I can't wait for the album. She's obviously going to just drop it randomly any time between now and the tour. So we could literally get it any day now!
Beyoncè - Formation
3 of 7
Originally Posted by Ash's Man:
“The joke is that the song is more pop than anything on 4 or BEYONCE.”
“The joke is that the song is more pop than anything on 4 or BEYONCE.”
I don't agree with that at all.
Originally Posted by Tejas:
“Again, thanks for posting. It hasn't convinced me though. I think its Emperor's New Clothes syndrome, its drivel posing as something deep and meaningful. OK I accept there are some cultural references I didn't get until I read that article, but stinkers like 'you besta believe it', 'I got a hot sauce in my bag, swag' and 'I slay, hey, I slay, okay
I slay, okay, all day, okay' are some of the absolute worst lyrics I've ever heard... and I include stuff like the Cheeky Girls in that statement.”
“Again, thanks for posting. It hasn't convinced me though. I think its Emperor's New Clothes syndrome, its drivel posing as something deep and meaningful. OK I accept there are some cultural references I didn't get until I read that article, but stinkers like 'you besta believe it', 'I got a hot sauce in my bag, swag' and 'I slay, hey, I slay, okay
I slay, okay, all day, okay' are some of the absolute worst lyrics I've ever heard... and I include stuff like the Cheeky Girls in that statement.”
Yup. The song may well have some merit, but the lyrics look like they've been written like a kid trolling on the internet and when it requires translating into something an adult can understand any merit is sadly left behind.
Originally Posted by jlp95bwfc:
“I don't agree with that at all.”
“I don't agree with that at all.”
I don't either. End of Time, Schoolin Life, I Was Here and even Countdown were all more pop than Run The World. I think she's shown a lot of progression and all her albums are very different. Dangerously In Love was very old school RnB, B'Day was a real party album, I Am Sasha Fierce she did the whole alter ego thing and went very, very pop, 4 was full of throwback influences and had a very live feel to it, BEYONCE was her at her darkest. I'm interested to see where she goes with her next album. I suspect she'll just release it at anytime along with all the videos like she did last time. I really, really like Formation, but will it be reflective of the album as a whole? I don't think so. I'm looking forward to what she comes up with.
I hated Formation first time listening, although not such a fan of her 'harsher' songs, as I'm a complete sucker for a pop tune or emotional one... But I've had it stuck in my head for the past day and can't stop singing it to myself, definitely a grower.
I can't wait to see where she goes next, we're really seeing a new side of her and I love it!
I can't wait to see where she goes next, we're really seeing a new side of her and I love it!
Originally Posted by mgvsmith:
“
Here's a breakdown for those who doubt the quality of the lyrics.
http://mic.com/articles/134573/forma...hem#.XaLnXUYJ0”
“
Here's a breakdown for those who doubt the quality of the lyrics.
http://mic.com/articles/134573/forma...hem#.XaLnXUYJ0”
Not sure what that link achieves. It doesn't make reading
"I see it, I want it
I stunt, yeah, yellow bone it
I dream it, I work hard
I grind 'til I own it
I twirl on them haters
Albino alligators
El Camino with the seat low
Sippin' Cuervo with no chaser
Sometimes I go off, I go off
I go hard, I go hard
Get what's mine, take what's mine
I'm a star, I'm a star
Cause I slay, slay
I slay, hey, I slay, okay
I slay, okay, all day, okay
I slay, okay, I slay okay
We gon' slay, slay
Gon' slay, okay
We slay, okay
I slay, okay
I slay, okay
Okay, okay, I slay, okay
Okay, okay, okay, okay
Okay, okay, ladies, now let's get in formation, cause I slay
Okay ladies, now let's get in formation, cause I slay
Prove to me you got some coordination, cause I slay
Slay trick, or you get eliminated"
any less painful.
Originally Posted by shelleyj89:
“Not sure what that link achieves. It doesn't make reading
"I see it, I want it
I stunt, yeah, yellow bone it
I dream it, I work hard
I grind 'til I own it
I twirl on them haters
Albino alligators
El Camino with the seat low
Sippin' Cuervo with no chaser
Sometimes I go off, I go off
I go hard, I go hard
Get what's mine, take what's mine
I'm a star, I'm a star
Cause I slay, slay
I slay, hey, I slay, okay
I slay, okay, all day, okay
I slay, okay, I slay okay
We gon' slay, slay
Gon' slay, okay
We slay, okay
I slay, okay
I slay, okay
Okay, okay, I slay, okay
Okay, okay, okay, okay
Okay, okay, ladies, now let's get in formation, cause I slay
Okay ladies, now let's get in formation, cause I slay
Prove to me you got some coordination, cause I slay
Slay trick, or you get eliminated"
any less painful.”
“Not sure what that link achieves. It doesn't make reading
"I see it, I want it
I stunt, yeah, yellow bone it
I dream it, I work hard
I grind 'til I own it
I twirl on them haters
Albino alligators
El Camino with the seat low
Sippin' Cuervo with no chaser
Sometimes I go off, I go off
I go hard, I go hard
Get what's mine, take what's mine
I'm a star, I'm a star
Cause I slay, slay
I slay, hey, I slay, okay
I slay, okay, all day, okay
I slay, okay, I slay okay
We gon' slay, slay
Gon' slay, okay
We slay, okay
I slay, okay
I slay, okay
Okay, okay, I slay, okay
Okay, okay, okay, okay
Okay, okay, ladies, now let's get in formation, cause I slay
Okay ladies, now let's get in formation, cause I slay
Prove to me you got some coordination, cause I slay
Slay trick, or you get eliminated"
any less painful.”
What is painful about the lyrics? Explain?
The lyrics are actually really good and there's meaning in every bit of them. Some people are just too lazy to research the meaning of them. The lyrics and the song along with the video are fantastic in my opinion. It's a great piece of work, and it's raised a lot of discussion and caused a lot of debate. I think it's great.
[quote=mgvsmith;81456889]Is that not the point? The experience of African-Americans particularly at the hands of law enforcement officers over the last few years has shown how little has actually changed. That is regression. The dancers wear Black Panther berets and form an X (Malcolm X) referencing the earlier 60s Civil Rights Movement. Black Lives Matter?
But given the stats, it's not really a surprise that blacks run into more problems with the police is it?
Blacks make up 12.89% of the USA population, yet are responsible for 36.9% of all violent crime.* (Bureau of Justice statistics - 2012)
Activists would claim that they were being disproportionately shot by the police whilst I would say that given the figures above, their criminal activity seemed pretty disproportionate to the size of their population.
As it happens 965 people were killed by the police in the USA in 2015. 40% of those were black. Now compared to their percentage of the population, that figure seems skewed but when compared to the percentage of violent crime that they commit, it does not.
Either way, I'm intrigued that Beyonce's video would be described as a powerful black statement but an all white video would be labelled as regressive and consciously or subconsciously racist.
Referencing a rights movement from 50 years ago that advocated violence to achieve it's goals is pretty regressive in my book. Just like Jada Pinkett Smith & Spike Lee in the film industry kicking up a fuss over a lack of appreciation in a subjective field, Beyonce is simply jumping on a bandwagon that is achieving the very opposite effect of harmonious integration.
But given the stats, it's not really a surprise that blacks run into more problems with the police is it?
Blacks make up 12.89% of the USA population, yet are responsible for 36.9% of all violent crime.* (Bureau of Justice statistics - 2012)
Activists would claim that they were being disproportionately shot by the police whilst I would say that given the figures above, their criminal activity seemed pretty disproportionate to the size of their population.
As it happens 965 people were killed by the police in the USA in 2015. 40% of those were black. Now compared to their percentage of the population, that figure seems skewed but when compared to the percentage of violent crime that they commit, it does not.
Either way, I'm intrigued that Beyonce's video would be described as a powerful black statement but an all white video would be labelled as regressive and consciously or subconsciously racist.
Referencing a rights movement from 50 years ago that advocated violence to achieve it's goals is pretty regressive in my book. Just like Jada Pinkett Smith & Spike Lee in the film industry kicking up a fuss over a lack of appreciation in a subjective field, Beyonce is simply jumping on a bandwagon that is achieving the very opposite effect of harmonious integration.
Originally Posted by mgvsmith:
“What is painful about the lyrics? Explain?”
“What is painful about the lyrics? Explain?”
Pretty much everything! It reads like a 5 year old wrote it. If someone submitted those words in an English essay at school, they'd probably think the kid had a learning disability.
'I'm a star, I'm a star
Cause I slay, slay
I slay, hey, I slay, okay
I slay, okay, all day, okay'
That is complete drivel! And the bit about her man f***ing her right is rather cheap and shallow, taking away a lof effect from this alleged 'message' IMO. I wonder what Blue Ivy will think about those lyrics when she's a bit older?
[quote=Payne by name;81477866]
Of course you should know that stats are about interpretation rather than evidence of anything.
A statistic that is at variance with what you might expect (i.e. that African American violent crime rates should be proportionate with the African American percentage of the population) does require explanation. One explanation might be that stats showing higher proportions of African American people being involved in such crimes might suggest something about the law enforcement processes at work. That is, that African Americans are disproportionately targeted by law enforcement agencies. That's interpretation, it's quite dependent on the standpoint of the interpreter.
Your explanation perpetuates the myth that African American people are intriniscally more violent than other races. Apart from being a racist view (race being the determinant in that reading) you would need some empirical evidence to justify that.
The whole point of the #BlackLivesMatter movement is to challenge the idea that things have changed as much as those advocating 'harmonious integration' suggest. Many partsof the South and MidWest remain deeply segegrated in the 21st century.
Originally Posted by mgvsmith:
“Is that not the point? The experience of African-Americans particularly at the hands of law enforcement officers over the last few years has shown how little has actually changed. That is regression. The dancers wear Black Panther berets and form an X (Malcolm X) referencing the earlier 60s Civil Rights Movement. Black Lives Matter?
But given the stats, it's not really a surprise that blacks run into more problems with the police is it?
Blacks make up 12.89% of the USA population, yet are responsible for 36.9% of all violent crime.* (Bureau of Justice statistics - 2012)
Activists would claim that they were being disproportionately shot by the police whilst I would say that given the figures above, their criminal activity seemed pretty disproportionate to the size of their population.
As it happens 965 people were killed by the police in the USA in 2015. 40% of those were black. Now compared to their percentage of the population, that figure seems skewed but when compared to the percentage of violent crime that they commit, it does not.
Either way, I'm intrigued that Beyonce's video would be described as a powerful black statement but an all white video would be labelled as regressive and consciously or subconsciously racist.
Referencing a rights movement from 50 years ago that advocated violence to achieve it's goals is pretty regressive in my book. Just like Jada Pinkett Smith & Spike Lee in the film industry kicking up a fuss over a lack of appreciation in a subjective field, Beyonce is simply jumping on a bandwagon that is achieving the very opposite effect of harmonious integration.”
“Is that not the point? The experience of African-Americans particularly at the hands of law enforcement officers over the last few years has shown how little has actually changed. That is regression. The dancers wear Black Panther berets and form an X (Malcolm X) referencing the earlier 60s Civil Rights Movement. Black Lives Matter?
But given the stats, it's not really a surprise that blacks run into more problems with the police is it?
Blacks make up 12.89% of the USA population, yet are responsible for 36.9% of all violent crime.* (Bureau of Justice statistics - 2012)
Activists would claim that they were being disproportionately shot by the police whilst I would say that given the figures above, their criminal activity seemed pretty disproportionate to the size of their population.
As it happens 965 people were killed by the police in the USA in 2015. 40% of those were black. Now compared to their percentage of the population, that figure seems skewed but when compared to the percentage of violent crime that they commit, it does not.
Either way, I'm intrigued that Beyonce's video would be described as a powerful black statement but an all white video would be labelled as regressive and consciously or subconsciously racist.
Referencing a rights movement from 50 years ago that advocated violence to achieve it's goals is pretty regressive in my book. Just like Jada Pinkett Smith & Spike Lee in the film industry kicking up a fuss over a lack of appreciation in a subjective field, Beyonce is simply jumping on a bandwagon that is achieving the very opposite effect of harmonious integration.”
Of course you should know that stats are about interpretation rather than evidence of anything.
A statistic that is at variance with what you might expect (i.e. that African American violent crime rates should be proportionate with the African American percentage of the population) does require explanation. One explanation might be that stats showing higher proportions of African American people being involved in such crimes might suggest something about the law enforcement processes at work. That is, that African Americans are disproportionately targeted by law enforcement agencies. That's interpretation, it's quite dependent on the standpoint of the interpreter.
Your explanation perpetuates the myth that African American people are intriniscally more violent than other races. Apart from being a racist view (race being the determinant in that reading) you would need some empirical evidence to justify that.
The whole point of the #BlackLivesMatter movement is to challenge the idea that things have changed as much as those advocating 'harmonious integration' suggest. Many partsof the South and MidWest remain deeply segegrated in the 21st century.
[quote=mgvsmith;81480082]
Personally, I think the stats were quite clear and even with a margin of bias creeping in that you appear to be suggesting, they are still pretty damning.
Even if you took out 10% of the violent crimes committed, the figure would still be double that of their representative % of the population. I'm not perpetuating a myth, just reviewing some figures which point towards a trend.
Disgarding the figures because they don't fit with an agenda is very convenient.
Originally Posted by Payne by name:
“
Of course you should know that stats are about interpretation rather than evidence of anything.
A statistic that is at variance with what you might expect (i.e. that African American violent crime rates should be proportionate with the African American percentage of the population) does require explanation. One explanation might be that stats showing higher proportions of African American people being involved in such crimes might suggest something about the law enforcement processes at work. That is, that African Americans are disproportionately targeted by law enforcement agencies. That's interpretation, it's quite dependent on the standpoint of the interpreter.
Your explanation perpetuates the myth that African American people are intriniscally more violent than other races. Apart from being a racist view (race being the determinant in that reading) you would need some empirical evidence to justify that.
The whole point of the #BlackLivesMatter movement is to challenge the idea that things have changed as much as those advocating 'harmonious integration' suggest. Many partsof the South and MidWest remain deeply segegrated in the 21st century.”
“
Of course you should know that stats are about interpretation rather than evidence of anything.
A statistic that is at variance with what you might expect (i.e. that African American violent crime rates should be proportionate with the African American percentage of the population) does require explanation. One explanation might be that stats showing higher proportions of African American people being involved in such crimes might suggest something about the law enforcement processes at work. That is, that African Americans are disproportionately targeted by law enforcement agencies. That's interpretation, it's quite dependent on the standpoint of the interpreter.
Your explanation perpetuates the myth that African American people are intriniscally more violent than other races. Apart from being a racist view (race being the determinant in that reading) you would need some empirical evidence to justify that.
The whole point of the #BlackLivesMatter movement is to challenge the idea that things have changed as much as those advocating 'harmonious integration' suggest. Many partsof the South and MidWest remain deeply segegrated in the 21st century.”
Personally, I think the stats were quite clear and even with a margin of bias creeping in that you appear to be suggesting, they are still pretty damning.
Even if you took out 10% of the violent crimes committed, the figure would still be double that of their representative % of the population. I'm not perpetuating a myth, just reviewing some figures which point towards a trend.
Disgarding the figures because they don't fit with an agenda is very convenient.
Originally Posted by Payne by name:
“Personally, I think the stats were quite clear and even with a margin of bias creeping in that you appear to be suggesting, they are still pretty damning.
Even if you took out 10% of the violent crimes committed, the figure would still be double that of their representative % of the population. I'm not perpetuating a myth, just reviewing some figures which point towards a trend.
Disgarding the figures because they don't fit with an agenda is very convenient.”
“Personally, I think the stats were quite clear and even with a margin of bias creeping in that you appear to be suggesting, they are still pretty damning.
Even if you took out 10% of the violent crimes committed, the figure would still be double that of their representative % of the population. I'm not perpetuating a myth, just reviewing some figures which point towards a trend.
Disgarding the figures because they don't fit with an agenda is very convenient.”
All stats like this are subject to bias, that is the nature of social research. Social research is not scientific like the natural sciences. People are part of the methodology. It's not much of a step to realise that law enforcement stats are biased even at the point of gathering. Explaining these stats is also open to personal interpretation as well, we all come to these with an agenda.
And that's why we have to listen to the personal experience of African Americans and not simply rely on stats to paint the picture. That's also why Beyonce's intervention is perfectly justified. She is reflecting a heartfelt sense of injustice.
So apparently the album is finished and could drop anytime soon, and apparently it's going to be about things people have previously accused her of caring little about. It looks like That Grape Juice may have heard it, and according to them it's amazing and will spark a lot of conversation. Sounds exciting!!
I literally cannot wait to hear the album. I hope she has the white supremacists going crazy by the end of the month. She's got them pressed right now and I am LOVING it!
Absolutely ghastly song and video! The song is like nails down a blackboard to me! I've liked a lot of Beyonce's stuff over the years but think this song is truly horrendous! Tuneless, monotonous noise! The lyrics - well if they're about black empowerment, fine, that's great, but why does she have to write lyrics that make her sound illiterate?! A 3 year old could write better English than that, I'm sure! All those stupid slang terms that make her sound dumb! "I'm a star, I'm a star, cause I slay, slay I slay, hey, I slay, okay, I slay, okay, all day, okay, I slay, okay, I slay okay..." Yeah okay Beyonce, if you say so!!
I think she has a great voice, certainly but, for me anyway, she hasn't released a decent song in a long time. Actually probably not since Run The World! Now that song I do like! It may not be overly tuneful but the thumping rhythmn, that driving beat and general overall sound is great and I love the video (incredible dancing). I've liked other songs of hers like Work It Out, Naughty Boy, Suga Mama, Irreplaceable, Sweet Dreams and I Care and I think there are some other great songs on her first 4 albums. I liked a lot of her stuff with Destiny's Child too. Her self titled album I couldn't stand. If her new album is along the lines of this new single I'll be giving it a miss.
I think she has a great voice, certainly but, for me anyway, she hasn't released a decent song in a long time. Actually probably not since Run The World! Now that song I do like! It may not be overly tuneful but the thumping rhythmn, that driving beat and general overall sound is great and I love the video (incredible dancing). I've liked other songs of hers like Work It Out, Naughty Boy, Suga Mama, Irreplaceable, Sweet Dreams and I Care and I think there are some other great songs on her first 4 albums. I liked a lot of her stuff with Destiny's Child too. Her self titled album I couldn't stand. If her new album is along the lines of this new single I'll be giving it a miss.
Originally Posted by Ash's Man:
“I literally cannot wait to hear the album. I hope she has the white supremacists going crazy by the end of the month. She's got them pressed right now and I am LOVING it!”
“I literally cannot wait to hear the album. I hope she has the white supremacists going crazy by the end of the month. She's got them pressed right now and I am LOVING it!”
It's shaken up more than the white supremacists in a way I didn't think a mainstream artist could still do. I am intrigued to see if the album can maintain this artistic sensibility. I hope she has produced some accompanying videos as with the last album.
Every woman in the place is making feminist related songs and thats cool but Beyonce throws out one about black issues and its a national debate. I'm not even a Beyonce fan but the whole furor over this is ridiculous.
Originally Posted by mgvsmith:
“It's shaken up more than the white supremacists in a way I didn't think a mainstream artist could still do. I am intrigued to see if the album can maintain this artistic sensibility. I hope she has produced some accompanying videos as with the last album.”
“It's shaken up more than the white supremacists in a way I didn't think a mainstream artist could still do. I am intrigued to see if the album can maintain this artistic sensibility. I hope she has produced some accompanying videos as with the last album.”
My friend works in Kanye's camp and told me her album title. Judging by that alone, she is not letting up at all any time soon and I am hyped! Expect a lot more outrage at this outspoken black woman
I agree. I think it's pretty funny. She's thrown an interesting topic out there for debate, and a lot of the references in the song/video are true which is why it's touched a nerve, particularly in the U.S.
Originally Posted by spaceygal:
“Absolutely ghastly song and video! The song is like nails down a blackboard to me! I've liked a lot of Beyonce's stuff over the years but think this song is truly horrendous! Tuneless, monotonous noise! The lyrics - well if they're about black empowerment, fine, that's great, but why does she have to write lyrics that make her sound illiterate?! A 3 year old could write better English than that, I'm sure! All those stupid slang terms that make her sound dumb! "I'm a star, I'm a star, cause I slay, slay I slay, hey, I slay, okay, I slay, okay, all day, okay, I slay, okay, I slay okay..." Yeah okay Beyonce, if you say so!!
I think she has a great voice, certainly but, for me anyway, she hasn't released a decent song in a long time. Actually probably not since Run The World! Now that song I do like! It may not be overly tuneful but the thumping rhythmn, that driving beat and general overall sound is great and I love the video (incredible dancing). I've liked other songs of hers like Work It Out, Naughty Boy, Suga Mama, Irreplaceable, Sweet Dreams and I Care and I think there are some other great songs on her first 4 albums. I liked a lot of her stuff with Destiny's Child too. Her self titled album I couldn't stand. If her new album is along the lines of this new single I'll be giving it a miss.”
“Absolutely ghastly song and video! The song is like nails down a blackboard to me! I've liked a lot of Beyonce's stuff over the years but think this song is truly horrendous! Tuneless, monotonous noise! The lyrics - well if they're about black empowerment, fine, that's great, but why does she have to write lyrics that make her sound illiterate?! A 3 year old could write better English than that, I'm sure! All those stupid slang terms that make her sound dumb! "I'm a star, I'm a star, cause I slay, slay I slay, hey, I slay, okay, I slay, okay, all day, okay, I slay, okay, I slay okay..." Yeah okay Beyonce, if you say so!!
I think she has a great voice, certainly but, for me anyway, she hasn't released a decent song in a long time. Actually probably not since Run The World! Now that song I do like! It may not be overly tuneful but the thumping rhythmn, that driving beat and general overall sound is great and I love the video (incredible dancing). I've liked other songs of hers like Work It Out, Naughty Boy, Suga Mama, Irreplaceable, Sweet Dreams and I Care and I think there are some other great songs on her first 4 albums. I liked a lot of her stuff with Destiny's Child too. Her self titled album I couldn't stand. If her new album is along the lines of this new single I'll be giving it a miss.
”
Agree!!! Especially about the lyrics.
I can't stop listening to the song. SNL done a sketch taking the piss out of the way white people have reacted over the song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ociMBfkDG1w
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