Can you believe it's been 10 years? It was 10 years ago when all of the sudden, a quiet spring day was fiercely interrupted. Loud, triumphant and bombastic horns- the kind typically used to announce royalty- sounded, and when we looked to see where the raucous came from, we saw this. Beyonce`, the one name phenomenon, had arrived. The moment was so epic, we don’t care that Beyonce` still uses “Crazy in Love” as a concert opener all these years later; no other song is worthy of announcing her arrival and presence. With the quite literally scorching video of “Crazy in Love,” Beyonce` was letting us know that she was about to make that 2003 summer even hotter. Her solo debut album, “Dangerously in Love” (the title track an alternate version of a song featured on Destiny’s Child’s “Survivor”), hit U.S. stores on June 24th, 2003.
Having saved up my teenage coins as a grocery store clerk (I was later fired from that job), “Dangerously” was the first record I ever purchased with my own money (as I mentioned in “Birth of a Music Nerd”). I begged my mom to take me to the department store and I think she was happy to oblige me, since she didn’t have to spend her ends. Once I popped it in, she surprisingly was enjoying it and had no objections (she was the type of parent that actually cared what I listened to) until erotic songs like “Speechless” cut on: “J, this song is about sex. This is the same girl from Destiny’s Child? I wonder how her mother feels about her singing songs like this.” My parents approved of my love of Destiny’s Child; they felt they were good role models. Apparently, “Speechless” wasn’t bad enough on its own; she didn’t confiscate my CD, luckily. An advocate for chastity, I immediately loved “Yes” and even though “Me, Myself & I” was a breakup song, I took the chorus to heart as I was learning how to take the reins in my life. This may sound strange, but considering the amount of love songs on “Dangerously,” I was worried that Beyonce` had too quickly fallen in love with Jay-Z and would lose sight of herself (the later content of “Destiny Fulfilled” & “B’Day” would ease my concern). I remember not approving of her relationship with Jay-Z in the beginning. I thought “The guy that sings ‘Big Pimpin’ is dating my Bey??” That memory is so funny to me now.
Cutting edge, passionate and unexpected for Beyonce`, “Dangerously” was critically acclaimed and set the standard for her future records (a standard that, in my opinion, wasn’t revisited until “4”; see “Bey’s Wax: The Discography Analyzed”). This was unanticipated result to record label executives; Beyonce` claims label heads gave her a hard time with the content because they didn’t think it was commercial enough: “They told me I didn’t have 1 hit on my album. I guess they were kind of right; I had 5.” Those suits grossly underestimated “Dangerously’s” potential; it was only just the beginning. Since that album, there was a reunion with Destiny’s Child, 3 solo discs, 5 films, 15 Grammy Awards, 3 Golden Globe nominations, millions of albums sold worldwide, big-selling tours, 2 inaugurations (for the 1st African-American U.S. president no less), a Superbowl, a HBO documentary, a wedding (to Jay-Z) and a baby (daughter Blue Ivy), just name a few highlights. As a bee, it’s been a privilege to watch Beyonce` develop as an artist and individual. After such an amazing 10 years, I wouldn’t be mad if Beyonce` named her forthcoming album “King Bey.”
Having saved up my teenage coins as a grocery store clerk (I was later fired from that job), “Dangerously” was the first record I ever purchased with my own money (as I mentioned in “Birth of a Music Nerd”). I begged my mom to take me to the department store and I think she was happy to oblige me, since she didn’t have to spend her ends. Once I popped it in, she surprisingly was enjoying it and had no objections (she was the type of parent that actually cared what I listened to) until erotic songs like “Speechless” cut on: “J, this song is about sex. This is the same girl from Destiny’s Child? I wonder how her mother feels about her singing songs like this.” My parents approved of my love of Destiny’s Child; they felt they were good role models. Apparently, “Speechless” wasn’t bad enough on its own; she didn’t confiscate my CD, luckily. An advocate for chastity, I immediately loved “Yes” and even though “Me, Myself & I” was a breakup song, I took the chorus to heart as I was learning how to take the reins in my life. This may sound strange, but considering the amount of love songs on “Dangerously,” I was worried that Beyonce` had too quickly fallen in love with Jay-Z and would lose sight of herself (the later content of “Destiny Fulfilled” & “B’Day” would ease my concern). I remember not approving of her relationship with Jay-Z in the beginning. I thought “The guy that sings ‘Big Pimpin’ is dating my Bey??” That memory is so funny to me now.
Cutting edge, passionate and unexpected for Beyonce`, “Dangerously” was critically acclaimed and set the standard for her future records (a standard that, in my opinion, wasn’t revisited until “4”; see “Bey’s Wax: The Discography Analyzed”). This was unanticipated result to record label executives; Beyonce` claims label heads gave her a hard time with the content because they didn’t think it was commercial enough: “They told me I didn’t have 1 hit on my album. I guess they were kind of right; I had 5.” Those suits grossly underestimated “Dangerously’s” potential; it was only just the beginning. Since that album, there was a reunion with Destiny’s Child, 3 solo discs, 5 films, 15 Grammy Awards, 3 Golden Globe nominations, millions of albums sold worldwide, big-selling tours, 2 inaugurations (for the 1st African-American U.S. president no less), a Superbowl, a HBO documentary, a wedding (to Jay-Z) and a baby (daughter Blue Ivy), just name a few highlights. As a bee, it’s been a privilege to watch Beyonce` develop as an artist and individual. After such an amazing 10 years, I wouldn’t be mad if Beyonce` named her forthcoming album “King Bey.”
South Carolina fine artist Lance “Sketchboii” Rhodes is celebrating Beyonce’s evolution with this creation entitled “True Fierce.” Rhodes says of the piece, “I wanted to highlight a true essence of what it means to be fierce…so many people will not give her [Beyonce`] credit for being a true artist with the ability to show her true colors through it. It doesn't matter that she can't outdo herself, as they say. What matters is that she hones her craft and it will always change shape. It simply conveys a message that a true artist earns their respect even when society thinks otherwise.” Through a portfolio that meets the abstract with the literal, Rhodes says “My artistic inspiration comes from divinity, freedom and expression. My goal is to bring to life the ignored conscience of my generation.” You can see more of Rhodes’ work, which includes many other celebrity pieces, on his Facebook fanpage here. Serious inquires can be sent via email at [email protected]. His Twitter & Instagram handle is @oogeesketchboii.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY “DANGEROUSLY IN LOVE!!!!!”
Beyonce`, the BeyHive is soooo proud of you & all that you've done! Here's to another great or even better decade.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY “DANGEROUSLY IN LOVE!!!!!”
Beyonce`, the BeyHive is soooo proud of you & all that you've done! Here's to another great or even better decade.
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