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Beyoncé Reigns at Roseland Ballroom

2011-08-15T07:09:00.000-07:00

“Tonight, I want to tell you guys my story,” Beyoncé divulged to a sold-out crowd at New York’s Roseland Ballroom last night. The 90-minute, guest-free show, the first of four this week, found the 29-year-old diva splitting the difference between hushed torch singer and stadium belter, running through a 30-minute revue of her greatest hits before performing virtually all of 4, her latest album released earlier this year.

For a singer long accustomed to stadiums, Sunday’s show was the most intimate performance most fans would see from the ubiquitous superstar. Backed by a 20-piece, all-female orchestra, including a conducted string sextet, three-piece horn section, three backup singers, and a harpist, the singer devoted the first third of the show to a “VH1 Storytellers”-type greatest hits showcase-cum-history lesson.If you didn’t know Beyoncé’s biography before—auditions with Destiny’s Child starting at age nine, her father’s early and frequent involvement managing his daughter’s career, getting dropped by Elektra, etc.—she laid bare her entire musical history starting with a Michael Jackson obsession at age five. Opening with Jackson’s “I Wanna Be Where You Are,” the singer interspersed minute-long snippets of her greatest hits both solo and with Destiny’s Child, stopping each track to discuss her life and mindset during each stage of her career.

After recalling her father’s interrupting of an audition for numerous labels because “they’re not ready yet,” B talked about entering the studio by herself at 18, hearing Stevie Nicks’ guitar riff for “Edge of Seventeen” that would inspire “Bootylicious,” and how the last years of Destiny’s Child were a “reality show like ‘Survivor.’” “It was trying to figure out which member would be the last one on the island,” explained the singer.

The medley combined the quick blasts of a Las Vegas revue with the emotional candor of a singer-songwriter performing to a near-empty room. It was an odd, yet effective juxtaposition; a global superstar who could effortlessly shuffle between slick, bombastic R&B and awkwardly honest confessions of a tumultuous career. By the end of the set though, humility, as one expects from a singer with 16 Grammy awards and more than 75 million records sold worldwide, turned to sly confidence. “[The label] told me I didn’t have one hit song on my album,” she said of her 2003 debut Dangerously in Love. “I guess they were kinda right. I had five.” With the exception of a slowed-down, jazzier version of “Crazy in Love,” the orchestra augmented rather than transformed the tracks, as if deviating too much from the recorded versions would violate the victory lap feel of the show.

“1+1,” the opening song on 4, found Beyoncé kneeling atop a piano, her coy, torch singer poses bumping up against wind machines, and spotlights beaming from above the singer’s head. The contradiction was emblematic of the set, as the deservedly entitled diva shared space with her populist alter-ego. For every fog machine, there was a 3,000-person sing-along; for every extravagant light number, there was a heartfelt emotional moment. Tonight was Beyoncé being all things to all people without pandering or condescension.

Performing the album virtually front to back (“Start Over” was curiously left off Sunday’s setlist), the singer displayed both the stamina and vigor that makes for stadium-perfect shows. “End of Time” and “Run the World (Girls)” utilized flamboyant light displays to bring elaborate routines to a smaller stage, though most of the time, Beyoncé viewed the reduced space as advantageous over limiting. B ended the last song—the self-empowering ballad “I Was Here”—with “Roseland, we were here.” In less confident hands, the line would’ve come off as hokey. For Beyoncé, it was the recognition of a singular event before returning to the stadium.

Beyoncé Husband Jay-Z Is The Richest!

2011-08-15T07:06:00.000-07:00

Jay-Z has topped a Forbes magazine hip hop rich list, making $37 million (£22m) in the past 12 months. The rap star claimed his fourth top spot in the last five years.

Diddy finished in second place earning $35m (£21m) with Kanye West, who has collaborated with Jay-Z this year on a joint album called Watch The Throne, making $16m (£10m).

Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Eminem tied for the sixth spot at $14 million (£9m) with Nicki Minaj debuting at 15.

Forbes says top earner Jay-Z made his cash from the end of his world Blueprint 3 tour and other business interests.The top 20 on the hip hop list earned a combined $271 million (£166m).

Thirteen different artists earned $10 million (£6m) or more, taking home money from live shows, recorded music, endorsements and a other businesses.

Earnings were calculated between May 2010 to May 2011 and based on data from Pollstar, Nielsen SoundScan, the Recording Industry Association of America and individual record labels.

The top 20 Forbes hip hop "Cash Kings" are:

1. Jay-Z - $37 million (£22m)
2. Diddy - $35 million (£21m)
3. Kanye West - $16 million (£10m)
4. Lil Wayne - $15 million (£9.2m)
5. Birdman - $15 million
6. Dr. Dre - $14 million (£8.6m)
7. Snoop Dogg - $14 million
8. Eminem - $14 million
9. Akon - $13 million (£7.9m)
10. Ludacris - $12 million (£7.3m)
11. Wiz Khalifa - $11 million (£6.7m)
12. Drake - $11 million
13. Pharrell Williams - $10 million (£6.1m)
14. Timbaland - $7 million (£4.3m)
15. Swizz Beatz - $6.5 million (£3.9m)
16. Nicki Minaj - $6.5 million
17. Rick Ross - $6 million (£3.6m)
18. 50 Cent - $6 million
19. Pitbull - $6 million
20. T-Pain - $5 million (£3m)
21. B.o.B - $5 million

Source: BBC

Beyonce to Perform Entire Album ’4′ at Special Shows

2011-08-15T06:56:00.000-07:00

Beyoncé has announced a four-night stint at New York City’s Roseland Ballroom in which she’ll perform her latest album, “4,” in its entirety at each show. News of the concert series entitled “4 Intimate Nights With Beyoncé” was announced on her website this weekend.

An increasing number of artists are dedicating entire concerts to one album as a way of boosting interest in live performances and emphasizing the unity of their album releases in an age of downloadable singles. Last November, Kanye West performed his entire album, “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City. The traveling hip-hop festival Rock The Bells, which kicks off on August 20 in Los Angeles, is headlined by a number of artists performing every song from standout albums, including Lauryn Hill performing her 1998 opus, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” Nas performing his 1994 debut album, “Illmatic,” and Erykah Badu performing her 1997 debut, “Baduizm.” Typically, the practice of performing an album in full has been reserved for releases generally regarded as classics. (For more on this go to Ethan Smith’s story “Up Next: Your Favorite Album.”)The “4 Intimate Nights With Beyoncé” concert series is only taking place in New York City, and the shows will be held on August 14, 16, 18, and 19. Guest appearances weren’t announced but “4” itself is light on them–the only celebrity cameos come from rapper Andre 3000 on the track “Party,” and various ad-libs from Kanye West who produced the record. But given Beyoncé’s many famous friends and associates (she’s married to rapper Jay-Z), it wouldn’t be a surprise for her to pull out a few surprises.

Pre-sale tickets, available exclusively for Citi cardmembers through Citi’s Private Pass Program, are available one hour before general sales tickets at Noon EST on Wednesday, August 10. General ticket sales begin one hour later through Ticketmaster, with each show given a designated start time for purchase. Tickets for the first show, August 14, will be available at 1:00 p.m. EST. Tickets for August 16, 2:00 p.m. EST; August 18, 3:00 p.m.; August 19, the final concert, tickets are available at 4:00 p.m. EST.

Beyoncé Pops Up at ‘Watch the Throne’ Store

2011-08-15T06:54:00.000-07:00

The king was joined by his queen at the opening of the Watch the Throne pop-up store on Friday night. Beyoncé made a royal entrance while visiting Jay-Z and Kanye West’s brand new spot at Openhouse Gallery in SoHo (201 Mulberry St.).

Fans camped outside for a glimpse of the pop superstar, who waited for security to clear the area before exiting her vehicle. Cameras flashed and gasps were heard (“Oh my God!” screamed one fan) as B made her way into the store, where she held court with her hubby, Swizz Beatz, Just Blaze, and more.

If you’re in New York City, check out the temporary space, which is open until Sunday at 6 p.m.You can purchase Watch the Throne and get a glimpse of the famed Maybach from the “Otis” video. No pictures are allowed, but we have a feeling that rule has already been broken.

Beyonce Shows Off Patriotic Side at Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular

2011-07-05T22:14:00.000-07:00

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Beyonce sure showed us diva-fied way to celebrate the country’s birthday during her performance at this summer’s Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular and the 125th Anniversary of the Statue of Liberty!

With Lady Liberty looming large in the background, no doubt enjoying the Queen B’s performance, Beyonce took the stage to perform her bold new single ‘Best Thing I Never Had’ and the thoroughly patriotic ‘God Bless the USA.’ Dressed in a black silk sheath dress with those corkscrew curls blowing in the wind and a statement red necklace, Beyonce classed things up celebrating America’s birthday in her signature style.

We notice that whenever she performs, Beyonce sports an ear-to-ear grin that never lessens as her performance progresses. Who needs the moon when Beyonce can illuminate the night with her megawatt smile? America could not have had a better singer with which to celebrate her birthday!Beyonce loves to sing those sassy, kiss off songs, too, throwing the hand up to the boys who have done her wrong. What red-blooded American woman watching in the crowd can’t relate to that sentiment?

Beyonce got all kinds of patriotic on ‘God Bless the USA,’ with the Statue of Liberty in full, clear view behind her as every servicewoman in the crowd sang along with her. That was the most powerful, telling image of the performance.

Beyonce sure is proud to be American and so are we. When she ended her two-song set by telling the crowd to “enjoy the fireworks,” we were left thinking it would be hard for even a display of bright and beautiful fireworks to top the ones Beyonce created on the stage.

Beyonce feels like a mermaid

2011-07-05T22:09:00.000-07:00

Singer Beyonce Knowles feels like a mermaid when she is surrounded by water. She says spending time near the ocean makes her feel grounded.

"I'm always happiest when I'm surrounded by water, I feel like a mermaid, I think I was a mermaid. The ocean makes me feel really small and it puts my whole life in perspective," femalefirst.co.uk quoted the 29-year-old as saying. "It reminds me I'm a very little piece of this huge earth and it humbles me and grounds me. It makes me feel almost like I've been baptised and I'm born again when I get out of the ocean," she added.

Beyonce, who is married to American rapper Jay-Z, took a year off from work last year. She says the experiences she had left her feeling revitalised.

"I never realised I needed a year off and I never realised I didn't know how to take a year off. I went scuba diving in the red sea and the coral was spectacular, it was unreal that something that beautiful exists and I was so close to it," she said.

Beyoncé's 4 wins the album chart numbers game

2011-07-03T22:31:00.000-07:00

4+21+19 = a unique situation in the artist album chart where, for the first time ever, the titles of three of the top five albums are made up entirely of numbers.

Adele contributes 10 times as much to this numerical novelty as Beyoncé but it is the latter that emerges, with the bigger prize and the smaller number, with 4 ranking one, 21 ranking two and 19 ranking five.As its title suggests, 4 is Beyoncé’s fourth regular studio album - its release perfectly timed to coincide with Beyoncé’s appearance her critically-acclaimed Glastonbury set, which occupied 90 minutes of BBC2 airtime on Sunday night.

The album made a fast start, and sold 89,211 copies to become Beyoncé ’s second solo number one, eight years to the week after her first solo album, Dangerously In Love, dashed to the summit on first week sales of 113,117.

Despite its big first week and its seniority, Dangerously In Love is not Beyoncé’s biggest selling solo album – that honour falls to her last album, I Am...Sasha Fierce, which opened at number 10 on sales of 38,610, eventually reaching number two, and selling 1,411,189 copies.

Dangerously In Love has sold 1,143,299 copies. Beyoncé’s second solo album, B’day, debuted and peaked at number three, with first week sales of 35,012, and to-date sales of 385,078.

Beyoncé’s incendiary set also created big demand for 4’s second single, Best Thing I Never Had, which debuts at number three (51,365 sales). It is Beyonce’s 16th Top 10 hit away from Destiny’s Child – a tally which doesn’t include 4’s first single, Run The World (Girls), which peaked at number 11 but which rebounds 38-23 (16,002 sales) in the wake of Glastonbury.

Beyonce’s 2006 number four hit Irreplaceable is also propelled into the chart (number 33, 11,693 sales), with most of its sales coming from a ‘live at Glastonbury’ recording benefitting charity. Another song from the new album – The End Of Time (number 62, 4,488 sales) also breaches the Top 75, while popular oldies Halo (number 60, 4,599 sales) and Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) (number 72, 3,700 sales) also re-emerge.

Number two for the sixth week in a row, and seventh week in all, 21 sold a further 39,553 copies for Adele last week. Now on the chart for a total of 23 weeks – all of the rest were at number one - the album now has cumulative sales of 2,630,625. Meanwhile, 19 remains at number five (22,541 sales) on its 26th straight week in the Top 10, and has sold 1,556,684 copies since its 2008 release.

Last week’s number one, Lady GaGa’s Born This Way retreats to number three (31,449 sales), while Take That’s Progress also slips, falling 3-4 (22,581 sales) even as their tour continues.

Biffy Clyro’s first release since their Many Of Horror single was covered by Matt Cardle, their concert CD/DVD set Revolutions/Live At Wembley debuts at number nine (12,715 sales). It debuts at number four in their native Scotland.

10 years after her last studio album, Trouble In Shangri-La, peaked at number 43, Stevie Nicks secures a more respectable number 14 debut (10,444 sales) with In Your Dreams. It is 63 year old Nicks’ highest charting solo set since The Other Side Of The Mirror reached number three in 1989. Nicks’ profile has been raised by Glee covers of many songs made famous by her band Fleetwood Mac, Eurythmics’ star Dave Stewart’s production of her new album, and Radio 2’s A-listing of In Your Dreams track Secret Love.

Airplay has been a little harder to come by for Little Shocks, the initial single from The Kaiser Chiefs’ fourth album, The Future Is Medieval, which debuts at number 10 (12,469 Sales). The band’s second album, Yours Truly Angry Mob, reached number one; its first (Employment) and third (Off With Their Heads) reached number two.

Elsewhere in the Top 40, there are debuts for Foster The People’s Torches (number 24, 7,295 sales); Gillian Welch’s The Harrow & The Harvest (number 25, 7,129 sales); Limp Bizkit’s Gold Cobra (number 30, 6,371 sales); and Islands: The Essential Ludovico Einaudi (number 34, 5,591 sales).

Beyonce is far from being the only artist to enjoy the Glastonbury effect – albums by Coldplay, Mumford & Sons, Chase & Status, Elbow, Plan B, Noah & The Whale, U2 and Pendulum all enjoy upward momentum.

Now That’s What I Call Music! 78 returned to the top of the compilation chart last week, claiming its 10th victory in 11 weeks – but its reign now looks over for good, with its return to number two accompanied by sales of 12,048 – little more than a third of the 34,059 copies that the compilation Clubland 19 sold to debut in pole position. It is the 22nd number one for the Clubland series since it was launched by All Around The World/UMTV nine years ago this very week.

Beyoncé Confirmed as Lead for ‘A Star is Born’ Remake

2011-07-03T22:27:00.000-07:00

Some ideas for remakes are better left on the shelf (Gus Van Sant’s Psycho is the quintessential example), while others turn out to be just as good as, if not better than, the original. In that case, where would a third remake of A Star is Born, directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Beyoncé, fall?A project pushed by Warner Brothers over the past few years, the latest A Star is Born will have Beyoncé in the Esther Blodgett role. Although the “Run The World (Girls)” singer has been loosely attached to this project since January, she confirmed she is starring in the remake this past week on Good Morning America. In her interview, she stated: “Clint Eastwood. Can you believe that? I can’t believe it still. I know when I met with him I was just in awe. I am so, so honored that he believes in me and I can’t wait to do this film. I represent this generation’s talent and for me to be the chosen person — as an African American woman — is incredible!”

Beyonce And LMFAO Can’t Unseat Adele On This Week’s Chart

2011-07-03T22:23:00.000-07:00

Adele continues her reign, even with big showings from Beyonce and LMFAO, on this week’s ARIA Chart.

It’s almost boring now, as Adele’s face appears on the top of the album and singles chart for another week.

Beyonce’s 4 burst in at number two, and singles chart-toppers LMFAO capitalised on it by debuted at three with Sorry For Party Rocking.

Gillian Welch’s critically-acclaimed The Harrow & The Harvest debuted at number 11, Weird Al Yankovic’s Alpocalypse came in at 28, and Taking Back Sunday and In Flames scraped in at 49 and 50 respectively.Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus muscled back into the top 20, from 23 and 30 to 16 and 18.

In their second week, Bon Iver, Eminem and Royce Da 5’9”, and Pitball are all holding well in 4, 5, and 7 respectively.

Meanwhile, The Grates slumped from 11 to 25 with their Secret Rituals release.

And it looks like Pink’s Greatest Hits, which ruled the summer holidays, may finally drop out of the chart as it sits at 48.

Beyonce Surprises Fans At Harlem Target

2011-07-03T22:20:00.000-07:00

While traipsing the globe to promote 4, Beyoncé stopped by New York City's Harlem Target on Thursday to say hello to some of her young fans.

As the store celebrated its one-year anniversary, kids from the local Boys and Girls Club danced their hearts out onstage to Beyoncé's new track "Countdown." In the middle of the song, B took the stage and gave them a big group hug before letting them continue their routine. I'd like to thank the Boys and Girls Club for coming out. I hope y'all had fun learning the choreography to 'Countdown' today," she told the crowd, in footage posted on Rap-up.com. "I hope you guys enjoy the new album 4."

Beyoncé had a little bit of a commercial reason to show up at the Target store: The deluxe version of 4, which is set to debut at #1 on the Billboard albums chart, is available exclusively at the retail giant. But since the disc's release on Tuesday, fans have complained that some Targets didn't stock enough copies, and the promised exclusive video can't be accessed yet.

"Honestly, day one sales were fantastic for us, especially on the deluxe edition," John Butcher, Target's vice president of entertainment, told The Hollywood Reporter, assuring fans that Sony was delivering more CDs soon.

Beyonce signs up for TV special

2011-07-03T22:17:00.000-07:00

Beyoncé Knowles has been signed up to perform a one-off TV show for ITV. The former Destiny's Child star will sing some of her much-loved hits as well as new material for the Beyoncé Music Special to be screened later this year.

The hour-long show will be fronted by Steve Jones, who is currently hosting the US X Factor.

The 29-year-old was a huge hit when she headlined at the Glastonbury Festival last month.A source told The People: "Beyoncé is one of the hottest international stars around right now and ITV are thrilled to get her.

"To land her for an exclusive show is a massive coup. They are confident it will be a huge ratings success."

The show is due to air in December immediately after the X Factor semi-final.

Beyoncé's former bandmate Kelly Rowland is currently on the judging panel of The X Factor.

What Makes Beyoncé Such A Success?

2011-06-07T06:20:00.000-07:00

I don’t dance. It’s a language I don’t understand. It’s Swahili. It’s pollen. I am allergic to the dance – when I listen to music, I like to sing along and occasionally raise my head, like a dog enjoying the wind through a car window. I’m a still person, content when stretched flat on a banquette. I don’t dance, can’t dance and won’t dance. There is, however, one artist whose songs always make my legs twitch. And my arms. And slightly my nostrils. When I saw Beyoncé’s new video “Run the World (Girls)“, yes, I wanted to dance. Specifically, I wanted to do this shaky thing with my shoulders that I find, after Googling, is called the “Eskista”. So that was the first thing I thought: I want to wobble my shoulders like a flickering screen. And then I thought: in a song about female empowerment, why are all the dancers wearing suspenders and sheer basques?

Soon after this, I was forwarded a link to a YouTube video that, in the time it took me to watch, went viral. Amber (online as NineteenPercent) provided a sassy, articulate, fabulous feminist critique of Beyoncé’s new single. This anthem, with its accompanying video of an army of (be-basqued) women, claims that girls run the world; Amber says she’s selling listeners a bill of goods, “lulling girls into a false sense of achievement”. Who runs the world? Girls? “95% of domestic abuse victims are women,” she points out. “We’re not even running our domiciles.” Analysing the lyrics, she splinters Beyoncé’s faux-feminism underfoot, then sweeps it away neatly. To Beyoncé, Amber says, it’s somewhat “premature to be making victory anthems”.

Beyoncé (she of “Independent Women” and “Survivor” fame) is often held up as an example of a strong female role model, but this week blogs are questioning how well her lyrics sit with her influence. Until now, few people have had a bad word to say about her – her choruses stick in the mind like Post-it notes; her thighs keep most men transfixed.

But does some of her appeal lie in the fact that, in interviews, she says so little? She keeps herself hidden, a blank. Like Kate Moss, whose “cool” evaporated as soon as she started talking to the press, is Beyoncé’s implied authority a result of her silence? Watching a T4 interview with her a couple of years ago made me crumple; she spoke the language of inspirational posters. I return to the videos, jiggling in my seat. All her “Go, girl!” songs, I realise, pivot on a transaction: power measured by the weight of a wallet.

The distance between feminism and “girl power” (as heard on Radio 1) is interesting, I think – I picture a busy dual carriageway littered with Coke cans. But could it be that Beyoncé’s songs (the lyrics of which, while focusing on the experience of being a woman, do so from her particularly business-led perspective) take listeners a little way along that road? While “Run the World (Girls)” may not be accurate, I wonder if its confident message, rather than kidding listeners, instead inspires them to fight for small changes.

I spend a happy hour revisiting Destiny’s Child singles, and the glorious gale force of the “Single Ladies” video, and the recent footage of Beyoncé gatecrashing a middle school in Harlem, dancing along with the female students, grinning blondely throughout. It’s this image that burns brightest for me. One that, as a non-dancer moved from my seat only for a Beyoncé song, has the most impact – you see it at discos, at teenage parties, on the sticky floors of a suburban pub. Her song will start playing and girls will grab each other to dance in tight, elated circles. It doesn’t really matter what she’s saying, but who she’s saying it to. Because her songs talk to girls, her songs make girls talk.

This article titled “The Beyoncé groove” was written by Eva Wiseman, for The Observer on Saturday 4th June 2011 23.05 UTC

Beyonce Talks About Her Year Off

2011-06-07T06:03:00.000-07:00

Beyonce may be back with a bang now and a new album to promote, but the R&B star recently took a nine-month break from work. Speaking with a magazine this month, the singer reveals exactly what she used her well-deserved free time for."I had talked about taking a vacation before, but always ended up in the studio after two weeks, so no one believed me," she wrote in a special feature for Essence.

"This time, though, I was serious. I was going to give myself a year to do the things I never get to do."

So what did Bey do? "Simple things like play with my nephew, pick him up from school, visit museums, go to concerts, see some Broadway shows, learn to cook a meal and spend time with my husband," explains the Run The World (Girls) singer.

"Yes, I needed some relaxation, but I wanted inspiration too, from regular everyday things. They did not have to be over-the-top productions. I was looking for tiny moments that would speak to my heart and make me smile."

Beyonce Rehearsing For Glastonbury At Secret London Location

2011-06-07T06:01:00.000-07:00

Beyonce has arrived in London to rehearse for her headline performance at the Glastonbury festival, it's been revealed. The singer has hired a studio for two weeks in the East End to prepare alongside her backing dancers and stage crew.

“Beyonce is so nervous about the gig she has booked the space for two weeks so she can perfect the set, which will include dizzying pyrotechnics,” a source told the Daily Mirror.

“She’s literally playing with fire. Her performance at Glastonbury is already looking epic.”The unnamed insider added that the singer was lining up guest appearances by husband Jay-Z, who headlined Glastonbury in 2008, and Kanye West.

Coldplay and U2 are the other Glastonbury headliners. Tickets have sold out.

For more information about Glastonbury and all this summer's festivals, check out the Gigwise Festival Guide.

Beyonce Writes About Her Year Off

2011-06-07T05:59:00.000-07:00

Beyonce Knowles has opened up about her hiatus from music in an article written for a magazine. The 29-year-old has written about her experiences for the latest issue of Essence magazine in an article titled "Eat, Play, Love".

The pop superstar decided to take a nine-month extended vacation after working non-stop for several years and she has revealed she used her break to spend time with her family and husband Jay Z, visit museums, attend concerts and learn to cook."I had talked about taking a vacation before, but always ended up in the studio after two weeks, so no one believed me. This time, though, I was serious. I was going to give myself a year to do the things I never get to do.

"Simple things like play with my nephew, pick him up from school, visit museums, go to concerts, see some Broadway shows, learn to cook a meal and spend time with my husband," Knowles said.

The 'DreamGirls' star also said that she took a break because she desperately needed some relaxation.

"Yes, I needed some relaxation, but I wanted inspiration too, from regular everyday things. They did not have to be over-the-top productions. I was looking for tiny moments that would speak to my heart and make me smile," she added.

The Beyoncé groove

2011-06-07T05:52:00.000-07:00

For those of us who are allergic to dancing, Beyoncé is a balm, but are her new single's faux-feminist lyrics losing her fans?I don't dance. It's a language I don't understand. It's Swahili. It's pollen. I am allergic to the dance – when I listen to music, I like to sing along and occasionally raise my head, like a dog enjoying the wind through a car window. I'm a still person, content when stretched flat on a banquette. I don't dance, can't dance and won't dance. There is, however, one artist whose songs always make my legs twitch. And my arms. And slightly my nostrils. When I saw Beyoncé's new video "Run the World (Girls)", yes, I wanted to dance. Specifically, I wanted to do this shaky thing with my shoulders that I find, after Googling, is called the "Eskista". So that was the first thing I thought: I want to wobble my shoulders like a flickering screen. And then I thought: in a song about female empowerment, why are all the dancers wearing suspenders and sheer basques?

Soon after this, I was forwarded a link to a YouTube video that, in the time it took me to watch, went viral. Amber (online as NineteenPercent) provided a sassy, articulate, fabulous feminist critique of Beyoncé's new single. This anthem, with its accompanying video of an army of (be-basqued) women, claims that girls run the world; Amber says she's selling listeners a bill of goods, "lulling girls into a false sense of achievement". Who runs the world? Girls? "95% of domestic abuse victims are women," she points out. "We're not even running our domiciles." Analysing the lyrics, she splinters Beyoncé's faux-feminism underfoot, then sweeps it away neatly. To Beyoncé, Amber says, it's somewhat "premature to be making victory anthems".

Beyoncé (she of "Independent Women" and "Survivor" fame) is often held up as an example of a strong female role model, but this week blogs are questioning how well her lyrics sit with her influence. Until now, few people have had a bad word to say about her – her choruses stick in the mind like Post-it notes; her thighs keep most men transfixed.

But does some of her appeal lie in the fact that, in interviews, she says so little? She keeps herself hidden, a blank. Like Kate Moss, whose "cool" evaporated as soon as she started talking to the press, is Beyoncé's implied authority a result of her silence? Watching a T4 interview with her a couple of years ago made me crumple; she spoke the language of inspirational posters. I return to the videos, jiggling in my seat. All her "Go, girl!" songs, I realise, pivot on a transaction: power measured by the weight of a wallet. The distance between feminism and "girl power" (as heard on Radio 1) is interesting, I think – I picture a busy dual carriageway littered with Coke cans. But could it be that Beyoncé's songs (the lyrics of which, while focusing on the experience of being a woman, do so from her particularly business-led perspective) take listeners a little way along that road? While "Run the World (Girls)" may not be accurate, I wonder if its confident message, rather than kidding listeners, instead inspires them to fight for small changes.

I spend a happy hour revisiting Destiny's Child singles, and the glorious gale force of the "Single Ladies" video, and the recent footage of Beyoncé gatecrashing a middle school in Harlem, dancing along with the female students, grinning blondely throughout. It's this image that burns brightest for me. One that, as a non-dancer moved from my seat only for a Beyoncé song, has the most impact – you see it at discos, at teenage parties, on the sticky floors of a suburban pub. Her song will start playing and girls will grab each other to dance in tight, elated circles. It doesn't really matter what she's saying, but who she's saying it to. Because her songs talk to girls, her songs make girls talk.

By: Eva Wiseman
The Observer
Sunday 5 June 2011
Article history

Beyonce: “Best Thing I Never Had”

2011-06-07T05:49:00.000-07:00

7 June, 2011 - Count us among the millions who will preach that Beyoncé can do no wrong, yet there’s no denying that the Diplo-produced, militaristic female anthem “Run The World (Girls)” caught those who were expecting another “Halo” or even “Single Ladies” smash off-guard. Of course, she’s had success with faster, more unconventional tracks (“Ring The Alarm,” “Get Me Bodied”) but those that really ingratiate themselves into our brain (and never let go) are the lighter, sing-along anthems that instantly make your heartbreak go away thanks to sassy head-bobbing and finger-wagging you never knew you had in you before.Which is why “Best Thing I Never Had,” the official second single from 4, is entirely poised to become another B megahit in the vein of “Irreplaceable.” With a twinkling piano melody that’s somewhere between Tupac’s “Changes” and Phil Collins’ Disney music, it’s a serving of Diet Female Empowerment, without the aggressive drums of “Run The World (Girls)” but enough of B’s vocals to resonate with her audience.

The song begins with a karmic proclamation establishing she is better off now that the shady guy is out of her life (“What goes around comes back around”). And just like “Irreplaceable,” it’s person-specific, targeted at the one person Bey, and every other woman, knows did her wrong, instead of simply asserting her and her army of females’ power over men in general. This crafts it to be more of the standout jam from the album than even “1+1,” and the repetitive chorus “I wanted you bad/ I’m so through with that / Because honestly you turned out to be the / Best thing I never had” makes that entirely possible without feelings as menacing and monotonous as “Run The World (Girls).” There also some brilliant digs—colloquial kiss-offs—that any lady can use at her leisure (“You don’t deserve my tears / I guess that’s why they aren’t there”), or that any tween can post as her Facebook status (“It sucks to be you right now” and “You showed your ass and I saw the real you”) for years to come.

But that’s not to say that B skimps on the vocals. When the song builds to its breaking point (“Thank god I found the good in goodbye / I used to want you so bad”) you can hear Beyoncé’s emotional and physical strain come together. As she scratches and growls her way through these lyrics, we understand that it’s a song about getting through heartbreak as well as understanding and loving oneself; accepting that you made the right decision even if it was difficult.

With the title’s obvious resemblance to Drake’s breakout hit “Best I Ever Had” from two summers ago, how soon before the inevitable mashup arrives? Can Beyoncé appropriate Drake’s phrase by turning it into a female empowerment slogan rather than the Canuck’s cutesy term of endearment? Probably. “Best Thing I Never Had” might not be as triumphant as “Irreplaceable,” or as catchy (will a hook like “to the left, to the left” ever be recreated or topped?), but for those looking for a good track to pump in your car while singing about overcoming your recent broken heart, we think you’ve found your answer.

Beyonce Premieres 'Best Thing I Never Had'

2011-06-07T05:46:00.000-07:00

With "Me, Myself and I," "Irreplaceable" and even "If I Were a Boy," Beyoncé has proven that she excels at delivering top-notch pop&B, need-you-no-more-type jams. Her new single, "Best Thing I Never Had," which she co-wrote with Babyface and released on Wednesday morning (June 1), is just the latest entry in that category. Following the eccentric dance sounds of her lead single "Run the World (Girls)," Bey takes things down a notch on this midtempo cut off her new album, 4. Reminiscent of her 2006 hit "Irreplaceable," the song has the pop star taking aim at a former lover, admitting that she no longer desires him after discovering his deceitful ways.

"I wanted you bad/ I'm so through with it/ Cuz honestly you turned out to be the best thing I never had/ You turned out to be the best thing I never had/ And I'm gon' always be the best thing you never had/ I bet it sucks to be you right now," she confidently sings on the chorus.

With its radio-friendly appeal and catchy chorus, "Best Thing I Never Had" sounds not unlike a song you'd hear during a Broadway musical. That may be because, as Beyoncé has revealed, she collaborated with the band from "Fela!" for "a couple of days" to gain inspiration from the play's subject, Nigerian musician Fela Kuti.

On the single artwork for "Best Thing I Never Had," a platinum-blond Beyoncé strikes a pose in a small bathroom. Sporting a tight-fitting dress, the pop star holds red lipstick up to a mirror after writing "King B" on it.

In addition to Babyface, it seems that the pop superstar has also collaborated recently with OneRepublic. "Just finished mix on Beyoncé song — last one to make her album, once again she blew me away vocally, this is sumthin different — hope ya like!" the band tweeted on Tuesday.

Beyonce Flips Off Camera

2011-06-07T05:44:00.000-07:00

The global superstar, 29, dropped the much-anticipated debut video off her upcoming fourth album on Wednesday's American Idol.

The clip for "Run the World (Girls)" re-imagines the diva in a nearly post-apocalyptic, tribal world. In the video, Beyonce rolls around in the dirt, struts before exploding cars and keeps two hyenas on chain-leashes.Oh, and there's lots of larger-than-life, outre costumes -- and plenty of sexy, spastic dancing that made Beyonce famous.

The singer also released the album cover art for the fourth album -- appropriately titled 4 -- which is slated for release June 28.

Beyonce Returns To Old School Hip-Hop

2011-06-07T05:42:00.000-07:00

Beyonce claimed that she got a lot of her inspiration from old school hip-hop, so it's no surprise that her collaboration with Andre 3000, 'Party', samples a track by Slick Rick and Doug. E. Fresh.

The new track, taken from Beyonce's highly-anticipated album '4', reportedly samples the 1985 classic 'La Di Da Di' and even includes the lyrics, 'La di da di, we like to party'.As we already know, Beyonce sampled Major Lazer's track 'Pon De Floor' for her first single from the album, 'Run The World (Girls)' but it has been reported that she also includes samples of Boyz II Men's 'Uh Ahh' on the track 'Countdown'.

Ryan Tedder from OneRepublic also revealed that he produced 'I Was Here' for Beyonce, which songwriter Diane Warren claims is a "career song" for BeyBey and is even better than Toni Braxton's 'Un-Break My Heart', which she also wrote.

Beyonce Dons Her Diva Crown On 'American Idol' Finale

2011-06-07T05:41:00.000-07:00

The ladies of "American Idol" proved it during Wednesday's (May 25) season-closer when they performed a medley of Beyoncé hits, and were joined at the finish by Beyoncé herself.

The girls — Pia Toscano, Karen Rodriguez, Naima Adedapo, Ashthon Jones, Thia Megia and Haley Reinhart — hit the stage in various red-and-black ensembles and shared the stage during B's #1 smash "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)." Adedapo opened the song and threw some sass on it before passing the mic to Jones, the season's 13th-place finisher, who was eliminated during the first week of semifinals competition. The girls took their turns with the vocals and aped the familiar moves from the single's iconic video, which one rapper sort-of semi-famously referred to once as one of the greatest music videos of all time. Megia and the frequently bilingual Rodriguez took center stage and duetted on "Irreplaceable," another #1 hit for Beyoncé, while the rest of the group chimed in on the "you must not know 'bout me" chorus. That transitioned into "Get Me Bodied," with each singer working the stage with maximum 'tude. "If I Were a Boy" was next, with the contestants sitting down on the side of the stage and Reinhart tackling the chorus with her big, growly vocals. Jones was also allowed to flex her muscles on the song, and Toscano soon took center stage as the song segued into "Déjà Vu." Toscano, frequently criticized during her "Idol" run for only attempting big, old-fashioned ballads, came off well during the uptempo song.

But then the Queen B herself hit the riser at the top of the stairs and showed the ladies a thing or two about being a diva. The big horns from "Crazy in Love," her first solo hit, signaled her arrival, and she hit the stage with an abundance of style and authority. She danced in a long line with the "Idol" ladies (and a few backup dancers to boot) and ran through a verse of the song, strutting across the stage and whipping her hair like a true star. The performance ended with the "Idol" gals wrapping their arms around Beyoncé in a big group hug, and without even performing her new single, Beyoncé showed that girls run the world, or at least the "Idol" stage.

Later in the show, Beyoncé returned to debut her new song, "One Plus One." She introduced the dramatic piano-led ballad as her "favorite" song, and sang it on a sparse, smoke-filled stage, dropping to her knees at one point and shaking hands with the fans gathered in front of her.

Beyonce's 'Till The End Of Time' Hits The Internet

2011-06-07T05:39:00.000-07:00

Days after the premiere of the postapocalyptic dance clip for "Run the World (Girls)," Beyoncé fans are now being treated to the recently leaked tune "Till the End of Time." Rumored to be the next single off Beyoncé's new album, 4, which hits stores on June 28, the uptempo track has the pop powerhouse professing her everlasting love.

"Till the End of Time" begins with spitfire drums as Bey's muffled lyric line loops over and over again until a dramatic explosion. "Come take my hand/ I won't let you go/ I'll be your friend/ I will love you so deeply/ I will be the one to kiss you at night/ I will love you till the end of time," she sings atop an airy buildup. Mrs. Carter continues her appeal, convincing her lover that she is the one who'll be there at the end of every night and, as the song goes, "till the end of time." The song, reminiscent of an older Destiny's Child cut, has Beyoncé keeping the energy level high with marching band-esque drums. Bey also belts over the bridge's horn sequence.

No confirmation yet from Beyoncé's camp as to whether the track will appear on the singer's new LP. The recipient of Billboard's Millennium Award recently revealed that she recorded "more than 60 songs" for the new project, which includes the LP's lead single, "Run the World (Girls)."

MTV News caught up with Bey's longtime choreographer, Frank Gatson Jr., who gave us the scoop on her team's inspiration for the Francis Lawrence-directed video for "Run the World."

"We prepared a lot for it. We had seen something on YouTube; we had seen these three guys from Africa, this Mozambique African dance troupe. ... We were like, 'Wow, this is an amazing movement,' " he said. "And that movement has always been in the back of our heads for the last year. From there, we talked about a lot of concepts."

Beyonce inspired by Adele and Florence And The Machine on new album ‘4’

2011-06-07T05:37:00.000-07:00

Beyonce has revealed that British artists including Adele and Florence And The Machine were influences upon her new album '4'. The singer, who is set to release her fourth studio album on June 27, also claimed that she was inspired by artists including Prince, The Jackson Five and Fela Kuti in an interview which will feature in the June issue of Billboard magazine.

Earlier this year, Adele revealed that she had created an alter-ego inspired by a meeting with Beyonce to help her get pumped up before live shows. Now Beyonce has responded by claiming that the 'Rolling In The Deep' singer was one of the inspirations for her new album.

Although she said she "started off being inspired by Fela Kuti", whose music she described as being "so sexy", she added: "I also found a lot of inspiration in '90s R&B, Earth Wind & Fire, DeBarge, Lionel Richie, Teenie Marie… I listened to a lot of Jackson Five and New Edition, but also Adele, Florence And The Machine, and Prince.

"Add in my hip-hop influences, and you can hear how broad it is."

The singer also claimed that she'd recorded "more than 60 songs" for the new album before deciding on the final tracklisting.

Beyonce released her latest single 'Best Thing I Never Had' earlier this week (June 1), and will headline this year's Glastonbury festival on June 26.

Beyonce Knowles admits to family rows

2011-05-06T20:01:00.000-07:00

6 Mei, 2011 - The ‘Halo’ hitmaker – who recently fired her father Mathew Knowles as her manager – loves working with Tina Knowles on their House of Dereon clothing line but the singer admits she and her stylist parent don't always see eye-to-eye.

She said: “It does get difficult sometimes. My mother and I work so well together and we agree. Well 99 per cent of the time. And the one per cent? We’re human. And sometimes we go back and forth but it never lasts. "
Despite their occasional disagreements, Beyonce – who is married to Jay-Z - is pleased she can leave her business in the hands of her mother.

She added in an interview with more! magazine: “I’m lucky because I can leave and I know everything’s going to be fine and great because my mother’s there taking care of everything.”

After firing her father in March, Beyonce paid tribute to the role he and her mother played in her success.

She said: "I am grateful for everything he has taught me. I grew up watching both he and my mother manage me and own their own businesses. They are hard working entrepreneurs and I will continue to follow in their footsteps.

"He is my father for life and I love my dad dearly. I am grateful for everything he has taught me."

NYC School Gets Surprise Visit From Beyonce

Students at a New York City public school working out to a Beyonce song got a big surprise when the superstar walked in and joined them.

About 85 students at P.S. 161 in Harlem were in the middle of a choreographed routine Tuesday to a song adapted from Beyonce's hit "Get Me Bodied" when the singer arrived.

The children were participating in a national simulcast of "Let's Move Flash Workout." It's part of first lady Michelle Obama's fitness campaign. The singer joined in wearing stiletto heels and a T-shirt emblazoned with "Let's Move."

Thirteen-year-old Aisha Collier gushed "she's so beautiful." She told the New York Post she messed up a little when Beyonce first arrived but then got back into it and continued to dance and have fun.

Beyonce and hubby to renew vows

2011-05-06T19:38:00.000-07:00

Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z are reportedly set to renew their wedding vows next year.

The superstar couple – who married on 4 April 2008 – recently had a romantic break in Paris, France, and while they are keen to start a family together in the future, they want to prove their love for each other first by renewing their vows on their fourth wedding anniversary. A source told Now magazine: “In Paris, Beyonce told jay she wanted to have another wedding ceremony before seriously considering babies. Jay jumped at the chance to prove again he’s committed forever.

“Bey saw a couture wedding dress she wants while they were there, but the cute thing is they’re both superstitious about the number four – which is why they married on the fourth day of the fourth month. They’ll have four years of marriage behind them next year and they want to make it a big one. They’ve set aside over $1 million for it. Expect bling like you’ve never seen before.”

While they are busy planning their vow renewals, the couple celebrated their three year anniversary with a romantic trip to Paris, where no expense was spared.

The source continued: “They combined work with their anniversary and Jay pulled out all the stops to make it special. They flew in his private jet and stayed at Le Meurice hotel, which overlooks the Tuileries Palace Gardens. It’s the most expensive hotel in the city by far. Their suite had a private kitchen, a glass enclosed dining room and huge open-air terrace.” - Bang Showbiz

Beyonce Knowles - Beyonce Leads 'Flash-Dance' Event

2011-05-06T19:36:00.000-07:00

R&B star Beyonce showed off her moves at a dancing session in New York City on Tuesday (03May11) to encourage youngsters to maintain an active lifestyle.

The Crazy In Love hitmaker has slimmed down in recent months and has joined forces with U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama for her Let's Move initiative, in a bid to fight childhood obesity.

Beyonce re-recorded her song Get Me Bodied and altered the lyrics to promote the benefits of staying fit and healthy, and she headed to the P.S. 161 middle school in Harlem on Tuesday to continue the campaign. The 29 year old donned a campaign t-shirt and danced to her tune with pupils in a simultaneous 'flash-dance' event, while Obama also took part in the routine at the Alice Deal Middle School in Washington.

Obama says, "Beyonce is one of my favourite performers on the planet. And when she agreed to remake her video and do this 'Let's Move' flash workout, I was so excited, because this is what we've been talking about - that exercise and moving can be fun. It's about dancing, it's about moving."

Beyonce Knowles - Gareth Pugh Fan Beyonce Knowles

2011-05-06T19:19:00.000-07:00

Beyonce Knowles' favourite designer is Gareth Pugh.

The 'Girls (Who Rule The World)' singer is co-creator of clothing line House of Dereon alongside her mother Tina but admitted she loves clothes by Gareth because they make her waist look "teeny tiny". She explained: "I love Gareth Pugh, he's amazing. His work is so different. The dramatic shoulder pads make your waist look teeny tiny and it's very structured and graphic and modern. I think the contrast of his garments and my personality is really cool. And I get to dress up and be whatever I want."

Beyonce also insists she is heavily involved in all aspects of design for House of Dereon and claims she can do "a pretty good sketch".

She told more! magazine: "I usually critique. I'll see my designs and say 'I think this looks better that way', but I can do a pretty good sketch."

Beyonce gets inspiration for her clothing line from all different places and says photo shoots are one of her best sources.

She explained: "All the photo shoots I do, I get to wear great clothes months before they come out. I get to see them and touch them and feel them so all of these things inspire my line with my mother."

Beyonce confirmed to perform at T in the Park 2011

2011-05-06T19:16:00.000-07:00

Global superstar Beyoncé has been confirmed as the latest act taking part in this year’s T in the Park festival in July.

The R&B singer, who has had hits with songs including Single Ladies and Halo, will perform on Saturday, July 9, and will undoubtedly be a huge pull for music fans around the UK.
Last year Beyoncé’s husband, rapper Jay Z, rocked crowds at Balado when he performed on the Main Stage, and rumours soon circulated that Miss Knowles herself would be on the line-up this year.

A chart-topping star, Beyoncé will be performing a number of her previous hits as well as music from her eagerly anticipated fourth album, Run The World (Girls).

The A-lister joins other top acts at T in the Park 2011, including Coldplay, Tom Jones, Tinie Tempah, Arctic Monkeys, Pulp and Foo Fighters.

A whole raft of top Scottish talent was also announced to be performing at this year’s T in the Park festival today, including Emma’s Imagination and Jon Fratelli.

Tickets for this year’s weekend music festival, which runs from July 8-10 in Balado, are sold out but fans still have the chance to purchase a limited number of T in the Park residence packages are still available. Check out the T in the Park website for details.

Beyonce Booed at Met Gala

2011-05-06T19:12:00.000-07:00

Now Beyonce is a beautiful woman, with a silhouette that would make any girl green with envy. Her personality is joyful; her energy is calm and seductive. What can go wrong with all the right ingredients?

I’ll tell you what: a dress that kills it all.

Beyonce Knowles and husband Jay-Z, appeared on the red carpet at the Metropolitan Museum Gala and spent like five seconds in front of the cameras. The reason is as simple as it is funny.The beautiful bootylicious singer was wearing a tight black and golden fish tail gown designed by Emilio Pucci. The dress was so tight that she couldn’t walk. Even standing was questionable.

She looked like a ballerina in a musical box. Poor girl, she tried to smile and share a few moments with the press, but it was impossible. After a few shots, she turned away and, with the help of Jay-Z and an assistant, started climbing the stairs.

The photographers who lined on the sides of the red carped couldn’t take any pictures at all and became very angry. They started booing her and the horrible sound didn’t end until she safely made her way inside.
What made her choose such a dress? The design is really gorgeous.

The lace applications on the cleavage, golden flower and butterfly motives, the mermaid shape – all these inspired a powerful femininity. Maybe the dress was one size smaller, thinking that her dropping a few sizes in the last months would make her even slimmer in this dress size.
While the other stars showed off their gowns in a more happy and relaxed manner, there were a lot dresses that could cause accidents as well.

Ashley Greene had a beautiful dress, but with a long train that she could step on any time.

One wrong step for Renee Zellweger and her delicate dress could leave her in Eve’s costume. And let’s not forget Christina Ricci. She showed up in her well known gothic style, wearing a gorgeous black dress with a dramatic train, which could easily be stepped on. To be honest, she had a helper as well: the creator of the dress himself, Zac Posen. Country singer Taylor Swift also wore a train dress signed J. Mendel.

This doesn’t mean that gowns with train or mermaid shape put you on the “worst dressed” list. But the dress has to fit you and not the other way around. Plus, you have to walk and talk at a party. Beyonce, keep that in mind for the next Red Carpet moment!

Beyonce steps in

2011-05-06T19:08:00.000-07:00

Beyonce Knowles has appeared in a new workout video in support of Michelle Obama's campaign against childhood obesity.

Knowles rewrote her single Get Me Bodied for the video, which is titled Move Your Body.

Set in a school dining hall, it depicts Knowles and an ensemble of young dancers doing a "Flash Workout" that combines hip-hop, Latin and dance-hall moves with running and skipping rope.
The video will roll out in schools on Tuesday during a "dance-in" at schools across the country.

Beyonce Releasing Patriotic Charity Single

2011-05-06T19:02:00.000-07:00

R&B superstar Beyonce is showing her patriotism by releasing a cover of country tune God Bless Usa to raise money for charity.

The Crazy In Love hitmaker originally recorded Lee Greenwood's track in 2008 for U.S. President Barack Obama's election campaign and she has been inspired to put the track out as a single to boost donations to the New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund.

The song will be aired on Cnn's Piers Morgan Tonight show on Thursday (05May11), ahead of its digital release on Friday (06May11).

Beyonce has adopted New York as her home city following her marriage to Big Apple native Jay Z.

“God Bless the USA” Released on Piers Morgan

2011-05-06T18:58:00.000-07:00

Last night, May 5th, Beyonce’s rendition of “God Bless the USA” was premiered on CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight. It is now available on iTunes for purchase. All of the proceeds from the song will be donated to the New York Police & Fire Widows’ & Children’s Benefit Fund.
“On behalf of New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund’s Board of Directors and the families of our fallen heroes, we are truly grateful for Beyoncé’s choice to support our charity and ‘answer the call’,” said Stephen J. Dannhauser, Chairman of the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund.

Beyonce Knowles Turns to Modest Fashion on Easter Day

2011-05-06T18:53:00.000-07:00

Beyonce Knowles presents two opposite styles while in Paris, France recently. Spending some downtime with her music mogul husband Jay-Z in the fashion city of the world, the "Run the World (Girls)" singer has gone from a sexy siren to a stylish lady in a couple of days and just in time for Easter.

On Saturday, April 23, Beyonce rocked a plunging black jumpsuit and let loose her hair when stepping out for a lunch with Jay-Z. With the Roland Mouret attire, the songstress gave quite a view of her side cleavage, especially since the sticky tape used to keep the cloth in place failed to do so when she was making her exit from the Coste. The next day on Easter Sunday, the 29-year-old went out for a brunch with her rapper husband at Hotel Fouquet's Barriere. This time, she opted to go with a more modest look, covering her body from neck to knee in a flattering polka-dotted green and red dress. For the outing, she also slicked back her hair into a pretty bun, and took along a crocodile handbag.

Beyonce and Jay-Z have been in the City of Lights since Monday, April 18. People magazine reported that the two stayed in a two-story hotel penthouse suite at the Hotel Le Meurice overlooking the Tuileries Garden, which costs around $20,000 a night. On Thursday, April 21, the singer has been seen taking her 6-year-old nephew Daniel to Disneyland Paris.

Beyonce Knowles not Performing at Royal Wedding

2011-05-06T18:49:00.000-07:00

Beyonce Knowles has shot down rumor suggesting she has been booked to perform at Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding on April 29. A representative for the R&B diva debunked the report to ET, insisting that "the ceremony is not on her schedule and she has a shoot in New York on Saturday (April 30)."

The rumor was first run by the Daily Star. A source told the publication, "Both William and Kate are massive fans of Beyonce and Jay-Z. They really wanted to make their big day even more special and what better way than by getting pop royalty to perform at the party?" The royal couple reportedly "will have an official reception for hundreds of dignitaries before throwing a less formal bash for loved-ones." According to the source, "they both wanted to ditch traditions and make it more personal for them," and "it's highly likely they [Bey and Jay-Z] have taken up the Royals' offer."

While Beyonce's rumored performance has already been dismissed by her rep, the Jay-Z rumor hasn't been denied or confirmed just yet. The Jiggaman himself has been spotted accompanying his wife while out and about in Europe. In one of the outings, they reportedly met Kanye West to record a new song with him.

Beyonce Knowles' 'Run the World' Single Cover and 'Revolution' Trailer

2011-05-06T18:39:00.000-07:00

Beyonce Knowles has revealed details of her brand new single "Run the World (Girls)" which leaked earlier this week. The R&B singer is going to release the song as a lead single from her not-yet-titled album on iTunes on April 21 and premiere it on radio worldwide on the same day.

A girl empowerment single which samples Major Lazer's "Pon de Floor", "Run the World" is produced by Switch with additional production by Beyonce and Shea Taylor. The wife of Jay-Z also contributes to its songwriting along with Terius Nash aka The-Dream. Its official cover art has also been unveiled, featuring Beyonce in a dress similar to the one she wore during the filming of its music video in Mojave desert, California. She's snapped standing tall in a yellow figure-hugging low-cut V dress. She finishes off her look with a pair of Sergio Rossi's "Talisman" knee-high gladiator boots which are decorated with studs and plumes.

The video is directed by award-winning director Francis Lawrence who previously worked with Lady GaGa, Britney Spears and Destiny's Child. Her longtime collaborator Frank Gatson reportedly serves as a choreographer. "It'll be big, it'll probably be one of the bigger Beyonce music videos ever done. and, I can say that I think the song is unbelievable," Francis told MTV.

Beyonce hasn't announced when she's going to debut the video nor has she shared release date of the new album where the single will appear. To tide fans over, she dropped a trailer called "Revolution" which seems to be taken from the "Run the World (Girls)" video shoot as well. She's briefly seen riding a horse in an all-white attire.

Will Beyonce Knowles End Her Marriage?

2011-02-21T04:53:00.001-08:00

There is something brewing in the Beyonce Knowles and Jay Z marriage! Is the relationship going through a difficult patch right now or is it just a normal issue which every marriage faces?

Reports however, have stated that this is not true, but according to other sources, the couple, Jay Z and Beyonce Knowles who seems to be head over heels in love with each other does not look happy any more.

The two, Beyonce Knowles and Jay Z who got married last year are planning to have a baby and many say that this is the main cause of their marriage problems.

Though both of them seem to be at ease in wanting what they want, it now appears that one of them has lost interest in family planning and it may be Jay Z.

This issue was spotted when the glam girl, Beyonce Knowles celebrated Valentines Day with her Destiny Child's friends, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams intead with her husband, Jay Z and it was also noted that Beyonce Knowles and husband attended the Oscars separately.

Black History Month profile: Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Knowles’ first claim to fame in the media came at age 7 with a mention in the Houston Chronicle as a nominee for the Sammy, a local performing-arts award. The entertainer has come a long way since then, having sold 75 million records since starting her career in the chart-topping R&B group Destiny’s Child and eventually becoming one of the best-selling singers of all time.

Knowles says her No. 1 challenge is finding "time to be a wife, to be a singer, to be a songwriter, to be an actor and still have time for my clothing line and now for my perfume (line)" — not to mention endorsement deals with L’Oréal and various fashion designers. She has appeared in several movies, her most memorable being Dreamgirls (2006) and Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002).

Still, Knowles’ incredible success was worth the effort, as proven by her topping Forbes.com's list of the 100 Most Powerful and Influential musicians, plus 16 Grammy wins.

Born in 1981 in west Houston, Knowles attended St. Mary’s Elementary School in Fredericksburg and both Parker Elementary School and the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, followed by Alief Elsik High School.

This year the star will release her fourth solo studio album, headline at Glastonbury Festival and prepare for a role in the Clint Eastwood-directed A Star Is Born.

Beyonce gets a new look

2011-02-21T04:40:00.000-08:00

Singer Beyonce Knowles is said to have looked almost unrecognisable while shopping in Hollywood recently with her newly bleach-blonde hair and a fairer skin tone.

Beyonce, 29, whose skin looked much lighter than usual, was seen wearing a pair of 635 pounds jade suede Daffodile heels by Christian Louboutin. An expert has claimed that, while the change in skin tone could be a trick of the light, it could also be the result of Knowles bleaching her skin.

"The most effective skin-lightening agents are hydroquinone and kojic acid, creams which patients apply to the skin," the Daily Mail quoted Dr Sunil Chopra, a consultant dermatologist at the London Dermatology Centre, as saying.

"The effects are temporary and work by inhibiting the enzyme ... responsible for the skin's pigment. Both are very popular. I see maybe three people every week who want this procedure.

"But it cannot be used over the whole body. It is very unlikely she has had her skin bleached in this way," he stated

Blonde bombshell Beyonce shows off her lighter side

2011-02-21T04:38:00.000-08:00

Beyoncé Knowles would have to go to some lengths to avoid being recognised.

But she almost managed it while shopping in Hollywood this week thanks to a new fairer look – and not just her newly bleach-blonde hair.

The 29-year-old singer’s skin also looked much lighter than usual as she showed off her long, bare legs in a pair of £635 jade suede Daffodile heels by Christian Louboutin.It may simply have been a trick of the light, however, as one expert claimed the fairer tone was unlikely to be the result of Miss Knowles – whose father Mathew is African-American and whose mother Tina is mixed-race – bleaching her skin.

Dr Sunil Chopra, a consultant dermatologist at the London Dermatology Centre, said: ‘The most effective skin-lightening agents are hydroquinone and kojic acid, creams which patients apply to the skin.

Beyonce shows up with new platinum blonde hair

2011-02-21T04:36:00.000-08:00

Recently, the hot and sexy singer BeyonceBeyonce Knowles turned many heads when she showed up with her new blonde hair locks for the first time. It has been reported that during a shopping trip in Los Angeles, Beyonce came up with a dramatic platinum blonde hairstyle, which is much lighter tone than she had in her latest L'Oreal Paris commercial.

29-year-old Beyonce, who is the wife of music mogul Jay-Z, drew attention with her curly blonde locks with an apparently paler skin tone. With her bouncy and wavy blonde new hair-do, Beyonce complimented the new look with a pair of turquoise Christian LouboutinChristian Louboutin heels.This is not the first time that Beyonce has grabbed attention due to her lighter skin tone. Earlier in 2008, L'Oreal was accused of digitally lightening Beyonce's skin in advertisement; however, the cosmetics company denied that the pictures were altered.

Beyonce, who has been announced as the headline act for this year's Glastonbury Festival, is currently busy in recording her fourth solo album.

Beyonce Knowles to headline Glastonbury

2011-02-21T04:34:00.000-08:00

The 'Halo' singer and the Irish rockers - who were forced to pull out of their headline slot last year because of a back injury to frontman Bono - will be the main acts at the legendary event in Somerset, South West England, alongside 'Fix You' hitmakers Coldplay.

According to website Holymoly.com, U2 will play the Pyramid Stage on the Friday night, with Beyonce taking the top slot on the Saturday, while Coldplay have been given the prestigious closing slot on the Sunday night. Although she has never performed at Glastonbury before, she did visit the festival in 2008 when husband Jay-Z headlined and organiser Michael Eavis has previously said he is keen to bring another huge US name to the event.

He said: "There's an American artist that I've been wanting to have for years and yonks and yonks and yonks."

Because U2 were forced to cancel last year's appearance, Michael has always said the band would perform in 2011, while Coldplay have been rumoured for months.

Last year, Gorillaz replaced U2 as headliners, with Muse and Stevie Wonder talking the other places on the bill.

Beyonce Knowles Glastonbury 2011 Report

2011-02-21T04:32:00.000-08:00

Pop and R&B singer Beyonce Knowles is rumored to be playing at the U.K.’s most infamous music festival, Glastonbury. If the rumors are true, Knowles will be joining major artists Coldplay and U2 as headliners during the three-day music festival.

So far Coldplay, fronted by Chris Martin, were confirmed for the show on Monday, February 7. U2 has been a rumored headliner of the festival for quite awhile, especially after lead singer Bono had to pull out of the 2010 slot that they had been scheduled to perform in.So far the full line-up has not yet been revealed, but Michael Eavis, the founder of the festival, released a few tantalizing details.

He said, “There’s an American artist that I’ve been wanting to have for years.” This caused quite the media frenzy, ending with many outlets claiming that Knowles will be the mystery guest.

This would be the first time that the artist has performed at the giant festival. She did make an appearance at the show in 2008, when her husband Jay-Z was a headlining act.

Little Black Dress Beautiful

2011-02-21T04:30:00.000-08:00

Fresh off of a long night at the Grammy Awards, Beyonce Knowles
indulged herself in a little retail therapy in West Hollywood, CA on Monday (February 14).

The "Irreplaceable" singer showed off her long legs and sexy curves in a short black dress with bright blue Christian Louboutin heels as she was escorted from shop to shop. The sighting comes amidst recent rumors stemming from a MediaTakeout report claiming that Miss Knowles is experiencing marital woes with hubby Jay-Z.Their insider alleged, "For now [Jay Z's] going to be staying in LA. Beyonce will be in NY… The hope is that with the time apart, the couple will decide to either have kids, or go their separate ways."

Denying any such situation, a source close to the "99 Problems" rapper told GossipCop that the entire report is “b.s.”

Beyonce teams her new blonde bombshell hair

2011-02-21T04:27:00.000-08:00

After dyeing her hair golden blonde, Beyonce Knowles appears to be cultivating a new bombshell image.

As she enjoyed a spot of post-Grammys retail therapy in Hollywood yesterday, the 29-year-old singer stepped out in a black mini-dress and a super high pair of turquoise Christian Louboutin heels.
But the tottering heels were clearly not the best footwear to be in for a shopping trip, as even seasoned stiletto-wearer Beyonce was seen mindfully watching the ground as she walked slowly.

She appeared so nervous by the six-inch platforms, she put her hand up ready to grab on to her Cadillac Escalade if she fell.

Perhaps she had briefly popped to the shops to pick up a Valentine's Day present for rapper husband Jay-Z.

The previous night, Beyonce attended with Grammys with her friend Gwyneth Paltrow, who was duetting with Cee Lo Green on Forget You.

And on Saturday, the former Destiny's Child frontwoman helped her spouse host the Gucci and Roc Nation Pre-Grammy Brunch at the Hollywood branch of Soho House.

Beyonce cleaned up at last year's Grammys, taking home six awards, but this year missed out in her three categories.

She was nominated alongside Lady Gaga for their duet Telephone in Best Pop Collaboration With Vocal and for the same song of the latter's The Fame Monster EP, as well as Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for her own single Halo.

Beyonce Shows Off Her Legs While Indulging In Retail Therapy

2011-02-21T04:25:00.000-08:00

The always beautiful Beyonce Knowles was spotted in West Hollywood indulging in retail therapy. After a night at the Grammys, Beyonce decided to stick around Los Angeles to do what every lady loves to do, and that's shop!Beyonce rocked a short black mini-dress with a pair of bright blue Christian Louboutin platform pumps. She looked absolutely flawless and demure as her long toned legs were the focus of every onlookers attention. Looks as though Beyonce lightened her hair as well. Her long blond tresses were effortlessly flowing through the warm Hollywood breeze.

I want women to feel sensual

2011-02-21T04:24:00.000-08:00

Singer Beyonce Knowles says she wants every women to feel sensual when they wear her new perfume, Heat Rush.

"I created Heat Rush to bring the feeling of warmth and sensuality to every woman who wears it. It's feminine and sexy, fresh and beautiful," femalefirst quoted her as saying.
The 29-year-old's fragrance is a mix of floral bouquet and hints of honey and musk.

"I wanted this to be something that made you feel like you could conquer anything, and take over the world. Strength was something important, because a lot of my songs I write for my women, to empower them," she said.

"When I spray it, I feel feminine, I feel like a woman. I can leave a lasting impression."

Beyonce Confirms Glastonbury Gig

2011-02-21T04:21:00.000-08:00

R&B superstar BEYONCE is "pumped" to follow in her husband JAY-Z's groundbreaking footsteps and headline Britain's biggest rock festival Glastonbury in June (11).

Speculation started earlier this week (begs07Feb11) that the Crazy In Love hitmaker would be one of the big acts to play to thousands of music fans at the annual event after her pal Chris Martin's band Coldplay announced its slot. Beyonce has now confirmed the news, saying, "This really is the biggest festival in the world and I cannot wait to perform there. Everyone who attends is really appreciative of music and is in such a good mood that entire weekend."

Beyonce watched from the side of the stage at the 2008 Glastonbury as her rapper husband thrilled the crowd with a storming show following huge criticism over a hip-hop act headlining the traditionally rock-oriented event.

It is also rumoured British rockers The Libertines will follow up their comeback gig at last year's (10) Reading and Leeds festivals with an appearance at this year's (11) Glastonbury, which takes place in Somerset, England.

Beyonce's Night at the 2011 Grammy Awards

2011-02-21T04:20:00.000-08:00

After skipping out on the red carpet, Beyonce Knowles was spotted inside the Staples Center venue in Los Angeles, CA on Sunday (February 13).

The “If I Were A Boy” singer looked glamorous in black as she greeted fellow Grammy Awards attendees including Gwyneth Paltrow, Usher and Janelle Monae.Beyonce was up for two Grammy awards this year for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for her single “Halo" and for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals for Lady Gaga’s “Telephone” - which she is featured in.

Unfortunately, Miss Knowles went home empty-handed after taking home multiple trophies the previous year.

Beyonce Gains A New Baby Brother

2010-04-03T00:01:00.000-07:00

Earlier this month we reported that Beyonce’s dad had been accused of fathering another child outside of his marriage to Tina Knowles with a lady by the name of Alexsandra Wright.

Well, a recent DNA has proved that Mathew Knowles is indeed the father of a baby boy by the name of Nixon.

Lawyers for Knowles and Wright are in the final stages of negotiating a settlement for baby Nixon's child support.In other news, rumours have it that Beyonce and Jay-Z are pregnant. Urban music gossip site Mediatakeout.com broke the news, but no statement has been released on the behalf of Beyonce.

Beyoncé YouTube Page Blocked by Sony

2010-03-02T05:24:00.000-08:00

After dispelling rumors that Beyoncè was pregnant, Sony – the singer’s record label, has now taken action on YouTube, removing her music videos.
Sony has blocked all of the multi-Grammy-winning artist’s videos in the US on the video sharing site and replaced them with a message which reads: “This video contains content from Sony Music Entertainment, who has blocked it in your country on copyright grounds.” Viewers are still able to see them in other countries.

The action comes on the heels of a copyright infringement issue involving Beyoncè’s label, and as techie website Motherboard point out, no doubt stems from the floundering record industry and its desire to have a piece of the online video biz, reports E!Online.com.
There’s no word yet on how long it will take for Beyoncè’s YouTube channel to be active or when videos will be live again.


	Review: Beyonce – Stop Punching Robbie!, York Theatre Royal Beyonce – Stop Punching Robbie! is about as subtle as the title suggests. As Janice, writer and actor Cecilia Delatori is a woman on the edge of a nervous breakdown, with great blinking eyes, wobbling chin and a great mouth, down-turned at the corner, like a sad Pierrot clown face.

Delatori’s one-woman show, directed by Michael Eriera, explores the clash between the old and the new. Janice, a nursery school teacher with 23 years’ experience, is battling all fronts.

Her marriage is crumbling, as her husband leaves her for a younger model he has met on an assertiveness training seminar. At work, her younger colleague Catherine sneers at her teaching practices, in a clash Janice describes as Mary Poppins meets Pol Pot.

Beyonce tops best body poll

2010-03-01T07:20:00.000-08:00

Beyonce is the envy of British women - the R&B star has topped a poll of the most wanted celebrity bodies.

The singer came number one in the U.K. survey to find the sexiest stars in the eyes of women, while men voted Megan Fox into first place. Jennifer Aniston was also popular with girls, with women naming her as the star with the prettiest face, but the male survey handed the title to Keira Knightley.

Former Spice Girls star Victoria Beckham didn't do so well in the poll by Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment - she topped the list of least attractive stars by both sexes.

Beyonce accused of taking credit for others` songs

2010-03-01T07:17:00.000-08:00

Beyonce has been called out for taking credit for songs where it isn’t due.

A former producer, who worked with the star in Destiny’s Child, says he came up with the riff for their hit Bootylicious and was stunned to hear Beyonce on television claiming it was hers.Rob Fusari, an executive producer on Lady GaGa’s hit album The Fame, says he came up with the idea for Bootylicious while flicking through his record collection.

Celebrating Chopin’s 200th birthday

2010-03-01T07:14:00.000-08:00

“Now, will Beyoncé or Britney Spears have the same lasting effect? I doubt it.” Huckleberry described Chopin as a soft-spoken fellow who preferred to play

LIME customers win trip to Beyonce concert

2010-03-01T07:09:00.000-08:00

A trip to see Grammy-award winning entertainer Beyonce in concert was a dream come true for the 14 winners and their guests in LIME's recent Beyonce text promotion."I had the time of my life" said Staici Ann Brown, the Cayman winner. "I took my friend, Nastassja, with me, and it was just a trip of a lifetime. We slept for about three hours for the whole weekend, as we wanted to see and do everything." The Caribbean telecom company flew the winning customers and their guests to the twin island republic to see Beyonce on the final stop of her "I Am" tour. LIME treated them to round-trip airfare to Trinidad, hotel accommodations, VIP tickets to the concert, and transportation to and from the event venue and the airport.

Beyonce and Jay-Z share intimate moment on boat trip

2010-03-01T07:05:00.000-08:00

Beyoncé and Jay-Z shared a rare intimate moment on a boat trip near their £16million home this week.

The married couple had to spend Valentine's Day apart because of their hectic schedules, but they finally met in style at their waterfront mansion in Miami.Beyoncé, 28, and Jay-Z have been an item since 2002, yet despite tying the knot in April 2008 they are rarely pictured together as work commitments often keep them far apart.

Coca-Cola gets in step, Beyonce is out of step

2010-03-01T06:51:00.000-08:00

The website bossip.com posted two new songs by Beyonce, “Baby, You’re the Only Man” and “I’m Glad There’s You,” but called them mediocre.

“My Little Pony” sings and dances to “Defying Gravity,” something Gabe Hartwig posted at stltoday.com/viralvideos and called “the most fantastic thing I’ve seen in quite a while.”The representative for actress Abbie Cornish announced, “Abbie ended the relationship with Ryan (Phillippe, an actor) and she moved out of their home.” Phillippe’s agent countered, “Ryan ended the relationship and asked her to move out.”

Beyonce decade's most successful musician: Record industry

2010-03-01T06:44:00.000-08:00

Pop diva Beyonce Knowles has received a major accolade by the RIAA, which has named her the most successful musician of 2000-09 in the US.

Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a group which represents record distributors in the US. RIAA bosses have released their decade list of the bestselling artists and Grammy Award record breaker Beyonce tops both the albums and video certifications as well as ringtone certifications countdown.

Beyonce Is America's Golden And Platinum Girl

2010-03-01T06:42:00.000-08:00

Beyonce has landed another major accolade - she has been named the most successful musician of the new century's first decade in America.

Recording Industry Association of America (Riaa) bosses have released their decade list of the bestselling artists and Grammy Award record breaker Beyonce tops both the albums and video certifications and ringtone certifications countdown.She landed 64 gold and platinum certifications for sales of albums and videos and a further 19 for ringtones.

The Eagles topped all other groups in total gold and platinum awards with 48, while the late Michael Jackson led male solo artists with 44, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

BEYONCE took in some of Rio's sights

2010-03-01T06:37:00.000-08:00

The Single Ladies singer visited the Christ The Redeemer statue and while she was catching a glimpse of the 130ft landmark, her followers were clambering to get a snap of their hero.

She didn't seem to mind the attention, beaming brightly in her colourful dress. Beyonce will be staying in Rio for this weekend's carnival, having just put the finishing touches on the promo for her track with ALICIA KEYS - Put It In A Love Song.

Beyoncé dominates Grammy gala

2010-01-31T20:45:00.001-08:00

Pop diva Beyoncé reigned over the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night, setting a record for the most wins by a female artist.

The hit singer accepted six Grammys — with the potential to win a seventh — for her album I am... Sasha Fierce and hit songs like Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It).

"This has been such an amazing night for me and I'd love to thank the Grammys," she said as she took the stage to accept the trophy for best female pop vocal performance for her ballad Halo.

Her voice wavering with emotion, she also thanked her fans and her family, extending the shout-out to husband — and another of Sunday night's multiple Grammy-winners — Jay-Z.

She had previously earned the televised show's first award of the night — song of the year for Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It) — and turned in a spirited performance of her track If I Were a Boy and Alanis Morissette's You Oughta Know.

Coming into Sunday with a leading 10 nominations, she was a dominant force even at the non-televised Los Angeles gala Sunday afternoon, where she won contemporary R&B album for I am...Sasha Fierce, best R&B song and best female R&B vocal performance for Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It) and traditional R&B performance for At Last, from the film Cadillac Records.

Beyoncé led what was largely a ladies night at the Grammys, with chart-toppers Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga also scoring multiple honours.

Country ingenue Swift was honoured with the best country album Grammy for her bestselling release, Fearless.

"This is my first time walking up those stairs to accept a Grammy on national television!" she exclaimed. "I just feel like I'm standing here accepting an impossible dream."

She showed as much enthusiasm as when she accepted a pair of trophies (female country vocal performance and country song for White Horse) at the pre-show ceremony and declared, "This is my first Grammy, you guys!"

Outrageous dance-pop artist Lady Gaga kicked off Sunday night's broadcast with a fiery, eye-popping performance that segued into a duet with British icon Elton John. She too started the gala with a pair of Grammys already under her belt: dance recording for Poker Face and electronic/dance album for The Fame.

Southern rockers Kings of Leon landed a trio of Grammys, with the track Use Somebody winning the band the coveted record of the year title, best rock duo or group and best rock song.

The Black Eyed Peas, another top contender, started the broadcast having already won three Grammys: for their album The E.N.D. (pop vocal album) and their hit songs I Gotta Feeling (pop performance by a duo or group with vocals) and Boom Boom Pow (short-form music video).

Other key winners included:

•Country's Zac Brown Band, winner of best new artist after the success of its debut album The Foundation.
•Jay-Z, whose track Run This Town (featuring Rihanna and Kanye West) was named best rap/sung collaboration and best rap song. His song D.O.A. (Death of Autotune) also picked up the Grammy for best rap solo performance.
•Hit TV satirist Stephen Colbert, whose A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All! was named best comedy album.
•Green Day, who picked up best rock album for 21st Century Breakdown.
•Rapper Eminem, whose album Relapse won best rap album and whose track Crack a Bottle (featuring Dr. Dre and 50 Cent) scored rap duo or group performance.
•Double-winner R&B singer Maxwell (R&B album for BLACKsummers'night and best male R&B vocal performance for Pretty Wings).
•Singer-songwriter Jason Mraz, whose tune Make It Mine nabbed male pop vocal performance and whose duet Lucky (with Colbie Caillat) won pop collaboration with vocals.
Along with Gaga, Beyoncé, Black Eyed Peas and country group Lady Antebellum, performers also included Green Day, who took the stage with cast members of their musical American Idiot, and singer Pink, who participated in an impressive aerial acrobatics routine while singing her ballad I Don't Believe You.

The show also featured periodic mentions of special Grammy award winners — including lifetime achievement award winners Leonard Cohen and Loretta Lynn — and some out-of-the-ordinary performances.

Céline Dion, Usher, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson and Smokey Robinson performed along with a recording of Michael Jackson's Earth Song, in front of 3-D footage created for the late Jackson's This is It concerts. Two of Jackson's children, Prince Michael and Paris, then accepted their father's lifetime achievement award.

Mary J. Blige and Andrea Bocelli teamed up to sing the classic Simon and Garfunkel song Bridge Over Troubled Waters, with their collaboration to be offered for sale as a charity single supporting Haitian earthquake relief at the iTunes online music store.

99 categories on pre-telecast
Earlier in the afternoon, a fast-paced pre-telecast gala — hosted by Grammy-winning singers Kurt Elling and Tia Carrere — awarded trophies in 99 categories.

Several Canadians were among those early winners.

Neil Young snagged the award for best boxed or special limited edition package for his elaborately designed box set The Archives, Vol. 1 1963-1972.

The Canadian music legend had also been honoured during the weekend's festivities as the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences' MusiCares person of the year.

Actor Michael J. Fox won the best spoken word album Grammy for Always Looking Up, based on his book Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist — which explores his personal philosophy amid an ongoing struggle with Parkinson's disease and stories of other optimists who have triumphed over adversity.

Crooner Michael Bublé was honoured with the award for traditional pop vocal album, for his album Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden.

Canadian acts who failed to win included
rap newcomer Drake, Montreal duo Beast, rock group Nickelback, hit producer David Foster, R&B singer Melanie Fiona and aboriginal singers Northern Cree.

Other pre-telecast highlights included:

•Engineered album, non-classical: Ellipse, by Imogen Heap, who arrived out of breath onstage from having just arrived moments before. The quirky artist turned up clutching a transparent parasol and bearing a sort-of electronic scarf featuring a scrolling Twitter feed.
•Jazz vocal album: Dedicated to You: Kurt Elling sings the music of Coltrane and Hartman, by gala co-host Kurt Elling. The singer noted that it was his first win after nine nominations.
•Remixed Recording: When Love Takes Over, by David Guetta with Kelly Rowland. French D.J. Guetta noted that he received "five nominations, so it means that finally DJ culture and dance music is growing in America... I'm not a real musician, trained. I cannot write music, but I started remixing music and that's how I started making music."
•Traditional folk album: High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project, by Loudon Wainwright III, who ended his acceptance speech by thanking his late ex-wife Kate McGarrigle, "who taught me how to frail the banjo 40 years ago." Canadian folk icon McGarrigle, mother of singers Martha and Rufus Wainwright, will be honoured at a memorial in Montreal on Monday.
•Metal Performance: Dissident Aggressor, by Judas Priest. Singer Rob Halford noted that the win came after the five Grammy nominations. "Judas Priest has been making metal for over 35 years... Around the planet, we love what we do."
Taylor Swift reacts to winning the the best female country vocal performance award during the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards' pre-telecast show at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Beyonce Stars In Vizio's Super Bowl Spot

2010-01-29T04:36:00.000-08:00

Vizio's Super Bowl spot will feature entertainer Beyonce Knowles-Carter, who is making her debut as the company's spokesperson.
The LCD HDTV company's game-day presence will also include the exclusive HD Sponsorship of the CBS Super Bowl Pre-Game Show entitled "The Super Bowl Today Presented by Vizio."

More Beyonce In Nintendo’s Future

2010-01-29T04:32:00.000-08:00

Pop goddess Beyonce, renewed her contract with Nintendo recently and will do much more than promote Nintendo games, she’ll be hyping her own digs too!

'I Want People To See Me'

2010-01-29T04:24:00.000-08:00

Beyonce has decided to Sasha Fierce opening into the ground. Beyonce's alter ego and recognized the face of the 2008 multi-Platinum selling album "I Am ... Sasha Fierce". :
"The thing that's interesting is I don't need Sasha Fierce anymore, because I've grown and I'm now able to merge the two. Sasha Fierce is the fun, more sensual, more aggressive, more outspoken side and more glamorous side that comes out when I'm working and when I'm on the stage. The double album allows me to take more risks and really step out of myself, or shall I say, step more into myself, and reveal a side of me that people [who] only know me see."

Beyonce and Jay-Z Hold Hands

2010-01-29T04:16:00.000-08:00

Beyoncé Knowles and Jay-Z reportedly holding hands at the airport in Nice. They were heading to Southern France after appearing in George Clooney's telethon Haiti from London, with Jay-Z link stage to perform with Rihanna and Bono. Jay-Z and Bono often known to the Mediterranean by cruise ship to their favorite holiday, so they may take a few days break in their normally busy schedule.

‘I Want To Have A Child’ - Beyonce Knowles

2010-01-29T04:05:00.000-08:00

According to Beyonce, he hopes to build a business family happens to own, but still says he did not have time for that matter. As reported in the early HipHopRX.com January, Beyonce plans to take a six month break to spend time with her husband Jay-Z and his family after what was reported last performance at the 52 Annual Grammy Awards on January 31, until it returned.

Beyonce Gets Style-Conscious With Nintendo And The DS

2010-01-29T03:55:00.000-08:00

Beyoncé Knowles may not have their own style of dancing, but she finds ways to amaze audiences. The famous diva who appeared in ads for the game DSI " Rhythm Heaven "has announced that she will do the same and more for the" Style Savvy "will be scheduled at the premier at Nickelodeon

Beyonce Knowles Taking a Break from Music Career?

2010-01-26T05:04:00.000-08:00

Beyonce Knowles has recently revealed that she is planning to take a break from her music career, however don’t get too worried as she will only be resting for 6-months.In February Beyonce will complete her ‘I Am…’ World tour, this will have lasted 11 months in total which has taken its toll on her.

It is thought that during her break Beyonce wants to do “random things”, heres what she had to say on the matter “I’m going to do random things. I want to go to restaurants, maybe take a class and see some movies and Broadway shows.”

Beyonce lands controversy for fat gig payout!

2010-01-26T05:02:00.000-08:00

As per the latest reports it appears that dusky, velvet –voiced Pop Dame Beyonce Knowles is in the eye of a storm for being paid an eye – popping $2 million for a private New Year concert for the son of one time Libyan dictator and now President Muammar Gaddafi.What especially seems to have drawn the ire of the critics is that Beyonce with a host of PR people at hand could have actually taken this call to honor the invite of the controversial Libyan leader, who doesn’t enjoy a heady reputation in the international community.

Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z topped the highest earning celeb couple

2010-01-26T04:59:00.000-08:00

This is not the first time the couple has won the top position. Last year too, during June 2007 and June 2008, they had made $162 million together. Whew…some huge cash we say!To see their respective earning this year, Beyonce has made $87 million and the rest $35 million is for Jay-Z. Beyonce with her $87 million sits as the #6 highest paid celebrity.

Beyonce to Duet With Lady GaGa

2009-10-31T20:29:00.000-07:00

Upon receiving Lady GaGa's help for "Video Phone" music video, Beyonce Knowles will return the favor by lending her vocal to the dance queen's new song "Telephone".

Beyonce Knowles and Keri Hilson Lead 2009 Soul Train Awards Noms

2009-10-30T20:39:00.000-07:00

After being absent from honoring musicians in 2008, Soul Train Music Awards comes back this year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Motown Records. Nominations for the upcoming event have been announced, revealing that Beyonce Knowles, Maxwell and Keri Hilson lead the pack with four nods each.

Beyonce Knowles postpones concert in Malaysia

2009-10-30T20:18:00.000-07:00

Beyonce Knowles' concert in Malaysia was postponed by the singer herself, revealed Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.

Datuk said that there was no interference by his ministry on the matter and that Beyonce, 28, who was scheduled to hold the concert on October 18, had decided to postpone the concert on her own, reports New Straits Times Online.

Beyonce to play Malaysia concert

2009-09-22T05:46:00.000-07:00

R&B star Beyonce has announced plans to perform in Malaysia, two years after scrapping a concert over the country's strict dress code. The singer is due to stage a leg of her world tour in the capital Kuala Lumpur next month, according to her website.

In 2007, her planned appearance drew opposition from the Islamic Party and organisers said the concert was called off due to "scheduling conflicts". Female performers are expected to dress and behave conservatively in Malaysia.

Beyonce sing Halo to young cancer sufferer

2009-09-22T05:41:00.000-07:00

Beyonce invites a special fan to join her on stage for a unique version of Halo. Chelsea, who is suffering from Leukemia, cuddles up to Beyonce as she sings: “Chelsea I can see your halo, I pray you won’t fade away.”

Smelly situation for Beyonce

2009-09-22T05:37:00.000-07:00

Beyonce is being sued by apparel retailer Abercrombie & Fitch . Attorneys for the clothing retailer, known for its steamy shots of scantily clad models, claim B’s plan for a new fragrance to be launched early next year infringes on its existing trademark. In a federal lawsuit filed last week in Columbus, Ohio, Abercrombie claims a fragrance under the singer’s “Sasha Fierce” label “poses a likelihood of confusion” with the retailer’s own “Fierce” brand.

Beyonce supports Alexandra

2009-09-22T04:33:00.000-07:00

The 'Single Ladies' hitmaker has become heavily involved with Alexandra after performing a duet with her on the final of the British reality TV show 'The X Factor'. Alexandra has revealed that Beyonce has been supporting her throughout the recording of her debut album 'Overcome' in the US, Daily Star reported.

"She's such a lovely woman and now I'm working with all her people. In the studio in New York I was singing and I opened my eyes and my girl Beyonce was standing there. I went to cuddle her and cried. She said, 'You can't cry, we're friends now.' And I cried some more. I was like, 'You can't tell me things like that. You're Beyonce'," the 21-year-old singer said.

Alexandra, however did not reveal whether the former 'Destiny's Child' star will appear on her album, but she hopes to perform with her pretty soon.

"I can't confirm anything yet, but I'm hoping to be on the European leg of Beyonce's tour," Alexandra added.

How is Beyonce treating her hubby?

2008-06-16T06:47:00.000-07:00

American R&B singer-songwriter Beyonce Knowles has revealed that she sometimes treats her husband Jay-Z to a visit from her saucy alter ego

Beyonce Knowles (Reuters Photo)

Sasha Fierce.

Beyonce, 27 transforms into Fierce when she puts on her stiletto heels before going on stage.

Asked by talk show queen Oprah Winfrey whether she took her alter ego home to Jay-Z, the Crazy In Love singer said: “Sometimes, not often. Only on special occasions.”

Beyonce, who married Jay-Z, 38, in April, denied pregnancy rumours.

“I want a family but I’m not ready yet. Maybe in a couple of years,” the Sun quoted her as saying.

Beyonce Knowles: shy big sister by day, wild girl by night

2008-06-15T06:35:00.000-07:00

On the steps of the Mandarin Hotel in Knightsbridge, Beyoncé Knowles is meeting the paparazzi. From the hotel foyer, looking out into the filthy London rain, hair in a functional ponytail, she is a petite silhouette in the flashbulbs. A couple of young male fans are allowed to step forward for a moment with their heroine. Instinctively, the first places his left arm around the singer. No less instinctively, a vast minder detaches the arm from Beyoncé's sleeveless designer dress and puts it back where it came from.

It's an episode that flags up something unusual about Beyoncé's brand of star quality. Fans of, say, Madonna or Cher would never put an arm around their idol and, although she is only 27, Beyoncé has had plenty of opportunities to finesse their brand of starry untouchability. It is three years since she dissolved Destiny's Child after three albums and a run of award-winning hymns to womanly empowerment such as Survivor and Independent Woman; six since her duet with the Brooklyn rap demigod Jay-Z served notice to the world that America's foremost hip-hop star and its emerging queen of R&B were an item.

The Amazonian Beyoncé of Destiny's Child

2008-06-14T06:38:00.000-07:00

In the past year alone, Beyonce Knowles said to have earned $80 million (£54 million) from record sales, film appearances and endorsements. Yet in the flesh, it all seems a galaxy away from her disarmingly open body language and megawatt smile.

Two days previously, and it's that lack of celebrity airs that the Strictly Come Dancing warm-up comic picks up on as Beyoncé prepares to perform her new single If I Was A Boy. “You know, Beyoncé,” he leers, “you're the kind of girl I could take to McDonald's and let you go large.” Her vulnerability is compounded when he inquires the whereabouts of Jay-Z, whom she apparently married two months before his momentous Glastonbury performance last June, though they have studiously avoided discussing this with the media. The gleam of her diamond-studded heels finds an echo in her eyes. “He's looking for you,” she replies. For a second, the Amazonian Beyoncé of Destiny's Child is resurrected.

Beyoncé travelled between Tampa and Miami in Florida

2008-06-13T06:40:00.000-07:00

It has been quite a year for the singer - the rumoured wedding, Glastonbury, then the election. This month the hitherto apolitical Beyoncé travelled between Tampa and Miami in Florida and then to Virginia “to meet thousands of people who have been waiting in the lines to encourage other people to come and wait in the lines. Then, on the night, I was home with my friends and we had ... you know, red white and blue balloons everywhere, and flags. I mean, this is new to me. It was like watching a Martin Luther King speech. He has a light, you know?”

She was supposed to be in Europe promoting herself during the election but, sensing that she was missing history, flew back to be there for the man who listens to her on his iPod and for whom she says she would love to sing at the inauguration.

“That's a good question,” Beyonce smirks

2008-06-12T06:42:00.000-07:00

It now seems only fitting to ask about the third event of the year. Which was the most nerve-racking - either of the aforementioned, or her wedding? For a nanosecond she looks as if she might let slip inadvertent confirmation of her nuptials. “That's a good question,” she smirks.

Does that mean that the wedding-list question is out, too? She laughs. In the anteroom, ruffling of papers can be heard from her anxious retinue. In all these years, Beyoncé has never allowed her singing persona and her private persona to merge.

Take her at her word and it would seem the “real” Beyoncé

2008-06-11T06:43:00.000-07:00

Far from attempting to reconcile them, her new double album I Am . . . Sasha Fierce embraces that division. Drop the first disc - the I Am bit - into the CD tray and, according to Beyoncé, you will hear the purest expression of the person she is “underneath the make-up”. Take her at her word and it would seem the “real” Beyoncé of soft-scented power ballads such as Halo and Satellites bears scant resemblance to the 22-year-old who, in 2003, lit the touchpaper on her solo career with Crazy in Love.

Beyonce Knowles is a very different creature to her diva-esque singer sister

2008-06-10T06:44:00.000-07:00

She is a very different creature to her diva-esque singer sister. Solange Knowles, a divorced mother, is far more feisty - if I'd asked about her marriage to the American football player Daniel Smith, I'd have been thrown out by now. And whatever Beyoncé chooses to call herself, it's hard to imagine her penning the title ChampagneChroniKnightCap, the paean to self-medication that graced Solange's recent album. “My sister . . .” says Beyoncé, struggling to stifle an almighty grin, “she was born Sasha Fierce!”

Beyonce Knowles: It's hard not to see

2008-06-09T07:13:00.000-07:00

It's hard not to see Jay-Z in those words. “I am attracted to someone who is strong and confident,” she says. So would I be right to assume that the song is about her new husband? Beyoncé laughs. “You're waiting for me to answer! Hahaha! I'm not saying anything. I'm just a smile!”

This time, no minder's intervention is necessary. Between them, Beyoncé Knowles and Sasha Fierce have it covered.

Beyoncé: Lady sings the blues

2008-06-08T06:51:00.000-07:00

Portraying troubled blues icon Etta James in the film "Cadillac Records" was a real eye-opener for the singer, but it's Streisand she'd really like to emulate.

By Geoff Boucher
November 16, 2008

Reporting from New York -- On a recent slate-gray afternoon in New York, Beyoncé zipped quickly through the front door of trendy Rivington Hotel on Manhattan's Lower East Side. The singer, her hair pulled back tightly, was wearing an immaculate black suit and perfectly knotted necktie that gave her a playful "Victor\Victoria" look, one suggesting to the gawking bystanders that the Rivington's latest guest just might be the world's most Superfly stockbroker.

Upstairs, in the hotel's window-walled penthouse, the 27-year-old sat back, sipped a glass of water and announced that, like her suit, she was all about business with flair: " Barbra Streisand, that's the career model for me, I want to be like her. She is just the ultimate. And I want to be an icon too."

Beyonce likes to make ... Hamburger Helper?

2008-06-07T06:53:00.000-07:00

09:10 AM PT, Nov 13 2008

The first time I met Beyoncé Giselle Knowles (she hadn’t quite reached one-name stature yet) was back in 2000 in Houston. Her father and manager, Mathew Knowles, a former salesman, picked me up at the airport and drove me to the family home. The city was a soggy mess — the sewers were overflowing after a nasty storm — but the Knowles' house was immaculate and warm. Beyoncé was at the house with the other members of Destiny’s Child, the pop group that took career notes from the Supremes, En Vogue and TLC before selling 18 million albums in the United States and many times that abroad.

What I remember most about that visit: After a photo shoot, Beyoncé was wearing denim shorts and a gray sweatshirt and sitting on a kitchen counter top, tugging at her hair like a little girl, while, over her shoulder, her mom was stirring gumbo. I reminded Beyoncé of that moment when I met her in New York last week to interview for a Sunday Calendar cover story running this weekend. (We'll add the link to that story on this post on Friday.) She smiled and winced like someone thumbing through an old high school yearbook. “Well I can tell you this: I need some of that gumbo right now. I haven’t had one of my mom’s meals in a long time. She’s the best with that gumbo.”

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