Beyonce Beat Me
When I wrote my review for I Am…Sasha Fierce, I pointed out how skeptical I was about Beyonce’s sincerity over how much she really opened up with her third solo offering, writing:
That’s why no matter how many times she calls it the “most personal album she’s ever done,” I Am…Sasha Fierce is nothing more than a continuation of the same format used to create her solid debut album and even stronger sophomore offering. Try as she might to parade her catchy and often clever songs as something innovative, her sound is usually a representation of what’s hot at the time – only executed better.
There’s nothing wrong with that, but the methodology won’t get Beyonce the respect she wants. Neither will it make the schmaltzy acoustic-driven ballads found on the first half of her double concept album seem any less impersonal than they are.
And last night I find out she nets an Album of the Year nomination for my least favorite album of her collection. Along with nods for Record and Song of the Year, therein getting the respect she wants.
She told me.
Let me just admit this now so I might be spared from the wrath of stans and the poisons that come with a root box: I was wrong. I will recite the lyrics to “Ave Maria” three times as soon as I learn them, and order up a chicken strips combo and order of onion rings from Popeye’s in penance.
If you don’t know how serious B-Unit is, see below:
I don’t need my baby picture inserted into car that blows up in the “Crazy In Love” video, ya’ll.
I can’t say that I’m completely surprised by the nomination. Although the album isn’t my favorite (I prefer she sings with soul), the album has just enough vanilla to appease widespread audiences. She knew what she was doing when she split the record in half and pushed the songs with obvious more potential to crossover. So, I’m not mad, but I’m betting Alicia Keys might be given she employed the exact same strategy with As I Am…which I hated to the core.
Oh well.
My only worry is that this will only encourage R&B singers to make everything but R&B music. Hopefully Maxwell’s multiple nominations (including one for Record of the Year) will remind people that if you want to do R&B music, you can do so and still sell and be recognized for your work. Likewise, I think the success of Rihanna’s of the world prove that being black shouldn’t limit you to R&B, which is not what I’ve advocating in this post.
I don’t mind singers exploring different avenues. I think Rihanna’s voice fits perfect for pop. Alicia Keys pretending to be singing U2’s B-sides not so much.
I get the feeling many people feel that if they sound like they have too much color they’ll miss out on a certain level of success. That in turn leads to people recording music more inspired by focus groups than genuine interest in a given genre. I just hope Beyonce’s success doesn’t encourage a bunch of singers who don’t sound good singing pop doing so in order to “crossover.”
Like Melanie Fiona and Jazmine Sullivan. Two great soul singers who squandered an opportunity to build on the audience that actually likes them with genre-leaping selections on their respective debut albums. Jumping from sound to sound isn’t always a good thing. Sometimes it just makes you the listener confused and ultimately, uninterested.
That said, as a stan I’m still inclined to go:
And say yay, Beyonce for getting so many nominations.
But do I still like the album?
I mean, it’s alright though I still find it to be a bit too bland for my liking. I know some of you might assume based on some of the songs I’ve highlighted that I only listen to music that’s fit for a room with a cover charge, but if that were true I’d probably talk like Lil’ Boosie or somebody. You’ve seen the video blog. I don’t do, I? C’mon nah. I can read. I can’t always be jiggin’ to ignness.
In fact I’d likely quit life if a song like “That Obama” were ever recognized by Grammy voters.
As for Beyonce, I’m still waiting for that soul album she promised, but I imagine I won’t get it until she’s sharing diet tips with Chaka Khan.
I’ll keep holding out hope, though, and in the meantime, let Beyonce pimp these folks with her well executed foray into the world of schmaltzy music. I just won’t necessarily enjoy it.
Now about those snubs, to Whitney, Kanye, Ryan Leslie, and Dream, I’ll let ya’ll good folks speak on it in the comments.
Ricky
December 3, 2009 at 3:32 pm
*gathering pitch forks and torches for the snub to Kanye and 808s*
babygirlja
December 3, 2009 at 4:25 pm
I agree with you about I Am…, that album was putting me to sleep and I know she was trying to crossover but I’m used to queen creole twirkin and dippin it.
As for the snubs, Kanye seems to have calmed down since the whole world got on his ass for the Taylor Swift incident so we might not hear from him but had this been a year ago you know his ass ain’t havin it.
Nippy not getting a nomination wasn’t a suprise because her album seemed rushed and all over the place and she just didn’t put her all into it.
Ryan Leslie is very underrated and I would have liked to have seen him get a nomination
I couldn’t give a damn about Teddy Graham
PS.Ciara got nominated for six grammies? The music industry is officialy crumbling
Skittles
December 4, 2009 at 3:09 am
Great post, Fabulous blog! I’m inspired now to do better. I just wanted you to know that!
CherryPrincess
December 4, 2009 at 8:38 am
*tear*………overrated music she is okay but like u said the same tired format !
mrdarkandproper
December 4, 2009 at 12:02 pm
WHEN I FIRST HEARD THE I AM CD I WAS A LITTLE LOST BECAUSE THE TWO SIDES SOUNDED COMPLETELY DIFFERENT IT WAS LIKE SHE WANTED TO EXPIREMENT WITH NEW A SOUND BUT WAS AFRAID OF LOW ALBUM SALES SO SHE GAVE THE FANS WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE ON SASHA FIERCE. IT SEEMED LIKE TOO EXTREMES…VERY MELLOW OR VERY DANCE. BUT LOOKING AT THE NOMINATIONS I UNDERSTAND HER SINGLE CHOICES NOW LOOKING AT THE NOMINATIONS. IT SEEMS LIKE SHE RELEASED SONGS SPECIFICALLY FOR GRAMMY NOMINATIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN ALBUM OF MUSIC THAT BEYONCE FEELS IS GOOD BUT I DONT THINK IM GOING TO HEAR THAT.HER CAREER IS BEING CONTROLLED TO THE SMALLEST DETAIL TO ENSURE SHE WILL GO DOWN IN THE HALL OF FAME AS THE SECOND COMING.
mrdarkandproper
December 4, 2009 at 12:03 pm
excuse my comment im watching the news
Ratchet
December 4, 2009 at 4:30 pm
“Try as she might to parade her catchy and often clever songs as something innovative, her sound is usually a representation of what’s hot at the time – only executed better.”
Um, [Ciara] NEVER EVER [/Ciara]
Beyoncé’s name is not Mariah Carey.
And I think the Sasha Fierce side was to placate black folk who would have been rising and hollering “sell out/bitch wants to be white” if she had done what you KNOW she wanted to do and put that I Am… album out on its own. People still did that anyway, but there’s always ONE ignorant fool.
Either way, as Lady Gaga said, with this album and the era supporting, Beyoncé fully defined herself asthetically. She made hits and moreover, she made hits doing what SHE wanted to do. Again. She also showed the world that she is not just Sasha Fierce, so now if she wants to fully go left, bitches can’t say they weren’t warned. They can just bitch.
Kjen
December 4, 2009 at 8:04 pm
@Ratchet yes she showed the world that she wasn’t just Sasha Fierce, unfortunately, most of the world found Beyonce Unplugged to be too bland and boring for words. So while Beyonce may have other sides, Sasha is the one who knows how to sell it, so I think we will continue to see her inflated, crowd pleasing form of “independent womanhood”.
**
As for Beyonce, I’m still waiting for that soul album she promised, but I imagine I won’t get it until she’s sharing diet tips with Chaka Khan.
Nope, I predict when that day comes, Bey who probably have kids by then too, will go for gospel-lite. You know the kind of gospel you can’t tell is a love song for god or your man.
Ratchet
December 5, 2009 at 9:57 pm
@Kjen “unfortunately, most of the world found Beyonce Unplugged to be too bland and boring for words.”
I’d love to know how you came to this ascertainment of the opinion of “most of the world”.
Mellovirgo89
December 6, 2009 at 2:26 pm
I like you man, you’re teaching me how to be a better Beyonce stan. I’m usually very cut-throat when it comes to any questionable shade about Bey, but I have to agree with you on this post. Everybody knows that if Beyonce does a truly soulful R&B album it could be a masterpiece. Everybody knows but her….
Mellovirgo89
December 6, 2009 at 2:30 pm
And who lied and told her the blonde hair was poppin?? I would like a word with them… She looks a lot better with darker hair… I want to see a dark haired soulful Beyonce when this 2010 cd comes out. (laughs because that would never happen)
kindafamous
December 6, 2009 at 11:53 pm
I think I may be one of the only stans in the world who LOVES Bee but dislikes her music on it’s own. I am a fan of Beyonce purely because of image and the glamour factor. I’m not really a fan of the musical direction, which as someone already stated is CLEARLY being manufactured to be pure Grammy bait. I really want her to do something different musically, but everyone can’t be a chameleon like that. If I were in her shoes I’m not sure I’d switch anything up either. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it I guess.
Ratchet, the Smart-Ass Stan
December 7, 2009 at 4:17 pm
^ You’re not a fan. Beyoncé is a singer, not a Rihanna.
And yes, “Video Phone” was clearly intended to rack up the Grammys.
michelle
December 12, 2009 at 2:52 am
You know kudos to Beyonce for all the nominations and crap, but overall she is weak. However, her aggressive oversaturation of anything media related has really drained me. She refuses to take a vacation. She looks worn, tattered and used. She needs a good refresher, she needs to pack up and move to Dubai and reinvent herself. She has the chops to produce quality music. However, she chooses not to get the training to act with emotion, and to create real music. No offense, but in my opinion she has fallen in the ranks of a Cher, Liza Minneli, or Las Vegas resident staple performer. Over the years Beyonce has gotten caught in lies and she has left the impression of decitful and dishonest. She is whack. Let’s promote real singers like for example Chrisette Michelle. Someone who sings real music.
Michael
December 12, 2009 at 7:30 am
I really don’t like the notion of “real music.” Anything that’s remotely music is real, just maybe not as substantive as some would like. But, not every song needs to require some depth that would led to cultural analysis. Music is supposed to be many things — including entertaining. We need more balance, but this perception of “real music” always reads as elitist. I don’t like it personally.
Anyhow, I get your point, I wish Beyonce would dig a little deeper because she has the natural talent but even if she never recorded another song in her life she’s made her mark by simply being an entertainer and for that I don’t fault her. Chrisette Michelle’s last album was dull (not because it was so “real,” but because it was boring) and while I like her voice in theory, oft times she sounds like Donald Duck with soul. I’m looking forward to the next Erykah Badu album, though. But again, she’s good at she what she does and so is Bey. Thank you for commenting! I think it’s funny you mention Vegas since she’s in talks to perform there. Meh. I’d rather she do that at 40. You know, after I get my soul album.