I neva had the chance to know DavidEye, Brother915, Finess, Stymie and the rest of the old people in here better but I strongly respect their views. True, some of ya'll are a lil' bit too critical but always thoughtful.

LOL I know that being a youngster makes it easy to dig Beyonce(its typical but it doesn't "apply" on everybody) obeviously becoz I haven't witnessed the 70's era and what not. But then again, I can tell you many great old-cuts that EVEN older poeple don't remember.

The bottom line is-What do you guys(old timers) think of Beyonce? I had the chance 2 listen to some of the songs in her LP. Even tho its a commercial LP, its good to hear a "musical at some degree" LP 4 a change(esp from a Pop/RnB star which is un-common these days) thats why I kinda respect the woman.

I know that most guys in here who're not too fond of her may dig her after hearing "A Sign From Virgo" or "Speechless".

Any thoughts?

I'm sorry ya'll I didn't realize this is the wrong forum till after I posted.

Mods, be kind enough 2 move it

I'm not too keen on most of today's R&B music.Alot of it all sounds alike to me...it's basically just a bunch of heavily sampled,bass-heavy noise with the usual rapper thrown into the mix for good measure.It's all so formulaic.Honestly,is there any real difference between the new CDs from Ashanti,Mya and Beyonce? I haven't heard their new albums but I'm betting that,if I did, I wouldn't even be able to tell the difference.


I like Beyonce.She's fine and she's doing her thang,dancing up a storm in her new video.She's gonna become a superstar.But so far,I'm not too impressed with her new music.Maybe it's just my old age (mid-30s)?

Hey, piano diva! What do you mean by "old?" (Just trying to determine if I should respond...)
[This message was edited Fri Jun 20 7:07:24 PDT 2003 by ThreadBare]

I like Beyoncé. She has a great voice, and she's easy on the eyes. Destiny's Child were great too.

Sure it is just bubblegum pop shit but I'd rather my kids listened to Beyoncé rather than most of the rest of the crap in the top 10. Light, fun, pop tunes. At least she can sing, unlike most teenybopper bands nowadays.

ThreadBare said:

I don't mean it in a bad way. I ment "old" str8 up! gray hair, low-speaking, wise, books reading on the porch sitting, sometimes boring, ya know lol old

Harlepolis said:

Oh, OK! *whew* Because, I'm only 30, I won't give my opinion.

ThreadBare said:

Suit yoself

Actualy I'm only kidding, I'm intrested in yo opinion too
[This message was edited Fri Jun 20 7:20:50 PDT 2003 by Harlepolis]

I will say that I have to agree with Davideye. I don't love the newer r&b, but I don't hate it either. I really like D'Angelo, Mary J., India and a few others, but for the most part I think there are way too many Prince wannabee's and as far as Beyonce goes, I do not like her music solo or with the other girls, but I don't hate it either. It's just not something I would spend my money on. I guess I'm definitely one of the older people on this site seeing as I will be 40 next month

Harlepolis said:

You mean you'll make an exception for someone barely older than you ... Thanks. And, please, forgive the ramble (maybe I'm older than I think).

I think R&B as a whole has advanced technically & technologically but lost something lyrically. That means I can hear a sista sing amazing runs over a state-of-the-art beat but not hear a modern equivalent of, say, "The Closer I Get to You."

So, within this new context, someone gifted like Beyonce is successful (and, rightfully so -- she's a great entertainer who deserves her success). I think she could sing better-written songs. I wish the lyrics of so many popular R&B songs weren't the trash I hear so often on local stations.

For example, today we have songs about women showing their devotion by condoning their men's drug hustle. A "ride or die" mentality that lowers sistas to the role of loyal dogs who make no moral distinction between legitimate work and criminality.

In other words, the thug element that pervades much of "top-40 rap" (making a distinction between this and the whole hip-hop genre) has seeped over into today's soul music. And, its implicit stamp is one of street cred or, by extension, cultural authenticity -- which alarms me the most: being a thug becomes a black thing, a soul thing -- instead of the songs of devotion and awareness that once defined soul.

And, I'm not even going to belabor the degree to which R&B objectifies people (especially women) as sex objects whose sole contribution to relationships is how gratifying they are.

That being said, Beyonce does her thing well. I just hope the lyrics in her songs continue to get people dancing and having a good time but rise in their content. If wildly succesful singers' lyrics rise, maybe there will be a trickle-down effect for the rest of the industry. (But, does trickle-down ever work for anything?)

Damn I can't believe I'm responding to a thread calling out "old people" But at 39 I guess I am old on this site. Any way I have mixed feelings on Beyonce. I won't go into her looks because that's not really a question (Of course the girl is fine) I really dug "No No No" and a few other early DC cuts but have cooled on the group after their two following albums came out. I tend to usually have a adverse reaction to over-hyped R&B pop acts (Ashanti is another one that was ok to me until the hype machine went into action) That said, I'm diggin some of her solo stuff. Her new album seems like a mixed bag of real soulful shit and jerky, so-called "radio friendly" cuts. Speechless is a great song. That's right, I said great! She is so sensual on that jam and I think it could be a real classic when all is said and done. This type of song works so well with her beauty. You can't help but picture her fine ass as she moans "Yes, Yes Yeees" towards the end of the song. That shit gave my old ass tingles all over I'm hoping this is the beginning of a new direction for her. I think she could be a female Teddy P if she focused on making this type of music and stayed away from the ultra-jiggy shit like she did with DC and Jay-Z. A few other songs on the album seem to have potential. I'll need a few weeks to fully digest this and see where I stand then. But for the first time since "No No No" I'm rooting for the girl.

ThreadBare said:

That was something else very thoughtful of you(always).

The thing is lately I found myself enjoying some of the new RnB acts(which scares the hell out of me cuz its un-common coming from a picky and a hard to please woman like myself) I thought hey, why not enjoy this after its kinda different than alot of the young RnB acts outhere(IMO) thats why I wanted these opinions. Not that it will change my mind but it worth the read and I always respect these views coming from people with "experienced" ear so to speak

Again, thanx! def worthy 2 cents

DavidEye said:

gypsyfire said:

For a minute, I thought yo siggy was the reply lol

So,do u like enviromental records? Crickets chirpin,water rushin
Supposed to make ya horny,just make me wanna go to the bathroom
Actually,this one's not bad...It's called N.E.W.S.

Sorry. I know it's off topic but I couldn't resist

intha916 said:

I dig that too

Harlepolis said:

Thanks, sis. (And, truth be told -- my girlfriend thinks I like Beyonce a lil' too much...)

Well, do i feel like Dick Clark or what? old?

There always has to be new talent coming out to keep things going. If you only listen to classic rock or old school funk, etc. you don't open your mind and end up stuck in the past. I like to hear the new (kids) up and coming.

Same with the youngsters, if you only listen to what's played on the pop radio stations and ignore your mom and dads collection, you are missing out. Open up to REAL instruments and real singers. See who the influences of Beyonce are. May be Mariah Carey, may be Aretha Franklin, may be Patti Labelle, may be Sly Stone and Tina Turner.

Now back to Beyonce, I think she has hot producers and hot guest stars. I also think she is like so many others, in that, she is much better in Destiny's Child. She sounds even better in the group than she does solo. Maybe its the backup voices maybe its the harmonies, i don't know. But when a solo effort arrives, it usually lacks the back ground voices. EnVogue is a super group together, but solo, they are just that, S-O-L-O. And it all depends on the song selection. You don't have to have a knockout voice to have a good record, Madonna, Kelly Clarkson, jLo, Michelle Branch. Pick good songs, leave out the bravado and you have my respect.

I like people that are the real deal, who can bring it, and she can bring it.

my two cents

jthad1129 said:

LOL don't take no offence from it, maybe I didn't choose the best appraoch but I didn't mean no harm

And I agree with what u said too

jthad1129 said:

Funny because we couldn't disagree more. From one old guy to another

She has a nice ass

Harlepolis said:

not offended at all. I often wonder the same thing, in reverse.

Do the teenagers/20 year olds today even pick up and listen to the new cds by artists over 30

Annie Lennox
Luther Vandross
Fleetwood Mac
James Taylor
Cyndi Lauper
John Mellencamp
Tori Amos
Chaka Khan
Cher

etc.

"Crazy In Love" is a nice change of pace,most of the R&B and
hip hop is all mid tempo and boring,this song kicks right
from the beginning,love the horn part,friggin great bass line too

she HAS to be lying about her age.
Apart from that, i appreciated her solo effort, not bad for a chick from like thé fabricated female group. Lately she's been hanging out with some half-assed rappers to often, but after she fools around for a few years she might have something interesting to tell, wich could b nice.
Oh, and i'm not an old guy by any stretch, in case u wonderded, dammit...

You are better off listening to BAdu.

I'm not responding because I'm old but I just want to say that I'm sick of the liberal media pushing Beyonce's album of lies! She is damn dirty liberal and she ain't brain washing me. I for one will not support this anti-American floozy and plan to spend my money on a true patriot like Daryl Worrely! "Have You Forgotten"? Well have you, you atheistic scum!


Opp..sorry. I was just accidentally clicked on conservative news service and my head is spinning. But as a youngster, let ms say I never loved Destiny's Child enough to ever get their albums (although they are good). And I don't love Beyonce as a person considering the raw deal that she may or may not have given the past members of the group (where are they now?) but I dig the new single and "Dangerously In Love", the track and that's why I'm getting the CD!

She sounds like she's siting on a vibrator. And that has NOTHING to do with my age.

VinaBlue said:

:LOL: :LOL: :FALLOFF: :FALLOFF:

Beyonce is hittin' hard! She's lovely and she can sing.

I admire her most as a writer.

Her songwriting is the bread and butter of her career because the income will allow her to have freedom.

And she's young and beautiful to make to most of her opportunities so shine on baby!

That's the great thing about Mariah earlier in her career.

She is a writer and you had great songs (aside from the hits) like "There's Got To Be A Way" "Love You 'Til The End Of Time""The Wind" "Do You Think Of Me" and "Everything Fades Away"

I guess I should have made a "Unappreciated Mariah songs" thread.

My money says she's gonna end up all blimped out and weaved up, sort of a cross between Chaka and Aretha.

I just pray to God she and Jay-Z don't breed.

Can you imagine some poor child inheriting her big 'ol butt and Jay-Z's mug? The horror! The horror!