Posts Tagged ‘Beyonce’
UNPLUGGED: REBA COVERS BEYONCE
By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com
I mighta been born just plain white trash but Fancy was my name!
Sorry, had to throw that out there.
Country legend Reba McEntire put a country ring on it when she recently covered Beyonce’s classic hit, If I Were a Boy for a recent episode of CMT’s Unplugged. And the outcome is amazing! Reba takes the song and sings it effortlessly, proving that if a message is universal (ya know, the whole boys being douchebags thing) then it can be sung in any format, in any language, in any part of the world and will still have a powerful effect on the audience, if the artist connects with the song emotionally. And Reba certainly does.
This is not the first time a song of Beyonce’s was covered by another well-know country artist. In 2007, Sugarland famously performed Irreplaceable on the American Music Awards where Knowles even took to the stage to join in singing along.
Check out Reba’s spin on If I Were A Boy, below.
BETTY WHITE LISTENS TO JAY-Z, PREPARES TO MEET RAPPER ON SNL
By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com
Oh Betty, how we love thee.
“I’m thrilled to hear he’s going to be on the show because he’s the hottest thing since sliced bread, but I certainly enjoy him. I hope we’ll get along well,” White told reporters about her upcoming SNL appearance (with musical guest Jay-Z). “Yes, [I have listened to his music]…I have no idea [if we'll work together]! But I’m game to try anything. This is an adventure!”
Perhaps Betty can bring out her inner Beyonce and do a little diddy with the rapper? Any ideas? Let’s just hope they don’t throw her in a black bikini and make her do the Single Ladies dance. Not that it wouldn’t be awesome but it’s been done way too much. Either way, whatever SNL creates for Betty, I’m sure will be great TV.
Until SNL airs this weekend, you can check out Jay performing Young Forever (at Coachella) with wifey BK, below.
Posted in Music | 
Tags: Beyonce, Collaboration, Hip Hop, Live Performance, Put In Pocket | 
5 Comments »
GAGA IN MORSE CODE: BABA BEEP BEEP
By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com
PA PA PA Product Placement
You may have already seen this parody but if not, check it! All I can say is, hilarious. Besides the comedic vaule (the Beyonce character is pretty funny in this clip), I found myself nodding in agreement to the points being made.
Hope this brightens up your day a little.
LADY GAGA’S TELEPHONE PREMIERE: EPIC OR EPIC FAIL?
By: Rob Brayl & Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com
This morning when I opened my email I received a great excerpt from Maria on GaGa’s video premiere of Telephone (ft. Beyonce). As I watched the video release last night, I was definitely intrigued (how can you not be when there’s vagina flashing and cigarette blazing sunglasses?!), but when the video came to an end I found myself still processing the over nine minute feature directed by Jonas Akerland–who is best known for his award-winning work with Madonna.
I’m not sure what it is but there’s something holding me back from actually being a true fan of the Poker Face singer. I suppose you could call me a psuedo-fan. I mean, if her song blasts out on a dancefloor I will sing along and bounce around just like everyone else–but when it comes to the overall package, I’m just not buying it. One thing’s for certain: I admire her drive and ambition but as an overall artist, I’m just not on the GaGa train quite yet.
I appreciate the fact that this video didn’t air until 11:30PM last night, since it’s definitely NSFK (Not Safe For Kiddies) and definitely NSFW, but I found myself wrestling with the message or lack thereof that was present in the video. I understand that darkness is a style stamp that GaGa has placed on herself but I just didn’t understand the point of the mass murder spree in the video–there was no story leading to the purpose of this detail. This is just another reason why I am led to believe that GaGa is truly a shock artist, doing whatever it takes to get a reaction. In an interview with Barbara Walters, she said the biggest misconception about herself is that she is “artificial and attention-seeking”. And although, I respect her and her work, I also ask: What do you expect when you write about clubs, sex, getting wasted and wear crabs on your face in public? — Not tryin’ to hate, just sayin’!
Perhaps in the future, she will rub off on me. Either way, she definitely has made a HUGE dent in pop culture and I will be interested to hear her next record. With that being said, there were parts of this video that I really enjoyed and other parts I had no desire to see–I will, however, agree that it’s one of her best tracks to date.
On the FLIP SIDE, BTB’s Maria Ciezak loved the video and I wanted to showcase both our uncertainty and our support for the video in this post because that is what’s so great about art–when it arouses discussion.
Read Maria’s review below (and watch the video premiere of Telephone, after the jump).
Do you ever watch something and say “I can’t believe what I just saw?” Well, be prepared to do a double take; Lady Gaga’s (ft. Beyonce) Telephone has finally been released. Ladies and Gentlemen, witness an edgy, sexified Thelma and Louise rebirth. Starting off by slamming rumors, there are tons of hidden meanings just waiting to be found as GaGa prances through prison and ends up poisoning several people at a roadside diner. Covered in everything from electrical tape to latex, this video doesn’t contain a dull moment. A pop smash about wanting to turn your phone off has turned into something so much deeper.
A must-watch nine and a half minute masterpiece; Gaga and Beyonce convolute the stereotype of what a pop music video should be. Continuously opposed to the typical, we love all that makes her so damn Gaga.
BEYONCE OPENS COSMETOLOGY CENTER FOR RECOVERING ADDICTS IN BROOKLYN
By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com
To many, Beyonce is a hero. Here’s one reason why…
Beyonce recently spoke in Brooklyn, New York at the Phoenix House–a nonprofit rehabilitation center for drug and alcohol addiction, to uncover a project she and her mother, Tina, have been developing for years. That project is the Beyonce Cosmetology Center.
The program is a seven-month cosmetology training course for adult men and women. L’oreal donated all the products for use at the center, and Miss Beyonce, along with her mother, have pledged to donate $100,000 to the program annually.
After New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Tina Knowles took the stage, Beyonce, full of humility and grace, took to the podium to explain her vision, a vision she developed while visiting Phoenix House in 2007 as part of research for her role as Etta James (who, at the age of 21, was a heroin addict) in the film Cadillac Records.
Phoenix House provides various vocational training but Beyonce felt like a beauty school was missing and would be an important tool to the facility as she said:
“I saw that a salon was a place for women to socialize, share stories, cry, laugh and get advice,” she continued, speaking on growing up in the beauty parlor in which her mother owned at the time. She was near tears when she added, “Most importantly, I saw the joy it brought my mother, knowing she was a part of their transformation.”
Overwhelmed with admiration for the the strength and the courage of the women and men who’ve chosen to go to Phoenix House for help, Beyonce was determined to make her dream a reality and she has succeeded, touching countless lives whose journey has led to this beautiful story of hope and redemption.
Check out the always humble BK on Good Morning America, explaining the venture, below.
BEYONCE: HUMBLE OUT OF THE HYPE
By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com
Beyonce to Germany's FHM magazine:
It’s this kind of attitude that truly makes BK from Texas a star. It also reminds me of one of my favorite lyrics that she’s ever written (from the song Hello), when she says–YOU KEEP ME HUMBLE OUT OF THIS HYPE / CAUSE YOU KNOW THERE’S MORE TO LIFE.
Check out the humble BK on The Today Show, high from making Grammy history with her six wins, below.
BEYONCE & JAY-Z VALENTINE CARDS
By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com
Got me lookin’ so crazy right now!
Fresh off the press. Now, start spreadin’ the love. I wanted to do a Snooki Valentine but maybe I’ll save that for next year. Yes, it’s Valentine’s Day and yes, you might not have a date but that doesn’t matter because you’ve got a friend in me. Seriously–screw the self-doubt, get some guts, and open up to that crush, Jay & BK style.
GO.
HOPE FOR HAITI: THE PERFORMANCES
By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com
Yo Starbucks brats! Here’s an idea–how about you kick the habit for a week and use that money to help save a life?! Yeah, you heard me.
Raising $57 million for Haiti relief efforts, George Clooney’s all-star ‘Hope for Haiti Now’ telethon left quite a mark. The total released includes money raised by phone, text and donations made via the internet. It does not include donations by corporations or iTunes, where people are able to buy the entire album for $7.99 or specific performances of the event for 99 cents each. Those funds also go to Haiti relief.
The ‘Hope for Haiti Now’ CD is the biggest one-day pre-order in the Itunes history.
People can donate via text, phone or through the ‘Hope for Haiti’ Web site for the next six months.
You can watch a few of my favorite performances, below. Which were your favorite performances?
Posted in Music |
Tags: Acoustic, Beautiful, Beyonce, Collaboration, Hip Hop, Live Performance, Meaningful, Pop |
5 Comments »
BEYONCE’S ROCK STAR STAGE DIVE
By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com
First it was the VMAs, where a humble B gave up her spotlight for T. Swift, then it was the clip that made us all cry rivers (Justin Timberlake’s in the picture above, get it?!) when Beyonce dedicated Halo to a little girl dying of leukemia, and now, this: Beyonce stage diving pantless. Man! A girl after my own heart.
99.9% of the pop star population could NEVER pull this off, especially while ACTUALLY singing live. Jigga what?! Yeah, I’m white and have no clue what that means but somehow it sounded appropriate. Sue me!
See BK feeling a rush of rock star, taking a stage dive, below.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: BEYONCE ON FAME
By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com
- Beyonce Knowles
BEYONCE LENDS HALO TO LITTLE GIRL BATTLING CANCER
By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com
This made me cry like a baby.
First, Beyonce gave up her VMA spotlight to allow Taylor Swift a chance to speak, after a RUDE drunken 32-year-old rapper (formerly known as Kanye West) stormed the stage & interrupted her moment of glory. And at her concert this past Friday in Sydney, Beyonce used her halo to help one little girl battling leukemia to feel truly special.
Get your tissues ready. This is beautiful.
MTV VMA’S 2009: BEYONCE SAVES THE NIGHT, SHOWS HALO
By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com
FROM ASS TO CLASS.
To quote Pink–”Kanye is the biggest piece of shit on earth. Quote me.”
Taylor Swift deserved her moment and luckily for her (and the world) Beyonce was there to save the day! While Beyonce took the stage to accept her award for Video of the Year for Single Ladies, the humble singer brought Swift back up to the stage to have the chance to accept her award without being interrupted. Thank God for Beyonce!
I can see your halo B!
If you missed it, check out the clip below.
BEYONCE’S GOT NEW SHOES & AN EXTRA CANDLE ON THE CAKE
By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com
To celebrate B’s 28th, I thought I’d post one of my all-time favorite tracks by her, the unreleased NEW SHOES. This song was definitely on repeat for quite some time after some jerk decided to take my heart, put it in a blender, crush it to pieces, & then flush it down the toilet. Perhaps that was a little dramatic but ya get the point! And hopefully you can relate.
Let NEW SHOES give you the little push you need to move beyond a broken heart.
Listen to the track below.
MTV VMA’S SPOILER ALERT: BEYONCE & ANNIE LENNOX
By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com
[Disclaimer: This is simply MY idea of what would be a showstopping performance for this year's VMAs. To my knowledge, this is NOT actually happening. But it should! It really should.]
Beyonce’s new single “Sweet Dreams” intertwined with a twist of classic Lennox (of course making a surprise appearance during Beyonce’s set). NOW THAT’S TV!
BEYONCE STRIPPED OF SASHA FIERCE (UNRELEASED TRACKS)
By: Rob Brayl
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com
Check out two unreleased exclusives from Beyonce’s I AM SASHA FIERCE–SAVE THE HERO and STOP SIGN, both stripping B of the Sasha Fierce alter ego to expose the real girl underneath (just the way we prefer her).
