Beyoncé was a star at Tuesday’s BET Awards (pictured), taking home two of the six prizes for which she was nominated, including R&B artist of the year and best video for the Ne-Yo-penned "bad all by myself" anthem "Irreplaceable." And yet, I’m in no hurry to congratulate her.
Seeing that this was becoming a pattern of mine, I was starting to wonder if there was something wrong with me. Am I a "hater?" I’ll agree that B’s got talent, but I’ve decided that I must get this off of my chest:
I am so over Beyoncé.
And I’m in good company: Popera artist Rufus Wainwright recently told Spin magazinethat he was "sick" of the R&B/pop singer.
I used to be abig Beyoncé fan. In middle school I performed an anti-drug parody ofDestiny’s Child’s "No, No, No" in front of my social studies class. Imemorized the lyrics to most of the songs on the group’s sophomorealbum, The Writing’s on the Wall. I was there through the first and second Destiny’s Child lineup, and when B had the nerve to unveil a third lineup, did I scoff and run away? No. They were survivors and I loved them, especially Beyoncé.
And then she went solo. It was glorious. I belted out "Crazy inLove" while copying B’s runway walk in my dorm room. I wasn’t mad thatshe recycled Destiny Child’s "Dangerously in Love" or that she (and Ithink Kelly Rowland) said some variation of "I love you" some 27 timesin the last 45 seconds of the song alone. And I overlooked that creepyode-to-Daddy track, in which she croons "I want my unborn son to belike my daddy."
But last summer, something started to change. I loved "Deja Vu," the first single off of B’Day, though most people didn’t; EW reviewer Jody Rosen called it "oddly flat." Still, beyond that funky, bass-filled track, B’Day was a big disappointment to me. And I realized that somewhere between being Bootylicious! and a whole lotta woman,Beyoncé had become larger than life. I couldn’t go anywhere withouthearing "to the left, to the left," or without one of my friendsposting Facebook pictures of themselves in "freakum dresses."
It was then that I decided to lay off of the Beyoncé for a while. It wasn’t that I thought I had a problemor anything. But it would give me time to enjoy other songstresses. Shealmost pulled me back with "Beautiful Liar" (that whole Shakira/Beyoncétwin thing in the video was manipulative!), but then she went and didlike 10 different versions, including one with herself.
And therein lies the problem, PopWatchers. It doesn’t matter whatRufus or I think. The only person that truly needs to get over Beyoncéis… Beyoncé
What do you think? Am I right? Or do I need to get over myself?
Well, as Pastorek would say: I don’t know if this constitutes an official response, but: hahahahahahahaha.
I’m so over Beyonce too. This last year has been nothing but overkill. With all due respect to Mike Slezak (my hero!), I’m just sick of her. Talent, yes. Overexposed? CLEARLY! I think what did it for me was that she rush-released a subpar album with only ten songs (where Xtina and the Red Hot Chili Peppers were giving us TWO cds for that price), and then to try and squeeze more money from us (after already having to stomach paying to see her in “Dreamgirls” where she obviously wasn’t the star they tried to build her up to be, thank you JHud!) by REreleasing the album in the format it should have been in the first place. I mean, at least with Mariah, her rerelease only had three new songs (not counting the We Belong Together remix). It wasn’t a different album altogether. But Beyonce just hasn’t gone away: SHE’S. EVERYWHERE. Take a hint, doll, if you want us to miss you: go away.
How old are you? 21? 22?
Ditto and a half. I’ve been over her forever. I couldn’t even watch her perform. I am tired of her booty shaking, tired of her screeching, tired of her “acting”
Isnt there anything else POPwatch can publish than needless bashing? Opinions are fine and all – but there are many more overexposed celebs out there, with NO talent. I dont see the point.
Look, I kinda hated that she released the “Deluxe” version of B’Day with filler and stuff she could’ve easily included on the original just to cash in.
I also don’t know the extent to which she was behind the decision to tout her as the lead in “Dreamgirls” when J.Hud was clearly the lead (then again, if you were a producer and wanted to make money, wouldn’t you promote the hell out of Beyonce too?)
What I can’t get with is spreading hate when the world is full of no-talent Paris and Nicoles getting all this attention. Beyonce is undeniably talented. By all accounts she’s a thoughtful, well-spoken, hardworking individual who, to my knowledge, has ever flashed her junk for the tabloids.
I’m cool with Beyonce, it’s those other losers I’m over.
I also don’t really see the point. And yes, this is hating in my book.
Saying “B had the nerve” and so on. At least you didn’t say she can’t sing or something.
Really though, to me you sound like one of those jaded underground fans of an artist. When their favorite rock band becomes big all over, they say they’re changing and overexposed just because more people now happen to like her. For one, she says she planned on taking a break after DC but she had so much energy after Dreamgirls that she spat out what she did. That’s what B’Day is, it’s a short and sweet set, not something she worked on for two years like Kelly Clarkson.
As far as the reissue goes, those were just remixes that every artist does. J. Lo, Gwen, you name them and they’ve got countless remixes that, yes, aren’t necessary, but they play ‘em in the clubs and such.
Sometimes you getting tired of something is just you being around it too much, like I almost did with Mary J., but just eject the disc and turn the channel.
Ceballos I agree on most of what you said, you posted while I was writing.
I hate when every artist puts out “Deluxe” discs and “Reissues,” but I gave it to Beyoncé for the one substantial part she added, doing some songs in spanish.
And I too think the only reason they put Beyoncé’s name higher is that technically she did have the lead role in Dreamgirls, just as Sheryl Lee Ralph did back on Broadway. Plus, it was J. Hud’s first film. Just like this Nikki Blonsky girl will likely steal a lot of the show in Hairspray, she’s not high on the marquee b/c no one knows her yet, really. It’s all “John Travolta, Queen Latifah…”
It took me a long while to accept Destiny’s Child as a legitimate musical act, and even longer to not roll my eyes at Beyonce when I saw her solo. Maybe this is why I don’t feel quite as tired of her, though we can all agree that she’s overexposed. I dunno, I mean the kid’s got real talent and beauty and it’s hard to knock her simply for being ubiquitous, but a little break wouldn’t hurt.
I know I’m not over her b/c yeah I heard her alot as Destiny’s Child and all the mess of musical singers. I just learned how to turn off the radio. If I wanted to know what’s hot, I’d check Billboard. That way I can listen to my own mixes on tapes & CDs & now my iPod, then go back to that artist when it all dies down. That’s why I still love Prince, it’s why I can still listen to Justin because I didn’t lean on radio to give me all my entertainment.
I’m not tired of her yet, because I do selective Beyonce viewing. For example, I didn’t watch BET because I don’t have cable so I rely on Youtube-type sites. I click through the videos I want to see. Just like the radio & CDs, you select stuff you like and turn off stuff you don’t like.
I just think Beyonce has a goal in life whether you agree or not – she’s definitely the hardest working young girl out there now. She probably has a billion dollar goal and she’s working hard to get there. Plus she has a father-mgr who’s molding and manipulating her. Now, what I don’t get is Solange, who I don’t see has any talent whatsoever…but there she is in show business trying to sing and act.
Just give Ms. Bey some credit for working hard and being super smart with money. She’s got too good men by her side to help. Maybe that’s why you don’t like her. Smart lady.
I can take B in small doses. I love “Get me Bodied” video (mainly because of her male dancer next to her) but I am over her.
Wow, these are exactly my thoughts (“Beautiful Liar” featuring “Sasha” was RIDICULOUS!!!). Except I didn’t like “Deja Vu.”
Bethonie,
All this really means is that you’re growing up and moving beyond hero workship or icon making or whatever it is you kids call it today.
It’s a GOOD thing, as long as you don’t replace one obsession with another.
Fan isn’t a short form of fantastic – it’s short for fanatic. Not something to aspire to.
It’s GOOD to get over adolescent crushes and idolization. And the
Beyonce you fixated upon isn’t a real person at all. She is one of the most carefully (and obsessively) marketed people I’ve seen. No wonder you were overwhelemed by her image when you were young.
Gabba gabba, welcome to the non-fan-people. We accept you.
One of us. One of us.
Sometimes, I wonder if there are any other starlets out there, given how it’s either Beyonce or Paris eveywhere. At least Beyonce has actual talent and is very beautiful. Seems to know it, too. But besides never being all that into her, I’m still over her.