Thesis: The fall of Beyoncé.

I read somewhere recently that Michelle Obama took her two daughters to a Beyoncé concert and afterwards took them to meet her and told her that she was a role model for them. What was Michelle thinking?! I mean I still quite like Beyoncé's music, and she used to be quite the inspiring girl, but these days? I would not want any daughter of mine emulating her.

Back in the day, Destiny's Child were probably the first step I took to admitting to myself and the world that I enjoyed popular, and particularly "modern R&B", music. You could sing along (until they did their vocal acrobatic bits), you could dance to it, and it just sounded good.

Beyoncé was clearly the standout performer of the group, especially when they shed a couple of girls and became Beyoncé and the Other Two for the album Survivor. I loved that album, and I enjoyed the messages they sent in their songs that were all about being a powerful independent woman, able to take care of oneself and not relying on a man although enjoying their company quite a lot. I also found it quite sweet that they included an a capella gospel song bonus track dedicated to their singing teacher.

When Beyoncé's solo album came out, I wasn't as fond of some of the songs as I had been of the DC songs, but I still got the CD eventually. I grew to love most of the songs on that CD as well.
In particular the song Yes, about ditching a boy who tries to pressure her into sex, which I believe every teenage girl should listen to:

You said I moved too slow
I showed you to the door
You said you'd call me later
I said don't call no more
It is cool if you can't wait for me
I'm glad you let me know
Cause you showed me your true face baby the first time I said no

I said yes to your number and yes to you dating me
Yes we can be together but you gotta wait for me
The first time I said no
Its like I never said yes (like I never said yes)

There were other songs touching on such worthy topics as relying only on yourself rather than other people, ending toxic relationships and so on.

However, the shape of things to come was heralded with the clip for Baby Boy, a duet with Sean Paul, wherein she writhes around and gasps in the manner of a lady having an extremely private moment.

Fast forward to the present day.

Her current album doesn't seem to contain any "message" songs, unless the message is that only diamonds can secure affection (Single Ladies) and double entendres can be so obvious as to be almost single entendres (Ego). She's wealthy and successful, but she didn't do it by herself; her parents and particularly her manager father have masterminded every step.

Further, she is now married to a man whose musical record and personal history show very little respect for women. Jay-Z refers to women in his songs as bitches and hoes, and is known to have consorted with groupies throughout his career. Not only that but he proudly and publicly credits his current success as a rap mogul to his previous career as a drug dealer, particularly in the song Roc Boys:

I wanna thank my connect
The most important person
With all due respect
Thanks to the duffel bag
The brown paper bag
The Nike shoe box
For holding all his cash
Boys in blue who put greed
Before the badge
The 1st pusher whoever made the stash

What happened, Beyoncé?