BEYONCÉ

Photo Courtesy of Columbia Records via digital album 
booklet.

King B has done it again, this time catching fans off guard by dropping a full-length album with no promotion or early single release. And I have to say I was one of the guilty few that bought the album when I first woke up Friday morning without washing my face or brushing my teeth. Was the album worth the early morning rush? I'm not quite sure yet.

Titled simply "Beyonce," this album takes on Mrs. Carter’s classic theme of female empowerment with sexy twist, and when I say sexy I mean unadulterated sex. I guess after having Blue Ivy she has no shame in showing more skin or talking openly about what her and Jay-Z do between the sheets, in the kitchen or no floor or in their case on a Warhol or Basquiat painting. This album isn’t for the young; it’s definitely for a “grown woman.” 

For this body of work, King B took a page out of fellow Destiny Child member Kelly Rowland’s book, grinding on wood and launching “rockets.” I would assume this is just another extension of her independent woman mantra. Free thinking about her femininity, sensuality, sexuality and mind. While I like Mrs. Carter believe in that message, I wonder if the way in which she presented it will be read the same by all listeners and in this case viewers as well. 

Along with 14 songs are 17 videos. Each takes on a different story line, some pertaining to the song and others simply showing off visual artistry and what some may consider couture fashion. I originally saw a body of mixed messages. At some points I wasn't sure if I was getting female empowerment or another misogynistic rap video. Now granted I would never accuse Beyoncé of being misogynistic because I too like many other women emulate her moves secretly getting a boost of confidence knowing that we can be like her. But I have to wonder again if the 12-year-old me, 16-year-old me, or even the 21-year-old me, would see the message of the album or miss it all together. Or maybe there is no message, but I doubt it knowing Mrs. Carter's track record of calculation. Everything she does has a purpose and a plan, case and point, her documentary "Life is But a Dream."

Besides the crazy dancing, 90's flashbacks, body licking supermodels, vomiting pageant queens, Grace Jones and Lady Gaga look-a-likes she had great visually appealing videos to follow up an always good body of work (album). My favorite videos were also to my favorite songs thus far on the album. I loved "Blue" featuring Blue Ivy because it's truly heart felt. We also get to see and hear little Blue too. I'm also in love with "Superpower." Besides the fact that I think Frank Ocean is a genius, I throughly enjoyed the video. It seemed like part II to "Girls Run the World." The video featured guest star appearances by Destiny Child members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, world tour mate Luke James, album producer Pharrell Williams and what looks like a ski masked Ocean. Then there's "Drunk in Love" featuring Jay-Z, which expresses how things get when Beyoncé gets a few too many drinks in her system. The video is shot in black and white and simply shows her and her man having a fun moment on the beach. And my most favorite of all is "Pretty Hurts." Besides the song having a powerful message, the video took pointers from TLC's "Unpretty," showcasing the mental and physical torment women put on themselves to fit society's unreachable image of perfection.

Over all the "Beyoncé" is another classic Mrs Carter album. Despite my questioning, I have been bumping the album non-stop since its purchase. . So listen, watch and fill free to judge, BEYONCÉ.

Just Thinking

Sometimes I wonder why I went to school for journalism. The struggle of doing work for a grade has taken the joy out of writing. I was so much better at writing papers on historical events or analyzing topics when I was in undergrad, but I have yet to create the connect in grad school since I am often the one finding the facts and not just reading them. I have had professors give many ideas on how to become a better writer suggesting I write like I'm talking to a friend or write like you would have a conversation. These are helpful tips, but I wouldn't dare write how I talk seeing as I don't speak the best English and when I do it's often too "ethnic" for my current Caucasian audience to understand. I struggle with taking the advice of others and incorporating it with who I want to be as a writer. Which is the cause of much of my problems with grad school. How can you truly grade journalism when writing is sublective. I get checking for grammar, word usage, etc... but how can you grade how someone views or sees an event? Mark, Paul, Luke and John barred witness to the same events in life of Christ, yet told them in four different ways, payed attention to different things, highlighted different details. I have not heard anyone say that Mark's story was wrong because it didn't completely match up with Lukes. So how is a professor to tell me I missed something because he read "Molly's" story online? Logically you shouldn't, but I guess that's my logic. For now I will just give my current audience what they want. So much for establishing and having a voice.

LIVE!

I'm in desperate need of an Ah Ha! moment. I beat myself up over so many things that I fail to look at the positive things that are constantly happening in my life. I worry too much. I worry about things that hold little relevance and put too much effort in trying to control things that are way out of my control. I center my world around school and work when I should really focus on living. Life is passing me by while I sit and contemplate on what I needs to be done. Why miss Saturday's game night for an article I probably won't write until Sunday? The work will be there tomorrow, and most likely I will be more willing to write because I'm in a better space (frame of mind).

Moral of this story is stressing leads you no where. It doesn't change the situation you are in, but the way you react does change the outcome. The only thing you can control is your attitude. Love yourself, it's the only way you can appreciate the life God's given you. Make Lemonade!

The Struggle Is Real

Ever have one of those days where you felt like the cookie at the bottom of the barrel. You know the one with the broken ends and the missing chocolate chips. Well today after I received my first grade in Popular Music Reporting, which was a B, I felt just like that cookie, crushed. Some of you will probably think I'm tripping and I probably am, but you need to know my back story.

I am a graduate student at Northwestern University. I was excepted in to the Medill School of Journalism in 2011 and started school the summer of that same year. I was to graduate in June of 2012 with a Master of Science in Journalism, but I did not once life got in the way. After a stressful second quarter, a quarter break and I returned to grad school only to get hospitalized for a hernia two weeks before the quarter ended. Fast forward from June 2012 to April 2013 and I am back in my third quarter of grad school, just wanting to graduate. Im not worried about being in the top of the class, I just want to finish. You are probably thinking "then why are you worried about that B?" Well a B at Medill is the lowest grade you can get. On order to stay in this program, you must maintain a 3.0 (B) average. With a B on my first assignment that means I can't afford for my grades to go down. I must maintain or achieve higher grades on my up coming assignments. All of this has me once again questioning if journalism is my chosen path. As much as I love to write, I have yet to master all the skills the school says I must possess or learn how to tolerate critique. Knowing this shrinks my confidence down to the size of a mustard seed. I know that this is all I need when it comes to faith but I'm not sold on it being the same for confidence.

Anyway I refuse to remain that broke cookie. No one likes broke cookies.