By Alaina L. Lewis & Zionology
Dear Beyoncé,
Trust me, after years of waking up on the wrong side of reality, something in the melody of the humming birds whispering sweet nothings atop their perch outside my window pane, told me that today was going to be the right side of life for me. I know I’m not a solid gold dancer, but I’m fly enough to work it on Soul Train. If Tyra was looking for a Next Top Model you could easily sign me up. Feeling myself and overwhelmed with my perfection, I decided to go in the kitchen and cook my man a little breakfast. But… much to my surprise, I was privy to a conversation that put a knife in my moment of ecstasy. It started with the TV belting what I thought were harmless lyrics… “Na Na Na, Diva is a female version of a hustla, of a hustla, of a, of a hustla…” and then it took a curve down to nothing short of offensive when my man busted out with this off the hook statement, “Damn, I wish my girl was as fly as Beyoncé.”-Sincerely,The Newest Member of the “I HATE Beyoncé Club”
Before you all start out trying to ring my neck, I better first state the fact that this letter should strictly be filed in a drawer set aside for anything fiction. This letter isn’t true to my situation, but I guarantee you it’s a feeling that’s continually echoed throughout the minds of many women and men out there. We’re no stranger to the fact that people across the board got love for Beyoncé, but lets keep it real since we’ve already entered the sharing circle, and dish a bit on the reasons why some people got hate for Beyoncé .
1) Even on her worst day she’s still so damn beautiful, or is she?
Has anybody ever seen Beyoncé without her year round costume on? Of course I’m speaking lightly on the gobs of make up and hair extensions we’re so accustomed to seeing her sporting at every venue and event she attends. Sure Barbie looks good when you first take her out of the box, but after you’ve played with her for a while she loses her luster, her hair goes flat, and she becomes a bit dingy. Without all that makeup and weave, would Beyoncé still carry her torch of defining perfected beauty, or would the flame slowly die at the pluck of each individual eyelash? Just a question.
2) As if she didn’t have enough money of her own, she had to run out and marry Jay-Z, whose got plenty more to add to their ever-growing bank account.Some people can’t even pay the rent, let alone find a decent man in life who’s willing to contribute to life’s simple and monetary household needs. Beyoncé’s estimated net worth is sitting on a comfortable $350 million; when you factor in her boo’s acquired income, the two love birds are sitting easy on a billi. Can I get some bailout money from them?
3) People constantly revere her as the best, which makes her an easy front-runner for being the most annoying artist on your Top Ten list. She’s been nominated for more awards than she’s actually ever won, but the fact that she is faithfully considered whether or not she even produces the fruit of worth is a clear testimony to the claim that I’m making here. NAACP granted her a trophy for Outstanding Female Artist, leaving artists like Mariah Carey and Alicia Keys to bask in the shadows of her continual glory. If it wasn’t for a shun by The Academy, then I’d say Beyoncé was thought to be the best at everything. Good for you Jennifer Hudson.
4) She’s the reason we no longer have Destiny’s Child. When “Beyoncé and the Girls” first stepped on the scene under their well-known alias, Destiny’s Child, it was clear for the world to see who was really headlining and who would remain in the shadows: our wonderful Queen B. Riddled with drama, rumored to be a result of a single spotlight on the ever talented Beyonce’, the group went from four to two, back to four, and then down to three and before you knew it, Beyoncé was running things on the airwaves with a flourishing solo career. Coincidence anyone?
5) She could learn to share the spotlight a little, couldn’t she? A lot of people wish Beyoncé would take a long vacation and let some other talent break the surface. Maybe have a baby with Jay Z, or continue working on her blossoming acting career. Plain and simply, maybe she just need to keep herself busy and let some other voices crack through the sound of our stereos.
6) She’s a sellout.
A lot of people were deep in the fold when she rocked the mic with a passion on her solo debut Dangerously In Love. When she told us it was her B’Day, we stood in line ready to celebrate. But when she commercialized her music and offered us I am… Sasha Fierce, sure the album sold millions, possibly only off the name Beyoncé, but compared to her previous two offerings, the musical quality pales in comparison.
7) She’s overrated.
To say the least in some peoples eyes. When you put a spotlight on depth and substance, Beyonce’s catalog of music is about as sturdy as a House of Cards. Sure she’s standing on the mountaintop, looking onward at a sea of counterparts, but did she make that ascent on merit, or does the fact that she fits the criteria of what the media considers “The Total Package,” carry her past the masses and gain her a position in the top spot? From song lyrics, to originality, to embodying everything it takes to be a real X-Factor, compared to other artists like Jill Scott, Sade’ or India Arie in some people’s opinion, she doesn’t really measure up. She’s got “the look,” “the sound,” “the style,” the worlds been waiting for, right? Marketing comes down to dollars and sense, even when at times it seems to make no sense. Mathematics. Unfortunately for us, we’re not the ones formulating the equations. It’s all about the Cha- Ching.
8 ) She’s a hypocrite?
She’s a devout Methodist, raised in the church and very strong in her faith, and when speaking out about the criticism towards her raunchy clothing and behavior, she has been quoted in saying, “I honestly believe [God] wants people to celebrate their bodies so long as you don’t compromise your Christianity in the process.” Is that so. Now she’s singing about feeling her Halo and finally finding her angel in Jay Z, yet last time I checked her man was an ex drug dealer. That might be viewed as a little contradictory when you consider the good girl image she continually tries to show us.
9) Jay Z is not that attractive.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but when you’re a high profile celebrity society tends to think you should be dating a handsome man like the Rock or the next LL Cool J. Beyoncé chose Jigga, who probably doesn’t stand a chance to becoming the next Mr. Universe, but because Beyoncé could have whomever she wants, people feel like they should have a say so in her love match also.
10) Jealousy.
It’s easy to make a list of all the reasons why you could possibly hate a person, but if that list comes to you a little easy, then you may want to consider the real answer: jealousy. Beyoncé’s a great artist and I think people secretly wish they could be her. But if you work on being “you,” then you won’t have time to have a reason to hate on her.
These are all just possible ideas, and not something I personally hold as doctrine. I believe you have to personally know a person to truly have a reason to hate on ‘em, and since I have yet to be invited for tea at Beyoncé’s, none of these bulletins personally reflect my opinion. Instead of focusing so much on B, you should consider a quote by Dr. Benjamin E. Mays,
“Whatever you do, do it so well that no man living, no man dead or no man yet to be born can do it any better.”
That’s the philosophy we see in Beyoncé. She does it to the best of her abilities and her talents have led her to the top of the industry. So I’ll leave you with this — don’t hate, just step up to the plate.
Dear Beyoncé,
I woke up this morning to the surge of a beautiful sunlight washing my spirit with a feeling of nothing quite shy of amazing. My man at my side, although he’s definitely no Jigga, managed to finally make it home from the club last night to snuggle next to his boo for a little R and R.
Trust me, after years of waking up on the wrong side of reality, something in the melody of the humming birds whispering sweet nothings atop their perch outside my window pane, told me that today was going to be the right side of life for me. I know I’m not a solid gold dancer, but I’m fly enough to work it on Soul Train. If Tyra was looking for a Next Top Model you could easily sign me up. Feeling myself and overwhelmed with my perfection, I decided to go in the kitchen and cook my man a little breakfast. But… much to my surprise, I was privy to a conversation that put a knife in my moment of ecstasy. It started with the TV belting what I thought were harmless lyrics… “Na Na Na, Diva is a female version of a hustla, of a hustla, of a, of a hustla…” and then it took a curve down to nothing short of offensive when my man busted out with this off the hook statement, “Damn, I wish my girl was as fly as Beyoncé.”-Sincerely,The Newest Member of the “I HATE Beyoncé Club”
Before you all start out trying to ring my neck, I better first state the fact that this letter should strictly be filed in a drawer set aside for anything fiction. This letter isn’t true to my situation, but I guarantee you it’s a feeling that’s continually echoed throughout the minds of many women and men out there. We’re no stranger to the fact that people across the board got love for Beyoncé, but lets keep it real since we’ve already entered the sharing circle, and dish a bit on the reasons why some people got hate for Beyoncé .
1) Even on her worst day she’s still so damn beautiful, or is she?
Has anybody ever seen Beyoncé without her year round costume on? Of course I’m speaking lightly on the gobs of make up and hair extensions we’re so accustomed to seeing her sporting at every venue and event she attends. Sure Barbie looks good when you first take her out of the box, but after you’ve played with her for a while she loses her luster, her hair goes flat, and she becomes a bit dingy. Without all that makeup and weave, would Beyoncé still carry her torch of defining perfected beauty, or would the flame slowly die at the pluck of each individual eyelash? Just a question.
2) As if she didn’t have enough money of her own, she had to run out and marry Jay-Z, whose got plenty more to add to their ever-growing bank account.Some people can’t even pay the rent, let alone find a decent man in life who’s willing to contribute to life’s simple and monetary household needs. Beyoncé’s estimated net worth is sitting on a comfortable $350 million; when you factor in her boo’s acquired income, the two love birds are sitting easy on a billi. Can I get some bailout money from them?
3) People constantly revere her as the best, which makes her an easy front-runner for being the most annoying artist on your Top Ten list. She’s been nominated for more awards than she’s actually ever won, but the fact that she is faithfully considered whether or not she even produces the fruit of worth is a clear testimony to the claim that I’m making here. NAACP granted her a trophy for Outstanding Female Artist, leaving artists like Mariah Carey and Alicia Keys to bask in the shadows of her continual glory. If it wasn’t for a shun by The Academy, then I’d say Beyoncé was thought to be the best at everything. Good for you Jennifer Hudson.
4) She’s the reason we no longer have Destiny’s Child. When “Beyoncé and the Girls” first stepped on the scene under their well-known alias, Destiny’s Child, it was clear for the world to see who was really headlining and who would remain in the shadows: our wonderful Queen B. Riddled with drama, rumored to be a result of a single spotlight on the ever talented Beyonce’, the group went from four to two, back to four, and then down to three and before you knew it, Beyoncé was running things on the airwaves with a flourishing solo career. Coincidence anyone?
5) She could learn to share the spotlight a little, couldn’t she? A lot of people wish Beyoncé would take a long vacation and let some other talent break the surface. Maybe have a baby with Jay Z, or continue working on her blossoming acting career. Plain and simply, maybe she just need to keep herself busy and let some other voices crack through the sound of our stereos.
6) She’s a sellout.
A lot of people were deep in the fold when she rocked the mic with a passion on her solo debut Dangerously In Love. When she told us it was her B’Day, we stood in line ready to celebrate. But when she commercialized her music and offered us I am… Sasha Fierce, sure the album sold millions, possibly only off the name Beyoncé, but compared to her previous two offerings, the musical quality pales in comparison.
7) She’s overrated.
To say the least in some peoples eyes. When you put a spotlight on depth and substance, Beyonce’s catalog of music is about as sturdy as a House of Cards. Sure she’s standing on the mountaintop, looking onward at a sea of counterparts, but did she make that ascent on merit, or does the fact that she fits the criteria of what the media considers “The Total Package,” carry her past the masses and gain her a position in the top spot? From song lyrics, to originality, to embodying everything it takes to be a real X-Factor, compared to other artists like Jill Scott, Sade’ or India Arie in some people’s opinion, she doesn’t really measure up. She’s got “the look,” “the sound,” “the style,” the worlds been waiting for, right? Marketing comes down to dollars and sense, even when at times it seems to make no sense. Mathematics. Unfortunately for us, we’re not the ones formulating the equations. It’s all about the Cha- Ching.
8 ) She’s a hypocrite?
She’s a devout Methodist, raised in the church and very strong in her faith, and when speaking out about the criticism towards her raunchy clothing and behavior, she has been quoted in saying, “I honestly believe [God] wants people to celebrate their bodies so long as you don’t compromise your Christianity in the process.” Is that so. Now she’s singing about feeling her Halo and finally finding her angel in Jay Z, yet last time I checked her man was an ex drug dealer. That might be viewed as a little contradictory when you consider the good girl image she continually tries to show us.
9) Jay Z is not that attractive.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but when you’re a high profile celebrity society tends to think you should be dating a handsome man like the Rock or the next LL Cool J. Beyoncé chose Jigga, who probably doesn’t stand a chance to becoming the next Mr. Universe, but because Beyoncé could have whomever she wants, people feel like they should have a say so in her love match also.
10) Jealousy.
It’s easy to make a list of all the reasons why you could possibly hate a person, but if that list comes to you a little easy, then you may want to consider the real answer: jealousy. Beyoncé’s a great artist and I think people secretly wish they could be her. But if you work on being “you,” then you won’t have time to have a reason to hate on her.
These are all just possible ideas, and not something I personally hold as doctrine. I believe you have to personally know a person to truly have a reason to hate on ‘em, and since I have yet to be invited for tea at Beyoncé’s, none of these bulletins personally reflect my opinion. Instead of focusing so much on B, you should consider a quote by Dr. Benjamin E. Mays,
“Whatever you do, do it so well that no man living, no man dead or no man yet to be born can do it any better.”
That’s the philosophy we see in Beyoncé. She does it to the best of her abilities and her talents have led her to the top of the industry. So I’ll leave you with this — don’t hate, just step up to the plate.
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