Yesterday the world was confused and elated at the same time when Beyoncé released via her Tumblr what some are calling a “promo track” to her world domination, err, the year of Beyoncé [being that her world tour kicks off next month]. She owned her Super Bowl performance and even released a slightly revealing HBO documentary about her life.
But the Hit Boy-produced track, “Bow Down/I Been On” rubbed some of her Beyhive the wrong way, leaving others at the edge of their seats ready and eager to see where this Beyoncé takes us.
The first snippet comes in very aggressively with Beyoncé on her arrogant tip with lyrics like “I know when you were little girls, you dreamt of being in my world. Don’t forget it don’t forget it. Respect that, bow down bitches.” But the second snippet threw me for a loop…a chopped and screwed Beyoncé?
So here’s my deliberation on the track:
With the world being so used to a picture perfect image of Bey [that she somewhat created], the track easily came off as inconsistent to her past body of work. But after kicking off the year with the Inauguration Ceremony, GQ magazine cover, Super Bowl performance, Vogue magazine cover, HBO documentary, and the announcement of her Mrs. Carter World Tour in partnership with Pepsi, her breaking out of her shell was bound to happen.
Is the message “bow down bitches” too much for people? Perhaps but music has always been a competitive and open space that artists use as a platform to “talk their sh*t.” Yes the Obamas endorsed her, as a role model, but should that stop her from speaking her mind musically? Telling someone to bow down in a song probably wouldn’t translate well in real life but we have to be mindful of not taking lyrics so literally. I wouldn’t dare tell someone to bow down to me but just like the rest of us, I would probably dance to it upon hearing it at a concert or a party setting.
I think Beyoncé is having fun and stepping out from what the world has come to know her as. Is she going to ruffle feathers? Of course, but who hasn’t?
Let us know your thoughts about the track and this new side of Beyonce.
Post via GeorgettePierre.com