Beyonce's Lemonade

“You know you that b***h when you cause all this conversation.” She spoke it.

Are these issues with Beyoncé and Jay Z's relationship real? I mean let us look back shall we, Ring the Alarm, Irreplaceable, and let us not forget my ultimate favorite Resentment. Beyoncé has been speaking of infidelity in her relationship or simply giving women a song to relate to.With these songs Beyoncé shows that just like us regular folks she gets her heart broken, she is human, and she can be hurt by love.

Not too long ago my little sister and I had a conversation about Beyoncé. I’m not an overzealous fan or a member of the hive, but I enjoy Beyoncé’s music. I had the opportunity to attend her On the Run Tour in New Orleans, and I was pleased with the performance. I would love to see her on tour again. In all of her albums there are few songs that I can honestly say that I dislike. The 2013 Beyoncé album was one that played in my car for a few months and I would listen to the entire thing only skipping when I was in need to hear my favorites.

                                    

Music these days is a beat and deadbeat lyrics. Some of it has no meaning nor substance. Listen to the lyrics that Beyoncé brings above the beat. Personally, I love the narratives at the beginning of each song. I think that her music is relateable which is what matters to an audience. Music is supposed to make you feel, make you heal, and make you think that you are not alone. That’s what this album is meant to do. This music can speak to the mother who was cheated on by the father that you adore, while it also speaks to you while you are trapped in a relationship of infidelity. This album is more than just Jay Z “cheating scandals” its about love, family, faith, justice (politics), and the process that one goes through and so forth.

Talk of her adding the mothers of Trayvon Martin and Mike Brown are going around. Pier Morgan spoke on this issue stating that, “. . . But I felt very uneasy watching these women being used in this way to sell an album. It smacks of shameless exploitation.” That’s an idea if I've ever heard one. My first thought is that Beyoncé does not need to “use” them to sell an album. She drops an album with no promotion. My second thought was that people talk about how much influence celebrities have, and how they sometimes do not take advantage of it. Why is her placing mothers who had to bury their sons not being proactive in trying to bring awareness? What is the difference in Beyoncé’s approach as opposed to J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar bringing awareness in their songs. Beyoncé has the status to make a story with in depth meaning. A story that you may have to watch more than once to get the full meaning. For him to insinuate that Beyoncé used these mothers to “sell an album” is ludicrous to me. Beyoncé drops an album when no one is expecting it and it she blows up social media. Another way to look at it (and the way I personally see it) is to see the publicity these mothers get to shine on what happened to their sons.

The album is not meant to for the closed minded. This album is not meant for everyone. What people have to understand is that even if this is not your favorite artist it does not mean that you cannot respect her art. We should be happy that Beyoncé has the platform and has taken the initiative to push the issue like she did. Beyoncé is not going to be liked by everyone. More importantly like you and me and everyone else, she won’t be understood by everyone.

On that note…. When life gives you lemons… make lemonade.

Friday Favorites #8

Let me tell you, the Lord has really been blessing me. For today, Instead of Friday Favorites, I want to do my Friday Blessings. Not that the Lord hasn't been blessing me, but... here are a few blessings


1. Graduate school. I will be in the Advanced Standing Program to receive my Masters degree in Social Work. This program is a year long. We have to do applications, essay, recommendations  and an interview. Then the stress comes when summer school starts.

2. Internship. I got confirmation that I would be able to do my internship at the place where I am currently working. My supervisor put in a good word for me and that sealed the deal.

3.Las Vegas. Did I mention that JB, my brother, his fiancée  and I are all going to Vegas.... *jumps up and down*

4. I got a call back from my old job (School Board Office) telling me that when school starts if I need a job to call them. They asked if I could come back now, but I had to tell them I was already currently working.

5. A blessing that we sometimes take for granted. My life. I was able to wake up, walk to the bathroom, brush my teeth, shower, put clothes on, get in my car with gas and go, buy lunch, talk with family and friends. See where I'm going with this? I'm blessed beyond measure and sometimes it is the little things that we take for granted.

Thank you Lord.

These blessings my seem small to you, but to know that the faculty had faith in me that I would be able to handle the work of the Advanced Standing Program means everything. I am so nervous about succeeding in this program. The internship is a place where 1) I know that I possibly have a job once I graduate and 2) unlike most internships, it's paid. So knowing that I don't have to work and I am still making a little money is music to my ears. My Las Vegas trip is really sneaking up. I'm so excited. I get to mark something off on my bucket-list and my 101in1001.It's a great break right before summer schools starts. As I stated above I am blessed beyond measure. Blessings 1-4 aren't the only blessings I have received, they just all came at once and to me were really big blessings. I know I don't always see the beauty or the blessings in everyday activities, because I have been blessed with them for so long. But I never want to get so caught up that I forget to tell the Lord "thank you".

So tell me, what blessings have you received lately?

Secondly. if anyone has been to Las Vegas before..... I know it is a lot of everything and the choices can be hard to narrow, but I would love to know what are some spots you think I should hit or the best places to shop and eat.