Wherever Beyonce goes, I think we can all assume that she’s going to slay. Beyonce goes to the gas station to slay. She steps in the shower to slay that sh-t. She walks into the kitchen to slay brunch. Beyonce headlined Coachella, and of course she slayed that sh-t. Of course it was a religious experience for everyone there and everyone watching at home on the live stream. Beyonce took people to church. The church of black womanhood, the church of intersectional feminism, the church of dance, the church of on-point vocals. She brought out Solange, she brought out Jay-Z, she brought out Destiny’s Child, she brought out a marching band, she brought out dancers and lights and a wind machine. She did it all.
Beyonce is the first black woman to ever headline Coachella. Just that simple fact changed the dynamic of this year’s Coachella – once seen as a dusty, desert music festival for rich white kids, there was a more diverse audience for Bey’s performance. Every media outlet, from CNN to Billboard, from The Guardian to the LA Times were all in a puddle of mush after Beyonce’s performance.
Here are some assorted clips and reactions from her performance:
THIS PART WAS E V E R Y T H I N G #Beychella 🐝👸🏽 pic.twitter.com/AVpvL54qvE
— 𝓪𝔂𝓼𝓱𝓪 𝓫𝓪𝓫𝔂 (@ayshaxv) April 15, 2018
Beyoncé performing Mi Gente is the best thing to ever happen #Beychella pic.twitter.com/C03umsq9t6
— Beyond Fiancé (@yoncemyname2) April 15, 2018
This song #Beycella #coachella pic.twitter.com/NypsJMqk5k
— just here for the memes (@tevy_scott) April 15, 2018
This baton moment saved my life. #Beycella 🐝🐝🐝 pic.twitter.com/DceFlftRyG
— 🐩🍬🦄🍭 (@bubblegumthot) April 15, 2018
.@adele reacting to Beyoncé's performance at #Beychella. #Coachella💗 pic.twitter.com/UZXONTAaqk
— BEYONCÉ LEGION (@Bey___Legion) April 15, 2018
Photos courtesy of Getty.
Which generation we are talking about? She is not a Millenial…
She is but barely (like me). 1981.
Yuppers! 1981 is the cutoff!
Yes she is, a millennial is someone who reached adulthood in the early 2000s. The problem is the term millennial has been subject to inaccurate use by the media and public.
I thought it was from 1991-1994? In any case, Bey would still fit among the oldest millennials, yeah.
Truth. People keep saying Millennial when they mean Gen Z, mostly. The kids in high school and college now ain’t millennials.
The people who make these things up say there’s a microgeneration called “Xennial,” which fits Beyonce perfectly (1977-1983). https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/06/28/xennials_a_23006562/
I am one year older than Beyonce (If this is her real age) and I honestly do not consider myself a Millennial. A precursor of the Millennial generation? yes, but not a Millennial. So, I do agree with the Xennial terminology.
No, we are not Millennial. I’m the same age as her. There have been several articles that talk about the odd little generation between the Millennials (roughly those born in 1986 & higher) & Generation X. Those born between 1978-1985 don’t fit either.
I thought the whole Gen X thing was because the marketeers didn’t know how to sell to a certain demographic in the 1990s, so they labeled them Generation X. There was no Generation W, so no real need for a Gen Y or Z as far as I know.
The generations are 15-20 year increments depending on the social analysts. Millennials start anywhere from 1979-1981 and end anywhere from 2001-2004. The next generation is called iGen or the iGenenation. I also see they developed a micro group within Millennials for the “Star Wars” group which would be 1977-1983, called Xillenials, lol. Some people are trying to make the Xillenials thing happen, which is only possible if the media catches on to using it. ALLLL of that to say that Beyonce is the early Millennial or she can claim Xillenial. I’m in the same age bracket (1983), and the topic came up at work and I fell down the rabbit hole of trying to figure out what am I.
The term ‘Generation X’ was coined by Douglas Copeland in his novel of the same name about the ‘nameless’ generation that followed the Baby Boom. Anyway, people have kept on using it (nameless no more) and run with, particularly in the context of generational sociological theory about which there are a number of interesting popular, non-academic books.
Probably the generation that Lena Dunham’s the voice of?
Massively disrespectful comparison considering Dunham has never done anything for anyone other than herself while Beyonce has been active in helping out others following Hurricane Katrina and an earthquake in Nepal.
Ha, yes. I love it when people tell us sheeple who is our “defining voice” and what is our “defining moment.”
+1 @ Miss M. What a snort! MY generation is the defining generation (Boomers). One cannot debate otherwise and win.
I wouldn’t brag about Boomers being the defining a generation. Boomers are also the cause of the direction this country finds itself in at the moment.
Ok but it’s not a good definition. Boomers are the most entitled, condescending,, out of touch, and selfish living generation. Obviously there are always exceptions but mostly, Boomers are actually the worst.
Really? I’m a boomer and I am a progressive liberal who has fought for years for decent wages and conditions for all with an emphasis on women. Environment? Same thing. Don’t tar us all with the same brush.
@noyouplum THANK YOU. boomers like to complain about millennials needing a participation trophy in life, but it was the boomers who demanded their special kid be rewarded. the millennials in this situation were just kids, just ridiculous to blame it on the children here and not their parents.
I’m WAY at the tail end of the Boomers and our selfishness, lack of concern for the earth and support of Dotard are disgraceful We basically wrecked the world. My kids and other younger people will have to try to fix what she screwed up.
And many liberal Boomers became Republicans as they got older and more selfish. with their millions.
I am a Millennial, younger than Beyonce but have some X tastes due to older siblings. She seems older to me. Her presentation seems a decade older, and part of the generation of RB women with big solo careers and personas who put on big shows.
You can tell she was heavily influenced by those women and she pays homage to them in her performances.
Magnoliarose, that’s because Beyonce and LaTavia Robertson were only 9-years-old when they formed the group Destiny’s Child. Her presentation seems a decade older because she pulled from those very RB women you reference. Singers did that in the day, before the age of studio enhanced singers and some of the best vocalists around now did it–like Pink, Kelly Clarkson, and Christina Aguilera.
When Destiny’s Child started, they did a lot of talent contests and community music reviews (local amateurs perform in community centers and such, which used to be big in black communities) so they performed older material before Papa Knowles realized he might have a cash cow enterprise and took over as their Manager. Beyonce, Britney, Christina, Pink, and Justin all seem like they’ve been around forever because they were all so young when they started their careers.
Thanks for the answers!
It makes her stand apart, and it makes sense that she started so young.
She’s carved out her own place, and I like that she performs as an evolved woman now.
She has worked hard for a long time for her success, so I think she deserves her devoted fans. Beyonce delivers for them.
I define them as the people born in the 80s. The ones born in the 90s are very different folks from the former.
One of the amazing things about Celebitchy is that it can start with an article about a musical performance and almost instantly become an informed discussion of generational demographics.
Exactly why I love this site
Well, I’m Generation X and I remember Beyonce’s start. So to me at the time, she seemed like a late Y or a Millennial. TLC was still around (who I love, particularly for Crazy, Sexy, Cool) and I think En Vogue had just ended, who I still miss!
To me now, I think of her as definitely a Millennial. And I’d go with Kaiser’s opinion of this as a defining moment in a generation and in such a polarized country. She took it upon herself to make a musical and political statement that is a direct opposition to the white nationalists and racists in the U.S. She didn’t have to do that. What matters is that she did.
M, En Vogue is on its way back! They have a new song that they’ve been playing constantly on the R&B stations lately. I think it’s called Rocket. I didn’t even realize at first that it was En Vogue , to tell you the truth.
Thank you, Boxy Lady. I’ll look be on the lookout for it!
As an aside, The NYT’s Arts section has a large and glowing review of Beyonce’s performance.
Thanks so much again, Boxy – found it, heard it and it is called Rocket. I really did like it. Am so glad they’re back! Definitely a different production and sound, but I did recognize En Vogue’s sound in there as well. They look fabulous too.
Sorry for the typo above, I was writing lookout and got distracted!
I recall when Destiny’s Child had four members. So that makes me old I guess.
Happy to share the En Vogue love! ☺
No, she’s not a millennial. To be considered ‘Generation Y’ you have to be born between 1982-1995. She represents ‘Generation X’, if anything.
She’s definitely not X, believe me. And I’ve had younger friends try to pass as Y. Sadly for them, they weren’t. Like I wrote before she’s a Millennial. If you want to consider her Y, go ahead. But since she was born in 1981, she’s not an X.
Millennial covers anyone born between 1980 and 1996. Though some say it starts at 1981 or 1982. Beyoncé was born in 1981. I was born in 1980. We are on the cusp of Gen X and Millennial. I am old enough to remember the 90’s and to remember big moments in pop culture and even to have participated (I remember watching Nirvana on MTV). But I was also a child during that time. My coming of age didn’t begin until the early 00’s. So I feel a connection to both.
@ Amy_Tennant, thank you for posting that article. I have never thought of myself as a millennial. that article sums is up perfectly, our childhoos were analogue while our adulthood is digital. agreed.
my brother who is 8 years younger than me is the definition of millennial, and I just never saw myself in that category.
@booradley: we are a very unique generation. Neither gen X nor millennial. The ability to learn and adapt so fast from analog to digital and I could go on and on 🙂
Defining moment of a generation??? That is some serious hyperbole.
WORD.
I think Formation is everything. But it’s the same routines. Cmon.
Love this on principle. But the scenes and song treatments are so heavy, dark, militaristic… not feeling it. (Impressive baton twirling, though. How cool was that?!)
You know that wasn’t Beyonce- right? Still impressive – but I get the sense she wanted people to think it was her.
@Philo – that has been my whole discomfort with the narrative around Beyonce. I just don’t see her as the person out there digging into historically significant references, making visual connections, and pulling in all the influencers. The depth of knowledge here is far more than a casual interest. She must have a historian working with her, as well as a visual designer. I am sure she has a vision, but I imagine it is informed by a team, not just Beyonce.
I am really glad that she speaks for and to a group of people, many of whom have not had visible role models in positions of power though. And I am glad she continues to highlight important historical stories that are not told often enough.
Lainey is right about this: as soon as a woman reaches excellence people ill make sure the praise goes to her team, not herself. A man in her position would never be questioned, or assumed that his team is behind his achievements. Of course someone at Beyonce level has a team, as her male counterparts do as well. But giving it to her? God forbid! The woman’s success HAS to have someone else behind her, possibly men. BS.
I was expecting something different. It’s still the same, leotard, dancers, costumes n same moves. Time to change repertoire
I overdosed on Beyonce a long time ago.I thought she was taking a break.I live here where the festival is held.Trust me none of us locals went.
lol, no. It is. It was. Forever will be.
It sure is, the same way Jimi Hendrix playing the national anthem at Woodstock was, or Nirvana’s unplugged set on MTV was, or going back further, Elvis on Ed Sullivan, or the Beatles playing the Washington Coliseum (Beatlemania). Every decade has its musical moment, this is the one that will define the 20-teens.
Here, here, Algernon!! THIS!!!
Even if you don’t think so, thousands and millions of us do.
I assume this is sarcasm.
This. Of course the old people watching Nirvana’s set on MTV thought it was garbage. But it was defining for their people, their generation. Is the same old diatribe: people diminishes what they cant understand.
The defining moment is the fact that Beyonce is the first singer of color to headline Coachella. It’s been talked about all weekend on the internet.
Wait, she ‘became a defining moment for a generation’..?? I gather it was a good show, but…?
I agree. It’s hardly a ‘defining moment for a generation’ if the majority of that generation wasn’t present / didn’t live stream it, which I’d bet is the case here.
Agreed.
Which generation indeed?
I have the same age as her, and have a similar ethnic background to her.
But I think she is so overrated! I don’t understand how her performance was groundbreaking.
Who is trying to convince her she’s so special?
Her PR must be very powerful.
Thank you for this. Because I have the same question. I mean she is good but she is a performer who did this for a very long time so she is capable, but I got to side eye that every of Bey’s farts are treated like the second coming of Jesus.
GOD thank you. I saw this headline and thought, “yeah as if she doesn’t already think her sh*t don’t stink.” She’s a decent performer but she is not everyone’s everything. I’m happy for her fans, and that Rich Kid Festival finally got a WOC to headline but look up LP, Lianne La Havas, MILCK, Au/Ra …. tons of better performers of color out there. They just don’t have the money to put them on top.
I am the first to not buy into the hype when it comes to raising people up to “god-like” status, and for that reason soley I have never been on the Bey train, but what I will give her is her amazing work ethic. she is not the greatest singer, when an American Idol reject can sing circles around you in your own movie, you ain’t that great girl.
but what she lacks in musical ability, she compensates for in performance. I will never see Beyoncé live because I’ve got better things to do, but I can’t hate on her, and what she’s doing, and the visibility and reverence she generates from all kinds of people from all walks of life. grandmas, tweens and teens, inmates and carpenters, all love Beyoncé. let her wear her self ordained mantle as queen Bey, she’s worked her ass off to get it, so why shouldn’t she enjoy it.
I just won’t add to her coffers, and what for, she doesn’t need me to. she’s good, she’s set.
@SM
I definitely enjoy Mary J Blige a lot more than Beyonce.
Beyonce is a good performer, but I find it kind of odd that she seems to need a lot of help from back-up dancers, wind machines, very elaborate costumes…to make it all look good.
I think that Beyonce and her hubby are excellent business people and marketers, their PR is amazing.
I am ambivalent about Beyoncé. Insane work ethic. Fantastic live performer, but needs a lot of back-up dancers to really blow you away. Good voice, but nowhere near the greats (Whitney, Aretha, etc…). PR hype far in excess of her album sales. No number one singles or memorable hits since, what, Single Ladies in the late noughties? Lemonade worked really well as a visual album but every single song had its potential ruined by voiceovers, overproduction and phrasing terrible enough to raise Frank Sinatra from the dead, making the music-only experience kind of a let down.
I also remember her when she was Creole…
When did she forget being Creole?
Man, is the reaching giving you muscle spasms?
Criticize the performance, which is a cliche in itself, but to say anything about her ethnic makeup is…. embarrassing. Do you hear yourself??
Elkie: Honest question, why is she nowhere near Whitney or Aretha? By my question you already know I’m not very educated in terms of music technique. I always thought she could reach anyone, vocally speaking.
@Kaynesblondehair:
It was merely an attempt at a tongue in cheek reference to the early part of her career – the bleached bright white in L’Oreal adverts days – when that’s how she always chose to define herself.
I am sorry if it was in poor taste and would like to withdraw that part of my comment.
However, I don’t think it’s unfair to say that she’s an artist that needs more than a piano accompaniment to blow people away. Whitney or Aretha I don’t feel ever needed a “show”.
She literally said on Saturday night during a song “The creole in my body like a potion” and creole doesn’t mean white so your tongue in cheek reference is still a reach. Loreal lightening her skin is on them not her. She’s represented her blackness and creole from the beginning with her braids, twang, dances, choice of dances etc.
I mean Whitney, as much as I adore her, was not a performer and had many problems. Why are we comparing Beyonce to, I’m sorry to say, a known crackhead? Aretha was simply a singer. People didn’t say these things when Michael did over the top. He just got love. Something only this generation appreciates more than the old people yelling to get off their musical lawn.
The creole comment is still a weak point. Blame whatever whitewashing you’re talking about- that has nothing to do with being creole- on LOREAL and your own ignorance of what being creole actually is.
This. It’s simply fantastic that a woc headlined Coachella. And because it’s Beyonce it gets a lot more public attention which is a good thing. But like SM said above, I got to side eye that every one of her farts are treated like the second coming of Jesus. Sure she’s talented, but she’s just a woman. I guess I’m just too old or something to understand the fawning worship of a musical performer.
the moment she wrote, directed, and starred in her own biography, I was out. Her ego is out of control and I’m not trusting this hype.
Yeah, because she’s the only artiste to EVER do that.
It’s amazing how quickly people jump at the first chance to dismiss the massive success of a black woman, who has in recent memory built her success on her identity as a black woman, as nothing more than a PR exercise. Interesting.
This has nothing to do with race on my end.
I don’t understand why people love her so much either, because personally, for ME, she doesn’t check the boxes that make one an awesome artist.
She doesn’t write most of her music, doesn’t play any instruments, her voice is good (but not mind blowing) and I just don’t like the style of the music she creates.
She is a show artist, so if you like flashy performances, that may be your thing. But its not mine.
For me, i love artists that make songs that i play on repeat on my ipod, and not one of her songs works like that for me
And her fans are the most annoying people on earth, even her newborn kids are put on a pedestal, which im sure is super healthy for them
But thats my opinion, and it has nothing to do with race as demostrated, so really, stop putting words and thoughts into the mouths of everyone that is just not a fan of Beyonce
Again, not everything is about race. Olive only said she’s overrated as an artist. Nothing wrong in having an opinion. An opinion I share in fact. I don’t get the fawning over her. Olive, I agree 100% with you, and I don’t care about the stones thrown our direction.
just popping in to say I DO NOT KNOW THIS OLIVE WHO IS HATING ON BEYONCE! i have changed my name to reflect my status here.
@Olive, @Melissa, you can go ahead and say it’s “not about race” but do examine the reticence both of you display when you vocally refuse to examine your reasoning as to why accusations of “being flashy” and “showy” are what you trot out as criticism of a black woman who is openly and proudly demonstrative of her blackness. But do know that your defensiveness speaks volumes regardless of what you say.
Yes, this. I feel like Solange gets overlooked when it comes to speaking out about being a black woman and intersectional feminism. She’s incredible.
When I think of defining concerts for a generation I think of Queen at Live Aid/Wembley or Nirvana at Reading/MTV Unplugged, concerts that are still talked abut today.
As a musician I’m drawn to artists who are musicians – they write, compose, play and maybe also sing. They can read and follow a score and critically analyse music and lyrics. Lady Gaga is a good example. I can’t stand her as an artist but she’s a very talented musician.
Also I do think Beyonce is a fantastic performer and that Lemonade was incredible. I just find her music to be not that special, with Lemonade being an exception. I think that labeling something ‘generation defining’ is a bit premature. Most concerts aren’t really given that label until they stand the test of time. It seemed like a great performance though. I think concert was incredibly important and I celebrate the fact that she’s the first black woman to headline the festival. Will people still talk about this performance in 10 years, or 20 years? If they are, then I certainly think it would be fair to say it was generation defining. Not trying to detract from other people who feel it was, just my personal opinion.
And that is why I buy tickets every single time no question asked. She is the greatest living performer and an everyday life inspiration.
Well, with all the shade in other posts, I feel kind of sheepish admitting this, but I think she IS a great performer, and an artist. > ducks <
Ain’t no shame. She is the best living.
I read all of these weak points to dismiss and deny and diminish this woman…but I wonder:
Who are your faves and why are y’all pressedT over Bey? They can’t and don’t do better than her.
Someone above mentioned her forgetting being creole…… I mean cmon. The amount of hate she receives on this board and others becomes annoying, cliche and boring. The excuses people make to diminish her are laughable. Just say you can’t stand the woman for no reason other than jealousy.
And I’m one of those that *hates* the hater card being thrown about, but I see no valid criticism here. None.
I just joined the hive!
Exactly. Beyoncé triggers something in people – specifically white women – that makes me give long side eye. They stay pressed about Beyoncé and Blue Ivy.
I think it’s “subtle” racism-meaning that all these “eh, why is this defining a generation?/where is her creole heritage?/she isn’t Aretha” are just ways to express uncomfortable feeling they get when reading about a successful, generation defining young black woman. I think it’s subconcious and most of those commenters would claim they never had a racist thought in their life.
I’m white, European and like, people of color make maybeee 1 or 0.5% of people in my country, but I sill know what Beyonce did. Not because I’m a fan (I’m not), but because she is admirable as a business woman, musician/singer/entertainer and yes, activist. To claim any less is offensive, honestly.
So anyone who doesn’t like a particular celebrity as much as you do is jealous? I don’t think that applies in the Kate Middleton or Taylor Swift threads on here, lol.
She’s the “best living” in your opinion— which is fine! I think she’s a great performer and have nothing against her. But when you state that as fact, you have to expect that others will disagree.
Beyoncé being the greatest is a fact, and I expect others to disagree with facts. Well I’m lying here, actually I expect others to respect and celebrate that great woman and her accomplishments as a global superstar, as an activist, as an insanely hard-working person and as a caring mother. But I’m dreaming aloud here.
I love when she nods to her Creole heritage. We share that in common, and we both have a Louisiana French parent. The Creole though is further back, but the Acadian is the dominant ethnic heritage.
I said it a long time ago but a relative has worked with Beyonce and a friend of mine has too over the years. Neither said negative things about her and one was surprised how nice she was to them. Sure she is a superstar and has standards, but they have worked with a lot of big stars and don’t always have great things to say.
I really liked Lemonade, and it made me respect her more than I did before. She isn’t all hype either. Just because she’s not someone’s favorite doesn’t mean she hasn’t earned her place. For women of color, it is meaningful to see an icon with brown skin kill it and get respect.
Recognize that and understand the “fawning” is beyond the music.
YES, KanyesBlondeHair! Thanks. I’m with you on this.
And Magnoliarose, I love Lemonade, it was a brave personal and social act for Beyonce to create it, but also it’s a work of art. And it was a collaborative effort, which I also admire. There is poetry all through it, written by the talented and respected poet Warsan Shire, and the video is a dazzling work of visual art.
Beyonce has both talent and vision, and she’s not afraid to bring in collaborators to help her fulfill it. There’s both humility (yes, humility) and a confident female pride in that willingness. She’s an artist, and I don’t care who disagrees.
I think Beyonce is an ok singer – did you ever see the video where she fell down the stairs at a concert and sang all the way down? She lip syncs a lot.
However, she is an amazing performer when you put it all together. Not as good as Michael Jackson, cause I think he was a better singer and dancer, but probably the best living female performer all around. And that she has, in recent years, taken on topics such as police brutality when she could be “nice” and noncontroversial shows her to be maturing and realizing the voice that she has.
I am very interested in what this remarkable woman comes up with next.
Oh. And as a woman who grew up in the late 60s and 70s with Gloria Steinem and those women are my role models, I LOVE that she seems to be bringing back the term feminism as something proud, not shameful like so many wimpy women her age do.
We all know why they hate her tough. For the same reason they go on Blue’s threads to hate on a child and then feel good about themselves and their liberal cred.
I can speak only for my own words in the “Blue Ivy has a stylist” thread: I think it’s sad that any child who is not themselves a performer or a public figure has that kind of grown up pressure to look in a certain way such that their appearance requires a stylist. I get that rich kids breathe some rarified air, but I still think they should get to wear hideous unmatching clothing of their own choosing (although Blue’s clothes are probably a million times better than my own clothes, let alone my kids’, lol).
But when Blue had wild hair people judged Bey for not being a good mother because a 1 year old black child had her natural hair loose, as if she was dirty and unkempt.
So with that kind of venom, I don’t blame her for having a stylist. No one judges white kids or white mothers the way they do Blue and Bey. Enlighten me if you can list any.
I think everyone is reading to much into Blue Ivy has a stylist. As a child a used to walk around in my mothers heels and wanted to wear and style my hair the same way. I think its safe to assume Blue Ivy is the same and when she becomes a teenager and is figuring out her identity she can wear what ever she likes.
I hate the treatment of Blue, and it is everywhere. I love that they instill confidence and make her feel special. They are wealthy and lavish her with their hard earned lifestyle, but it doesn’t say anything about her future. I also think some of the reports are them trolling a little to poke the detractors.
She behaves like a little lady. If she were screaming and a brat I would understand, but she doesn’t. Only Blue inspires these comments when other stars are shameless when they use their children for attention. They don’t do that.
Girls need confidence and to feel cherished, and as a black child, she will need this to forge her own way in our society.
If anyone ever doubted that Blue’s parents are looking out for her and raising her well IN THE CONTEXT of their own very public lives, I saw that confident little girl bidding on art at an auction a few weeks ago, and I knew everyone would be throwing shade at Bey and Jay for letting a child wield money that way, but I saw in that act a freedom she has been granted to express herself, to believe in her own taste and judgment, and to not fear or be brought down by the criticisms of others.
So, is her life a “normal” one by middle class standards? Hell, no — and how COULD it be? Her parents are famous and beyond wealthy…but she is learning to have a belief in her inner self, her own judgment, and to OWN her presence in the world. When people shade this child for everything from her clothing to her appearance, I want to scream. And it just brings home the necessity of instilling confidence in a child who is inevitably in the public eye, which Blue’s parents are doing, and they’re doing it in their own way. So what?
Agreed, no other performer puts that much effort into their live shows. She works hard amd it shows
Yep. It was almost more effort than Coachella deserves.
I was impressed with her vocals during these performances. She did a fantastic job.
sorry, wrong spot
An overrated popstar is not the defining moment of a generation.
Defining moment of the festival…
This.
agreed.
Thank you!
Dear Hannah. You don’t get it. And that’s okay. It’s not for you to get. But we black women?? We got it. And we applaud Beyoncé for it. Because anytime a black woman’s voice is elevated it’s a good thing. A lot of women didnt know who Chimamanda Ngozi was before Beyoncé sampled her work. And now they do. That’s a good thing.
@ValiantlyVarnished – please. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie doesn’t hide her irritation whenever anyone mentions Beyonce sampling her work and I couldn’t agree with her more. Adichie is a supremely talented writer and intellectual who has won numerous literary awards and has received McArthur “Genius” grant long before Beyonce decided to borrow from her speech. Just watch Adichie cringe during interviews and point out her annoyance.
Just because she bristles at the new level of fame she has or silly questions because Bey sampled her work, don’t make it like she hates her either. She wouldn’t have allowed her voice to be used and paid for if she did.
@Rhys
She explains her feelings here:
https://jezebel.com/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie-finally-says-what-she-thought-1787616898
She permitted her words to be used, and her irritation is that people think her success is based on Beyonce. Her idea of feminism is different too. I love her and admire her, but it has to be acknowledged that she wasn’t generally known before. I turned my sister in law on to her since she will be raising black children that include girls. She has learned a lot, and it takes a different approach to parenting. Chimamanda Ngozi’s work will now be read by more people raising black girls or who have a desire to tackle intersectionalism. The exposure is positive in my opinion.
@ValiantlyVarnished They’re angry because they want to dismiss her and she can’t be dismissed. They are outraged that she commands so much attention. They want everybody to stop talking about her all the time. They want to know why she isn’t standing in line at the Gap on Saturday buying clothes for her kid like everybody else. They want her to stop doing her dance routines in leotards and shorts because her thighs make them angry. You are correct that Beyonce is beloved not only because she is providing an entertainment experience second to none but she is a black woman living in the USA that is living her life without having to adjust to whiteness. P.S. I really love that she paired her HBCU themed set with the announcement of major donations to HBCUs.
Hannah Maguire *clap clap* I’m with you.
I’m over Beyonce and her use of real groundbreaking women like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie to further her image as some feminist intellectual.
Just reading Adichie at the moment and yes, she is a groundbreaking woman of her generation, with actual ideas of her own.
Yeah I can tell you are “over her” by your commentS about her.LMAO
and why can’t she be a feminist intellectual again?
She can. I’d just like it if she didn’t borrow from others so much, but I suppose, as someone down thread posted, she’s introducing these others to the masses. But all the borrowing just makes it seem like she lacks ideas. And I’m sure she doesn’t.
But, listening to the WOC on this thread, it seems like what Bey does best is celebrate black culture. So using other voices fits in with that.
What’s wrong with borrowing ideas from others if you give credit where credit is due … like she did with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie on the Flawless track?
@Rapunzel, all of our ideas are borrowed. I wasn’t born with original concepts regarding feminism. Neither were you. We all learned from the people who came before us, and we take what we have learned to create more for those who will come after us. This particular criticism that Beyonce gets, that she’s just “borrowing” from her betters, is meaningless. Name one great artist who hasn’t done the same, but badly. Elvis Presley made his fame off of copying black artists, and yet no one shies away from referring to him as “groundbreaking.” Why is that?
Yeah, eye roll.
Plenty of people know Chimamanda Ngozi a
Adichies work without Beyoncé “introducing” her. She’s a brilliant writer whose intellect has been recognised by awards and hugely selling books.
It’s ok for us to have different opinions on Beyoncé. I just don’t like her voice or her music so I am never going to understand all this excessive adoration. I watched the clip above, cool stage and back up performed, cool intro… and then destinys child dated songs, sounding exactly the same. Zzzzz
Defining because she was the first black artist to headline the festival.
Defining because she included a show with OVERT blackness at a time where black skin is under attack for the most mundane things like asking for directions or waiting in a Starbucks.
Defining because Beyonce literally did a two hour set that was essentially a concert. With more than 100 dancers, imagery, costumes, etc.
I could go on but for a lot of people that feel attacked on the daily…seeing an artist put blackness on FULL display at the whitest festival around is the definition of defining.
yes!! Agree 100%
Nicole- I do agree representation matters. But I’m tired of being told how important and amazing Beyonce is.
Black Panther- that’s a defining moment for a generation. Beyonce being the first black artist at Cochella? Not even on the same level. But maybe I feel this way cause I think Cochella is lame and not culturally significant at all. In fact, I think they used Bey to try to gain some relevance.
If Bey really wanted to be groundbreaking, how bout she create her own festival to showcase the great diverse artists ignored by whitebread Cochella? Now that would truly slay.
No one is saying she is important to you, or should be important to you. They’re saying she is important to a lot of people and her ticket and album sales bear this out. I don’t like Taylor Swift so I don’t bother commenting on articles about her. Why do people who dislike Beyoncé feel the need to flock to positive articles about her to say she’s not important/overrated/derivative? Do you think you’ll convince people who do like and appreciate her otherwise?
Double post
Because both can be defining? I mean this critique sounds like the same people that were mad that marvel made black panther instead of the fact that it GOT MADE.
People don’t truly understand how important it is to have this representation in front of a white audience. Where we cannot be ignored.
You don’t have to like Beyoncé. Heck I didn’t become a huge fan of hers until recent years. But trying to deny what it means to see the level of black imagery put into the mainstream.
But I knew tons of people would be salty about this because Bey could blow the roof of and someone would still have a problem.
Maria S. – I’m happy Beyonce is so important to many folks. I like her, and I’m not trying at all to convince people not to like her. I’m simply tired of all the hyperbole. I don’t see why that should upset anyone.
Rapinzel – why should Beyonce make her own festival? It’s about inclusion and representation not segregation.
Snap Happy- I think Bey could make a great inclusive festival that would put Coachella to shame. That’s what I think would really be visionary.
Here’s the thing: you don’t get to decide that. You are tired of being told – by black women no less- that she is important? So what? Your opinion on who we as black women elevate is essentially none of your business. And if you are a black woman and dont agree that’s fine too – you STILL dont get to decide who other black women look up to and elevate. Because guess what? BOTH Beyoncé AND Black Panther are important to black culture and black people. We get more than on thing to be proud of. And for the record: Beyoncé was not the first black artist ate Coachella. She was the first black woman to headline. And black artists shouldn’t have to make their own festivals to be heard. Our music outsells everyother music genre.
How is Coachella not culturally significant? FFS, it was a catalyst for the bho-resurgence, heavily reported on every time-some actresses made a career of Coachella outfits (Vanessa Hudgens). You can think it’s lame, but the fact is that it is the most media-reported music fest in USA.
“But I’m tired of being told how important and amazing Beyonce is.”
If an artist is important to people other than yourself….sorry, but you are just going to have to deal. Clearly, her performance affected a lot of people in a very powerful way. Why the effort to cut that down? Your opinion doesn’t change the fact that she IS important to A LOT of people.
But the writer of this article IS saying she should be important to us, by calling it the defining moment of a generation. That is what bugs a lot of us and prompts us to comment when we don’t ordinarily comment on B-related posts. JMHO
“the writer of this article IS saying she should be important to us”
I detect no “should” in there. Beyonce’s performance was important, period, the article just recognizes the obvious. If it didn’t mean something to you, that is fine, but don’t try to erase the impact that it had overall. It comes across as people trying to shout down a WOC when she is having a clear moment of power and success.
Thank you. It’s starting to sound like Jezebel around here whenever an article about Beyoncé is posted. I’m beginning to think they don’t like her because she is writing love letters to, and elevating Black women in an unapologetic way, instead of centering and trying to appeal to the mainstream anymore. At a time when it feels like just existing while Black is a crime. I bet most of them haven’t even seen the performance, but can’t wait to post how overrated she is. That was a phenomenal performance. I went to an HBCU so I get what she was doing here, and it was a revolutionary act, wonderfully executed.
The Jezebel comparison is SPOT-on. I’m sorry to say that but Celebitchy is starting to become a staple of white feminism on the Internet.
ITA, María. It was a BFD for a lot of people. If it wasn’t for you, that’s fine, but doesn’t mean you have to sh*t on it or say it wasn’t a big deal for others.
@KATE, trust me. The site has BEEN that way, it took me someone mentioning it a couple of months ago for me to notice it
Isn’t Beyonce a subject of debate on black gossip sites too? I am not trying to make excuses I am sincerely attempting to understand the differences. Is it tone? Implications?
I want to make sure I fully understand and get how things read to WOC. I wish WOC didn’t leave the site. You are very valued here, and I can say for myself I learn/ed a lot from you and appreciate/d your presence.
I do however acknowledge white feminism is annoying and precious sometimes and it is enough to decide not to be bothered. I see it though not always.
I am a WOC and I personally don’t get the Beyonce hype. Great performing, good songs, fine voice but she isn’t the end all be all.
I am mixed and not American so her depiction of being celebrating WOC to be honest doesn’t really impress me, nor speak to me, because it isn’t my culture, not my journey so I don’t have a leg to stand on. I am glad that so many people were positively affected by her youtube performance/concert. It just feel like categorizing it as a defining generational moment I mean she isn’t changing world policies and saving lives is sad. The fact we idolize entertainers is sad, the fact that this idolization is at a fever pitch is even more sad. Sigh oh well.
I normally don’t post on entertainers, I am meh about but I noticed a little thread commenting on the lack of WOC commenters and I just wanted say hi, there are still ton’s o us out here.
Nicole and Maria, THANK YOU!!!! Beyonce wears her Blackness unapologetically, and she flaunts that Blackness in the mainstream culture so that folks with their preconceived notions about us can SEE HER, and they MUST pay attention because she is a financial powerhouse. If she didn’t make the money she does, she wouldn’t have the power to not give interviews, or to orchestrate a huge tapestry of a performance of Black culture in front of a mainstream, white audience. This was a carefully curated string of ideas and phrases that send unwavering messages about the beauty and joy of being Black, and the complexity of being a woman, and she included music from the diaspora. Well off white kids will carry that message with them for the rest of their lives. As a woman of color with a child of color, this means EVERYTHING, especially when Black men are being kicked out of Starbucks for waiting while Black, and an innocent teenage boy who was trying to ask for directions in a “safe” neighborhood was almost killed for being a polite Black teen who was a lost kid trying to get to school. When I was young, the older folk in our neighborhood always reminded us that white folks who claim to be “liberal” can be just as racist as conservatives. They are all yelling “equality” until you get real, or a person of color is marrying into the family. I had hope. No longer feeling so hopeful. These comments remind me why. Alas, opinions are like a$$holes… everybody has one, lol.
It was always that way, but before it either wasn’t a theme (it was more pure gossip and less pc, and Lainey was kinda the same-she was bodyshaming left and right, some 6-7 yrs ago) or it was totally pearl-clutchey over anything.
@Scotchy are you a black woman? I ask this because WOC covers a large swath and doesn’t necessarily mean black. Because with all due respect if you are not a black woman than I can see why you wouldn’t “get the hype”. Black women’s experiences are very different from those of a Latina, Asian, Native American or Indian woman’s.
@Scotchy, you’re mixed and not American. No offence, but that likely explains why it’s not a defining cultural moment for you.
I’m not black. I’m not American. I don’t understand why so many people consider the Beatles as groundbreaking. Never understood most of the hype about 70s music. I don’t get why Madonna is an icon.
Ask me about Kishore Kumar, or Rekha, or Sridevi (RIP!!!!!) and I can answer why those individuals and their careers were iconic and defined their generations, even if they were slightly before my time. But they are inherent to my particular background, the circumstances of my youth and what sort of media I surrounded myself with.
Point is, there are cultural connections that I miss by virtue of my background. I didn’t grow up listening to Umm Khalthoum, but ask anyone with a Middle Eastern background above the age of 40 and they’ll tell you that her voice was the definition of a generation. And who would I be to say otherwise, just because I didn’t listen to her?
Within the context of American culture, this is a business that prioritizes white artists, artists who often “borrow” and build their success on the work of black people and black culture (see Post Malone). The least that people can do is acknowledge their part, and Beyonce’s part, in directly shaping that.
@magnoliarose, Beyonce is discussed on black gossip sites. But there is a world of difference between the way Beyonce is discussed within the context of black culture, and the way Beyonce is discussed by white women and men.
@ A & @ValiantlyVarnished
I am half nigerian and german but was born and raised in Canada. I currently live in the US however most people here seem to think I am latina, which is weird because I would say I look like an african european mix and not a south american one, heh the joys of being ethnically ambiguous 🙂
I am a Gen X and am very very aware of the struggles of African Americans and feel the pressure and unrest while being here.
I have had very different experiences with racism being where I am from and being a mixie.
Racism in Canada is much more passive aggressive ( in the cities, small towns are yiiikkkeess)
Either way you are right that is probably why I don’t get it, and why it wasn’t a transcendental experience for me, personally.
I don’t want anyone to think I don’t respect or think her performance was great.
It was. It just didn’t define anything for me and wasn’t world shattering.
All in all I will go back to not commenting, I just wanted to address the fact that it seems as though there are fewer of us WOC on the site and I just wanted to say hi and I feel like there are more of us here they just might be like me and rarely comment.
@Maria
All the way YES!!!
@Scotchy
Hi! I am happy you commented and hope you continue. You have a unique perspective because of your background.
@Geeky and A
Thanks for answering. I am going to do some research and check that out. I want to understand this issue better.
@scotchy Latinas from the Caribbean have a different racial mix than Mexicans and South Americans. Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic all have large African populations and are heavily influenced by West African culture. If you live in an area with a large Afro-Latino population I’m not surprised you’re mistaken for being Latina.
This right here! These are all the reasons why her show was defining, Like Diana Ross a the Park defining.
Side bar: My chocolate baby is turning 1 next month. He’s funny, sweet, smart, and stubborn and seeing the news report of those black men arrested in Starbucks for being black made me weep for my son’s future. I honestly questioned, “who will extinguish your flame? when will racism cut you?”
I am sorry you have to feel that your baby is unsafe. The fact that any mother has these fears breaks my heart.
I can relate to a degree because of the rise of the Nazis and hate directed at my group. But it isn’t the same because I am not faced with violence from authorities nor am I profiled the minute someone lays eyes on me.
Every single day it is a reminder of how sick and racist our society is and has been since the beginning.
I don’t want you to feel this way when your baby is a teenager. I want a better world for him and you and everyone else in your shoes. There is no place in a civilized society for anything less.
magnoliarose thanks for the reply. It’s odd because the thoughts aren’t new at all, they stay on my mind all the time but they do come to the forefront when certain items pop up on the news.
I’m proud of Beyonce. I watched Tiffany Haddish Uncensored and I didn’t really get her as a comedienne or person until that show and one of the things she said that stuck out to me was “as black people we don’t say that to one another enough, I’m proud of you, I’m praying for you, I’m happy for you.” And you know what she is right. So whether or not I personally like Beyonce’s musical stylings I can say I am proud of what she has accomplished as a black woman. I haven’t heard “Lift Every Voice and Sing” since my 8th grade Black History Month play. I haven’t seen a Black Greek probate be put on stage (Black Greek probates at PWC are different from HBCUs). I think what she is doing is a service for our community by getting these images on “wax” and film. Perhaps these things can resonate and reverb so it provides a positive legacy for my son.
@AmunetMat
I lived in a bubble until Trayvon Martin. I thought I understood the issue, but I didn’t get how pervasive and horrific the system is until that case. Black people didn’t expect justice, but I naively thought in this day and age the outcome would be different. In my view, it is a humanitarian crisis and should be addressed that way.
I appreciate your perspective about Beyonce putting black culture on record. “Lift Every Voice and Sing” is very moving. I first heard it when I was little. My parents are activists, and other relatives are involved in civil rights as well as having black people in my life, so I have been fortunate to see and hear things that aren’t in the mainstream. I agree it was great to see her celebrate black culture with pride.
I am not a WOC. I do have a lot of empathy for your fears, however. I can imagine how scary it is, but I don’t really know. My big fear, and it was valid, was my small town cops stopping my teen sons when they were driving. They are bullies up here. I would never let my kids invite a black friend to our town unless I was driving. The racism is horrible.
I know I would speak out, like those people in Starbucks. I think everyone with any kind of a conscience needs to start speaking out about our white privilege and the way POC are treated in the US. It has to stop. I pray it stops before your baby is much older.
Exactly! So much bitterness here. Let her and the people who loved her performance have a moment, geez.
People are so salty, it’s unbelievable.
This so much! Her show was amazing and OVERTLY black- a nod to HBCU and marching bands, her use of quotes by black thinkers, her tribute to Nina Simone, her singing Lift Every Voice and Sing, and her stage banter was impossibly black in the numerous references she threw out. The level of preparation, work, and cultural coding that went into that show is fantastic.It slayed.
I get people thinking her music is not for them(I am an admitted stan) but not respecting her work ethic or not understanding how amazing it is for the biggest star in music to perform a show to a mostly white audience, in a country that still shoots black people down in the streets with no consequences and performs a 2 hour show that overtly and joyfully celebrates her blackness, is amazing, defiant, radical, and in my opinion should be celebrated.
LISTEN, There are 100 reasons to be in awe of that love letter to Black American culture. But as logistics for creatives is my wheelhouse. Do you understand how amazing that show was from a logistics standpoint? From the set design, costume design, lightning, pyro, sound engineering (transitions were amazing and ON TIME), choreography (Not just dancing but their marks as well). Everyone from the band to backup singers to dancers were hitting their 2 counts and 8 counts HARD. These folks were dancing for the PEOPLE. HELL, even makeup was flawless on EVERYBODY for 2 hours.
I’ve crossed paths RECENTLY with some of the people in the marching band, and somehow they were able to keep this secret until the day of.
I feel renewed. If I could just spend a day with Parkwood Productions, just one…
That’s one of the main reasons I loved the show, the format was designed for optimal enjoyment on every level. It’s not just that Beyoncé is such a talented performer, it’s that she’s so dedicated to giving the best that she makes sure she surrounds herself with the best as well. Her commitment and dedication is really inspirational.
@reef – this! It grinds my gears when people attempt to diminish the fact that she has her hand in every aspect of her productions and they go off flawlessly every single time. She is an entertainer yes, but she is also a business woman. She doesn’t have to use her platform as a global superstar to elevate black culture and black womanhood ( as it’s surely lost her many a racist ‘fan’) but she does. On a weekend where two black men arrested for existing in a Starbucks, seeing her sing the black national anthem and transition to Formation mattered. Seeing her provide jobs to black artists mattered. Seeing plus-sized dancers on stage mattered. Seeing her acknowledge how honored she was to be the first black woman to headline Coachella, while at the same time recognizing that it’s ridiculous it took until 2018 for a black woman to do so, matters. Yes, it’s a music festival for rich white kids but in her profession, it’s an important milestone.
@Reef….you are spot on. The technical execution for this performance is mind boggling. Questlove was beside himself and in awe of how it was done. To be able to expertly execute all the moving parts both behind the stage and on stage so flawlessly is amazing, I’d rather listen to the opinions of other professional musicians who understand what’s involved in this type of performance than faux feminists who squawk about how “it’s nothing new, she’s done the same thing before.” Beyoncé’s work ethic is amazing.
Yes! I was in awe of the energy, the ability of the huge band to back her, the throwbacks to drumline and hbcu, the sheer number of dancers and other people who got it all right. And it ALL went off as planned.
I mean, if you don’t like it, there’s no law saying you have to comment. Just pass it by and move on with your day. I do feel a lot of stereotypical white feminism going on with this, and it’s really annoying. To me I just feel, your opinion is not wanted or needed on every single thing. Maybe it wasn’t for you. Don’t crap on it, move along. The world will survive without your hot take!
Nailed it
Yes. White women trying to tell WoC what is culturally defining for THEM smdh…same ol’ same ol’.
Hahaha. Darla, you can crack me up sometimes. You don’t always dress it up to make it pretty when you have an opinion. lol
I wouldn’t say I am a Beyonce fan because I am not into her music and I can’t with Jay Z.
However, I give her respect for what she does and how she has become more powerful with her messages. To be a top Pop star black women had to deny their race and almost apologize for it. Beyonce refuses to do that at a time when it is very needed to see black women push back in this climate with 45 going out of his way to attack minorities. Black women, in particular, have been favorite targets.
She made black people give a damn about Coachella, so you know miracles happened. (I hate Coachella)
@Darla. This. This. This. That is white feminism, “my opinion is needed on everything even when it doesn’t concern me and I will make no effort to understand the perspective of those it does concern. My right to give my opinion is all that matters.”
Thank you for breaking it down, Darla. Thank you.
But isn’t this a gossip site? People voice their opinions on every article here. I thought the performance was damn good but the fact that on this site people who aren’t fans of beyonce are just shut down is kind of ridiculous.
Well put. Very well put. Cuts through all the b.s. and the “it’s not about race!!!” declarations.
@Darla, if people did what you suggested, this site probably wouldn’t exist for lack of comments/readership! 🙂
THIS 1000%
As a white person, sometimes I just want to smack white people up the side of the head.
Bey is Queen, and even if she wasn’t and you hate her IT’S STILL A DEFINING MOMEMT TO HAVE A WOC HEADLINE COACHELLA. Want proof? It took TWENTY F-ING YEARS to happen.
Get your head out of your asses white folks, smh.
The comments make me want to quote John Kennedy Toole already.
She’s talented, but way overrated. A performance at a festival by a popstar who has performed at the Super Bowl and thousands of other concerts for years and years isn’t a defining moment of a generation. Great that her fans enjoyed her performance, but they always do
Have you seen it? Do you understand the content and the context of it? Because you sound like yet another woman tripping over yourself to say how good she isn’t without understanding her importance to many, many women.
She is important if you don’t know the important black women that have actually made a difference to the world.
I’ve read Angela Davis, Maya Angelou, Pam Grier, and I’m now reading the novel of another black feminist: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
And I can tell you that I fail to understand how Beyonce is influencing our generation.
Sure she is a great perfomer, she gives everything to her music.
She is also using her platform to convey important messages.
But she’s a messenger not a thinker. That’s what people that idolize her need to realise.
Please don’t argue with folks that don’t get Beyonce. If they don’t get her importance or artistry by now, all we can do is hope that they see the light. I, too, was in that dark place, but I let joy enter my heart and I’m BeyHive member # whatever is 10 spots after Adele.
@Mirage But each role is important. I respect and love our thinkers, our doers, and our performers. Beyonce doesn’t have to be a great intellectual, that’s not her role or her gift. She’s using her gift of entertainment to elevate an aspect of black culture. For those out there who follow her but don’t know who Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is they now know; or who James Baldwin is they now know; or who Maya Angelou is they now know. They know because they are exposed to it through her music and entertainment. So, let us not diminish the significance of her role as an entertainer because she is not checking off ALL of the correct boxes. Personally, like her music or hate it we can at least acknowledge that there isn’t currently another black artist on her fame level and talent level serving the blackness during high profile gigs. If they are, please let me know and I will cover them and put them on blast as well because we need to be praising and lifting these people up for the awesome job they are doing.
@AmunetMaat that Beyonce is bringing black feminism to the masses, well I think that’s fair. It’s an interesting thought.
I guess people need someone to idolise.
Now let me go back to my books!!
@Mirage intriguing you mentioned Beyonce representing black feminism. What I loved about the Black Renaissance is that every facet of black culture and black intellectualism merged and worked together. DuBois was publishing books with artistry and intellectualism on full display and acknowledging black entertainers as important. I want us to return to viewing these “individual” pieces as a whole because honestly, that is exactly what it is pieces of a whole.
I’d be very careful separating “worthwhile” artistic and cultural contributions to individuals who fall into traditionally accepted academic roles. That is the heart of class elitism.
@AmunetMaat That a thread about the relevance of Beyonce is making me revisit the important black authors of this century and the last, is really cool!
I love James Baldwin so much I could cry (just like the Beyhive would cry defending Beyonce), but I don’t know WEB Du Bois well enough. This is my next read! Thank you!
I agree, Beyonce’s role is a piece of a whole, absolutely.
A piece of a whole, not the unnuanced accomplishment that we are told to believe.
But still, she is riding on a wave that has already gathered a lot of momentum. She has not started anything!
@Mirage, no, she hasn’t started anything, but she’s injecting black intellectual thought into the mainstream with her music. Seeing that, especially from the perspective of a black woman, discussing the pain and vulnerabilities of being a black woman, is phenomenal.
I don’t think she’s a groundbreaking academic, but she doesn’t need to be. Not all of us are. Her talents lie in music, in performance, and in that way, she has pushed the envelope in a big way. At any rate, even the academics who came before us built on the work of those who came before them. What we do with what has been left to us is what makes the difference.
Anyway, I was revisiting Angela Davis yesterday, and this quote stuck out at me in particular: “Progressive art can assist people to learn not only about the objective forces at work in the society in which they live, but also about the intensely social character of their interior lives. Ultimately, it can propel people toward social emancipation.”
Mirage please read WE B Dubois. I have a collection his books. The Souls of Black Folks is a must read, Dusk of Dawn is the follow-up, please let me know what your thoughts are on his Talented 10th comments; in the same vein try The New Negro an anthology of work.
AmunetMaat Thank you very much for the recommendations.
I’ve added them to my list of next reads!
Now I feel I haven’t wasted my time responding to comments today on Celebitchy 🙂 It’s been fruitful!
@Mirage: “She is important if you don’t know the important black women that have actually made a difference to the world. I’ve read Angela Davis, Maya Angelou, Pam Grier, and I’m now reading the novel of another black feminist: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
And I can tell you that I fail to understand how Beyonce is influencing our generation.”
Oh lord, elitist much? I’m a 45 yr-old feminist who went to a New England women’s college and to an HBCU for grad school. I’ve read Angela Davis, Paula Giddings, bell hooks, Roxanne Gay, Ntozake Shange, etc. And guess what? Beyonce is still important is important to me. Because not just academics provoke thought and discussions and change the way people think and view themselves. She could still be singing about dancing in the club, but is choosing to visit themes of Black feminism, racist violence, and self love, and chose in the whitest space possible, to celebrate Black women in a production rich with literary, cultural, and musical references. If that doesn’t resonate with you, that’s cool. But don’t keep asking why it’s very important to a lot of people, on a thread filled with women explaining PRECISELY why it’s important to them (and then turning around and insulting them by suggesting it’s because they aren’t educated).
@Maria, this is an excellent comment.
@Maria
I was raised in a French estate (I think that’s what you called “the Project” in America) and went to university with a bursary. What saved me was reading, reading and reading.
If that makes me an elitist now, then great!
I grew up listening to rhythm and blues, jazz, classical music (still in the estate).
So I’ve never as such found Beyonce music groundbreaking in any way.
That’s my truth.
And I have the feeling that Beyonce is important to Americans in particular.
She represents something that us non American can’t quite comprehend.
It’s kind of hilarious that you’ve just said you can’t understand it because you’re not American yet somehow think you can lecture actual Americans and American WOC on why they’re wrong with how they feel. You clearly don’t know and don’t understand so just let them have the floor, yeah?
Maria this was perfectly said. Thank you
The defying moment for people with enough money and leisure time to hang out at Coachella. The world is burning but at least Beyonce can dance for rich folks. Yay.
How is this Beyonce’s fault tough? White people (shoutout to the 53 %) are responsible for the mess we are in?
Not shading Beyonce. Shading the ott response to something for and by rich people. As long as entertainers, any entertainers, are seen as everything, and get wrapped in this hyperbole that only gets worse all the time, I’m going to roll my eyes at the ridiculousness. It defines nothing and next year we’ll have another choachella and that will also be the most super amazing thing that has ever happened anywhere.
Not only, no.
A defying moment for all the people who watched her live from home and were blown away by what she did and what she represents.
The production and all that rocked. I prefer Bey when she pulls it back and the focus is on her voice. I think her voice is one of the greatest, ever.
“I think her voice is one of the greatest, ever”
Seriously? Wow, I mean she’s a tremendous show-person but I wouldn’t put her voice in the top ten of Black Female singers ever, let alone all singers ever.
Hey look if it defined you great, if you shrugged, fine. Personally I’m just relieved she seems to have realized where she excels and isn’t trying to act in movies any more. We’re all the better for that. 😉
Adele’s reaction was funny, as was the public non reaction to Jay Z. Just because you forgave him Bey does not mean we have to^^
The comments on this thread are predictable. Imagine thinking Taylor Swift, the definition of white mediocritry, is a competent artist and performer, worthy of several Grammy wins, and then disparaging Beyonce. Imagine THAT.
Thank you.
I’m neither black nor white, but being a minority I know the importance of he performance to many people. In this sh*tstorm of a world, let people have their moment because their reality is much bleaker than the entitled ones who are trying to bring it down.
I’m not a stan but give credit where credit is due. She brings it every single time.
I can’t believe I have to defend her here with all these comments trying to downgrade the importance.
I feel the same way.
One of the important things Beyonce has given as a performer is that she is always 100 percent present.
I am happy, so many people enjoyed it, and so many of the lovely women here felt inspired by it. These are positive things in a hard world of constant negative news.
Oh my God! Beyoncé! Spent the entire day avoiding my Twitter. She’s an awesome performer, but I really want to hear the secrets of her Marketing team. Someone there is a prophet at reading future trends. Before you scream at me her success and talent – undeniable. She is epic. But the adoration is just a wee bit tedious.
Like the adoration the Beetles or Elvis received…
Lol I guess we’re all here to ask the same question? What generation? Beyonce regularly performs a compilation of dances, themes, and cultural “sets” that have been in mainstream southern black culture for decades. DECADES. That baton twirling and marching band routine was done by the Dancing Dolls back in the 80s. And every HBCU since has done a remake of it. And that is Beyonce in a nutshell. She takes whats been said/done in Black culture, especially southern Creole culture, and makes it mainstream for the world. I appreciate that she does that but…. not defining moment for anyone who grew up ariund this. Nor the white and Asian kids who just like to dance to it don’t get the cultural references. Still love her tho
I get this comment and I don’t think the power comes from the ideas, which you are right- have been around awhile but in the fact that she uses her platform to share that particular black experience with the world. I think many(not all) mainstream black artists struggle to not alienate their audience but Beyonce has reached a level where she just is doing whatever the hell she wants and over the last 5 years, her shows and her work, in general, has become more overtly political and overtly black.
Aren’t we all shaped by the things we grew up with and are influenced by? Why is her drawing influences from her black background such a bad thing? She’s not claiming to have invented HBCU pep rallies or feminism, nor are her stans. But as an artist, what would she do if not draw from what her personal experiences are?
Mainstream culture sanitizes black culture and repackages it through white artists. The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Igloo Azouka, Post Malone, Eminem, the list goes on. With the exception of Iguana Azreal and Post Malone, the rest of the performers on that list are considered “iconic” and “groundbreaking.” So why is it that when Beyonce does the same thing that they do, she’s thought of as unoriginal?
@A Look, I ❤ Bey. However these are not her experiences and most of what she performs and records are not her experiences. Bey didn’t finish highschool let alone go to an HBCU. She hasn’t had the experience of being “on the yard” or on a dance team. She didn’t pledge AKA or even go to a Greek probate. She has not broken a glass cieling or dealt directly with prejudice on the job, like most in their 20s, because she has always had Matthew and Jay to protect her and be the bullies for her. Bey developed her nice girl persona b/c she has never had to be mean, or desperate. I honestly don’t even believe her husband is the womanizer he has portrayed himself as either…it all seems like good marketing. She has perfected the art of telling others stories and views. Which is what a good performer does. And her performance was amazing. Just not defining.
@Bitsy, “most of what she performs and records are not her experiences” Um? I’m not sure how to respond to this in the slightest. She wrote an entire album about her very personal experience of dealing with infidelity and coming to terms with her blackness, but I see here that you genuinely think her pain is likely the result of “good marketing” so I feel like that speaks to the lack of empathy you have on a personal level for some people more than anything else.
It was awesome performance
But can we tone down the fangirling?
The only thing pathbreaking would be her headlining coachelle
Nothing else.
Why does people fangirling her bother you, though? I think it’s fine if one has a differing opinion but I genuinely don’t understand the need to piss on other people’s enthusiasm.
As a black woman, this was everything. It was a celebration of black excellence. The HBCU theme slayed. It was political, it was empowering, it was beautiful. I don’t expect certain people to understand how important it was to see that imagery on a grand stage.
Exactly. As a black woman i was in awe. She recreated the black college experience. Most people who aren’t black won’t get it. She sang the black national anthem! Do you know how significant that is for black personhood? Most people don’t know the song. She sang to a mostly white audience and showed them black excellence. There was a damn probate. Anyone who has either been in a black frat or sorority or witnessed their friends in one understands the significance. How they go underground and come back up. The excitement and their performance when they cross. She did a damn step show! I mean the whole thing was a shot out to black personhood! It was so beautifully black. It also introduced the beauty of HBCUs to a new generation of people. It was the beauty and strength of blackness.
Well my parents couldn’t afford to send me to college so I wouldn’t know about that…
Nice that she defines the moment for the ones rich enough to be a part of it, I guess.
Anna, girl bye. My parents are immigrants from Haiti. They didn’t pay for college for me or my brothers. We all worked through college. My husband worked three jobs in college. We all had student loans. So stop with “my parents couldn’t afford to pay for me to go to college.” Your dismissiveness shows your weakness. My black ass was proud as hell watching Beyonce on stage celebrating blackhood. If you don’t like it, I don’t care. Come for someone else.
Most people’s parents can’t afford to send them to college. That’s why most working and middle class Americans have an average of $50,000 in loans that we’re paying back. College should be more affordable and accessible, but the reality is that most Americans are putting themselves in a hefty amount of debt to do it.
Y’all love to hate black women. It must piss you off to see us be so unapologetically black. You took people’s comments about black college life being displayed in all its glory and beauty to make it about how you couldn’t afford college and the affordability of college. This is why black women side eye white feminism. You love wearing your pussy hats but mad we don’t jump in line with you. Because we see your bull. We don’t forget how your voted.
Guess what, as much as college is unaffordable, as black woman my earning potential is a lot less. So my going to college or grad school and going into debt means that my return on my investment is less than that of a white woman. It means it will take black women longer to pay it off bc of the institutional racism that we are faced with every day. So go ahead and turn a conversation about how this beauty of black college life is a reflection about how you can’t afford colllege like black folks are rich. This is the most ridiculous and racist thread but WE see you and aren’t surprised at all.
Oh, dear, I’m really sorry if that came across like I was arguing against you – I was actually agreeing that it was presumptuous for Anna to assume your experience was somehow less valuable because of your educational background. Even more so because the vast majority of people even in middle class (and mostly white) families can’t afford to pay for it outright, so it’s unimaginable the kind of obstacles people from lower class backgrounds and/or who have to deal with the added problems of living in a racist society after graduating will encounter. Even if you COULD afford it, unless you immigrated here from an immensely wealthy background, that wealth was hard earned because African Americans have been systemically and strategically disenfranchised economically in America. It was a nonsense “poor me” comment utilizing faux class concerns to undermine your accomplishments, and I’m sorry I didn’t clarify better that I was pointing out how little merit the statement had to begin with much less getting into the racial undertones behind it.
Thank you for clarifying. Sorry if it came across as an attack. I reread your post and it makes more sense now. I’m just annoyed by the derailment of this post when many black women and black men have been speaking about the beauty and significance of this performance. This is the subtlety of racism. Ignoring black voices for the feelings of white.
No, no, I read it as you being (rightfully) upset by a statement that can be read as further undermining your position on the matter. I should have probably ignored Anna’s post, myself, because you are right – it does serve to further derail the thread from the more optimistic tone of the performance.
Preach Ali B. She brought it! I’m not a huge fan but I loved it!
Someone on Twitter said : “The way Beyoncé just makes black women feel so good about themselves. Beyoncé is an affirmation. That’s all you really gotta say. I feel so good to be a black woman.”
That is all, folks. But I get that for some, who are used to seeing themselves represented and even celebrated every day, it’s not super obvious or even important.
I’m mixed but wouldn’t pass the ‘paper bag’ test and in was sitting in my room after this performance feeling a proudness I rarely feel about myself. This woman has 3 kids at home, a man that never truly appreciated her and a world that debates her art and hard work yet she still wants to give 1000% in her art and personal development. She never tires to take up this challenge. Just like all the black artists before her and many who didn’t survive stardom and their personal issues. Hopefully more talent like Beyonce will rise for the next generation who why will surely be put down in comparison to the great Beyonce 50 years from now. Black excellence always get celebrate when their ‘reign is over and they don’t pose a ‘threat’ anymore. That s why silly people think they’re being clever when using old-school stars like Diana Ross and Tina to compare Beyonce negatively with like those women didn’t exactly go through the same crap of being undervalued against their white peers and earlier generation of black women. People don’t learn from history but like to pretend they’re woke smdh….
These reactions on here remind me of when in was young and didn’t succeed in something, people took it as normal. To be expected. When I wanted to shine and show off what I’m good at, I felt invisible when people took no notice in subjects not usually linked with black excellence or said ‘well it’s because you’re black’ when it was to do with sports or dance, stereotypical racism. Theres always an excuse to exclude, ignore and dismiss black excellence and Beyonce’s status as an icon will always be up for debate in a world where Taylor Swifts are praised for substandard performances. This is how the world works. There’s not many Beyonces but there are a million Taylor swifts so obviously people feel more connected to a Taylor swift. Anybody can be a Taylor swift essentially.
What you say about Swift is so true. A black woman with her association of lacklustre performance, non existent stage presence, subpar vocal abilities and mediocre songwriting would not have won a SINGLE grammy, let alone several. But sure, Beyonce is overrated. LMAO.
I agree about Swift and that is one of the things that irritates me the most. She allows white supremacists to support her that is ok. She is mediocre in every single way imaginable but that is fine. She is pure PR and fake romances but sure ok.
She’s petty and does all kinds of shady stuff to inflate her sales to appear more successful than she is but ok no biggie. On and on.
Exactly!
I’m a black woman and seeing another black woman be on top of the world and slaying flawlessly nearly brought me to tears.
Those who see themselves at every turn and are celebrated for the bare minimum wouldn’t understand!
This is pretty much it. H#ll, I ain’t even Black and I totally get it. She makes black women feel a way and I say YES! YES! Why shouldn’t they feel that way? I never was a huge fan of Beyonce prior to Lemonade, and I wouldn’t call myself part of the Beyhive, but to not recognize her influence or significance would be preposterous. Black women are constantly disrespected around the world, by whites, non-black POC, even their own men disrespect them. Fans know she’s not a deity; they don’t think her farts are like the Second Coming; they know she’s just a girl from Texas who worked her b*tt off to become the #1 entertainer in the world.
Exactly. I felt so SEEN. Beyoncé makes black women feel SEEN and HEARD and BEAUTIFUL. And the fact that so many white women take issue with that is very telling.
Preach!!!!
The bitter tone of this thread is predictable. Anyway Kaiser said everything that need to be said. I would add this Beyoncé took a theme that’s inherently part of the African American culture and yet it didn’t stop anyone from enjoying it.
Altough I’m sure many in the audience tought “Lift every voice and sing” was a new single, let’s be real 😉
I didn’t see that clip of her singing it but I can only imagine how great she sounded.
It’s amazing how many people are quick to play down the significance of Beyonce being the first black woman to headline Coachella, that’s for sure.
They are quick to downplay the significance of a black woman singing the black national anthem at Coachella. Ok sure Jan. I bet ya’ll didn’t even recognize what she was singing. Beyonce had Malcom X’s voice blaring before a national audience shouting how black women are the most disrespected person in America. They just proved his point. I wish the haters would go back and see the history of blackness that was being displayed on stage but i know they won’t because learning about our history is actual work
@Goldengirllover 34
“Beyonce had Malcom X’s voice blaring before a national audience shouting how black women are the most disrespected person in America.”
When I heard/saw that clip in Lemonade that was when I became a real fan. I stood up and clapped. Could be my love for Brother Malcolm who introduced me to Islam, or could be that it was made mainstream, idk, but I loved it.
I saw the performance in person and it was iconic. Unreal. Next level. So incredibly Black and proud and intimate and powerful.
Not a Beyoncé Stan as I’m of an older generation. But I do believe in giving props and Beyoncé has an amazing work ethic and is a great live entertainer. Not everyone can have the vocal talents of an Ella Fitzgerald or Whitney Houston. But some artists are “true entertainers” and provide an all around show to people who come to see them perform. Michael Jackson also comes to mind as someone who was a great entertainer.
I agree that the hyperbole and “beehive” mentality is over the top but I don’t think people have to tear Beyoncé down either.
Bitter much, folks? She murdered that stage.
The people on here talking about the performance was overrated are the ones that didn’t watch it!
It was an iconic performance because Beyonce’ chose to promote and celebrate blackness unapologetically in front of a predominantly white audience and was flawless in doing so. She’s doing so in a time where being black gets you arrested in Starbucks and there’s a heap of burning trash running the white house.
Those complaining that she “does the same routine all the time”…Tina Turner did the same routine for Proud Mary for decades and Michael Jackson (a universal favourite) did his signature routines for Thriller, Smooth Criminal etc. That’s the whole point of a signature dance so spare me your nonsense.
At this point she is the standard that other performances do, have and should aspire to.
#FightMe
The people said she does the same thing are either admitting they saw the show (why if she does the same thing according to them???) Or clearly haven’t watched it but want to be negative anyway because she did different arrangement, choreography AND vocals. She was giving OPERA at 1 point! So many great singers stagnate and then decline (Mariah, whitney) either through substance abuse or old age yet Beyonce clearly improves. Her vocals are crisp and miles better than Adele who yells through her throat and constantly develops nodes because of it (vocal teachers have pointed this out), Ariana who doesn’t enunciate, xtina who can sing but prefers to tell as well etc. And then the singer’s who cannot sing at all: too many to name!
Since Self-titled her performance skills has been different than Dangerously in Love Beyonce. B* improving her fashion, message and performance style but people keep saying she doesn’t. They’re stuck in 2008 when she gave them meaningless bops.
Exactly! I’m a fan that got on board since B’day and I know that the arrangement changes for her songs during every era. People are so salty and I never understand why. She’s improved and keeps topping herself 22 years into her career. I need her nay sayers to show me someone else that has managed to do this.
“She was giving OPERA at 1 point!”
Reminded me when she did that hip-hop opera version of Carmen.
Am I the only person who thinks she’s too good for Coachella?
Agree! I usually unfollow a lot of people this time of year as I loathe the Coachella feed. I suffer second hand embarrassment far too easily.
Thank you! I’m having so much trouble ascribing lavish significance to a Coachella performance because it is such a passe, cliche festival. Bey coming in with her usual awesome at this dumb festival just seems like trying to make this festival some momentous thing that it’s not.
I’m kinda miffed Bey let Coachella use her to give them weight as event.
I actually think it’s awesome that something that is known for being so white and basic was taken over Beyonce.
As for some of these comments, it’s clear that they are mostly from white women who took zero time to understand what this performance meant to black women. You don’t have to like it, but some of you could’ve refrained from your dismissiveness.
I agree especially considering the founder’s politics but then again I get why she did it and while I don’t agree with her performing at such a festival I recognize its importance.
I am not black so didn’t “get it” in the way so many in this thread are saying, but I do love reading about how wonderful and touched it made other women feel ❤️ Especially in the raging dumpster fire that this country is in 2018.
Right?? Maybe it’s the Coachella thing – I just don’t see anything at Coachella defining a generation. As far as Beyonce goes, she’s amazing, but in my personal opinion I found her Super Bowl show more defining culturally. Coachella has never been on my radar or the radar of anyone I know – it’s not like when my friends gossip about celebs we’re all, “OMG it’s almost time for Coachella” and my kid’s not like, “MOM, can I borrow some money to go to Coachella?” So IMO she *is* too good for Coachella, but what do I know lol?
@Shannon, believe me, I didn’t give a sh*t abt Coachella either. But I tuned in after everyone on my feed started talking about Beyonce.
That’s why she’s defined a cultural moment here. I cannot begin to explain to you how much I loathe Coachella as a concept. I still do. And YET I stayed up and watched her whole show. I’m hardly the only one.
The fact that she took a sleepy show weekend whose primary draw is the partying and the endless opportunities for getting drunk and turned it into a zeitgeist for so many of us is astounding. I’ll never touch Coachella again with a 20 ft pole for as long as I live. But I’ll talk about this show to anyone for as long as I’m alive. *That’s* what it means to define a moment for a generation.
Well I’m far from a millennial – I’m a mid 40s white woman raising 4 kids in Australia. I know very little of what it is to be a WoC in America.
But every time I watch her perform I get a lump in my throat imagining young black girls watching her, relating to her and feeling proud. I think she’s amazing (and no I’m not a Stan at all I just appreciate her immensely).
As black woman, I just want to say thank for trying to understand. That was a really sweet of you.
I’m white. I consider myself pretty woke. Yet this comment helped me put an uncomfortable feeling into words. I feel uneasy when I see Beyonce shows or behind the scenes and notice the lack of white people in the production. It’s become glaringly apparent in recent years. In questioning my unease I realized that I feel like I don’t fit into her world. That *I* am not represented. Maybe some of what it would feel like to be white in a Beyonce Starbucks world. As a white woman, I very much appreciate even a glimpse of the ostracization and death-by-a-million-papercuts that one might feel when ones identity isn’t constantly validated and reflected. Or is downright denigrated. Or is the basis of a police stop. And I think Beyonce is fully aware of her ability to empower and cause others to question in this way, which makes me admire her even more.
The unabashed blackness of the Coachella production was so revolutionary to me. Dammit I want to learn so much more of these rich, glorious, joyful cultures. The art, rhythms, and textures were breathtaking. My life feels very pale and bland in comparison. Pun fully intended 😉
Same! I feel the same way. I GET IT!
Love her or hate her it was a great performance. I don’t love or hate her but you have to give her credit for that much.
The other huge performance of the year was JT’s Timberlake and, there is no comparaison folks. She is so excellent and so many of y’all’s faves are so mediocre. It’s staggering.
Kate, I think you’ve made a lot of really good points on this thread. I don’t think you needed to lash out and insult another musician, or even other peoples’ taste, to elevate Beyoncé’s performance or importance ~ signed not a JT fan
CT, her comment is accurate though.
It was an incredible performance with an incredible theme and like a dozen honest to god iconic moments, but I always find myself wishing she didn’t rely so much on old hits. Every concert and every special show is always a greatest hits routine, with the same big moments built around the same old songs.
She’s making real albums now, not hits with mediocre filler, and I’d love it if at least some of her shows reflected that. I’d love to see her just do Lemonade, or Lemonade with some of her back catalogue that fits with it. She’s 1000% at a point in her career where she can do that and not leave people pissed she didn’t do Crazy In Love or Single Ladies. She literally has decades to do greatest hit shows, so I just wish she’d think a little more out of the box with her set-lists. Everything else is always killer, but the set list is always so…expected.
Love. Beyoncé! Strong positive role model for women and girls of any age, race, creed. Extraordinary performer.
Beyonce sets a certain standard for performance that most performers her age can’t meet. Most people don’t know what and who you have to be to perform at that level and she brings is EVERY time. I give credit where credit is due and this was amazing. Please tell me who put on a show like this in the last 6 months to this response. I’ll wait.
I think Beyonce is the best performer right now. Singers there are many throughout the world.
The songs, dancing, hair blowing, back up dancers etc make for a brilliant show.
She has made her mark, she will be considered a legend.
She knows how to bring it.
I think a lot of people need to consider what a performance like this may mean for black women, particularly in this climate. Beyoncè isn’t just performing her music – she’s drawing in elements from black American culture from across the board. She’s paying homage to her heritage, and she’s doing it knowing full well she has one of the largest platforms of any black woman in America. I can’t bring myself to hate on it thinking about all of those little black girls watching that, getting to grow up seeing such a mainstream performer who has no problem calling herself black and female and proud when the generations before them were given so little access to that imagery.
We can argue over whether it’s a defining moment for a generation, but at the end of the day, she did make history. She was the first black women to headline Coachella – and she used that stage to call out that the fact that it took twenty years for her to be the first. After watching Post Malone – a 22 year old white man using black music to launch himself into the mainstream and pat himself on the back for “making it” – the contrast in their experiences couldn’t be starker.
Wow with these comments.
They say a woman has to be twice as good to be seen as half as good. Black women have to work even harder.
This performance made me say, damn, we will be talking about this for years to come.
I am not part of the Beyhive. If you don’t want to be, fine, don’t need ya.
*Now part of the Beehive.
What you said. This hard-working black woman does not receive the respect she deserves. Now part of the beehive, too, apparently.
(also, she is not using Chimamanda. Collaboration is the future. They are lifting each other up)
Amen.
Funny you say that; I don’t know if I qualify as a member of the Beyhive because I’m just naturally not a stan, however when I saw just how strongly people feel about Beyonce in a negative way, it just made me like her even more. Some people I know are just not into pop music and hate that type of vibe, and I understand that, but there are some people you know wouldn’t feel so strongly about her if she were white.
Speak the truth sis!
The videos didn’t open in my pc but I believe 100% she delivered exactly what she promised. I’ve seen her live in 2013 and she’s one of the very few artists who make me sing and dance like no one’s watching. Also, it’s beautiful to see a person who’s so commited to what she does. You can tell she doesn’t drink, or smoke, or party hard by the excellence of her performances. One can say it’s repetitive, I say it’s her signature.
A lot of people seem to think that skill is something that you can pick up off the street. She makes it look easy, which is why I know it’s very difficult.
Yeah, she and her dancers float in movement, I don’t understand how people can dismiss this. There’s space for all kinds of art, since the singer who sits and play amazingly a guitar while singing, to powerhouse performances like Beyoncé’s.
I’m glad to see that the tone of this thread is shifting. Still it’s pretty sad to realize that most white people are incapable of enjoying an art or giving credit to something that was not created for them. Something that black folks and minorities do everyday.
“Defining moment of a generation” might just be a tad hyperbolic.
Amazing person. I have become a fan of Beyonce the last couple of years.
The mention of kaiser declaring her performance defining for a generation seems to be very triggering for a bunch of you (white) women? Why though? The thought of a black woman being that, being so celebrated that she has come to represent something so powerful, and important is too much for you? Why though? Did any of you even watch the performance ? I can understand disagreeing with Kaiser but going as far to completely dismiss Beyonce’s contribution and work is very very telling I must say. Furthermore, NO ONE. NO ONE. in this generation can put on a show like that period, and not even break a sweat. Her existence and prominence is something a lot of you all on celebitchy continue to fight against. Even in a country, and world of anit-blackness, this woman thrives. thrives to no end. But you can’t even recognize her accomplishment, nor give her props.
I’ve noticed this, and its clear what it reeks of. …..Black people have to work twice as hard, go twice as long, be twice better. This woman’s work ethic is so unattainable, yet y’all aren’t satisfied.
Yet, y’all are the same website that can’t wait to declare Princess Di a defining woman of her generation. I celebrate her too, and what she represented. Gee, why is it so impossible when it’s Beyonce?
I have loved Celebitchy for years, I’m on here daily, but its clear that a lot of y’alls veneer of enlightenment and acceptance is really just that. A veneer and approval for **certain people.
Trust, it this was Swifty, we would be getting lectures about how we are too hard on her.
👏👏👏👏👏 Facts on facts on facts.
Yes! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
“Furthermore, NO ONE. NO ONE. in this generation can put on a show like that period, and not even break a sweat.”
EXACTLY
The problem is that that those of us who are white have been trained to think we should be included in everything. This may be the performance of a generation. It just may not be a performance for *us.*
FACTS FACTS FACTS. Come through sis
No lies detected.
I don’t understand why people feel threatened when Beyonce’s performance is recognized as a powerful moment in pop culture.
I don’t get it either. Any feminist should she the tremendous value of what she is doing and introducing to women regardless of race. I say that meaning to see a woman embrace her own culture, own who she is and excel in that venue. Feminism should support that and enjoy seeing fellow women feeling uplifted and acknowledged.
I totally agree, Magnoliarose. It inspires me to see such a strong woman do her thing so well. Strength in mind, body, spirit.
Not only did she put on an incredible show, she layered it with so much meaning. Who and where she is in her life now, the history of black culture in America, the current state of race relations in America, the current state of feminism in America. She overlapped such complexities and made it entertaining at the same time! That is an INCREDIBLE accomplishment!
I haven’t watched it yet, but I’m sure it’s amazing. As someone the same age as Beyonce, bringing back Destiny’s Child even for a bit is exciting.
I’m white, but I find myself listening to a lot of black artists lately – Leikeli47, Janelle Monae, Laura Mvula, Lizzo. It’s nice to see black women just unapologetically being themselves and loving themselves.
I’m too old to stan for anybody…(except for Depeche Mode…cause I’ve been loving THEM since I was a little girl and I will be 51 this year)…HOWEVA…when it comes to showmanship and stage production…MY GAWD!!! Michael Jackson who is the G.O.A.T. would have been SO VERY, VERY PROUD!!!! And the FACT that the show was so STEEPED IN AMERICAN BLACK CULTURE…
Babygirl made me PROUD!!!!
I love Depeche Mode! xoxo
I’m also “old” (39 in two weeks) and I agree that Michael Jackson was the Greatest Of All Time 😍 I will never forget his performance at the 1988 Grammys (YouTube it – he did an incredible performance of “Man in the Mirror”) and his first (public) performance of the Moonwalk at the 25th anniversary of Motown. His dancing was awesome 💃 I also believe that “Thriller” is the best music video ever made 😄
He also LOVED Beyonce and it is clear why: not only is she beautiful, but she is immensely talented and comes off as humble, not arrogant.
She is mic drop amazing. Incredible performance; one for the ages.
I am stunned that it is even open for debate.
I’m stunned that it’s open for debate on one of my favourite websites. Crushed, actually. I may avoid reading the comments in future, which is a shame, but jeez, who the hell are these people commenting above ? These aren’t the Celebitches I thought I knew.
It both makes me livid and makes me think.
Do people hear themselves?
@Suze-They don’t hear themselves. In fact, those who compare her to others have probably never seen her comparison’s perform either. I’m a musician-I know a good performance, I know a great performance and I know when someone’s performance set a standard in an industry. Beyonce set a standard and didn’t break a sweat and you don’t need to like Beyonce to know that. I know a lot of people who didn’t “like” Prince, but I used to see them at all his concerts. Why, because they damn well knew that there was NOTHING like seeing him play live. Beyonce knocked it out of the park-end of.
Im confused. Are you saying that people shouldn’t voice their opinions? Differing opinions and debates are very important because they keep echo chambers from happening. Echo chambers are not a good thing. I’m not a fan but I thought her performance was incredible. What I don’t like is people being shit on for not being a fan.
Llamas, I’m kinda shocked at these comments too. We are allowed to express our opinions and I am all for a nice constructive arguments. I’m not a Beyonce fan. But she killed it at Coachella and put on THE DAMN SHOW.
But…I don’t have to like her. I also don’t need to defend why I’m not a fan of her music or her performances or be told that it’s the wrong damn opinion. You do you and I’ll do me. I’ll go on and listen to some Leon Bridges and Alabama Shakes and Jack White. The Beyonce fans can wax poetic about her and that’s okay too.
No one is being shit on for not being a fan.
Not understanding – or not even trying to understand – why this was an important, game changing performance that was incredibly important to many many people is what raises my eyebrows.
I hear this: “It wasn’t important to me, so it doesn’t matter to the greater culture”
That’s the very definition of a privileged point of view.
The comments on here are pretty mild compared to the “hater” comments on other sites. You know the ones.
I was up in the middle of the night watching her on YouTube. Her performance was incredible.
Why do white people have this unshakable belief that the world needs their hot takes?
Does the world really need anyone’s hot takes?
LOL @betsy so true 🙂
It’s not a black thing! I’m black and I’m not into her.
Too much wig, too much ego.
I do understand from the thread that she’s empowering a lot of people, it’s great, it’s very positive.
I agree. I don’t know why it’s assumed that dislike for Beyonce or her music is just a race thing. She’s very talented, but I’m not a pop music fan, and just like so many other celebrities, she seems egotistical. Unfortunately, some might be ignorant to judge by race, but definitely not all of us do. I’m white, but I don’t love and admire all and only white performers. Not everyone likes the same thing
Too much wig? No such thing exists.
Agreed. She’s not my cup of tea but what she’s doing is phenomenal. I wish Solange got equal recognition, but nobody can deny her contribution to the conversation about black issues and how she celebrates her identity and inspires her fans to feel empowered too.
The faux-concern over her egotism is remarkable when you consider that there is no group singularly more self-impressed with their own mediocre contributions to society as white men, lol.
QUEEN BEY!
Idiotic question: never having been to or watched any Coachella performances (or really any live concerts) – do people with the light-triggered epilepsy just not go to concerts?
It probably would cause a problem. I’ve ended up having seizures at concerts and clubs where there’s flashing lights
That’s really unfortunate. I avoid concerts for other reasons, but that’s got to be hard for people who will have a physical reaction like a seizure.
Great job
I have watched her from afar since she was a child performing in talent shows in Houston.
Houston Proud
BTW I loved how she introduced another generation and demographic to one of my favorite songs,”Lift Every Voice and Sing”
A good entertainer performing.
She’s not the second coming, and it’s hard not to roll my eyes over how so terribly seriously she takes herself.
With all due respect, not trying to be combative, but why shouldn’t she take herself seriously? This is her job. This is how she makes her money. I’d be offended if she treated this as a joke.
I am not talking about dedication to craft, but her dedication to the Queen Beyonce, mother of all life. Maybe I am just too old and cynical for all that.
After all the BS coming out of Hollywood this past couple of years, entertainers living in isolated and entitled bubbles if their celebrity preciousness are a little laughable.
The superior attitude is not a symptom of race or sex. We live in a culture desperate for 15 minutes of fame and where celebrities are gods. These characters read their own press, live isolated lives, never hear no and end up with a different set of values: white male actors, white female actors, black male and so on so forth. Meryl Streep, Cruise, Lawrence are all ..
Oh forget it.
I’m sorry. Not trying to be combative either just cranky.
@VintageS
I didn’t take you as combative at all. I now understand what you mean. Perhaps I’m biased because I share a birthday with her (lol) but I always took the Queen Beyonce thing as her trolling us. I’d probably do the same thing if I were in her shoes. Then again, I have an unusual sense of humor and hide my own insecurities using that humor.
Part of it is I am not that into music. I like it, but can’t do without it. Ironic as my husband loves music especially when it is quality live music. Beyonce has so much charisma, but I zoned out after her performance in the Austin Powers movie decades ago.
She was so adorable in that movie then it segued into the Earth Mother stuff and zzzzzz. Taking themselves way too seriously seems to happen to too many entertainers.
Don’t mean to offend anyone. I would slay if someone said something nasty about Danai Gurira. Now she’s someone I would fangirl about.
Back to reading!
I think the Internet turns pretty much anything into hyperbole because you only see single facets of people’s interests in fandom, but I don’t think the “Queen Beyonce” movement is any different from Beatles Mania or other cultish musical movements. Music means a lot to some people for a lot of different reasons. Sometimes there’s a connection to the lyrics or the artist’s life. Maybe it’s the defining sound of their adolescence. Maybe it’s linked to an important event in their lives. Beyonce is unique because she’s one of the first truly powerful black female voices with a mainstream music platform. She makes blackness an unapologetic part of her routine, and while there are cynical approaches to that, it may not matter to some people for whom she represents more than just a good album maker.
Everytime I see Beyonce’s or Blu’s face in a thumbnail I already know what the comments will look like. I seriously don’t know why WOC come to these threads expecting anything else. We know!
I don’t love everything about Beyoncé but I admire her so much. She took the stage at a concert that is heavily promoted for teens and early-20-somethings and promoted higher education, professionalism and excellence. In a world where so many performers just lip synch, barely dance or do some stripper moves, she brought a real performance. This is the message that America needs right now: strive for excellence in your talents, work and education and you will be celebrated! This is the antithesis of the lazy, ignorant, sloppy liar-in-chief that teens need to have in their lives.
This is the best comment. Exactly. Thank you!!
THIS
YES
I must say, I appreciate the debate in this thread. I’m seeing my own biases as a white feminist, and the response from WOC in this thread is really helpful in showing me a different perspective on this event/performance. I’m actually rethinking my take on the significance of Bey’s performance. I’ve always liked Bey well enough, just thought this was being oversold in its importance. But, seeing it means so much to WOC makes me realize that I’m taking a lot for granted.
Seriously, this conversation has been helpful. Thanks, Celebitchies.
Thanks Rapunzel. You get it.
@Rapunzel: Co-sign. You articulated it perfectly. I read every single comment and truly feel differently about it than when I first saw the headline! I’m actually embarrassed about my first comment and wish I could go back and delete it, but oh well.
@Lorelai, and @Rapunzel, truly, if it’s any consolation, the fact that you are both open about learning and honest about having been wrong puts you at a much different level than most other people. I can’t overstate just how much this humble attitude is what we need moving forward.
We have to learn to be wrong, even when it feels uncomfortable and vulnerable. Thank you for having the courage to demonstrate that. I know a lot of us appreciate it.
I guess we know who is the final passenger in the car that Amal Clooney was driving that ran over so many commenter’s dogs (Credit to Brittany).
We have Amal in the driver seat, Meghan Markle in the passenger seat, Blue Ivy in the car seat in the back and Beyonce sitting next to her. Now, What O what do these women have in Common?
It’s so funny that there’s a constant hate campaign for some of these women.
Add Alicia to that list. Always getting trashed for no reason.
I don’t even know if I agree, but this comment is hilarious (and cute for imagining Blue with the women).
Actually not cute if you see some of the comments on posts about Blue. Grown women tearing her down like she was a peer and not 6 years old.
…and cue all the Beyoncé haters. I say if Beyoncé makes you mad. If Beyoncé makes you uncomfortable. Good. Stay mad. If you find black female excellence -(and black female CONFIDENCE) – threatening that that’s a personal problem you need to work on.
What she said.
There are plenty of black women like myself who don’t like Beyonce, never have, and don’t think she’s a spectacular or unique talent. Is she a hard worker and a great performer, sure, but she is nothing special as a vocalist (I find her voice shrill and unpleasant) or dancer and her music has not seemed to evolve. I don’t feel like she represents me or any of my black female friends or any of the things that we hold dear nor would we expect her to do so. God bless those, however, who love her and enjoy her music and performances. The rest of us are not crazy or hating because we are able to remain unmoved by her and don’t fall for the hype.
Thank you. I really do not get the hype at all, but I do admire her PR machinery. This woman has one hit, two if you count awful Single Ladies. She ruined the Ed Sheeran song, it sounds like he sings with his granny. B has a hundred songwriters, and one hit? Dua Lipa was born yesterday and already has more.
Serious question. If you don’t like or are indifferent to someone/thing, why do you feel the need to post your opinion it? Not saying you aren’t entitled to your opinion, but why go into a post about it. Example: I don’t give a flying fig about Carrie Underwood or her face. So I don’t click the link and I don’t comment, because I don’t care. BUT I actively hate the KarJenners, especially the Kar part, so I will actively comment because I hate them and I own it. If you’re just indifferent, why do you (or anyone) feel that you have to express your indifference? Why do you feel the need to make sure other people know that someone is “nothing special” in your eyes?
I don’t even know where to start @ SlightlyAnonny. This is not a fan site or so I thought. I would never in a million years go to a board or forum dedicated to Beyonce fans because I don’t like her or care for her product. Celebitchy, however, is a general celebrity message board which allows opinions, pro and con, so here I am in a Beyonce thread sharing my thoughts. It’s nothing more serious than that. I am happy you’ve developed your own parameters for when you allow yourself to post but I don’t feel similarly constrained.
And?? Your being black and not beig a fan means what exactly?? Because guess what: My mom’s not a fan either and even SHE gets and understands Beyoncé’s cultural significance and celebrates it. Why as a black woman do YOU feel the need to join the peanut gallery on this?? Honestly as a black woman you know how often we are silenced and our achievements diminished. Why contribute to that?? Beyoncé has been a cultural icon for TWENTY YEARS. Celebrate that a black woman is the biggest artist in music.
Beyonce is a musical artist who gave a great performance at a musical festival. Fabulous for her and her fans. It hasn’t, however, had any impact on my daily life or anyone else’s that I know so please calm down with the over the top outrage that someone dare not appreciate it as much as you do. There are Black women who are making major breakthroughs in science and education every day and those are the icons I will spend my time celebrating and supporting.
But here you are, spending a lot of your time downplaying Black woman accomplishments. I fail to get the logic here.
I hadn’t listened to her in years until Lemonade came out and it was pivotal. That was fantastic album and it re-enforced my awe of her talent. I don’t know that I’ll listen to everything she ever put out but she is talented, no one can argue that.
She has such a voice and I commend her for using it to bring attention to what needs to be brought attention to. Her generation is listening. Her generation is acting. She has been a big part of that, of that I have no doubt. No, she’s not a big thinker nor does she have originating thoughts but she using her fame and her ability to reach far and wide to get the points across.
Beyonce is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. Full Stop.
Amen!
When you hear a WORD even if you don’t believe, you just got to say “Halleju!”
LOL!! I loved this.
I love how most of the people who are here dedicating their lives to diminishing the impact of her performance didnt even watch the show, understand all the symbolism, and the groundbreaking event it was.
Yall aint sh*t.
Im here, thousands of miles away from you guys, I watched it live from home and was screaming maybe 60% of the time. Can I tell you about the last time this happened? No.
Can I mention another artist that inspires me to work harder to break the mold? No. Am I part of the Beyhive? No. I see her flaws and some of her extreme control of her image is exausting and eyeroll inducing, but tbh, the same people here bashing Beyoncé because “shes not talented, she copies everything yadda yadda” are the same people praising Cardi B as a voice of a generation -and she literally encourages… despicable things and is always yelling how rich she is and how much money she has.
One thing i have learned in college and in life is. You can copy all you want. But you cant make anything great. People are hellbent on making Beyoncé to be a dumb puppet who depends on everyone to be successful; her father,Jay z, her team, etc.
Well,here’s news for you. You can have a team you can have money but if you cant deliver none of that counts.
Please note this woman used zero visual effects to enhance her perfomance. She used people – extremely talented people and created a visual experience filled with important symbolism for BLACK PEOPLE.
If you dont get it its fine. But read your own words when you criticize her. You are not obligated to like her or her voice but if you have eyes and ears you can recognize what she accomplished here.
You can miss me with this reductive nonsense.
It’s sad some of you that are so thoughtful in some of your other comments,have a blinding hatred towards this woman.
“if you have eyes and ears you can recognize what she accomplished here.” and hearts, I would add.
I wish we could upvote posts here.
If folks want an interesting contrast, please read the comments on any article about Beyonce or Cardi B, and then compare with the comments on the article talking about Doug Jones’ election win.
It’s very interesting how, when black women are discussed as a rhetorical tool or concept like they are in one article, people are hyped and excited about their potential. But when it comes to specific black women who are using their voices and their talent to speak about their lives and their pain, suddenly the tone changes very abruptly. Hm.
Anyway, I rewatched her performance yesterday, and I got a lump in my throat when she started singing Freedom. The energy of the performance, the vibe, the sheer joy she has being on stage and performing, the dancers–everything about it was amazing. I’m sitting at home, alone in my PJs, and even I could feel the atmosphere visibly shift. And I’m by myself!!! Amazing. She’s amazing.
Let me break down why so many posts about POC come down to people saying there’s subtle racism.
There’s not a lot of WoC here and barely many black women.
The readership is probably 80% white women. So you tell me why, Everytime there’s a post about a WOC mainly a black women of color, there’s always a bunch or comments discrediting them. They are always overrated. They aren’t that special. “I don’t get it” comments. They have to work harder or do more.
I’m sorry, but I’ve seen white favorites get praised for less. I have a huge issue with a comment section that is overwhelmingly white, constantly degrading Beyonce and her children. I see cracks in the “wokeness” that a lot of the “woke” white commenters put on when it come to WoC who they feel *deserve* thier respect vs. the ones they think don’t.
I hear your point. It is a huge accomplishment for her and for the community for sure, and her, her fans, and her family should be proud. But it’s only ever always Beyonce do you see? There are some really great talented performers of color out there, who are far better in a lot of different areas (vocal performance, songwriting, etc) who get nothing, or very little. I don’t know anyone talking about LP or Lianne La Havas or MILCK or or or or etc ad infinium. It’s only. Ever. Beyonce. And after a while it’s like … surely there’s somebody else that maybe doesn’t have the PR juggernaut that she does. Plus the whole “Beyhive” is … I think the majority of them are probably lovely. But the small section of super aggressive bullies are ruining it for everyone else and they need to stop. You can’t force everyone to love something.
All of this. Thank you Nikayna, you put it better than I could have.
Nikayna I hear you, but listen,I love Lianne La Havas too, but Lianne started like 5 years ago and getting mainstream praise maybe two years ago. You want to compare Beyonce trajectory that is 22+years wide with that of a twenty something singer?
I really could listen to Lianne all day, and so many other artists whom I love. But it’s like that saying dont compare Beyoncé’s experience, knowledge and accomplishments to those of a younger singer. Maybe in 15years Lianne will get there. But every generation has a mega star.
I was a die-hard MJ fan since I was 2. My faves of all time include him at the top,along with whitney and mariah. However, I can tell you ever since I was a child I never ever thought MJ had the best vocal range. He didnt. His voice was unique, yes, but hardly a Great voice (whatever that means). However he was one of the greatest PERFORMERS in history because he was the whole package. His performances were incredible, his videos, his music. That is what a top performer is. That is an artist. Plenty of people can out-sing Beyoncé,possibly,but how many can out-perform her, including all the bells and whistles and spectacular show in 2018?
Please tell me. I’ll wait.
We’re talking about Beyonce, who is one of the two (other than Rihanna)female black artists who get wrote about regularly here.
Is it Beyonce’s fault that lesser knowns can’t make it?
The music buiness is brutal, life is brutal and unfair. You can have everything it takes to make it and still don’t. I don’t get what Beyonce being famous, has to do with other artist being ignored.
I’m not a huge fan of Beyonce, but she can exist and so can other artists. It’s not her fault that people aren’t getting what they deserve.
It’s not like she’s sucking up all the resources, she doesn’t have to step down and magically all these artists will get those chances.
I don’t get why she has to sit down for others to get up. No.
Sometimes its hard work and talent. Sometimes it’s knowing the right people, other times it’s all of the above or just luck, but whatever it is, Beyonce being talked about isn’t blocking anyone from anything.
That’s not Beyonce fault. Beyonce is out there because she is pushing to be out there. Her art is to be consumed on a worldwide platform. Beyonce like most black artists had to make that happen because society and media isn’t waiting on black people to make their mark in whatever field they excel in or just want to be part of. Your comment is a commentary of that which is separate from the hate and dismissive attitude of many on this thread.
I mean Beyonce is the person that has always used and elevated the black people she worked for. She gave Chloe x Halle a platform. She included the people behind the Girls who run the world dance after finding them on YouTube. She talks about her inspiration, black people. She praises and includes other black artists (dancers and musicians and songwriters) in her art. She spreads the message that black culture is rich via imaginary and sound just like so many other black artists.
The question of ‘why just Beyonce?’ Is easy to answer. Look on this thread and look at the state of society and the media. It’s not a climate where black excellence and inclusion is appreciated. Beyonce is included but she’s a unicorn that had to fight to get there and stay there. The question of ‘why Beyonce?’ when she’s being appreciated for her tremendous show at Coachella reflects the point I’m making. Why not? She’s not the one excluding and ignoring and mocking black people. Hold them accountable. Not Beyonce. She’s putting in the work that helps other black artists. There were 100 of them onstage. They were part of that moment as well. Their bills were being paid and their art and culture being validated. Nobody mentioned Beyonce employed them and put all of them on a pedestal. In her BTS and documentaries, there is a focus on them as well. ‘ Why just Beyonce?’…well why can’t you see all the other black people with Her???
All of this. As I said, it is very telling. And they truly need to do some soul searching.
So…I’m racist if I am white and am not a fan of Beyonce as an artist? Ok, then. It couldn’t possibly be because I think her dancing is bad, her costumes are bad, and her music is not to my taste, right? If I am not a fan of any other artist, that is my prerogative, but if I happen to not be a fan of an artist who happens to be black it can ONLY be because I am racist?
I do totally GET why people love her and her music and performances, and I agree she is awesome as a powerful woman, but I just don’t like her music or enjoy her performances myself, personally. But I guess I’m racist for that.
(OOps. My response showed up on the wrong spot. Sorry about that!)
I am white so honestly do not know understand the significance of this performance for black women. To me it seems it is like taking a white womans performance and saying it defined the white race. I guess I just don’t ever want to be told that some rich singer defined me or those who are like me. I would not celebrate if someone said that about a Taylor Swift or Adele performance for example. I Do not see my race as defined by a rich out of touch singer. I am just surprised that black women celebrate it I would be angry if someone e tried to tell me a white celebrity defined my culture. To me celebration of a culture comes from its teachers, scientists, thinkers, etc not some wealthy singer. And the bigger problem is that nothing celebrities do changes anything in poor areas.
Most celebrities give to charities and do things to help the poor or less fortunate.
We just don’t get reports on what Bey does because it’s all about the money that she spends. Her money. Not all that she and plenty of other celebs constantly give back.
Unless you’re Jolie, you don’t get constant articles and pats on the back for you’re charity work.
And to be frank, it’s not celeb job to help poor people, but a large majority do.
So I disagree the celebrities in the USA are in the 1%. They owe money back to the country. In fact some think they should be taxed at huge rates to help the poor areas for education etc. So yes it is their responsibility to “help” out.
@Suze, celebrities in the US are not the 1%. They are wealthy for sure, but the 1% are the bankers/insurance executives/and those who quietly held on to their family fortunes through the years. You don’t know them by name because it’s set up so you don’t know who they are. If you think Beyonce is the 1% your qualifications for what that is is frightfully low. The 1% have been paying US government at all levels to keep policies that are favourable to them because they have that much power.
You know Suze, black people celebrate all of their culture, but if I asked you to name black doctors/teachers/scientists/thinkers (besides Martin Luther King & Oprah) you’d have to think about it because white American culture pretends that our contributions don’t exist. In fact, as a history major, many accomplishments by black people have been wiped from history. Beyonce is rich because she worked for it. Her continuous contributions to charity have actually altered the trajectory of life in my poorer areas of the US and other parts of the world. The fact is, she’s the first black woman to headline that show. The fact that there’s a first black anything in 2018 should give you pause. And when she did an amazing job, people can’t just say-wow she rocked it. ’cause she did.
Celebration of culture comes in all forms but there is a freedom to art that education does not have. Everybody can make and/or enjoy art. Not everybody can have an education or study for a degree for whatever reason (geography, resources, beliefs etc). Education is also based on white males’ accomplishments who historically had more access and were valued more than women. White women. So for black people, black women to look at education to celebrate their culture it would have to be a specific course which are not always readily avaiable. Pic are erased, ignored and dismissed in many areas which is why it’s important that prominent figures like Beyonce stand up loud and proud because there isn’t enough of that. There never will in a system that works against us.
Also I had to step away from educational texts when so much is about exploiting their talent, bodies and resources for the betterment of white people. I started reading novels and poems by poc was more of a celebration than anything else. And listening to black artist, being moved in a good way. Feeling hope is what art can do where academia cannot.
Also before Beyonce became rich and ‘ out of touch’ she was already making sacrifices in her personal and educational life that most children would never be able to do. Before she was the ‘queen b’ her mother had to make the garments as no fashion house wanted to be affialited with their act. Before she was taken seriously she was working 17 years with her girl group and solo when mediocre white acts who couldn’t fill a stadium got pushed and funded by labels to hit the charts. Beyonce succeeded and keeps on succeeding in an industry that doesn’t want black women but rather white women appropriating other cultures to erase said cultures from art (white men as well). So Beyonce stands up for her culture and nobody can copy that or take it away. That’s victory. That’s all black people winning imo.
As for charity, over the years and even recently it’s become quite clear that she donates a lot of money and she set up scholarships for exceptional talent to create art. B is choosing to keep it hush which is why her mother celebrated her at the wearable art gala a few weeks ago.
When the Patriots win the Superbowl then is this a win for all people in Boston? Or for all people called Tom? Or for all US americans? Or for all white people? Certainly not!
Bey being successful is not a win for all black people. Get real. And she is hardly the first black woman to be successful in entertainment.
Ella Fitzgerald.
Aretha Franklin.
Nina Simone.
So disagree – Education is for all people. As a white women I have never felt that education was for white men. My family of 17 aunts and uncles came from extreme poverty and both aunts and uncles are educated. My family sees education as a way to help the world through teaching and the medical profession. Art is great too. But people in the arts are never in my opinion worth making a big deal over. The real people who influence the world are those who teach and change how people view the world through acts of helping. Someone dancing on stage with a outfit to show off their body is not changing the world. To me that would be like having Taylor or Adele be my hero and define what white is. That would make me a little sick. As to the 1%. Oh yes they are in that. Even if you are poor when you start you can work your way up to the 1%. People like Hollywood and singers needs to be taxed way more and give back much more than they do. Can I say as well that I am a woman but not a victim. I have control of my own narrative. I just find it insulting when someone says education is for white men that their accomplishments are considered more than. Um…..no. In the society I live in educated women are well respected. Please don’t place women in a victim role. As well I have never felt that as a woman my accomplishments were less than. I am not a victim.
@Tata
If those moments are important to you and you feel that way then sure.
Kaiser never said that what she said was final and everyone should feel that way.
Any person being successful is a win for whoever it touches. We are just now getting our “firsts” as POC.
The LGBT+ are getting their “firsts”.
In 2018 it shouldn’t be the case, these things should have already happened but they haven’t, so yeah, its a big deal to some people within that group.
If Beyonce or any person winning in life is a inspiration and a win for thier fans, racial background etc. what’s the issue? Some black people probably don’t care about Beyonce; some may but don’t think she’s that important. All that is fine, but some people do care
Why do we need to “get real” about OUR opinions and feelings? They are real.
“I am white so honestly do not know understand the significance of this performance for black women.”
After that sentence, you should have backed away from the keyboard and read about why this was important for WOC. Once you acknowledge that you do not understand something, it is up to you to do the work to gather information so that you DO grow to understand it on some level. Admitting ignorance is the first step, but not the final step.
“To me celebration of a culture comes from its teachers, scientists, thinkers,”
Clearly you missed the parts where her performance referenced black thinkers and history makers!!!!! Seriously, do your research.
+1
Suze, I’m sitting here with my eyes wide that anyone still brags about what amounts to ignorance. I’m also white and as such though I understand intellectually, I don’t want to be one of those white women who tries to take the stories and feelings of black people and make them her own. I don’t feel entitled to the successes because I haven’t lived it. But that’s different from saying you don’t get it at all and that you would feel similarly befuddled if we were to told Tay Tay gave a seminal performance for white women (which, I love you Tay Tay, but no that’ll never happen). White women have experienced oppression due to our sex, but we haven’t lived the oppression that black women experience. This one isn’t hard. You’ve got a thread of African American women TELLING you what a big deal this.
While I appreciate her music is not to everyone’s taste, Beyoncé killed that performance and you have to appreciate the work and skill that went into that! She performed every detail with near perfection within her genre and style as an artist. She worked the crowd and the camera and even changed her nails mid performance.
I was blown away by the fact that she can maintain such a strong vocal while executing so much dancing. That was a fantastic and ambitious performance for any artist to deliver
That’s is what I was impressed with as well. The amount of work put into that two hour performance was amazing. You can hate the music, but you cannot deny the work.
Coachella is on the decline. Too many people were too bored.
And nope, Bey isn’t defining moments of generations. she is a singer and entertainer.
clearly not YOUR generation Tata Mata but you don’t speak for everyone
She’s not just a celebrity. She’s an artist. A voice for the voiceless. Have y’all listened to Lemonade? That album is art. She’s no Bono because she’s 1000 times better than Bono but he’s a white dude so gets to be taken seriously as an artist. So tiring…
Seriously? Bono is made fun of all the time. They were dragged to the ends of the earth for the free download. Their albums have been heavily critiqued because people want them to live up to The Unforgettable Fire, The Joshua Tree, and Achtung Baby.
Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich and Noel Gallagher were just talking on Lars’ interview show about how they are unafraid to admit to their deep love and fandom for U2 as a band and their music and as amazing performers even though it’s an uncool thing to admit to being uber fans of U2.
They are one of the best live bands of all time and are driven like Bey in that way, never resting on laurels on tour and coasting. No one can take that away from either U2 or Beyonce, but they are completely different kinds of artists. Bono is the lyricist for the band. The Edge the music. Bey has minimal input as a writer, with a team of songwriters doing the heavy work, but she is the architect and curator and collaborator of her albums and music and themes and shows. Being a pop icon is hard work and not easy to get there. She’s matured with her material. She has gone to higher levels as far as respect. I don’t get why you brought up Bono with all the backlash he and/or U2 get at times.. He handles the criticism he receives with humor actually a lot of the time.
The only thing Bey defines is the horrible narcissistic excess of this country. So yeah I’m not buying what this headline is selling. But I will credit the artistry of Lemonade, but not just to her, all the other writers who worked on it too!
Totally agree with you on the first part.
This.
“The defining moment of a generation”?? Really? That seems way over the top. I think she’s great, but this did not define a generation. So much overdramatic cray.
I need a cheaper version of those boots. I’ve seen her in concert three times, so I know she puts on a great show, and I loved the performance, but I NEED THOSE BOOTS!!
She also had a marching band and lead chants when I’ve seen her, she really does put on a great show. Get tickets if you can. And just let people have the things ok, if she makes black women feel happy and special- put your dislike aside.
I have to say, reading this thread has been perplexing. Going into watching these clips I was a person that had always enjoyed Beyonce, but wouldn’t call myself a huge fan. I admired her, thought that she was talented. Questioned her taste in men, but whose to say….
After watching…. OMFG! Now THAT was a g*damn SHOW! How in the freaking frack do you choreograph a freakin’ marching band on a stage for 2 shows? The tech on this thing ALONE… sweet jesu. And she had dancers and steppers! And a baton twirler! And a freakin’ reunion!! She was working balls out for 2 hrs straight! And singing! And managed to get a nail color change worked in! AND she did it so FLAWLESSLY, made it look so easy, she has people saying things like….. “Well, she’s no Aretha… Just more of the same…”
No. This was not more of the same. This was a Master at the top of her game. Beyonce blew the roof off, and there was no roof. This was an EPIC performance, a joyful love letter to her roots and influences, and I cannot for the life of me understand the diminishment of all that she was giving out while doing it. The woman threw down the title, picked it back up, fed it, changed it, and rocked it to sleep. While wearing shaggy 4 in heeled go go boots.
Queen Bey, indeed.
Absolutely. Getting to the top is hard work, but staying there is near impossible. She’s risen above the top, and there are no takers coming for her. She’s on the throne. This iconic performance solidifies that.
Wow, I wasn’t expecting to find so many people dismissive of Saturday’s performance. I literally just got home from Coachella and Beyonce was great. Everyone I ran into during the festival couldn’t stop gushing about it. The performance was awesome. And on a superficial level, she looked f******* flawless. Even if her music isn’t your jam, you really should give props to her performance. I was watching It with people in the music industry, and they loved it as well. My other favorites this year was Sza & Kygo.
People love to rag on Coachella being for rich white kids, but it’s not like it’s more expensive than other music festival like EDC, Outside lands, GovBall, etc. And it’s not just white people who attend.
Beoncè is overrated and just exhausting. I can’t…
I just came back to say one more thing on this matter. Especially because most people on here are actively hating on Beyonce and her importance. I live in an uppity neighborhood where 95% of the people are white. It is extremely rare to see other people of color here.
While driving home, I stopped to pick up the mail from our mailbox. Down a different street I never drive down, I saw a young black girl in her yard with a baton practicing her twirls. In the entire 2 years I have lived here I never knew there were other POC in my neighborhood. I sat there in my car and watched her, then honked and waved after she was done. It was amazing.
Don’t tell me Beyonce’s performance was insignificant. I saw firsthand how significant it was, even if it was in a small way, in milquetoast America.
Tania, I totally understand what you are saying. However, I would rather support an actual insanely talented kick ass black female like Janelle Monáe, than Beyonce, who really is so full of herself, and highly overrated, if you judge from her music alone. Just my opinion of course, I am happy for you that you have a positive role model!
“Baby I can’t go anywhere,
Without thinking that you’re there…
Got to be having #dejavu”
Oh my. When she performed this song, it took me back to my uni days when I’d just found out I’d be graduating with honors and this album was out and I had mastered some dance moves from the Deja Vu video and I’d bust those moves Everytime the song came on. I feel old now as I can’t dance that energetically or THAT long like Bey can. But wow, such happy memories, I loved her performance and that was my favorite bit because in spirit I was dancing alongside her and keeping time and it was like a time travelling marvel of a throwback. I’m so glad to have grown up in the Beyonce and MJ era. It’s just…overwhelmingly beautiful. I do wish Coachella had an extensive stage especially the side stages and walkways. I felt Beys dancers were limited to that narrow stage. All in all, it was amazing and if I lived in America I would attend every single time Bey toured because I loooove to dance (and I’m not even a good dancer) and I love watching synchronized dance choreos. Amazing. She did so great. I kept tuning in to the Live channels every chance I got to see if I would catch a repeat of her performance. And when I found it, I’d watch it all the way through. Even now, I’m a bit upset Coachella hasn’t officially uploaded her performance onto YouTube and I have to rely on sketchy shaking camvids, come on now! Haha but yeah, I love Bey and it’s great to watch her forming a legacy. I wouldn’t go so far as to say she’s better than MJ: NOBODY IS BETTER THAN MICHAEL JACKSON – ok?! But she’s pretty damn close lol 🙂
What a fascinating read. The very fact she touched so many through her performance should be celebrated. That, alone, is awesome. It wasn’t a philosophical, scientific or any other academic subject to be learned, consumed, regurgitated and debated. She put on a show. And it rocked many people’s minds and touched their souls. Music can do that. Art does that. It’s meant to. I can only image if the internet for the masses was alive when I was growing up, what my mother and her online cache would have said about my Seattle grundge or Prince or 80s New Wave or Led Zeppelin…or their parents’ crew over Elvis and The Beatles.
That performance was an injection of superior entertainment into a predictable foray and raised the bar to a level where it should have been long ago. I can’t think of anyone else who brings it to the stage like she does, and I don’t listen to her music. But I’ll tell ya, when I hear her Freedom song… It does what I like my music to do…goose bumps. Regardless of how anyone feels about her style, culture infusion or her music… she’s an amazing entertainer. And it makes me happy she brought so many together on deeper levels. The discord is unfortunate, but I suppose when emotion is involved the above is the result.