Last week, T stopped by for a visit and in talking about her photography and my wish that I had some skill I could use to barter with her, I made my first admission that I had started a blog (this one!) back in March. I hadn't told anyone but PB beforehand, but somehow, it made sense to show T. Anyhow, once I had opened up about my big secret (my life is so mysterious that this blog is my BIG secret!) I felt like I could also tell her about my love for this whole Beyoncé album. Through texts on Tuesday, I gave her my list of songs I thought she should start with, and that is what lead me to write my last entry on Tuesday night reviewing my favorite album of the year so far. I highly suggest you go back and read it before continuing this post. Welcome back. So, after T read my review, she sent me a message yesterday through Facebook with the words: "She backs up what you said in your blog! " and the link to the following video: Once I watched the clip, I was pretty happy. I KNEW that I was on to something and that the videos were supposed to remind us of a time when videos were a big deal! That all comes through, Beyoncé! Your mission? Accomplished! I know you don't know me, but you just have to trust me that I didn't watch this before writing my review. All those conclusions were mine. I love when you can feel that you've discovered something all on your own, and then realize you're right on point with what the person was trying to say. PB has talked about this before, and it's something I haven't felt in a long time. I guess it's true that I don't listen to music the way I used to, and this has just reminded me that there's something to listening to an entire album and let it simmer. Point- PB! I'll also say this... In my own way, I've been trying to show Gigi the fun that videos once were. We'll sit at home, and watch Whitney Houston, Cyndi Lauper and others because I want her to know how fun women could have without being all sexed out. Don't get me wrong, this visual album isn't one I'll be showing her anytime soon (apart from the excellent "XO", especially now that we've been to Coney Island), but I'll feel comfortable watching them with her when she's older, because as sexual as they are, they really are a grown woman singing about grown women things... There's enough stuff out there catered to kids, so I'm not mad at Beyoncé for this. There will be a time when I'll be ready to broach these topics with Gigi, and when I do, I know that these videos will feel different for her than the easier to digest pop stuff that a lot of women put out these days. Katy Perry has catchy songs, but I'm not that into showing Gigi her stuff either because I think that Katy comes across as those girls on the city bus who will dumb themselves down in front of boys because they don't want to seem smarter than them... Beyoncé, while totally sexualized, gives off a different message, I think, one that seems more along the lines of old-school Madonna. Finally, I have to applaud her for one more skill. She is one master PR person. After watching the 3 minutes of her speaking about the videos, I went back and started watching the videos again. Insanely smart. Please go watch the videos. I don't think you'll regret it, and I think one day, this will be her White Album. And you can say that you were into it from the get-go! |