40 clubs in rotation and had inked the deal with the nets before their nuptials now i’m not gonna say that the paparazzi was necessarily at his front door like they are now but the weren’t exactly checking for any black stars. (why when they had Paris Nicole Ritchie Brittney spears Lindsay and all the other train wrecks) all im saying is lets not discredit the man he was doing his thing and them being together helps both of them it makes him look like he cares for a woman so the degrading lyrics are just what they are lyrics and for her it makes her human shes a southern belle who fell for the homeboy with saggy pants and timbs not the prince with polo and Birkenstocks lol idk but your on target with everything else
G, I am so proud to know you …. to have studied with you… to have seen you on the cata riding down Harrison… admiring the woman that you were then… serving on a board with you… and I admire the woman you’ve become…. Keep up the great work..
…. As for my thoughts on the article… I saw the video two weeks ago, and hated it. I thought desperation was a horrible look especially on B. I agree there are moments where I love her, and where she nauseates me ( i.e. this new video), but I think you may be right about her playing this Marilyn Monroe -hardcore dumb blonde act to the HILT!
At the end of the day, we have no idea whether she’s got it going on, Hov is a great man coming home to her faithfully, and showing her off every chance he gets. Or whether its all a great facade and, like Marilyn she’s ready to commit suicide.
I feel guilty about wondering…simply because its more important ish going on in the world… in the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico… children being massacred in the streets of Chicago and Detroit… so I really, really don’t want to care.
I’m just glad she keeps it as private as she can, whether its real or not.
Besides rumor mill, gossip at Headhunter’s™ beauty salon, haters or unsubstantiated outlets – does anyone have any credible proof that Beyoncé does not write songs, did not write any songs and/or never added lyrics or a melody to songs (justifies a share of songwriting credits both legally and practically) she or her publisher currently collects royalties on?
It’d be interesting to see the basis for this accusation just once and, though I’d prefer 2 or 3, at this point one good and credible source would do.
This all goes back to the point about individuals that appear to hate on Bey for reasons that have little to no basis in fact or are simply made up. When this is the case, it’s obvious the real reasons for the dislike lie elsewhere.
BMI, ASCAP and the Canadian and European performing rights organizations (forgot their names) have procedures for registering and copyrighting songs, lyrics and music. A songwriter joins then becomes an affiliate and these orgs. don’t allow just any buster off the block to claim composition of a piece.
As filthy rich as Bey is – no doubt many would jump at the chance to get paid producing lyrics written on dated crumpled pieces of paper or raggedy soiled napkins and proving the illegal collection of monies for joints she’d absolutely no input on.
As I previously stated, personally I find Jay Z extremely gross and unattractive. I’ll never understand what Beyoncé sees in him but this is neither here nor there as it’s not my relationship, she appears extremely happy with him (the most important thing), and ‘to each their own’.
I’ve zero respect for former drug dealers that peddled poison to their own people and rappers that made a mint calling females “bitches” and “hos” and sending that shit worldwide like HOV…and all that was to say I don’t think her relationship with and marriage to Jay Z affected feelings/opinions regarding Bey one way or the other.
Beyoncé and Jay initially hooked up around 2001 when she was 20, dated for 7 years, and married in 2008. They’ve been together 9 years so, no! Nine years ago ‘Bey Hate’ and ‘Beyoncé Haters’ weren’t even an issue and neither were anywhere near the level and numbers they are today.
I’m definately a Beyonce fan. I don’t see anything wrong worth talking about. She seems intelligent and down to earth, she’s gorgeous and talented, responsible. Almost like role model material. But I do know some people that say they don’t like her but when a few of us were talking about it it came down to envy. It does seem like she has everything and she definately seems blessed. I wish her great happiness and continued success. In return I get to enjoy her beautiful music.
I have low tolerance for celebrities who attempt to sell the notion that they are great “artistes.” And Beyonce is just as immune to hatred/criticism as Alicia Keys. People may be outspoken about her vapidness, but other folks would be dragged through the mud when their dirty deeds–from stealing songs, not paying her fashion people, to steamrolling Kelly and Michelle, claiming credit for things she didn’t do [Single Ladies choreography, Irreplacable], etc–came to light. This stuff is exposed, but it’s quickly swept beneath the rug, people don’t even make excuses for her actions–it’s a moot point. All she has to do is show up with a blank smile, a wiggle of her “jelly” and a new weave, and everyone falls over themselves to proclaim Beyonce the greatest female artist of this generation.
Plus, she can’t really sing. She just has a loud, big, and unique-sounding voice that makes you think she can blow like vintage Whitney, vintage Mariah, and even Christina Aguilera.
I don’t have any issues with a sista doing what she loves and making money doing so. I think some women may have issues with her because she has so much that is positive going for herself. For some it’s like, how dare she know how to sing and dance? Now you wanna act, sell me clothes oh no…so some throw stones.
I think that Beyonce may appear “less than” smart to some, but wasn’t it the year before last that she made $87 million in ONE year? There is nothing dumb about that and I think those that hate her would agree. And as far as her choice in Jay-Z would people be happy if she had a white man? Regardless of what she sings, wears, sells, the way she dances, the way she acts shade would be thrown at that woman regardless. I’m just gonna let Beyonce, be Beyonce.She can never please everyone and you know what? We can’t either.
if we so much jealous of her positif ..HOW COME WE NEVER HATE ,WITHEY HOUSTON WHO HAVE IT ALL AND BEYONCE WILL NEVER COME CLOSE EVEN AFTER MANY REACARNATION. TO MICHEAL JACKSON,JANET AND ALL THE ORTHER WHY WE WILL BE JALOUS OF HER ? black people dont not like her ,even the elder and the nation of islam i know ive read some of their article usely african people are not like that we tend to love and encourage our artist but there is just something about that women that make that we african community we dont bond with her at all we have an instict and this instinct that hepls us survive is the same that make we CAN’T JUST LOVE THAT WOMEN .. poeple who tend to love her have so what lower standard to find her talented ,,after all the quality culture ours anscestors give us ..WE FIND BEYONCE TALENTED she is enteiterning but not talented talend is comming from god to accomplisgh someting and touch poeple.. are u realLy touch by her music? …
she is the same as going to the zoo i paid to go the the zoo to be entertain but i dont find the monkey talended just a distraction thats what b is talend and blessing is for higher purpurse what is her purpurse? do you really know professionnal women in higher poisiton ,serious or political that listen to b other than lost soul
The Empress wrote: “if we so much jealous of her positif ..HOW COME WE NEVER HATE ,WITHEY HOUSTON…”
****************************************************
Maybe your “we” doesn’t hate Whitney Houston because she is dark or brown skinned!
The Empress wrote: “…even the elder and the nation of islam i know ive read some of their article…”
****************************************************
(giggle) If the “Nation of Islam” dislikes Beyoncé, I’d take that as a compliment if I were she.
The Empress wrote: ” usely african people are not like that we tend to love and encourage our artist but there is just something about that women that make that we african community we dont bond with her at all we have an instict and this instinct that hepls us survive is the same that make we CAN’T JUST LOVE THAT WOMEN .. poeple who tend to love her have so what lower standard to find her talented ,,after all the quality culture ours anscestors give us ..WE FIND BEYONCE TALENTED she is enteiterning but not talented talend is comming from god to accomplisgh someting and touch poeple.. are u realLy touch by her music?”
****************************************************
If I was hard-pressed to write a coherent sentence, couldn’t spell, neglected the use of punctuation marks and regularly trampled almost every rule of grammar in the English language – I don’t know that I’d go around accusing anyone of having a “lower standard.” …just a thought!
@Akai
You actually could read that message?
I had tried to read it, but I had given up after the first few sentences.
Beyonce is a beautiful divinely talented woman who is a sweetheart of a person married to a ultra successful Black man that she adores and adores her. Of course she is hated. Everybody can identify with the lesser lights that hovered about her like Kelly, Michelle, etc but no one can envision themselves being the sun that all revolves around.
Jay Z…is that you?!