Queen B
By Libba Smith
When I was brainstorming ideas for this week’s Scene, I hit a bit of a mental block, so I took a break to listen to “Green Light” and “Freakum Dress.” I tried to write again, but was distracted by my roommates dancing to “Single Ladies.” Still without an idea, I turned to the Internet for inspiration, but saw that the “Love on Top” video was finally online, so I had to celebrate its release by watching it twice in a row.
I wouldn’t say that I have an obsession with Beyoncé, but I do seem to listen to her music fairly often. And I watch her videos a few times a day. And check her website for updates on her whereabouts. And my desktop background may or may not be a picture of her.
Maybe it is an obsession, but I find it to be completely justified. Queen B is the most talented woman in show business today, and, relevant to this page, the most entertaining. She can sing, she can dance, she can (passably) act. The woman has it all.
Beyoncé has been a force to be reckoned with since she stormed into the music industry with Destiny’s Child, but she recently faded from the public’s radar to take a break after the “Single Ladies” craze died down. Fortunately, Beyoncé had a renaissance this summer with the release of her album “4,” which is her best album to date. I am not a fan of every individual song -— the worst song of the bunch, “Party,” is unfortunately misnamed — but when Beyoncé gets it right she produces a musical tour de force that, if played at the right volume, could get anyone to slip on their dancing shoes and cut loose with some woefully inadequate vocals.
The magic of Beyoncé lies in her sheer infectiousness. She has the power to make you feel good about yourself, even if your singing voice is more on par with Rebecca Black’s than Beyoncé’s own potent set of pipes. And though only a few gifted people can imitate her dancing to any degree of success, even lumbering along to her moves like a poorly trained bear can make you feel like a diva. There can only be one Beyoncé, but I believe that she is happy to lend some of her pizzazz to anyone who needs a little boost of confidence.
“4” is full of excellent songs, from “1 + 1” to “I Care” to “End of Time,” but the true masterpiece on the album is “Countdown.” The song is a jubilant ode to her husband Jay-Z, but the video is its real achievement; it is her best video yet, despite being made while she is visibly pregnant. Beyoncé is still the best dancer alive even when sporting a significant baby bump.
A welcome departure from raw sexual pandering, the video instead features a glowing Beyoncé singing and dancing in colorful montages of unitards and oversized button-downs. It is silly and playful but also exuberant; Beyoncé knows that she is at the top of her game, and is celebrating her pregnancy and her love for her husband by crafting a video that is a visual and aural delight.
In my opinion, Beyoncé is perfection. She has made a successful career by singing about empowerment and making a positive mark on the world rather than selling herself short. So before the end of the day, watch the “Countdown” video, bust a move, sing along, and rediscover why Beyoncé is the most prolific entertainer alive.
Libba Smith is an A&E Editor for the Voice. She can be reached for comment at LiSmith13@wooster.edu.