About Beyoncé

Beyoncé Knowles is undoubtedly one of the most influential and powerful singers of the twenty-first century [1]. Beyoncé is originally from Texas. Ever since she was a young girl she has a knack for singing. She began singing professionally in 1997 with Destiny’s Child. However, the group did not last too long. In 2003 she released her first solo album, Dangerously in Love. Ever since this, she has been a fast-rising R&B star. Beyoncé has won countless awards, including several Grammys. Beyoncé is a very successful woman, “According to Forbes, Beyoncé snagged $105 million in pretax income June 2016 through June 2017.” [2] She is an entrepreneur by singing, acting, founding her own recording company, running a clothing line and charitable foundation. In addition to her business success, Beyoncé has formed a family. She is married to Jay-Z and together they have three children, two of which are twins [3].

I have chosen Beyoncé as an artist I feel will be included in future textbooks because of her major influence on young generations. She is bold in everything she does, whether it is her mixture of genres in music, her powerful and meaningful lyrics, or her avocation for feminism and other important issues in today’s society.

Pretty Hurts

 

This song is a great example of Beyoncé tackling an important issue in today’s society, which is the pressure that girls experience to look a certain way. Magazines, music, and television create a body image that girls are constantly pressured to look like, in order to be considered pretty. The song “Pretty Hurts” highlights the increasing pressure that not only pageant girls are put through, but all girls in today’s society [4]. In the song, Beyoncé says, “We shine the light on whatever’s worst/Perfection is a disease of a nation” [5].

In an interview the director of the music video states “‘The concept of the video is really a behind the scenes look into society’s take on beauty and how it doesn’t bring you happiness and it doesn’t move you forward in life,’ says Melina.” [6]. By Beyoncé performing songs with this type of a positive message so is standing up for important feminist issues and supporting women.

Formation

In the song “Formation” Beyoncé covers important issues prevalent in black communities that are often overlooked by the rest of the world, such as the deathly impact Hurricane Katrina had on New Orleans and police violence towards African American people.  This song “Musically, was the culmination of a decades-long process of honing her own message of empowerment, hooked around a killer Mike Will Made It synthy hook and absolving the pain of millions with the simple words ‘I slay.’” [7]. This song and music video display Beyoncé’s strong stance against the police shooting of innocent African American people, particularly when the video shows the “‘Stop shooting us’” written on the wall, and the sections of her laying on a sinking Police car. She also proves she is proud of her heritage background. This encourages others to do the same and stick together [8].

Flawless

This song brought the word flawless back into use by many. It helped to unite people in the importance of viewing themselves as flawless [9]. Her song states “We teach girls to shrink themselves, to make themselves smaller/ We say to girls: “You can have ambition, but not too much/You should aim to be successful, but not too successful/Otherwise, you will threaten the man.” [10]. Lyrics like show Beyoncé’s feminism stance.

What Beyoncé’s Done Differently

Beyoncé has done many things different that make her music stick out from other artists. Firstly, she pulls strong lyrics from her songs and turns them into “catch phrases” that help remind people of the overall messages of her songs [11]. Secondly, she surprised the world by releasing an album in the middle of the night with no warnings or promotion. Each song had a music video that went along with it because it was a “visual album.” Thirdly, Beyoncé puts on eccentric and vibrant performances that capture her audience. She creates a flashy and surprising stage that you cannot look away from. Finally, she is daring and fearless when it comes to singing songs that she believes in with messages that she resonates with [12].

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Endnotes

[1] Henry Knight, “Why Beyoncé Speaks for a Generation,” BBC News, April 15, 2015, accessed August 10, 2018, http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20150415-beyonc-voice-of-a-generation.

[2] Biography.com Editors, “Beyoncé Knowles,” The Biography.com Website, August 07, 2018, accessed August 11, 2018, https://www.biography.com/people/beyonce-knowles-39230.

[3] Biography.com Editors, “Beyoncé Knowles,” The Biography.com Website, August 07, 2018, accessed August 11, 2018, https://www.biography.com/people/beyonce-knowles-39230.

[4] Jon Blistein, “Beyonce Shows How ‘Pretty Hurts’ in New Video,” Rolling Stone, April 24, 2014, accessed August 11, 2018, https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/beyonce-shows-how-pretty-hurts-in-new-video-100715/.

[5] “Beyoncé – Pretty Hurts,” Genius, accessed August 10, 2018, https://genius.com/Beyonce-pretty-hurts-lyrics.

[6] Rebecca Davison, “Beyonce Says There’s Too Much Pressure on Women to Be Beautiful in Pretty Hurts,” Daily Mail Online, April 28, 2014, accessed August 11, 2018, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2614920/Beyonce-says-theres-pressure-women-beautiful-Pretty-Hurts.html.

[7] Christopher Weingarten et al., “The 100 Greatest Songs of the Century – So Far,” Rolling Stone, June 14, 2018, accessed August 11, 2018, https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/the-100-greatest-songs-of-the-century-so-far-666874/formation-beyonce-667076/.

[8] India Hill, “7 Reasons Beyoncé’s ‘Formation’ Music Video Is a Powerful Statement During Black History Month,” Teen Vogue, accessed August 11, 2018, https://www.teenvogue.com/gallery/beyonce-formation-music-video.

[9] Parul Sehgal, “How ‘Flawless’ Became a Feminist Declaration,” The New York Times, March 24, 2015, Accessed August 11, 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/29/magazine/how-flawless-became-a-feminist-declaration.html.

[10] “Beyoncé – ***Flawless,” Genius, accessed August 11, 2018, https://genius.com/Beyonce-flawless-lyrics.

[11] Candace McDuffie, “5 Ways Beyoncé Has Changed the Music Industry,” Teen Vogue, September 04, 2016, accessed August 10, 2018, https://www.teenvogue.com/story/beyonce-birthday.

[12] Candace McDuffie, “5 Ways Beyoncé Has Changed the Music Industry,” Teen Vogue, September 04, 2016, accessed August 10, 2018, https://www.teenvogue.com/story/beyonce-birthday.

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Bibliography

“Beyoncé – ***Flawless.” Genius. Accessed August 11, 2018. https://genius.com/Beyonce-flawless-lyrics.

“Beyoncé – Pretty Hurts.” Genius. Accessed August 10, 2018. https://genius.com/Beyonce-pretty-hurts-lyrics.

Biography.com Editors. “Beyoncé Knowles.” The Biography.com Website. August 07, 2018. Accessed August 11, 2018. https://www.biography.com/people/beyonce-knowles-39230.

Blistein, Jon. “Beyonce Shows How ‘Pretty Hurts’ in New Video.” Rolling Stone. April 24, 2014. Accessed August 11, 2018. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/beyonce-shows-how-pretty-hurts-in-new-video-100715/.

Davison, Rebecca. “Beyonce Says There’s Too Much Pressure on Women to Be Beautiful in Pretty Hurts.” Daily Mail Online. April 28, 2014. Accessed August 11, 2018. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2614920/Beyonce-says-theres-pressure-women-beautiful-Pretty-Hurts.html.

Hill, India. “7 Reasons Beyoncé’s “Formation” Music Video Is a Powerful Statement During Black History Month.” Teen Vogue. Accessed August 11, 2018. https://www.teenvogue.com/gallery/beyonce-formation-music-video.

Knight, Henry. “Why Beyoncé Speaks for a Generation.” BBC News. April 15, 2015. Accessed August 10, 2018. http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20150415-beyonc-voice-of-a-generation.

McDuffie, Candace. “5 Ways Beyoncé Has Changed the Music Industry.” Teen Vogue. September 04, 2016. Accessed August 10, 2018. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/beyonce-birthday.

Sehgal, Parul. “How ‘Flawless’ Became a Feminist Declaration.” The New York Times. March 24, 2015. Accessed August 11, 2018. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/29/magazine/how-flawless-became-a-feminist-declaration.html.

Weingarten, Christopher, Jon Dolan, Elias Leight, Brittany Spanos, Suzy Exposito, Kory Grow, Sarah Grant et al. “The 100 Greatest Songs of the Century – So Far.” Rolling Stone. June 14, 2018. Accessed August 11, 2018. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/the-100-greatest-songs-of-the-century-so-far-666874/formation-beyonce-667076/.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summary

The article “Haunting and Minstrelsy in Bob Dylan’s Masked and Anonymous” by Joseph Byrd addresses the significance of the history of blackface minstrelsy and how it is not adequately covered in modern-day textbooks. “Blackface Comedy” is the mimicking black people by white American men. These men did this to create entertainment for the public. Thomas Dartmouth Rice and George Washington Dixon were the first performers to provide this type of entertainment [1].  Rice and Dixon “created the two stock characters that would follow minstrelsy for a century, Jim Crow, the ragged rural hobo, and Zip Coon, the flashy city dandy.” [2]  Next, Dan Emmett created the Virginia Minstrels, which consisted of several different types of acts that were watched by “lower-class urban males.” His song lyrics created many negative stereotypes regarding African American people [3]. However, as Byrd discusses in his article the songs reached many other classes and had a strong impact due to there graphic lyrics. Following Emmett in this genre is Stephen Foster. He is somewhat less racist towards black people than Emmett, but still expresses “… black people are happier in slavery than they would be free.” [4] Lyrics like this sent an untruthful message about black people of the time. The article then goes on to discuss that this assumption brought about social and political problems, which created a false dichotomy [5]. Currently, textbooks lack in-depth information on the history behind minstrelsy. Some authors briefly touch on it but will hide under different subheadings. Byrd argues that when authors do this they deny students the chance to learn about the different types of music and keep teachers from teaching the evolution of this music and how it has affected society today [6].

What new information caught your interest in this article?

What stuck out the most to me when I first read this article was how much textbooks lacked in the history of minstrelsy. I was shocked that the authors strategically chose songs lyrics to display in an attempt to hide the level of racism that the songs from that time expressed. I would never have thought this would be done at a university level. I thought by this age and time authors would not hold back on the deep history of this sort, I thought that they would use it as an opportunity to allow professors to open up conversations about it with students.

Lumpenproletariat

In this article Byrd 2009 explains that Lumpenproletariats “were low-paid and unemployed first-generation whites and Irish immigrants trying to survive in an unskilled labour force…” This term allows us to truly understand that minstrelsy was meant for the humorous entertainments of lower-class white men. This has driven and is continuing the drive racism amongst white people as a joke [7].

Jim Crow Laws 

The Jim Crow laws were a system that segregated white and black people. The laws made black people “second class citizens.”  During the time of the Jim Crow laws black people were prohibited from doing many things, such as: eating with white people, sitting in public spaces with white people, voting, going to school with white people, and with many other things that deeply impacted black people everyday life [8]. The laws are named after Thomas Dartmouth Rice’s minstrel character ‘Jim Crow,’ “a caricature of a clumsy, dimwitted black slave.” [9]

 

The Reality of Minstrel Lyrics

Understanding the reality of minstrel lyrics is key because it is still having an effect on society today. Minstrel music and shows were the beginnings of the marginalization of black people. This was done by “… pretending that slavery was amusing, right, and natural.” [10]. The lyrics of the songs made people believe that black people were happy as slaves and the use of blackface provided comedy. As more people became exposed to minstrel and its racist nature it engraved it within people. This has been passed down from generation to generation and is continuing to have an effect on people in today’s society. As Byrd discusses in his article by authors avoiding racist lyrics in their textbooks they are ignoring the strong impact minstrel music has had on society. Another Citation? 

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Endnotes

[1]  Joseph Byrd, “Whitewashing Blackface Minstrelsy in American College Textbooks,” Popular Music and Society 32, no. 1 (2009): 77, doi:10.1080/03007760802207882.

[2] Joseph Byrd, “Whitewashing Blackface Minstrelsy in American College Textbooks,” Popular Music and Society 32, no. 1 (2009): 77, doi:10.1080/03007760802207882.

[3] Joseph Byrd, “Whitewashing Blackface Minstrelsy in American College Textbooks,” Popular Music and Society 32, no. 1 (2009): 77-79, doi:10.1080/03007760802207882.

[4] Joseph Byrd, “Whitewashing Blackface Minstrelsy in American College Textbooks,” Popular Music and Society 32, no. 1 (2009): 80, doi:10.1080/03007760802207882.

[5] Joseph Byrd, “Whitewashing Blackface Minstrelsy in American College Textbooks,” Popular Music and Society 32, no. 1 (2009): 80-82, doi:10.1080/03007760802207882.

[6] Joseph Byrd, “Whitewashing Blackface Minstrelsy in American College Textbooks,” Popular Music and Society 32, no. 1 (2009): 82-83, doi:10.1080/03007760802207882.

[7] Joseph Byrd, “Whitewashing Blackface Minstrelsy in American College Textbooks,” Popular Music and Society 32, no. 1 (2009): 78, doi:10.1080/03007760802207882.

[8] David Pilgrim, “What Was Jim Crow,” Ferris Sate University, accessed July 18, 2018,  https://ferris.edu/jimcrow/what.htm

[9] Evan Andrews, “Was Jim Crow a Real Peron?” History, January 29, 2014, accessed July 18, 2018, https://www.history.com/news/was-jim-crow-a-real-person

[10] Eric Lott, “Love and Theft: The Racial Unconscious of Blackface Minstrelsy,” Representations, no. 39 (1992): 24, doi:10.2307/2928593.

References 

Introduction and Biography

This past weekend I attended Dean Brody’s concert at Country Thunder in Craven, Saskatchewan. Dean Brody is a Canadian musician from rural British Columbia. When he was young he took a chance and followed his dreams of being a country star. However, it was not a smooth road to success for him. He was signed in Nashville for a short time and then had to move home again. This looked like the end for his country star dream. However, not long after he was presented an amazing opportunity with a label and ever since then, Dean Brody has been a rising country star. He has “…sixteen Canadian Country Music Awards and two Junos…” [1] In addition to his musical success, he also has “…The Dean Brody Foundation to physically help in the rescue and prevention of young girls being exploited in child prostitution and human trafficking in Brazil and around the world.” [2].

His Sound

In an interview by Tahiat Mahboob, Dean Brody discusses that finding a melody and tempo is natural for him. However, putting lyrics to his melodies can be tricky at times, especially since they are unique and incorporate many different sounds. Dean Brody’s genre is country, which he proves in the lyrics of his songs, even though the melody of some of his songs is broader than just country. [3]  He uses “…traditional instrumentation and the other in pop-inflected, club-oriented production.”[4]

“Beautiful Freakshow” by Dean Brody

The song “Beautiful Freakshow” is about a farm boy falling in love with a city girl that is completely opposite from him. The song is quite unique, it has pop, country, and rap sounds within it. The pitch of the song starts out high and then comes down as the lyrics begin. The intensity increases as the song approaches the chorus each time and then falls because down during the verses. In the song, you can hear a piano, electronic guitar, drums, and ukulele. Dean Brody said in an interview with Andre Gagne, “‘I think sometimes people think country is a predictable music style. But it’s not. It can be a lot of fun and be surprising too.’”[5]. I think that this song proves this by two completely different genres merging into this song.

“Good Goodbye” by Dean Brody

The song “Good Goodbye” is about “‘having a little too much time between checkout and the flight and there happening to be a bar nearby’” as Dean Brody says. [6] This song has a relaxed and feel-good melody to it. It has a slower tempo, with more intensity during the chorus. The song uses other types of genres other than country; such as, “mariachi and Caribbean.” [7]

Venue and Audience

Attending Dean Brody’s concert in Craven is a unique experience all on its own because of the venue it is and the people that come to it. Country Thunder Saskatchewan is a popular country music festival that includes four days of music with famous acts in the evenings. Dean Brody played on Saturday night before Chris Young. There is a rage of people who attend the festival, anywhere from die-hard country fans of all ages to those who are just there to drink and party all weekend long. Dean Brody performed many of his popular hits. He addressed the crowd and aided in the concert feeling like one big party. This went along with the atmosphere of the venue, which is outside with room to dance, sit back and listen, or head to the bar for drinks.

Reflection of the Concert

I really enjoyed this concert. To me, Dean Brody’s music is a great mix of country and many other genres. In my opinion, he has a song for every mood. Myself and many others I talked to on Saturday thought that Dean Brody should have been the headliner on Saturday night because he has so many well-known hits and always puts on a great, high energy show. This concert felt meaningful because I am from the Craven area and historically, musical performers do not often come to small communities. This is one of the things that I think makes Craven special. Performers and audience travel from all over the world just to come to the small community of Craven for a weekend. When the festival first started it was small and simple like old fashion travelling concert bands were, with few instruments and local acts. However, over the years it has grown to be a full concert with up to date technology and big headliners, just like how concerts have evolved over the years.

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Endnotes

[1] “Bio,” Dean Brody – Good Goodbye, accessed July 19, 2018,  http://www.deanbrody.com/.

[2] “Bio,” Dean Brody – Good Goodbye, accessed July 19, 2018,  http://www.deanbrody.com/.

[3] Tahiat Mahboob, “Songwriting 101: Dean Brody,” CBC Music, August 14, 2017, accessed July 19, 2018, https://www.cbcmusic.ca/posts/18917/songwriting-101-dean-brody.

[4] Tahiat Mahboob, “Songwriting 101: Dean Brody,” CBC Music, August 14, 2017, accessed July 19, 2018, https://www.cbcmusic.ca/posts/18917/songwriting-101-dean-brody.

[5] Andre Gagne, “Dean Brody’s Beautiful Freakshow,” Ottawa Life Magazine, December 12, 2016, accessed July 19, 2018, http://www.ottawalife.com/article/dean-brodys-beautiful-freakshow?c=2.

[6] Jenna Melanson, “Dean Brody Releases New Summer Single, ‘Good Goodbye’,” Canadian Beats Media, May 25, 2018, accessed July 19, 2018,  http://canadianbeats.ca/2018/05/25/dean-brody-releases-new-summer-single-good-goodbye/.

[7] “Dean Brody’s ‘Good Goodbye’ Summer Song Review,” Front Porch Music, May 26, 2018, accessed July 19, 2018, http://frontporchmusic.ca/music/dean-brody-good-goodbye-review/.

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Referances

“Bio.” Dean Brody – Good Goodbye. Accessed July 19, 2018. http://www.deanbrody.com/.

“Dean Brody’s “Good Goodbye” Summer Song Review.” Front Porch Music. May 26, 2018. Accessed July 19, 2018. http://frontporchmusic.ca/music/dean-brody-good-goodbye-review/.

Gagne, Andre. “Dean Brody’s Beautiful Freakshow.” Ottawa Life Magazine. December 12, 2016. Accessed July 19, 2018. http://www.ottawalife.com/article/dean-brodys-beautiful-freakshow?c=2.

Mahboob, Tahiat. “Songwriting 101: Dean Brody.” CBC Music. August 14, 2017. Accessed July 19, 2018. https://www.cbcmusic.ca/posts/18917/songwriting-101-dean-brody.

Melanson, Jenna. “Dean Brody Releases New Summer Single, “Good Goodbye”.” Canadian Beats Media. May 25, 2018. Accessed July 19, 2018. http://canadianbeats.ca/2018/05/25/dean-brody-releases-new-summer-single-good-goodbye/.