The 2016 VMAs were all about Beyonce. People acted surprised about that fact. First of all, I thought it was established a while back that she would be performing, but people were “surprised” that it was confirmed just hours before the show. Second of all, Beyonce left Jay-Z at home. Which makes me laugh, especially since she performed all of the “he cheated” songs off of Lemonade. Beyonce did roll up to the VMAs with Blue Ivy and the Mothers of the Movement, which was incredible. Her red carpet outfit was Francesco Scognamiglio Couture. Boss. But the red carpet look was just a precursor for the performance.
So much was made of MTV giving Kanye West four minutes to say whatever he wanted. But MTV gave Beyonce 16 minutes in the middle of their show just so she could perform a half dozen songs from Lemonade. It was incredible. And of course Beyonce killed it. She murdered the VMAs. This will go down in VMA history as possibly the greatest sustained performance ever. MTV was even like “sure, you can f—k up one of our cameras, cool.” Here’s the video:
I think I need a moment after watching @beyonce’s #VMA performance https://t.co/lYVFfrIenO
— MTV (@MTV) August 29, 2016
Beyonce also won the most awards last night. She picked up VMAs for Best Female Video, Best Pop Video, Video of the Year, Breakthrough Long Form Video, Best Choreography, Best Direction, Best Cinematography and Best Editing. Everybody else can go home. Beysus is here.
What if Beyoncé low key The second coming of Christ tho? #VMA's
— Charlamagne Tha God (@cthagod) August 29, 2016
Beyoncé and Blue Ivy coordinated on the 2016 #VMA carpet: https://t.co/TJlzD4lHfs pic.twitter.com/EEpGFPRpcH
— MTV (@MTV) August 29, 2016
Photos courtesy of WENN.
She is legend and the BIC was best dressed. That mother-daughter pic is Vogue-worthy.
That is all.
Dawm! Blue is the spitting image of her father! That hairdo kinda emphasises howmuch she looks like Jay! That’s all i got…i’m bored of Bey. She is a decent entertainer and singer but gosh, is there any new talent around? I’m 36, i grew up with Brit Brat’s music and Destiny’s Child/Bey …after 18 years Brit and Bey’s faces keep popping up with their tired acts. Yes they are iconic but they had their time… where are the new talents? New performers? Let them have a piece of the cake! I am sure there are more talented people out there…oh well, there’s my morning rant.
Are you kidding? Britney and Bey aren’t on the same path. Like at all. Beyoncé has drive and she is passionate about her craft and legacy. She always delivers, surprises, come up with something new. She is earning new fans at every era. She is at the top of the game since a good decade. If newbies want a piece of that cake they better put in the work right now. No one is blocking them, you know.
Britney thrives on a nostalgia factor and that’s about it. I don’t hate her for this. She just doesn’t look happy to do what she does. And she is not very relevant in music anymore.
Uh, if the new ones are out there, they need to work harder because Beyoncé had 2 decades to build her brand and she’s not tired yet. She doesn’t put out the same thing over and over again either. If you’re bored of her face, fine. But it’s not like SHE is boring or slowing down at all. There’s a reason she’s among the greatest living entertainers (possibly the greatest one right now). If the rest of them want the spotlight, like jeanpierre said, they need to step it up because she simply works harder than everyone else. It’s not just about talent. It’s about busting your ass. That’s what made J.Lo big as well. Nobody would call her an outstanding singer or actor but the woman WORKS.
I think Beyonce shakes things up and keeps evolving and is still interesting. I’m in my early 30s and I grew up with both ladies as well. I have always loved Bey, ever since Destiny’s child and I loved Brit Brit, too. Beyonce is still on the top of her game, and has made herself into a cultural phenomenon. She knows that she can dance and has killer choreography, so she makes that the centerpiece of her act but keeps changing the music and the message. I love it! I feel badly for Britney. Her heart isn’t in it. She had to go throw some very dark times in the public eye. I hope that if she wants to live quietly, her family would help her settle into a more low key role. Dancing was always her forte, it would be great if she could become a choreographer or something along those lines. I agree about J.Lo, too. She is another lady who is an exceptional dancer but no the best singer or actress, but she has the hustle and has kept herself relevant for 20 years.
Britney was a much bigger star back in the day then Beyonce.I knew who both were back then and I am 53 now.Britney could not say or do one single thing at all without it being under a huge microscope.At least Beyonce had Destiny’s Child to lean on.She wasn’t a one woman show like Britney.Britney also has mental issues and had substance issues that led to her mental breakdown and she has never been the same since and she never will be.So the young women that was full of confidence and never disappointed at the MTV Awards decades ago is gone.As for Beyonce I always liked her but she evolves because she doesn’t have mental issues that need to be addressed all the time.I don’t care what anyone thinks she is very much Jay Z’s mouth piece.As a single performer her music has changed ALOT.You don’t hear much from him anymore but she is everywhere.Personally I don’t like her new music and did not think her performance was that great.As a matter of fact the whole show was horrible and I have seen them all.
Did she sing live? Can she?
Of course not.
She’s beautiful, a good dancer, a poor singer and a great business woman!! I’ll buy music from women who can actually sing.
LOL…looks like some “Beckys” got their good baby hairs ruffled, huh? Chill, celebitches…remember freedom of speech?
Beyonce Giselle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I AM WEEPING.
Her dress is beyond hideous. All of her dresses were ugly. Blue Ivy is a cutie.
Having said that, I like the new political Beyonce. I was never a fan of her music, but I really like Lemonade. Her performance wasn’t only entertaining, it felt important. Which is rare for the VMAs.
The dress made me laugh (to me, it looks like she’s sprouting out of a really deranged bird’s mouth) but her performance was great. I think Lemonade is probably her most important album, so it was nice that she got a good block of time to perform it.
I think she got confused, the Victoria’s Secret show airs in December.
I’m too old to be interested in the music. But that’s one hellish dress. It looks like she’s giving a piggyback to a shaggy dog.
OMG! I just snorted coffee out my nose. “It looks like she’s giving a piggyback to a shaggy dog. ” Exactly!!
Haha! I couldn’t figure out what to even say about the dress -you nailed it!
I know I am alone in this. But I cannot stand her. I know she is very talented and all but still… cannot. stand. her.
Blue is such a cutie. I have never realized how much she looks like Jay Z but it is pretty evident in these pictures.
She looks like a petit princess.
Blue was, hands down, the best dressed of the night.
Same.
Can’t stand her!!! Her songs are not good and last night she was sooo boring… LoveLoveLove Rihanna! Her music, her fashion, her spontaneity…
Me too. Not a fan. My question is does anyone even watch MTV anymore? Or music videos for that matter? It feels like a couple decades at least since I’ve done either.
Actually, my 14 year old was watching TV the other day and as I walked by, there was an old school MTV commercial on. I don’t watch TV so this caught my eye. Apparently, they are re-launching MTV, like the REAL MTV, along with old MTV originals like My So Called Life and Aeon Flux, etc. I couldn’t believe it. I can’t remember the last time I saw MTV in it’s true, ground breaking form. I also can’t remember what channel it was on…sorry..
Bey is talented but her performance was quite boring to me. Most of the songs are not good. And if you’re going to prance around with half your ass out it better look like Teyana Taylor’s ass, or Riri ass, not Beyonce ass who just looked wide.
Best VMA performance ever, I think not.
Bey has a great ass, natural, as does Rihanna. They just didn’t feel the need to pay someone to surgically blow it up to epic proportions like Kim K and Nicki Minaj and Iggy Azalea.
Yes how dare she dance in a leotard, what with her ass being wide and not perfect and all. 😒😒😒
I’m just tired of seeing women’s asses. We don’t see men’s asses prancing around. More men’s asses!
I’m with Lilacflowers on this. More half naked men on the TV please.
+1 for more man butt.
@BunnyBear If I don’t like how her ass look, it’s my opinion. And yes, it was too much female ass last night and I am too for the man ass.
Prince did it once, I want more.
I don’ t care if it’s the best ar@se in the universe, I get tired of seeing virtually every female singer wearing a leotard. As if they were going to S & M ballet classes. When did that become a thing? I don’t really want to see men’s bums either in a concert situation. Isn’t there a happy medium between this stuff and Adele’s frumpy frocks?
Just have to chime in and say YAS for man butt. This world needs more man butt. We took my best friend to a male strip club for her bachelorette party, and it was glorious. MAN BUTT EVERYWHERE.
Are you new?
On every Beyoncé post there’s someone (or a group really) saying how they hate her. She’s sadly disliked heavy on this site.
It’s kind of ridiculous, especially on this site. People are usually tripping over themselves to say they don’t like Beyoncé. Or that maaaybe she’s a talented performer but they are just NOT a fan.
Like…congratulations?
Absolutely every celebrity featured in this site gets negative comments from a group of people, yet it only seems to be an issue when it’s about Beyonce. Beyonce haters have some hidden agenda. Beyonce haters are particularly hateful. People hate Beyonce for no reason.
I’ve always been a fan of Bey but god damn, she’s a stressful topic to discuss online. People talk about her as if reviewing the constitution. And it’s not just her fans. I do think that she has particularly annoying haters who feel the need to put her down for whatever she achieves or anything she does. She’s a pop star, no more no less. You dont have to like her or hate her. You dont need a reason to like her or hate her. You either do or you dont. It doesnt matter. Beyonce is not a serious topic of discussion.
Not a fan either – i like some of her music but she is not a personality that i find myself warming to. I like JayZ more – and, this maybe unpopular, he is the one that’s made Bey the star she is. She is talented on her own but no where near the level she is at now – doesn’t he produce most of her work?
Actually, if you want to credit a man for a woman’s success, then her father Matthew Knowles might be a better pick as he saw her talent and exploited it for as long she wasn’t sick of his control. He was the one who did dance bootcamps. He was the one who send tapes to labels and helped secure the Charlie’s Angels theme song for DC. He was the one who strong-armed the other DC members to take a backseat to let his daughter shine! That was way before Jay came into the picture. She herself credits her father for her work ethic. The only difference is that Beyoncé, unlike Britney, was able to get away from her father/parents to establish her own voice.
Jay needs other producers for his own work (Kanye for one). Why do you think he’s the (main) producer of her work? She works with a diverse team of which Mr. Carter is not a part of.
Jay Z is a lot of things but he’s not the maker of current Brand Beyoncé. Merely a small part at this point. The fact that she made a ‘he cheats’ album and making so much money of it and cultural status says that she far eclipsed her own husband. If she needed her husband, she wouldn’t USE him as album material in a negative way.
That’s right @Artemis, let’s just say this ” BEYONCE SLAYS BITCH.
Matthew was the definition of a stage dad. He was moving things along way before she met Jay. I’m glad she cut the apron strings, and I think that is why Lemonade is such a departure for her.
I don’t like her either. I like some of her music but I don’t get what so many people rave about.
I think she is talented to a certain degree, but she hasnt got the greatest voice, and her songs are mostly forgettable, but what I find most hard to like about her , is she trys too hard, something very fake about her, like she is always trying to be so perfect at everything.
Same!
I’m the same. I usually never say anything online though because of the Beehive.
Paolanqar, you’re not alone. Perhaps I’m not her target audience. I find her talented but highly over rated. She has things to say and does that well but I don’t think she is the second coming of Christ. For whatever reason, she engenders borderline hysterical devotion from her fans. And lord help you if you aren’t one of them. As you can see from some of the comments.
Not alone. She irks me to death…her voice, her vacant eyes, her everything.
Cute kid.
You are not alone.
I’ve never liked her or understood the insane amount of hype surrounding her. I think there have been and will be many artists that are more talented. But to each their own.
And if people are tripping over themselves to say they don’t like her then one could say the same of her fans. There will always be those that like and those that dislike.
You’re right. There will always be those that like and dislike. It’s great to hear different opinions but some people seem to really take pride in announcing how much they don’t like Beyoncé.
I guess I don’t get it because when I don’t like a celebrity I just don’t read the posts about them?
I can understand people tripping over themselves to comment on something they found powerful and exciting a lot more than people tripping over themselves to reiterate the same **unpopular beyonce opinion over and over again.
Same
You’re not alone, never liked her either. I can say she’s very talented, stunning woman, crazily good… still not like her music, sorry.
I am not a fan either, I find her be highly overrated.
Lord, Blue looks exactly like Jay. It is freaking uncanny.
yeah. it’s like looking at a face-swap.
^^ that’s all I can see too.
And she will be a very striking woman when she’s all grown up. The eyes especially, I can see her destroying whole galaxies by raising an eyebrow.
Yas. I love her face. Those eyes are so expressive.
Didn’t watch the show.. I’ll watch the video later.. I hate what Blue is wearing. She is a cutie though. And I don’t like Beyonce’s dress. I have a lot of catching up to do. Thank goodness for videos.
i haven’t seen it yet but it sounded glorious – even Kanye’s speech.
So no stunts from the PR Princess – she was wise not to, the backlash would have been epic if she tried to take the attention from the VMAs and made it about her, the poor victim.
She killed it. I am not taking anything away from what she achieved last night, but I feel like the only one in the world who thought Beyoncé the album was better than Lemonade. I also enjoyed the MTV medley performance she did for that album more. I guess I just didn’t buy into the narrative of Lemonade. Either way, still love the album just not as much as the twitterverse.
This comment was an accident. Nevermind.
I HAD edges Before Last Night.. HAD! and I Dont Now
and Im Not even A Beyonce Previous to Self titled Fan But That Sh!t was Undeniable, The Fact MTV Gave her that time no questions asked Is Proof, The reason why she is the Best Beyonce Iteration was cause she Brought those Moms In tow. She will Keep Contronting America on Viacom’s Good Money on this issue and I LOVE HER FOR IT
You felt the same way Tamar Braxton felt 😂
https://instagram.com/p/BJrShYCDr56/
Actual pic of me on the floor Yes!
Could someone explain to me what that mean, because I don’t get it
Ok that Instagram pic has me cackling in the office.
Also, I continue to be impressed with activist, gives no damn Beyonce. I guess the Sasha Fierceness in her will not be contained.
Know what made me a convert though? That sentient braid gif. Seen it like I don’t know how many times and it continues to give me life.
Y’all, I ain’t had edges since early this year because of this woman. I’m just accepting the fact that my forehead now starts at the middle of what was my scalp.
Honestly. Her performance made me listen to the whole album again. I really wish she had played 6-inch Heels, it would have gone so good with the set.
YES Marty i wanted 6-inch sooo bad but that Milly Rock Provided for me as a soothing Balm!
Beyonce Giselle Knowles-Carter SCALPED ME and I ain’t even mad. I’m bowing my bleeding head before the Queen.
https://twitter.com/lilayonce/status/769893754174107652
She seriously killed it, me and the rest of the show. This is why I always will see her in concert. This is a fraction of what she does on tour.
Also Blue Ivy looked amazing. And Bey showed up with a squad I can actually get behind
Blue is gorgeous. I just wish she didnt look so uncomfortable. I hope she goes to Princeton and wants nothing to do with the entertainment industry.
I wish all entertainers would leave the babies home, and not dress them up and expose them to this sort of thing. I believe this of ALL entertainers, so this is not simply picking on Beyoncé.
Too long….waaaay too long, it was really for lack of better word meh, the dancers/set was more enjoyable than beyonce but that is just my personal opinion.
It was definitely meh and underwhelming .
Yes, too long. I got nothing against Beyonce, but the whole act was boring as hell. I turned it off before it was over.
Thanks for posting the whole video. All I could find of it last night were gifs. Media was more interested in bombarding everyone with the hateful rant of a mentally ill man in its entirety. Beyonce’s performance should have been the focus. Her music still leaves me cold but she does put on quite a show.
Did you and I watch the same speech? I found Kanye’s speech neither hateful nor a rant.
That poster just irrationally hates Kanye. Because Kanye is the root of every sexism in the world didn’t you know.
As several have pointed out on this thread, differing opinions. I heard an often disoriented, incoherent rant, rife with misogyny and narcissism , with maybe one or two potentially interesting points buried deep in the mix from a man, who probably has serious mental health issues, but was being exploited by MTV, because it courts controversy, and his own wife.
@Jean-Pierre, I’m not irrational, I do not like him but I don’t hate him, but it is my right as a human to hate misogyny and call out those who practice, support, and encourage it. And actually, it is my job.
I didn’t want to call you irrational, but your hate for Kanye is. I never see you calling Johnny Depp or Nate Parker a pig, for example. Or even calling them out, or the culture which encourages their actions, which is actually far more serious that any Kanye lyric. But it is your right as you say. To each their jobs I guess 🙂
So, you track me? I have called Depp out. Repeatedly. I barely know who Nate Parker is. Please provide me a list of whom I am supposed to call out so I don’t strike you as irrational. I’ll quit my job and get right on it.
Actually, I RARELY comment on the Kardashian/Wesr threads so I was unaware this was a Kanye fan site. BTW, my work involves litigation under the EEOA, the law that prohibits discrimination in the workplace based on gender, race, or religion.
@jeanpierre
I don’t post often and I’ve only started recently to do it, but I’ve lurked on this site for years.
I’m sure Lilac doesn’t need me defending her, but I think she is one of the more balanced commenters on this site, I’ve never seen her hating on anyone just for the sake of ‘hate’.
Kanye is a sexist, mysoginist pig: fact. People are entitled to express opinions, especially when it’s done with politeness.
@Silverunicorn, thank you very much.
It was great, but for me also kind of underwhelming. Lemonade is such a different kind of album for her, but she’s kept so much of her standard choreography, costumes and old tricks. I’d hoped she’d do a totally different type of tour and it ended up being Lemonade slotted into her usual greatest hits thing. I get that, a tour is a big undertaking and lets be honest, most of the audience is there for Crazy in Love, Single Ladies and Halo. This performance though would have been a great opportunity to do something she’s never done before, and to me it felt like again she just slotted some new stuff into her standard routine.
I’m also kind of weirded out by all the people going crazy because she danced and sang. This wasn’t even a dance heavy performance, and a lot of what there was was relatively slow. It’s still not easy and it’s not something Katy or Taylor can do, but it’s nothing middling singers don’t manage every night in musical plays. It’s like with Beyonce people can’t just say it was great, they have to say it was earth shattering and unrivalled by anyone ever.
Also are people forgetting MJ’s medley and Madonna’s Vogue and Like A Virgin?
I ain’t forgetting Madonna. Iconic performances. Beyoncé can throw down dance wise and I love Formation. But yes, Madonna was always iconic and raw and paved the way. Also all the rawness was always more authentic with her. Word.
Madonna took from Grace Jones, Eartha Kitt, and others. She wasn’t completely original. Her “rawness” was calculated until she found someone else to imitate.
Seriously. Talk about hyping something up. I think it’s because this generation is so mediocre music and talent-wise, that something like this performance seems like it’s from outer space. It really wasn’t moving at all, and as someone stated above me, she just doesn’t come off as authentic as some other performers I have seen in my time. .
Can we stop with the “this generation has crappy music” thing? You could say that about any era. Most of the mainstream music sucks, sure, but it’s like that for every generation. The indie scene is thriving and has a lot of good music, same with the hiphop scene. If you think mtv has ever shown the good musical artists, you’re wrong.
Also Bey did fine. She’s popular to hate here but that doesn’t take away from her performance skills.
The industry doesn’t produce talent, it produces radio friendly hits and ‘it girls’ so the labels can make millions. If people want to settle for mediocrity like Katy et. al. we should stop looking at Beyoncé to criticize because she is so amazing in part because of the LOW standards the others set time and time again.
And they can. We don’t even really expect it with them, the excuses for their bad dancing and singing skills is cringeworthy, but we know Beyoncé is talented so we moan even when she is setting the bar at a level most of these other popstars will never touch. Even if they tried, they would fail and everybody knows it.
But her performance last night was nothing special. Same old dance, same old cheap tricks. And yes the talent these days are underwhelming. Maybe that’s why some people and Bey’s Beehive think she’s the best . She’s the best of the underwhelming talent.
She did have different choreography. The camera bit for DHY is new and creative. As for cheap, nothing about her performances is cheap. Her production value for her performances and tours has been of better quality actually. Compared to her pre-self-titled eras, the difference in her performances is jarring (the screens, the powerful quotes in the background, more stage effects, better/interesting choreo, better messages). She brings energy like nobody else, everything is so precise and powerful. That takes work.
She’s still the best. If nobody is willing to work as hard as Beyoncé, then that shouldn’t be Beyoncé’s burden. If showbusiness didn’t have her, we would only have bland popstars who never make an effort and maybe then we could focus our critique on the people who deserve it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j6asdBLP60 How is this the same as her Self-titled and Lemonade performances? I’m really not seeing what you’re seeing (sameness).
And even THEN, it was clear she was one of the most talented of the bunch and that was when popstars were peaking.
It’s ok if you’re a die hard Bey fan and will defend her to the death but I found her performance underwhelming. The same old hair tossing, leotards and moves bore me. She doesn’t sound good live though this performance was mostly lip-synced, just like Rihanna.
I used to be a Bey fan and have even gone to a couple of her concerts but I’m over her well crafted image. Like I said, she is the best right now at all the underwhelming talent we currently have.
Beyonce and Adele has set the bar so high for other pop stars at this point because they work hard and dedicated to their work. These “popstars” should take note
@V4Real
I’m a fan of hard work, passion and dedication. So yes I’m a fan of Beyoncé. Of course. If you found the performance underwhelming, then that’s fine. I just disagree with calling that spectacle ‘cheap’. There was a lot of money thrown at that performance from the costumes, to the dancers, to the lighting, choreo… Nothing to do with being a fan and everything to do with having eyes and understanding how Beyoncé does shows.
Her performances are different than in previous eras, if you were a fan, I can’t see how you’re not seeing her evolution. Bday Bey is a whole other artist and performer than Self-Titled – Lemonade Bey.
Complaining about her looks and signature dance moves is like complaining MJ moonwalked too much, that Madonna is too obsessed with combining religion with sex etc…like I don’t know the point of these tired comments. Every performer has repetition in some areas, it’s amazing that Beyoncé is refusing to settle and is growing as an artist so I certainly can overlook a leotard. Talking about ‘hair tossing’, that’s actually an iconic Britney move. The same Britney people are defending even though she’s a faulty robot for the last 10 years. The same Britney who would be declared ‘Queen’ again if she would be able to give a hair toss like she did before and that Beyoncé has perfected. When Beyoncé’s hair toss/ponytail is giving more choreo than most popstars, it’s time to sit down and enjoy the show.
If she wasn’t growing, she would be at the same level all the other popstars of her era are at.
And it continues to amaze me that people moan about the sameness of her performances yet check in each and every time to criticize her performances and they know every damn song of her new album LMAO. You can only compare if you have actually watched her do her thing consistently so why even pretend she isn’t all that? Trust, I don’t check out Taylor, Katy or Demi-Selena performances. Ever. I have no clue about their style and don’t know their songs or albums by heart let alone choreo! Because I’m truly bored not fake bored like so many Beyoncé dislikers.
@kiki
I agree. The bar is so low it’s pitiful. Yet people being angry at Beyoncé for some reason when she’s unlike all the other low-bar performers. Just enjoy the show or don’t check in.
@Artimis When I say cheap tricks I wasn’t referring to the money she spent on her performance but her same old dance antics and so on. And yes you can say MJ moonwalk was the same old thing but he perfected it and it’s a dance even young kids to this day try to emulate. Ain’t too many people trying to emulate Bey’s hair tossing. And even if there are it’s no where near the extent of MJ. These two artist can’t compare.
And I was a fan but I’m not anymore. If I want to say she hasn’t done anything lately to impress me I have the right to say it. I don’t fawn over her like you and others do. She’s overrated IMO and her last two albums were not that good. I will say it again she is the best of the underwhelming talent we currently have. She’s a winner by default. And just because other entertainers such as Katy Perry are not up to your standards doesn’t mean they don’t work hard.
@V4Real:
MJ is also famous for other things and got destroyed by fame so you’re right they don’t compare, Beyoncé would never be so stupid to ruin her life like that and will continue to slay and perfect her hair tossing 🙂 And I would say the Single Ladies dance (emulated by the president and many celebs even besides her fans) is her moonwalk so there you go. They’re both copies of other people in the end anyway.
Fine but why argue with somebody like me, a fan? You know I won’t agree with you. Her last 2 albums got her the critical acclaim she wanted and she’s at a level most artists can dream off: to sell out stadiums WITHOUT having an album out. If that’s overrated, I bet many artists are wishing they could be that overrated. It would spare them time and energy playing nice with the media and pretending their product isn’t mediocre. Beyoncé breathes in a mic and the world is shook. Which other artist is inspiring so many thinkpieces with 1 video? Not even an album, just 1 video.
You can’t win by default when you do have competition. There are many participants in the game of showbusiness so if Beyoncé was just as mediocre, she would be at the same level and not winning over anybody. It’s because she stands out that she wins. The other artists had much better sales because they are mainstream/generic but Beyoncé is criticizing the system after years of enduring sexist and racist critique and she’s still on top. She plays the game differently, she works harder, she has more talent. End of.
As for Katy, she wanted to do a different album with her last album and ended up doing a generic mediocre popalbum with some racist performances. If Beyoncé is called a puppet, what do you call that then? Katy is not just a puppet, she’s also inauthentic which is even worse. What’s the point of working hard when you still have to listen to your label after delivering insipid hit after insipid hit and tour after tour? Gaga another one. Talented as hell, wanted to do so much with Artpop and hyped it to high heavens. She also wanted to do a visual album. And then nothing happened. Beyoncé just does and she gets what she wants. End of.
Signed Delusional Fan in Awe of Beyoncé
“MJ is also famous for other things and got destroyed by fame so you’re right they don’t compare, Beyoncé would never be so stupid to ruin her life like that and will continue to slay and perfect her hair tossing”
Now the argument is becoming childish. That’s not what this debate is about. 🙂
“And I would say the Single Ladies dance (emulated by the president and many celebs even besides her fans) is her moonwalk so there you go. ”
Yes they emulated her dance when the video and song was popular. People are not doing it now. You can go on YouTube and still see that people are still doing MJ’s signature moves. The man had MJ impersonators making money off pretending to be him while he was still alive. How many Bey impersonators do you see out there making a living off impersonating her.
Oh and I know they didn’t create the dances that’s why I said MJ perfected it.
“Her last 2 albums got her the critical acclaim she wanted and she’s at a level most artists can dream off: to sell out stadiums WITHOUT having an album out”
Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel still sell out stadiums and when was the last time they had an album out.
“You can’t win by default when you do have competition”.
Yes you can. She’s the best of what’s out there and that’s not saying much. Bey is the Giselle of music right now. She’s marketed very well and she does have a great team behind her including her husband. She’s being pushed in our face as the most awesome thing since cellphones. Giselle was marketed very well and pushed down our throat as the world’s most beautiful model in the last 10 years. But she really is not. She just had the right people behind her.
Katy Perry is mediocre yet she did something that Beyoncé couldn’t do and that was tie MJ for the most number one songs off one album (6, I think). How many number ones has Bey had off one album.
“Beyoncé just does and she gets what she wants.”
Bey also has Jay who helps her get what she wants. That’s how she got the super fans fooled like she’s pouring her heart out in Lemonade talking about a cheating Jay-Z. In my opinion Jay was in on that right from the start. And how do you know she works hard. Are you there everyday watching her. I’m assuming that’s your opinion. How much do you know is her and not her team? Even with last night performance her back-up dancers were more entertaining than she was. Their moves were better in the little dancing that they and Bey did while she lip-synched into the mic. And do you really think Bey is going to stick with the same type of music for her next album? She just needed something that would grab the public’s attention and generate a buzz and album sale. What has been the hot topic of the last few years, police brutality and Jay cheating on Bey. Call Katy Perry inauthentic (I don’t care, I’m not a fan of her either) but I think Bey is inauthentic as well. This is a sigh off from a former Bey fan who was smart enough not to drink the cool-aid.
That was exactly my thought too. Best Mtv performance of all time? No. Madonna and Michael Jackson still set that standard. MJ was electrifying as a performer….not just iconic, but legend to the point of not believing what you just saw after he left the stage. The man defied gravity.
ETA – I don’t mind Beyonce, and her talent as a performer is undeniable. But let’s be real…stop calling everything the Best of All Time. It’s like Michael Jackson, Madonna and Prince never existed.
@ Shannon. I think @Artemis and myself is saying that these “singers” are just mediocre comparing to Beyonce, Adele, Christina Aguilera and God Bless their souls Aaliyah and Amy Winehouse. It’s not to exclude the singers before them but we are including them in the category of all time.
And if you talk about putting on a really good concert, performance wise I would say Janet Jackson in her heyday. Janet could dance circles around Beyoncé without all the flopping the legs back and forth like she was doing the funky chicken. I won’t compare their voices because neither of their voices are that great and they are both guilty of lip-syncing. Bey lip-synced last night but her performance was supposed to be iconic.
@V4Real Thank you x1000 for mentioning Janet. She’s still my alltime favorite, always an amazing performer.
Except it was all lip-synching and distractingly bad lip-synching at that. I like the music fine and some of the staging was cool but agree it is way over hyped. Reminds me of how people reacted to Britney’s Satisfaction performance, which in retrospect is her whipping her hair around and not much else.
I haven’t had a chance to watch it yet, and can’t until late tonight *sob*. But all hail Queen Bey! I am so glad she swept the awards!
The fugliest dress evah. Call me hater, I don’t care
Ugh +10000000000000. I hate that dress, she could do so much better.
I often find it odd people and their need to announce they dislike Beyoncé. When I dislike someone I simply walk on by. Anyway she was amazing last night.
Eh…? The different opinions is what makes it interesting. Who needs to read 300 comments all saying the exact same thing?
I like Beyoncé, but I don’t get offended by people who disagree.
Yes because a bunch of people saying “I know I’m in the minority but I hate Beyoncé” is soooo interesting.
But you never get tired of the Beyoncé is the best, she slays, She’s Queen Bee.
Yep, just as interesting…
LOL V4Real.
Bzzzzzzzzz The Hive has arrived.
Aww V4Real I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist seeing a positive comment about Beyoncé.
And no I don’t get tired of Queen Bey comments. The truth is always interesting lol.
Go to a Beyonce fansite then. This is a celeb forum and people can share negative opinions if they want to.
What is it with Beyonce fans they get so offended when people dont like her?
If you are going to give something the title of best performance ever, it better deliver. This. Was. MEH. I don’t know why but I always find her performances so contrived. She was covering her mouth at times because the track seemed to be off while she was lip-syncing. And I personally wasn’t Feeling her songs on Lemonade. Words and lyrics were powerful, but the actual music was blah!
Covering her mouth? I think you mean wiping of the sweat of her upperlip no? She does it often trying to incorporate it in her choreo to seem ‘tough’.
I was slayed and lost all energy in my body and mind after watching and went to lay down after she finished. I was done for the night.
Also, this was the best Blue Ivh pic of the night:
https://instagram.com/p/BJrHNH7Aohk/
I thought she did an amazing job. It was so powerful. I LOVE that she goes the extra mile. You can tell she works it until it is perfect. She really is on a level all on her own.
When I saw the woman sign at the end, made from the bodies of women, I couldn’t breathe. I love her strength.
Not only was she fabulous but it occurred to me this morning that I can’t even imagine how many of Jay Z’s side pieces were in that audience… like for real. The only way it could have been more poetic is if he were there too, but I’ll settle for this 🙂
I am older than most on this site and I too seemed to be missing the “Beyoncé gene” that every woman under 35 seems to possess. I never watched anything from Lemonade but Formation. BUT DAY-EM that made me a fan. Raw. Honest. She didn’t give a million interviews “explaining it” (it was all thereno sugar coating).
The fact that a woman stands up and declares her worth, but admits that even she—the one they all look up to—doubted herself, tried to change herself to fit his needs? And then said F this, I am worth more? UNDENIABLY INSPIRATIONAL.
I’m gonna give her all the praise. Earned.
It was a powerhouse of a performance.
It was. I have to hand it to her-she doesn’t do anything halfway.
LOVED the first song she did. So powerful. The rest was kind of standard Beyonce, but there is no denying how talented she really is.
I love Lemonade, but man that was WAY to long and the very definition of extra and over the top. 6 songs, costume changes, set changes. I much preferred the BET performance with one song done perfectly-it had so much more impact for me than just 2 minutes from each song and walking around. And her hair was clearly bugging her.
It’s also just weird the VMA’s put her right before Britney and on the night when RiRi is supposed to be getting the vanguard award. It felt like they were undermining everyone else.
The backup dancers? ON POINT. My gosh, they all hit it each and every time. I found them as impressive as any of the pop-stars.
Agree with you on the BET performance, that was incredible. Last night dragged on far too long.
I’ve never been that big of a Beyonce fan, I always liked watching her perform, but her music never did that much for me. but last night was just EPIC. That is what being an artist and a performer is all about. My jaw was literally hitting the floor by the end of her set. Amazing
“Beyonce wants to smash the camera with a bat. Can we do that?”
Beyoncé killed it, after a bunch of mediocre performances she comes out and shows everyone how’s its done. They should have just ended the show there. Poor Rihanna, she was totally outshined
I think Beyoncé is always good. She’s a big deal. I don’t think it was the greatest VMA performance of all time though. I think it was too long . Also, I haven’t bought her album, so the songs sound a little boring for a first time listener.
It was a great performance but not the best ever.
Whether or not you like her or her music, you can’t deny she’s one of the best at what she does.
She is a beautiful woman with a decent voice, but her music has always been extremely mediocre. And that blue dress is awful.
Beyonce is the best entertainer in the music industry in terms of stage performance,IMO.When Michael Jackson was alive he was the best( Happy Birthday MJ).Of course she is the not the best singer or the best dancer but she is a great singer and great dancer.Most great singers can’t dance.Most of the greatest dancers in the music industry can’t sing.
I am from Houston and I have followed her career since she was doing talent shows as a child and I am so proud of her.
I agree with her being the best entertainer right now out of the super pop stars. People are so quick to look down on non-famous musicians and entertainers. She always puts on a great show and is undeniably talented.
This may be an unpopular opinion but another great performer is Lady Gaga. I wasnt much of a fan, then a friend invited me to her concert and wooah. She knows how to put on a show. I didnt like her songs but when she sang them there, I was having it. She’s an excellent show woman.
Lemonade is the first Beyonce album I’ve purchased and last night’s performance the first live show of her’s that I’ve seen. So perhaps I’m not jaded by being a fan for years and years, but I thought she was fantastic. I felt sorry for everyone else having to go on after her, because no one was going to touch her performance.
I also thought the interaction between Drank & Rihanna was adorable. He seems pretty smitten with her.
I love Beyonce but I don’t think this was her best performance ever. Something was off, I don’t know. I think it was Rihanna’s night !
I am so out if touch, but didn’t Jay-Z discover Rhianna? Do you think B had a bit of a vendetta to justify her up staging Ri’s night?
The symbolism alone was brilliant. Read Lainey’s article breaking it down to gain further appreciation for Beyonce’s artistry and professionalism.
She started out great with Pray You Catch Me. The scenery was so beautiful, her vocals were the strongest. The part with the back up dancers being shot down was so powerful.
Then the more upbeat songs started and eh, it was a standard VMA performance. I agree with those who say she got outshined by her back up dancers. They were AMAZING.
Best performance of the night (the bar was veeeeeeeeeery low) but not best ever. I don’t even think it’s Beyonce’s best performance at the VMAs. That would be ’06, Ring The Alarm (which is one of her best songs ever and deals with the whole topic of infidelity much better than anything in Lemonade, imo). Now THAT was an epic performance.
I didn’t like her Ring the Alarm performance because it was a rip off of a mix of Rhythm Nation choreography and a Britney choreo and I never liked the message of the song. She doesn’t want to leave her cheating dog of a boyfriend because she doesn’t want to see the next chick sporting all the furs, diamonds and gifts he would bestow on her. As if she can’t get those things on her own. I loved her Crazy In Love performance, even with the tacky, House of Dereon faux banana skirt as her tribute to Josephine Baker and her being lowered over the stage on a rope. It was spectacular.
All she does is rip off other artists. This “water dance” she’s been doing is a direct rip off of someone else, which is why she was sued over it.
I think that’s a very literal interpretation of that lyric.
Beyonce is a pop star and as such she’s not original and most things she does have been experimented and done before, either ages ago by famous artists or a few months ago by someone less known. The same goes to Britney, Christina, JLo, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Madonna, and absolutely everyone else. The industry of pop music is by definition unoriginal, being music made for commercial purposes (which is not a bad thing).
I was a Bey fan when she was with DC and then for her first two solo albums and then I really couldn’t find the energy to care and nothing really jumped out at me. It was all so meh. And then came along Lemonade and I previewed the album to see what all the hype was about and it lived up to. I’ve been listening to in regularly for days on end since it came out. This performance was what performances should be. Huge! I wasn’t expecting it but I was floored. Thought it fantastic. Could also be because I love the album so I know all the songs by heart.
Have not seen the performance so I cannot comment. But bringing her daughter so inappropriate . Not the place for a four year old . can you imagine Adele bringing her child in like 3 years – never. That move was attention seeking anyone else doing it and they would have been called out.
Angelo attended his mother’s ,Adele, London concert in March.Was it inappropriate for him to go to his mother’s concert? I haven’t seen any pics or videos of Blue in the audience so she probably hung out in dressing room or went home .She walked the red carpet like some of the other girls who were in Lemonade.
I can’t even believe anyone considers this “music”.
THANK YOU! I’ve already ranted below but I couldn’t agree more. Finally someone who gets me! It is like the white and yellow dress and everyone keeps telling me it’s blue and black! it is yellow! She sucks!
What would you consider music since you are the qualifier? Be mindful of your answer. I’m sure they’ve imitated to the cows came home.
f-ck yeah!!
Okay, my two cents for the day…. I am not a huge Beyoncé fan, but I will give credit where credit is due and she did kill it last night. Sixteen minutes was a little too long and I could not understand the words at a few points, but she can really put on a show. Ole Brit could not do what Bey did even when she was in her best shape. How many dress changes did she have minus the performance itself? I counted three. That seemed a little pretentious to me. Her daughter is the cutest thing ever. Was it the best performance of the VMAs ever? Uh, no. I am old, old school, (47) back when they actually played videos on MTV and the top performance will always be Madonna rolling around on stage sing Like a Virgin. Hands down, mike drop, end of story.
Beyonce slayed, but the camera-breaking thing (which did not actually break a camera) was planned, not spontaneous/accidental.
I wonder what Lady Gaga is thinking. She was supposed to be the relevant, deep-thinking, great songwriter pop star. Then she bombs with Art Pop. And then Beyonce comes out with a great visual album.
Gaga’s new single is dropping next month. It will be interesting to see if she brings something fresh to the table
Gaga was consumed by the fame monster. Even when she did her mini-film it was about her fall from grace in the media and then some nonsense imaginary which came waaay too late after her DWYW controversy with R. Kelly. She might give good speeches for social causes but she worked and so put money in pockets of predators. More than once even after being called out.
Everytime she tried to do a long video or mini-film, it was too contrived, too flimsy of a plot. She cannot do anything that isn’t completely about her. She also talks too much and wants to explain her feeeeeelings. Beyoncé shows us but she doesn’t explain anymore. Gaga needs the attention. Her speech when she won that (bought) Golden Globe just shows how much she’s up her own ass and how much she thinks people live to work for HER. Legendary in her head, a hasbeen in the music world. If she ends up trying to drop a visual album, she’s again way too late and the comparison will be brutal because Beyoncé exerts a lot more control than most other popstars (except Madonna!).
It’s clear from Bey and Madonna that it takes hard hard work, creativity and ambition to elevate your work to the highest level possible. They are the Olympics, the other popstars are merely competing in national competions 🙂
@Artemis, great points.
Is Jay hiding from the Hive?
I just do not yet it. I’ve tried to get it. I want to get it! I love good music. Volume off it looked like a great performance, she has stage presence but then with the volume on I kept skipping ahead to see what everyone was going on about and… nothing. Just noise and snap poetry. She’s very pretty. I think it is wrong to pick on children so I won’t. All I’ll say is Blue Ivy is very lucky her Mom knows such a good plastic surgeon.
And yet you did just pick on a child with that passive-aggressive comment about a plastic surgeon.
Boy, that was…boring.
Bey making a BLM political statement with her music wearing that ridiculous long WHITE robe and long long BLONDE locks is just laughable and seriously flawed!
Holy sh!t, she killed it. It started off slow but damn, when it picked up, it picked UP!!! She really is an amazing performer. I’m in decent shape, but even watching her made me feel winded. Awesome job!
Her new album is no where as catchy as her old stuff. Let’s see how many songs from Lemonade will she continue in future set tours after this era is over. Same with that self-titled album. She is a showgirl act trying to appear deep with current political flavors. Anyone remember Madonna’s “American Dream” album. THAT is empowering and would be current if released today; who dares to go against a concept that instituted American values?
It looked fine next to to dull performances from this night but not even close to THE BEST THING EVER. And I hated how she used Egyptian dresses (I think they were Egyptian?) — PLEASE leave Ancient Egypt alone or at least try to represent Copts.