Beyonce: 'I'm Over Being a Pop Star'


Beyonce Knowles wants more than pop stardom -- she wants to be an icon!

The singer and actress tells UK's Marie Claire that although she's reached great heights in her career, she's got even bigger goals.

The Grammy winner had this to say:

"I'm over being a pop star. I don't wanna be a hot girl. I wanna be iconic. And I feel like I've accomplished a lot. I feel like I'm highly respected, which is more important than any award or any amount of records. And I feel like there comes a point when being a pop star is not enough."

Beyonce also talks about gaining 20 lbs. for her role playing soul singer Etta James in the upcoming film 'Cadillac Records.' After gaining the weight, Beyonce had to shed the pounds quickly for another role in the psychological thriller 'Obsessed.' She said gaining the weight was "so much fun," but losing weight made her "angry" with herself.

The talented, self-proclaimed "workaholic" is scheduled to release her next album in November – although it is still untitled, the mag says.

http://www.etonline.com/n...index.html

What, being an icon of the weave industry isnt enough?
[Edited 9/4/08 13:38pm]

Before arriving at our photo shoot and interview, Beyonce stipulatated certain catering needs, which included, ‘no chips, no candy, no desserts, no junk food, no fried food’.

Why the so-strict diet rules? Beyoncé has recently finished back-to-back filming, which involved gaining 20lb for the role of 50s soul and blues legend Etta James in Cadillac Records, and subsequently had to shed the same amount for her next project, the psychological thriller Obsessed. Putting on the pounds ‘was so much fun’, she confesses. ‘But I had to lose it. I was so angry with myself. I was like, “Doh!” Why do you have to go through this?”’ You can’t blame a girl for wishing to avoid temptation, particularly one whose living is partly dependent on her looks.'

She’s been quoted in the past as saying there’s a time limit on being a pop star. ‘Being a pop star, yes,’ she responds. ‘Being a legend, an icon, absolutely not. And, at this point, that’s what I’m trying to do. I’m over being a pop star. I don’t wanna be a hot girl. I wanna be iconic. And I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot. I feel like I’m highly respected, which is more important than any award or any amount of records. And I feel like there comes a point when being a pop star is not enough.’

By her own admission, Beyoncé is very 'reserved' off-stage. ‘I’ve created an alter ego [she refers to her on-stage persona as ‘Sasha’]: things I do when performing I would never do normally. I reveal things about myself that I wouldn’t do in an interview. I have out-of-body experiences [on stage]. If I cut my leg, if I fall, I don’t even feel it. I’m so fearless, I’m not aware of my face or my body.' So, when she sang, "I can have another you in a minute. Matter fact, he’ll be here in a minute", in hit song Irreplaceable, was she referring to Jay-Z? 'I’m sure people think I wrote it about [Jay-Z] or something, but…the obvious person is not the person at all.’

'B', as she's called at home, will also admit to being a workaholic. There’s an as-yet untitled new album due out in November; then there’s her movie career, in particular Cadillac Records, co-starring Adrien Brody, which tells the story of Chicago label Chess Records. Her character, the Grammy-winning blues legend Etta James, battled a decade-long heroin addiction. ‘I’ve been saying for a long time that I wanted to do something dark. People are going to be very shocked. It’s the complete opposite of me. It was very emotionally draining. I was exhausted.’

She researched the role by visiting a drop-in centre in Brooklyn, New York. ‘I was really afraid. I didn’t know what I would see, because I’d never seen anything like that. I didn’t want to ask questions that were inappropriate, but [the people there] were very open and I have a new understanding. I never judge, but I just didn’t understand how, if you had children and so many things
to lose, you could be so deep into your addiction that you just let all of that go.’

Does she feel she's paved the way for more African-American women to achieve huge success? 'I am really proud that I am one of the artists that has the opportunity to be on magazine covers and to be in the movies. And I do think that I’m opening doors for more black women, just like Halle [Berry] and Diana Ross opened doors for me.’

This is an edited version of the full interview, which appears in the October 2008 issue of Marie Claire.

http://www.marieclaire.co...rview.html
[Edited 9/4/08 13:59pm]
[Edited 9/5/08 12:06pm]

How about working for 20 years and do ground-breaking work. Then we'll see about achieving the "icon" status.

NaughtyKitty said:

People are already shocked that this acting lightweight is playing Etta James.

She sounds too desperate. Last year I was saying she's on her way to becoming an Icon, now I just think she's an annoying hot mess that needs to go away for a long time.

Do just one great thing for a start!

This is the problem with today's 'superstars'...to desperate to get to THAT iconic level after 3 albums...

It takes decades and untouchable talent....today's stars lack that and feel the world owes them something after a few years

VANITYSprisonBYTCH said:

I don't remember Stevie ever saying he wanted to be an icon. All he did was make wonderful music.

uPtoWnNY said:

For real.

uPtoWnNY said:

I think its abit unfair to compare him to her

I'm not on her bandwagon, but people give her such a hard time even though she's much better than alot of people you see/hear in mainstream music.

Bee, come back when you do an album like "Control".

daPrettyman said:

mmmm 4 sure! icon my ass... not now.....

Timmy84 said:

and.....scene

She's getting a huge ego

I recently found an interview of janet saying during the control era that she wanted to be an icon and impact and all this stuff too.

What is SO wrong with having a lil' ambition? Ya'll are something else.

Harlepolis said:

There is zero wrong with having ambition but she is responsible for the image people have of her. She can sing. Stop shaking that ass and just do that.

And hey harle.

Stymie said:

Hey gal

I'd say her pim,,,I mean her daddy and Morticia Addams are responsible for that hola hoop ass shaking mess

Hell, that whole family is deranged, I can't blame her for not being different.

bboy87 said:

That's only the 1st step.

You actually have to have creativity to back it up.

daPrettyman said:

the current 'pop stars' are not bringing anything new to the table, to become an icon you have to create iconic moments and really what is it a beyonce can do that hasnt already been done?

Harlepolis said:

I'm sayin'!
She simply said she has other goals.

People acting like she said she wanted to be an icon by tommorrow at 12:30pm or she's gonna bust some ass.

Harlepolis said:

She stepped on Tina's toe! I still haven't forgiven her ass for that shit


I don't care if she was "Sasha" somebody needs to whoop whoever she was at the moment's ass for that shit alone

bboy87 said:

That "Sasha" shit ain't cutting it, she's just making excuses as to why she appears as if she's having epileptic seizures.

Timmy84 said:

Please don't make me cut you.

KidaDynamite said:

I come in peace.

Seriously though if Beyonce wants to be an icon like Diana, MJ and Janet, she has to find her identity. She's still stuck at a Destiny's Child phase and also many of her songs seems to be with "hip-hop acts". But in truth it just doesn't fit her. But I guess since her husband is Jay-Z she has no choice I guess.

Timmy84 said:

VANITYSprisonBYTCH said:

The thing is, it's been 3 albums to the public but to the star its been their whole life. Beyonce's been performing since she was ten. She just turned 27 on Thursday, she's at that stage where she wants more.

And with her talent, she could easily get there.