Becoming Beyoncé: The Untold Story

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My only other criticism is that Taraborrelli is a fan and while I appreciated how that contributes to how respectfully he approached this story, I think his allegiance to Beyoncé didn't allow him to be truly objective, often coming to the singer's defence right after presenting a critique. Cathi Hanauer : You've edited two anthologies now and contributed to others. Clearly you like this multi-author, short essay format. It works beautifully here, because you have such a variety of perspectives — writers, professors, actors, influencers — all coming at different aspects of Beyoncé in different ways. It's like a bunch of puzzle pieces that together create this beautiful whole; we not only see that whole, but having also seen the different pieces, we have a better understanding of it. Or should I say, her. CH: I also think, with long-term marriage, that it comes down to, Do we want to stay together, or not? Both people have to want it. And if you both want to, you'll work on it. Looking at it from the outside, it seems as if both Beyoncé and Jay-Z wanted that — to stay together. That's why she stayed, after all the stuff that went down. She’s 41 now and beginning her seventh world tour, so the show finds savvy ways to let her rest. The chrome tank was a chair. The mechanical arms almost functioned as a tripod. She growled the call and response on “Heated” instead of dancing to it. For “Church Girl” and some songs from 4, she was the stationary centerpiece amid a dozen dancers. But who cares? Her most memorable set pieces have been a walk and a chair. “When they invented walking they never dreamed it could ever look that good,” Seth Meyers tweeted during her 2013 Super Bowl Halftime Show — a line I think about every time she simply strides across a stage. CH: Contributor Maria Brito, an award-winning designer, author, and art curator, writes about running into Beyoncé at an exercise class in New York, when Brito was seven months pregnant, and how Beyoncé "looked at me and my belly with grace, surprise, delight, and a big, warm, Southern smile,"and then congratulated her. Hello awesome NYC celebrity encounter! It dawned on Brito that day that "Beyoncé's artistry depends as much on her creativity as it does on her empathy, her vulnerability, and her humanity, all quintessential elements for being a true and lasting artist." What do you think, if there is one, is Beyoncé's message?

CH: And love. Right? Contributor Meredith Broussard points out that "love" is the word that shows up most often in Beyoncé's songs out of 500 words that showed up most frequently. Together, the dynamic duo has earned record titles for the most Grammy awards won by a married couple, the highest earning couple in Hollywood ever, and the highest-grossing music tour by a duo (current year). The platform she built with her countless wins and appearances is used rightfully as a way for her to spread her messages of equality and strength. I am a huge Beyonce fan - there's simply no denying it. I bought this book impulsively when I saw it at the airport & it was an interesting read. Was it the best biography I've ever read? No. Do I regret reading it? No. But there are important things to note, the 1st being that is an "unauthorized biography". I knew this however I hated the "one source says" throughout the book. Nobody in Beyonce's immediate family or obviously she herself participated in the making of this book so it was largely based on alleged "sources". It also had dialogue from yearsss ago at some points. While I get the intention to recreate a scene, it could've been done without this. As someone who has an excellent memory, I cannot recall specific conversations word for word from 20 years ago and therefore assume it's unlikely another third-party could do so, accurately. Just my opinion but hey, this is my review. Memorable Songs: "Crazy In Love,""Irreplaceable,""Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It),""Drunk In Love,""Formation"What is her religion: Beyoncé grew up Baptist, the domination that she knows well, now like, Diddy, she believes in a One God.

This book was initially difficult to get into because of the amount of creative licence he took with the dialogue. I suppose I've never actually read a biography like this and reading some of the lines in the book that were not direct quotes knowing that most of the people in the situation didn't say that really made me cringe. Maybe I'm less than smart, but I think the story was rich enough to have gone without it. My first memory of Beyoncé is being 3/4 years old listening to this EP my parents bought me featuring Destiny's Child's Say My Name along with 4(?) of its remixes. That's one of my earliest music memories and while I would not consider myself a member of The Hive (although I buzz nearby), I am a big fan of Bey and have massive respect for her. VC: [Contributor and acclaimed choreographer] Fatima Robinson talks about how rare it is, which I hadn't really thought about, for someone to be at the same level as a performer, a vocalist, and a dancer. There are a lot of incredible vocalists, but someone who can do all three things at that level…. As to young women making it at 16 years old, a consensual age in most of the World that is book/novel she would have to write about.The pair has been known to mix a little work and fun as they have a consistent list of songs and music videos featuring one another. There’s no news just yet on whether the Renaissance film will be on Netflix where Homecoming is also available, but fans are hoping the movie will eventually be added to the platform following its cinema release. Her many accolades and achievements in almost every field of human endeavor show why Beyoncé is admired by “Beyhivers” across the globe. After watching Homecoming (I've watched it 10x & the album is gonna stay in rotation for awhile) I need more Queen Bey so it was time for a reread.

I will say, particularly because it’s Lupita, who I admire very much, I’m excited. I love the space that she occupies. I love that she exists. So I’m quite happy. But it’s not for me a measure of success. She says over the clips of her getting ready: “When I am performing, I am nothing but free. The goal for this tour was to create a place where everyone is free and no one is judged."Her songs are emblematic of freedom, independence, and femininity and empower women by celebrating their divine femininity through the power of her lyrics.

To date, their relationship has remained mostly private, as they remain tight-lipped about speaking about one another. My family and friends make fun of me for my Beyonce super fandom because I'm not the super fan type. I grow bored with everything and everyone very easily but not Beyonce. Don't ask me why because I don't know why? She just speaks to something within me. She makes me want to work harder and be better. After watching Homecoming ( the first time) I felt a little bit depressed because I realized that I wasn't working as hard as I should be to achieve my goals. So I played Homecoming again and I started making plans to lift myself out of my mini life slump. That's what Beyonce does to me. She inspires me. I don’t really think very much about it. I’m just sitting here trying to write a good sentence. The kind of fiction I write isn’t the kind of fiction that Angelina Jolie or George Clooney seem likely to make into a movie, so you don’t think it’s going to happen. Particularly with Americanah, I was writing the book I was trying to write and having fun, and I never thought it would translate into a movie. But also, I just think that books are much more interesting than films, and there’s a part of me that resents that the world is much more interested in movies. People say, “Congratulations, you have a film!” But I think, What about the book?

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Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé will come out in UK cinemas on 1st December, the same date the rest of the world will see it.