this is the third consecutive studio album for which Beyoncé Knowles has been nominated and then passed over for a white artist, despite all three records’ status as music-industry milestones.
Last time this happened, in 2017, Adele’s acceptance speech was just an abject apology for 25 beating Lemonade, which didn’t much help.
It’s because, although Beyoncé last night officially became the most-awarded individual in the history of the Grammys, only one of those 32 prizes has come in the Recording Academy’s top, cross-genre categories—“Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” as song of the year in 2010.
Yet I couldn't name you one tune by her. Go figure. I would think with such a well known name, she'd have at least 1 song which would be known by about everyone familiar with music. You know, like the beatles, Led Zeppelin, Barbra Streisand...
Actually, if you were into SINGING, you'd know her.
She's got astonishing control over a laser guided instrument.
...AND...I don't really think I've been into much of the music she's made...but, I mean I remember hearing "Say My Name" in the late 90s and being like "who is THAT singing...?" ---then SEEING her, I further thought "she's going to be HUGE". To have that kind of instrument, with that kind of control over it, AND THEN to be as attractive as she is? I mean, that girl was hard to look it she was SO pretty--on BOTH axis, so to speak. There's pretty and there's sexy--and they're not always the same--but, she's had both.
Anwyay...as odd as it seems to me that someone hasn't "heard" Beyonce at this point...I wouldn't start where she is now--which is a kind of SUPER arty...esoteric hip hop art. Start where she GOT huge:
Then where she gets EVEN huUUUGER.
I think, and I resemble this a LOT, so it's not a dig...how we get out of touch is bit by bit. Destiny's Child was a kind of traditionalism in an sea of "hip hop R&B"...but, it was still heavily hip hop influenced...but, there was still a foot in the past--where her solo starts to pick UP that foot from the past...and now, she lives in the world of BEING the pop music trend/thread that others chase. The new Adele sounds like she was so sorry 25 won over Lemonade that she through she'd make something closer to Lemonade. I've have advised her differently, as a fan of "25 era Adele only", but this isn't about Adele. Point is--I would imagine it would be hard if you're coming from the R&B of my youth...and you've ignored hip hop and it's influence on the genre for 30+ years...and how it's shifted bit by bit...it would be hard to drop the needle on a one of the newer Beyonce releases and not think "WTF is THIS...?"
Originally Posted By: Timster
Beyonce is that one guys spouse.
Believe me, "that one guy" is Beyonce's spouse. And I'd bet he'd be the first to acknowledge that.
I can't recall Beyonce's voice at all but not much of a follower of Pop, never really have been. So she was singing, she was twerking and all I remember about her performance is twerking. YMMV
I supposed if Mozart Twerked, that might be all I remember. Who knows.
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Actually, if you were into SINGING, you'd know her.
She's got astonishing control over a laser guided instrument.
...AND...I don't really think I've been into much of the music she's made...but, I mean I remember hearing "Say My Name" in the late 90s and being like "who is THAT singing...?" ---then SEEING her, I further thought "she's going to be HUGE". To have that kind of instrument, with that kind of control over it, AND THEN to be as attractive as she is? I mean, that girl was hard to look it she was SO pretty--on BOTH axis, so to speak. There's pretty and there's sexy--and they're not always the same--but, she's had both.
Anwyay...as odd as it seems to me that someone hasn't "heard" Beyonce at this point...I wouldn't start where she is now--which is a kind of SUPER arty...esoteric hip hop art. Start where she GOT huge:
I think, and I resemble this a LOT, so it's not a dig...how we get out of touch is bit by bit. Destiny's Child was a kind of traditionalism in an sea of "hip hop R&B"...but, it was still heavily hip hop influenced...but, there was still a foot in the past--where her solo starts to pick UP that foot from the past...and now, she lives in the world of BEING the pop music trend/thread that others chase. The new Adele sounds like she was so sorry 25 won over Lemonade that she through she'd make something closer to Lemonade. I've have advised her differently, as a fan of "25 era Adele only", but this isn't about Adele. Point is--I would imagine it would be hard if you're coming from the R&B of my youth...and you've ignored hip hop and it's influence on the genre for 30+ years...and how it's shifted bit by bit...it would be hard to drop the needle on a one of the newer Beyonce releases and not think "WTF is THIS...?"
Originally Posted By: Timster
Beyonce is that one guys spouse.
Believe me, "that one guy" is Beyonce's spouse. And I'd bet he'd be the first to acknowledge that.
Hmmmm... interesting. I did somewhat recall or recognize "Crazy In Love". That is to say - I think I may have heard that somewhere before.
Those tracks have quite the sophisticated production. If you say she sings well - I'll take your word for it. It's hard for me to tell with production like that if she can sing like a bird just straight up.... like a Sara B or a Sy Smith. Not that it matters - they do what they do and Beyonce does what she does. No judgement.
But yeah - she does strike me as talented. I guess. Someone went to a lot of trouble with those tunes above. A lot going on there.
For sure - that type of pop R&B is not my thing. I guess if I was exposed to it more maybe I would start to take to it? Not sure.
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"Well well well, if it isn't the consequences of my own actions."
Yet I couldn't name you one tune by her. Go figure. I would think with such a well known name, she'd have at least 1 song which would be known by about everyone familiar with music. You know, like the beatles, Led Zeppelin, Barbra Streisand...
Her pitch is like a laser. Thats the thing I think a lot of old white guys miss about hiphop in general…the ability to sing/rap some of those very chromatic and staccato lines is HARD. and she bridges that in her ability to sing like that but ALSO sing in a more traditional legato way.
Fwiw….I never really resonated to hip hop. Incorporating it ruined Brian McKnight and Mariah for me (hioe selling them a lot of records)….largely relegated what I grew up calling “R&B” to retro history books with its total consumption of black popular music culture.
To pushback on your generalization, I have no issue with Rap/Hip Hop any more than I do with Country. I just don't listen to much, just not in my wheelhouse for what I generally listen to for music. It has nothing to do with the musical points you bring up.
Speaking of wheels, where the hell is my wheelchair
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Nothing is ever a complete failure; it can always serve as a bad example.
Yet I couldn't name you one tune by her. Go figure. I would think with such a well known name, she'd have at least 1 song which would be known by about everyone familiar with music. You know, like the beatles, Led Zeppelin, Barbra Streisand...
R&B and country are marketing entities, not musical styles. Fwiw. There is very little definition to either. Feel free to turn on country radio and see how much it resembles George Strait (time equivalent to Anita Baker)….who in turn was called “not real country” in the 80s….whitney Houston was “not real R&B” in the same era.
Americana has been the attempt to roll up the aspects of southern American music of the twentieth century to preserve from the market shifts.
AL is kind of right, though his calling it “styles” is wrong. All forms of music he love are folk songs at the root. Which he calls “tunes”. This MUSIC….recordings….are mostly not. Although if you go back to Destiny’s Child, as evo,ution theres a lot of folk tune elements still left there vs where B is at now.
Registered: 09/27/00
Posts: 17928
Loc: Sacramento, CA, USA
Originally Posted By: Ismellelephant
rap/hip hop has been around since the 80's. All started by a white women, Debbie Harry.
I think Blondie saw the phenomenon taking off and tried to cash in on it in a white-accessible way. I’m surprised that some people actually think they started it. “Rapture” was a really stupid song IMO. Tried to turn angry street art into nonsense nursery rhymes.
_________________________ "Bobby, I'm sorry you got a head like a potato. I really am."
Perhaps more surprising that anyone who even reasonably interfaces with the world, goes to weddings, has been in a club, frequents a hopping restaurant, has siblings, nieces, kids hasn’t heard a Beyoncé song.
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"I love what you guys are trying to do up there" ...from an audience member at one of my gigs. Gear: Fender Medium pick
Registered: 09/27/00
Posts: 17928
Loc: Sacramento, CA, USA
Originally Posted By: motown59
Perhaps more surprising that anyone who even reasonably interfaces with the world, goes to weddings, has been in a club, frequents a hopping restaurant, has siblings, nieces, kids hasn’t heard a Beyoncé song.
I’m sure they’ve heard it… Just didn’t care to know who it was. I haven’t paid attention to pop music since I stopped driving a carpool of kids to school. I was kind of surprised by the “motherfucker” thing. I thought she was more about being sexy than being angry.
_________________________ "Bobby, I'm sorry you got a head like a potato. I really am."
Registered: 06/10/99
Posts: 18025
Loc: 3rd Stone From The Sun
Originally Posted By: Webster
If you say she sings well - I'll take your word for it. It's hard for me to tell with production like that if she can sing like a bird just straight up....
She's a great vocalist, but you might not like her singing on her pop productions. IMHO, she's right there with greats we all know; she's one of the greatest of her generation.
BTW, she's also an amazing performer who can sing great while doing her dance moves. Again, it might not be your thing or mine, but talent is talent, and she has tons of it.
Want to hear her sing? Listen to her live. Listen to some things other than her pop hits.
If neither of those do it for you, maybe something with her and Prince:
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MadGuitrst has left the building....but not before committing acts designed to offend the senses....
"Seek first to understand, then to be understood." - Dr. Stephen R. Covey
If you say she sings well - I'll take your word for it. It's hard for me to tell with production like that if she can sing like a bird just straight up....
She's a great vocalist, but you might not like her singing on her pop productions. IMHO, she's right there with greats we all know; she's one of the greatest of her generation.
BTW, she's also an amazing performer who can sing great while doing her dance moves. Again, it might not be your thing or mine, but talent is talent, and she has tons of it.
Want to hear her sing? Listen to her live. Listen to some things other than her pop hits.
If neither of those do it for you, maybe something with her and Prince:
Thanks! I'm impressed.
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"Well well well, if it isn't the consequences of my own actions."
period ... 
