Tag Archives: pop culture

Beyoncé: Fierce & Flawless. Bow Down.

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-photo credit via usmagazine.com

Hello Black Chick Media followers! It’s Sam Joseph aka @fakesamjoseph here with my first post. Naturally, it would be about a woman I, as well as many others have admired for over 16 years: the one and only Beyoncé.  Its hard to believe in only 9 days she will be turning 33. That’s right 33. With a net worth estimated at over 450 million dollars, 75 million records sold as a solo artist worldwide (and an additional 60 million records sold as a member of Destiny’s Child), few entertainers over the years have achieved the level of success and instant name recognition that this remarkable woman has: TIME Magazines Most Influential Person of 2014, The Most Powerful Celebrity in the World of 2014 according to Forbes, 9 American Music Awards, 16 BET Awards, 18 Billboard Music Awards (including the Billboard Millennium Award), 17 Grammy awards (amongst 46 nominations, thus making her one of the most nominated artists in history and the third most honored woman in Grammy history), and now 18 Video Music Awards including the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, which she received Sunday night in an emotionally charged acceptance speech which concluded with a loving embrace with husband Jay Z and two year old daughter Blue Ivy.

In a much hyped performance, Beyoncé sang a medley of her critically acclaimed, multi-platinum self-titled fifth album BEYONCÉ for an unforgettable 16 minutes that had many a celebrities up and out of their seats singing and dancing. Clad in nothing but a bejeweled Tom Ford bodysuit, (a custom made version of a bejeweled tunic sent down Ford’s Spring 2014 fashion show), booties, a microphone and her signature golden locks, she proved to us all once again why she is arguably the greatest entertainer alive.

2014 MTV Video Music Awards-photo credit via MTV

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter (born Beyoncé Giselle Knowles) was born on September 4, 1981 in Houston, Texas to Matthew Knowles and Celestine “Tina” Beyincé. (Beyoncé’s name is a tribute to her mother’s maiden name).

Beyoncé was educated at St. Mary’s Elementary School in Fredericksburg, Texas, where she enrolled in dance classes. Her singing talent was discovered when dance instructor Darlette Johnson began humming a song and she finished it, hitting the high-pitched notes. Beyoncé’s interest in music and performing continued after winning a school talent show at age seven, singing John Lennon’s “Imagine” to beat 15 and 16-year-olds. In the fall of 1990, Beyoncé enrolled in Parker Elementary School, a music magnet school in Houston, where she would perform in the school choir. She also attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and later Alief Elsik High School. Beyoncé was also a member of the choir at St. John’s United Methodist Church as a soloist for two years.

Aged eight, Beyoncé and childhood friend and cousin Kelly Rowland met LaTavia Roberson while in an audition for an all-girl entertainment group. They were placed into a group with three other girls as Girl’s Tyme, and rapped and danced on numerous talent shows in Houston. After seeing the group, R&B producer Arne Frager brought them to his Northern California studio and placed them in Star Search, the largest talent show on national TV at the time. Unfortunately Girl’s Tyme failed to win. (Beyoncé later said the song they performed wasn’t good.) The girls auditioned before record labels and were finally signed to Elektra Records, moving to Atlanta Records briefly to work on their first recording, only to be dropped by the company. On October 5, 1995, Dwayne Wiggins’s Grass Roots Entertainment signed the group. In 1996, the girls began recording their debut album under an agreement with Sony Music, and shortly after, the group secured a contract with Columbia Records. The group changed their name to Destiny’s Child, based upon a passage in the Book of Isaiah in the Bible, and within a matter of years, the group churned out the recognizable international hits: “No, No, No”, “Bills, Bills, Bills”, “Say My Name”, “Jumpin’, Jumpin'”, “Independent Women Part 1” (Their longest running Billboard number one single clocking in at 11 consecutive weeks atop the chart), “Survivor”,  “Bootylicious”, “Lose My Breath”, “Cater 2 U” and “Soldier”.

It was after the success of Destiny’s Child that Beyoncé took her career even further, establishing herself as a high profile brand and solo artist. 2003’s Dangerously in Love debuted atop the Billboard 200 (and to date remains the entertainer’s top selling album with 11 million copies sold worldwide), and spawned the international hits “Crazy in Love” (featuring her then-boyfriend Jay Z), “Baby Boy”, “Me, Myself and I” and “Naughty Girl”. “Crazy in Love” was critically lauded and is currently listed at 118 on Rolling Stone’s 2010 list of the 500 Greatest songs of all time.

-photo credit via flickr.com

Before the release of her second studio album B’day (With the instantly recognizable hit “Irreplaceable”, which to date, remains her longest running solo number one with 10 consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100), that was recorded in only three weeks and released to coincide with her 25th birthday, she starred in a Golden Globe-nominated leading role in Dreamgirls opposite Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy playing a singer based on one of her major influences, Diana Ross.

On April 4, 2008, Beyoncé married Jay Z in secret and revealed their marriage to the press in a video montage at a listening party for her third solo effort I am…Sasha Fierce one month before its release on November 18, 2008. The album, her third consecutive number one solo album on the Billboard Hot 200, was comprised of the Billboard Hot 100 number one and feminist anthem “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)”. This song was an instant hit because of its highly choreographed and iconic music video that featured her, and two backup dancers in nothing but black leotards and stiletto heels. The album also featured the top ten hits “If I Were A Boy”, “Halo”, and “Sweet Dreams” giving Beyoncé the record of having more top ten singles than any other woman during the 2000s. On January 20, 2009, Beyoncé was given the honor of performing a rendition of Etta James’ “At Last” at President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama’s first inaugural dance.

After a short break from her career, during which she traveled the world, she headlined the 2011 Glastonbury Festival, becoming the first solo female artist in twenty years to do so. Her set list comprised of songs from her fourth studio album 4, including “Run the World (Girls)”, and “End of Time”. “Love on Top” the fourth and most successful single from the album was performed at the 2011 Video Music Awards and at the end of this performance, she revealed that she and Jay Z were expecting their first child by dropping the mic and opening up her blazer to show off her growing baby bump. Her appearance helped the 2011 Video Music Awards become the most watched broadcast in MTV’s entire history with 12.4 million viewers. Her child, named Blue Ivy Carter, was born on January 7, 2012. Only a year later, Beyoncé sang the American national anthem at President Obama’s second inauguration. The following month she performed at the Super Bowl XLVII halftime show to critical acclaim. Later in the month she released her HBO documentary Life Is But a Dream, which along with being directed and produced herself, revealed footage from her childhood, her roles as mother and a businesswoman, as well as recording music, rehearsing for live performances, and her return to the spotlight after her daughter’s birth. Later in the year she embarked on her The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour, which went onto become not only her highest grossing tour but also the highest grossing female and solo tour of 2013 as well as one of the highest grossing world tours of all time.

It was the unexpected December release of her self titled fifth studio album that took the music and entertainment industry by storm with the lack of any prior promotion. The album debuted at number one and made Beyoncé the only woman to have her first five albums debut at number one. The single, “Drunk In Love” which features husband Jay Z, was a commercial success as well, peaking at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. After the conclusion of The Mrs. Carter Show, she and Jay Z embarked on their joint On the Run Tour, their first co-headlining stadium tour together.

Despite all of these accomplishments, it is the heart, passion, and humility Beyoncé possesses that sets her apart from her contemporaries and can be attributed to her success today. She reminds us all that we are all capable of great things if we put our hearts and souls into what we are doing. I will always be a fan of this amazing woman and look forward to the many albums, tours, and performances of hers to come.

photo credit via girlthatsmysong.com

 Keeping it ***Flawless as always (thanks to Bey)

thefakesamjoseph

The Lupita Hate Must Cease

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Lupita Nyong’o receiving her Oscar for Best Supporting Actress
(photo via x)

Too many people who are disliked on social media for being trollers/haters get excited when there is something new the world is unfolding for.

That just happens to be Lupita.

Lupita Nyong’o, the 31-year old Yale grad, has been turning heads and giving seizures in the form of “YAAAAAAS, HUNTY! SLAY!” since her portrayal of Patsey in Steve McQueen’s 2013 hit film, “12 Years A Slave.” From her performance in the film that was truly nothing less than superb, to her plethora of colorful and captivating red carpet and television appearance looks that has her on the top of the radar on every style magazine, blog, and television special around, Lupita is WINNING. Add her absolute humbleness, her adorable demeanor, and the public speeches she’s made about beauty and validation of dreams, she’s a bonafide badass.

But unfortunately, many people don’t like this. They don’t like this sudden advocacy for Lupita and what she stands for, which is a woman from the motherland who came to America, attended one of the top schools in the United States, did superb in her first film, and won a crapload of awards, including the most prestigious film award out there: an Oscar, all while having very little to no hair (against the ideas of femininity) and being dark skinned (a shade automatically considered ugly). Lupita is winning against the norm, and that is rattling chains. Men and women, black and white, have tried to compare Lupi to men, have tried to get us to confess that she’s not that cute, and that we’re just hyping her up, have tried to say that we, as People of Color, haven’t won through her and the cast/crew of “12 Years A Slave,” because white people get off on seeing slavery films… The list combats the Great Wall of China in longest shit ever.

But why are you mad?

Lupita has done nothing but educate herself in her craft, done her research, show up to work on set and SLAY, remain humble and adorable during interviews, waltzing onto red carpets in garments blessed by The Lord and SLAYING, and inspiring dark skin black girls (especially), and everyone else who has a dream they think they can’t conquer, that you and those dreams are valid.

Lupita is living in her truth. She is succeeding, which is more than I can say for the rest of you who feel compelled to attempt degradation for your own insecurities. She works hard to be praised to oblivion. She works hard for recognition. She works hard, man. Those who work hard and who live with an open mind and heart deserve the world.

And she’s gonna get it.

You don’t HAVE to find her beautiful, and you didn’t HAVE to cry in the scene everyone knows oh too well that had us biting at our fists, trying to hold back the rivers of empathy that strolled down our eyes. If you don’t care for her, that’s fine. This is for the people that don’t care for her and want to make it KNOWN. The ones who find tweets and posts of people who care deeply for her and who make rude, unnecessary, and ignorant comments to have their mentions filled with response. For those who want to start an uproar, who want to disagree with the majority, and who, at the end of the day, sign out of twitter/facebook/tumblr feeling empty because this is their only means of attention.

So if you wanna waste your time trying to blow our, and Lupita’s, high because your life is in shambles and you don’t know how to fix it except to make others feel shitty so you’re not the only one, you can keep on dreaming.

Lupita is out here trying to tell us (ladies especially) that folks are gonna try and knock our crowns off, but wear that beacon like a halo, and you’re salty because you can’t take that advice and do something with your life other than to troll?

Goodbye.

Women in Arts: Look What’s Possible

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It is hard to believe it has been an entire week since I attended the launch of Women in Arts in London, England. This amazing three-day festival was presented by the inimitable Sarah Berger of the So & So Arts Club, in association with The Tristan Bates Theatre and the Actors Centre. I was utterly thrilled and quite honored to have been a part of such a marvelous event, and I can hardly wait until next year. (Which brings us to another point–events of this scale can only be had when we all pitch in and help. So please, members, PAY YOUR DUES! Yes, I am totally calling you out. For if I, a member ALL THE WAY in America can make sure I’m all paid up, so can you. It is not fair to the glorious Sarah, or the rest of the group if you don’t do your part)

Women in Arts was possibly one of the most amazing celebrations of women and gender equality across the disciplines that I have been to yet. It was full to the brim of rehearsed readings like “Tree of Seeds” by Kayhan Irani, “Doing Well” by Chandeep Uppal and “Character” by Florence Vincent. Interactive panel discussions focusing on Role Models for Women (this was probably my favorite event!) and Writing for Women in the arts. The one woman show, “What’s My Age Again?” performed by the hilarious Merry Ross. Plays like “Frozen Heart”, “Win or Die”, the renowned “Request Programme” starring Cecilia Nilsson, and “LuLu 7” directed by the one and only Ms. Berger (where and how this woman finds the time and energy to direct a play AND run a three day festival I’ll never know).

It was so refreshing to be in an environment where everyone, both women and men, were supporting each other, and standing up for the fact that gender inequality in the arts needs to be examined, questioned and challenged; and in its place, a new vision needs to be set forth. A vision in which women are not the minority. A vision in which texts include women as actual main characters and not just the supporting lover mother sister aunt grandmother best friend objectified hot totty. A vision in which women can and willing and eagerly identify. While powerful roles for women do indeed exist, they are all too rare an occurrence. More often than not these representations of strong, powerful, self-actualized women are relegated to the seldom known independent sector; the grassroots underground projects. The unfunded. The never (hardly ever) seen/supported/recognized. And it should not just be left up to women to write, direct and produce these roles and texts. Men need to participate as well. It is absolutely crucial that visual mass media (Here I’m including all forms of visual media and art), change the way women are viewed and presented.

During the Writing for Women panel, author, journalist and mentor Susan Grossman put a very interesting question to all of us, “Do you write for your audience?” The general consensus in the room was ‘no’. However, I beg to differ; when writing, be it a blog post, screenplay, short story, I most certainly do write for my intended audience. And just because I write for/to a certain group, does not mean I wish or intend to exclude others. The best part of writing and presenting work is its ability to reach the masses. So I put the same question to all of you that may be writers/producers/creators: Do you write (create) for your audience? And if you do, what does that mean for you? How do you ensure women are essential to your storyline and are not outnumbered? Are they presented in a fashion that would challenge the status quo? Until we can challenge (and change) our previously held notions about women’s roles in the arts, and answer these questions on a positive note, there is much work to do. And it is our belief, here at Black Chick Media, that The So & So Arts Club Women in Arts is just the beginning.

Love,

BCM

P.S. Check out another article about Women in Arts on the Female Arts website! xx

Congratulations to The Hollywood Black Film Festival!

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We would like to say congrats to Tanya Kersey, and the entire HBFF team (we rock!) for being featured in the LA Times. And don’t forget, the festival kicks off tomorrow, so make sure you’re ready! If you have yet to purchase tickets, it’s not too late.

Hollywood Black Film Festival: Movies, panels and a beauty lounge

By Susan King

October 1, 2013, 1:15 p.m.

The Hollywood Black Film Festival, which begins Wednesday and continues through Sunday at the Montalban Theatre and the W Hotel, includes an array of films and panels. But in what might be a first, the festival also features complementary beauty services Friday and Saturday for guests with all-access passes, so you can look good while attending the programs.

The festival,  founded in 1998 by Executive Director Tanya Kersey to help develop the careers of both emerging and established black filmmakers, is bookended by movies starring Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson (“Dreamgirls”). She stars in the opening-night film “Winnie Mandela,” which opened theatrically last month, and the closing-night feature, George Tillman Jr.s “The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete,” which opens theatrically Oct. 11.