Modern Divas Boxed Set

by Jessica Jayne

  Its accompanying video shows the pair in a car heading to Mexico playing the modern version of the 1920s bank robbers Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker. The video was nominated for Best Hip-Hop Video at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards.

  Crazy In Love

  Beyoncé’s first album as a solo artist was an instant success. It was preceded by its lead single, Crazy in Love, a bold calling card of a single. The new single was a departure from her funky screen persona as Foxxy Cleopatra in Work it Out to a more confident and grown-up woman.

  Producer Rich Harrison was credited for the idea behind the single. One day, Beyoncé arrived into the Sony Music Studios in New York and found Harrison tinkering on a new song he wrote but he couldn’t find the suitable lyric for it. It was reported that Beyoncé caught sight of herself in the glass of the studio and muttered that she was looking “crazy right now.” It was all it took for Harrison to strike an idea. He knew that the song needed a killer horn riff, and so he searched through his record collection and found the 1970 Chi-Lites hit Are You My Woman (Tell Me So).

  Beyoncé’s debut album as a solo artist was a success

  Beyoncé was reluctant at first about the retro sound because she had already been there with her last single but she was hopeful about this new single. Later that day, her new boyfriend, Jay-Z, dropped by the studio and helped them in the production. He made up his rap on the spot but did not write it down.

  Crazy In Love was released on May 18, 2003. In 2003, Beyoncé explained the song to Glamour magazine: “the song talks about how, when you’re falling in love, you do things that are out of character and you don’t really care because you’re just open. The song came from me actually looking crazy one day in the studio.” The infectious chorus contributed to making the single the record of that summer.

  The song was a success, but it was the video that took it around the world. Jake Nava directed the video and showed the new Beyoncé. Jay-Z appeared in the video. Although a lot of booty shaking and body-touching appeared in the video, plus arson, the video still managed to come out wholesome and capture the essence of Beyoncé.

  The following year, the single won two Grammys: Best R&B Song and Best Rap/Vocal Collaboration. It also took home the Best Collaboration and Best Female R&B Artist at the BET Awards. In the UK, Crazy in Love was the NME Single of the Year, an award previously held by Bob Marley & The Wailers, Sex Pistols and Joy Division.

  Not to be outdone, the video for the single won three MTV Awards – Best R&B Video, Best Female Video and Best Choreography. The single topped the charts in UK, US and Ireland and was in Top Five in New Zealand, Australia, Canada and other countries as well. Crazy in Love became Beyoncé’s second all-time classic track behind Independent Women Part I. In 2009, the single would be voted by NME as the Best Song of the Decade.

  With the success of the single, the inevitable question now is whether Beyoncé can produce a full-length album that matches its success.

  Chapter 8 – From A Pop Star To An Artist

  Dangerously In Love

  As with previous albums of Destiny’s Child, Beyoncé carefully chose the producers with whom she would be collaborating with before she began recording for her solo debut album. She spent two days meeting with prospective producers from the West Coast to the East Coast. She had sessions with Canadian record producer Scott Scorch, her first collaborator, based in Miami, Florida, and stayed in a Miami hotel in the following months. This showed how Beyoncé made sure that she took time to avoid pressure build-up, having learned in the past from the hasty productions of Destiny’s Child.

  As on Survivor, Beyoncé was involved and assumed a wider role in the production of her album Dangerously in Love. She co-wrote many of the songs while at the same time choosing which songs she’d produce. She shared her ideas on melodies and on mixing and mastering of tracks. There were 43 songs, out of which 15 were chosen to be included in the album. She was credited as co-writer and co-producer and the album’s executive producer alongside her father, Mathew Knowles.

  With this new album, Beyoncé said, “I know that folks love me as a pop star. Now I want them to understand me as an artist.”

  Her debut album was a show of her new grown-up persona. It showed her hanging with her man, Jay-Z and as an independent adult. It may not be perfect, but it demonstrated the sound of a 21-year-old woman growing up and pondering on the subject of love.

  The album was recorded in Houston, Miami, New York, Atlanta and Stone Mountain, Georgia and was the result of the collaboration of more than 60 people.

  The problem that arose with regards to the album was how it would be as successful as its opener, which now became a worldwide hit, the Crazy in Love track. According to NME, “B sounds genuinely, hip-grindingly fruity and, consequently, the whole thing reeks of The Nasty. Sadly, [Crazy in Love is] so good, a deep shadow is cast that the rest of the album never manages to escape.”

  Included in the lineup of the album is Naughty Girl, overseen by producer to Dr Dre and Christina Aguilera, Scott Storch, and contained elements of Donna Summer’s Love to Love You Baby. The single reached number three in the US and number 10 in the UK.

  The single Baby Boy, on the other hand, is collaboration between Beyoncé and Jamaican dancehall superstar Sean Paul and featured a Bollywood-influenced groove. Storch also produced this single. After its release, Baby Boy peaked on the US charts, becoming Beyoncé’s second solo US number one where it remained at the top of the charts for nine whole weeks, which was a week longer than Crazy in Love. In the UK, it failed to reach the top due to The Black Eyed Peas’ very successful single, Where is the Love?

  Beyoncé worked with Sean Paul for the single Baby Boy

  Another successful single in the album is Me, Myself and I, a sensual, slow groove that Beyoncé, Robert Waller and Storch co-wrote. The single reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100.

  In just the first week since the album was released, it sold 317,000 copies and debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 200. The RIAA certified it four times platinum. The album sold more than 4.6 million copies in the United States alone and 11 million copies worldwide. It is by far Beyoncé’s best-selling album to date.

  Dangerously in Love earned Beyoncé a then record-tying five awards at the 46th Grammy Awards: Best Contemporary R&B Album, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for Dangerously in Love 2, Best R&B Song, Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

  All in all, Beyoncé was very proud of her debut solo album. She explained, “This time because I only had to write for myself, my songs are much more personal. I also wanted beats that were harder and to be able to collaborate with other people. Basically this record was a chance for me to grow as a writer and a singer. There are more ballads. The vocals aren’t as precisely produced and because it’s just me, there aren’t as many harmonies.”

  Beyoncé and Jay-Z were seen together again on stage on August 28, 2003, when they performed together at the MTV Awards ceremony where she took home three awards: Best Female Video, Best R&B Video and Best Choreography for Crazy in Love. She sang Baby Boy first, then Crazy in Love. It was one of the best performances in her life.

  In November 2003, Beyoncé embarked on her debut solo concert, Dangerously In Love Tour in Europe. The stage was simple and had a large LED screen which showed video images of Beyoncé and her dancers and some images from her music videos. The set list included songs from the album Dangerously in Love as well as songs dedicated to Destiny’s Child and songs from the 2003 film The Fighting Temptations.

  Beyoncé also toured with Missy Elliot, Tamia and Alicia Keys for the Verizon Ladies First Tour in North America. And in February 2004, Beyoncé was chosen to sing The Star-Spangled Banner at the XXXVIII Superbowl in Houston in front of more than 70,000 people. She also performed at the 46th Annual Grammy’s on February 8. She performed a duet with her idol Prince, with whom she sang some of his songs in tribute to the 20th anniversary of his be
st-selling album, Purple Rain.

  Beyoncé had originally planned to release a follow-up to Dangerously in Love in March 2004 but decided to hold the album to concentrate on the next Destiny’s Child album.

  Reunited

  All three girls have been successful outside of Destiny’s Child, and it was something of a nostalgic step to reunite. They had played a gig in July 2003 at the Reggae Sumfest in Montego Bay, Jamaica and realized how much they missed performing together. They ended up discussing what they should do and what the album should sound like.

  They began working on their album in early 2004 and contributed equally in sharing lead vocals and writing.

  Destiny’s Child reunited for their Destiny Fulfilled album; Kelly would announce on their tour their decision to separate ways

  Destiny Fulfilled was Destiny’s Child’s final album released on November 16, 2004 and debuted on the Billboard 200 at number 19 for selling 61,000 copies. During its first week of release, the album sold more than 497,000 copies and climbed the charts to number two on the Billboard 200. It also topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and stayed there for two weeks.

  All in all, the album sold more than 3 million in the US and was certified triple platinum by the RIAA in January 2005. It has sold more than 7 million copies worldwide and was named the 8th best-selling album of the year worldwide by the IFPI.

  It’s lead single, Lose My Breath, premiered at AOL Music and was a critical and commercial success. It debuted at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 and climbed to number 3. Although it did not reach a higher position, the single became Destiny’s Child’s ninth top 10 single. It was certified gold by the RIAA in April 2005. It also reached the top spot on most charts in Europe and was nominated at the 2005 Grammy award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.

  To promote the album, Destiny’s Child embarked on a worldwide tour dubbed the Destiny Fulfilled … And Lovin’ It. The tour felt like a farewell for the group. It opened at the Hiroshima Sun Plaza in Japan and finished in Vancouver. During their final show in Spain, the girls announced their break-up. Kelly said from the stage, “This is the last time you would see us onstage as Destiny’s Child.”

  They also sent a letter to MTV explaining their move: “We have been working together as Destiny’s Child since we were 9, and touring together since we were 14. After a lot of discussion and some deep soul searching, we realized that our current tour has given us the opportunity to leave Destiny’s Child on a high note, united in our friendship and filled with an overwhelming gratitude for our music, our fans, and each other. After all these wonderful years working together, we realized that now is the time to pursue our personal goals and solo efforts in earnest … No matter what happens, we will always love each other as friends and sisters and will always support each other as artists. We want to thank all of our fans for their incredible love and support and hope to see you all again as we continue fulfilling our destinies.”

  With the tour finished, there were a few things that the group had to finish. They were to promote World Children’s Day on November 20 and oversee a recording of their Atlanta show from July in 2006. They released a compilation album titled #1’s, featuring Destiny’s Child’s number –one hits and most well-known songs, on October 25, 2005. The album reached the top of the Billboard 200 in the US while also certified platinum by the RIAA and reached number six in the UK.

  And that was the end of Destiny’s Child, but their shows did not end. The girls could look back on the years of working together as a group and reflect on the ups and downs and the years of hard work that paid off. They could reflect on their number ones, their awards, and the fact that the World Music Awards recognized them as the most successful girl group of all time.

  They again reunited in February 2006 to play a farewell performance at an NBA All-Star Game in Houston, and then performed together again at a Fashion Rocks concert. Their final official engagement as Destiny’s Child came on March 28, 2006, when they got together to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles’ Hollywood Boulevard. Beyoncé said, “We started when we were nine years old, and here we are getting a Hollywood star. Dreams come true. So thank you all so much for supporting us.”

  Chapter 9 – Fulfilling Her Own Destiny

  Music and Film

  With the disbandment of Destiny’s Child, it was time for Beyoncé to go back to her own business.

  In 2005, she and her mother, Tina, collaborated on a new business, their House of Dereon, a ready-to-wear contemporary women’s fashion line. The name Dereon was a tribute to Tina’s mother, Agnez Dereon, who was a seamstress. Tina Knowles said that the style of the line reflects Beyoncé’s style and taste.

  Mother and daughter also founded Beyond Productions to provide licensing and brand management for Dereon, a “junior lifestyle collection”, and House of Dereon.

  Also in 2005, Beyoncé teamed up with House of Brands, a shoe company, to produce footwear for House of Dereon.

  Beyoncé’s next film is The Pink Panther, a comedy film starring Steve Martin

  Beyoncé went back to acting when she guest-starred opposite Steve Martin in the comedy film The Pink Panther where she played the role of international pop star Xania. While the critics reviled the movie, the public adored it. The Pink Panther became the highest-grossing film of the Pink Panther series.

  Beyoncé continued to prioritize film, and the year 2006 saw her taking up with intensive filming of Dreamgirls before the recording of her next album. As it turned out, it was her album that came out first.

  B’Day set Beyoncé’s course for the rest of her solo career. Beyoncé told USA Today shortly before the album was released, “I didn’t want to write sappy love songs, even though I’m happy now. I wanted to do different things, to be innovative and kick really hard beats. I think I would have been scared to take that risk if I hadn’t done Dreamgirls. I would have made a love album, because that’s where I am in my life. The movie inspired something else that’s not in me. Or I guess it is, somewhere.”

  Aptly named, B’Day was launched internationally on September 4, 2006, the day of Beyoncé’s 25th birthday. Beyoncé said of her album, “This is about female empowerment. This album is different, it’s conceptual, and I do things with my voice that I haven’t done before.”

  The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and sold 541,000 copies in its first week, becoming her second consecutive number one album. It was certified three times platinum by the RIAA.

  B’Day’s lead single, Déjà vu, featuring Jay-Z, reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The second single, Ring the Alarm, debuted at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became Beyoncé’s highest US debut.

  The third single, Irreplaceable, became the best-selling US single of 2007, spending ten consecutive weeks as number one on the Billboard Hot 100. By 2007, the single had sold over 4.6 million copies worldwide. The accompanying music video introduced Beyoncé’s all-female band, Suga Mama.

  In 2006, Dreamgirls was released. It was influenced by the rise and fall of Motown Records and their best-selling group, The Supremes. Although Beyoncé is the central character in the film, she doesn’t get much opportunity to shine. Beyoncé recorded some songs for the soundtrack of the film, including the original song, Listen. The song won Best Original Song at the 2007 Critics’ choice Awards and was nominated in the same category at the 2006 International Press Academy Satellite Award, at the 2007 Golden globe Awards, and at the 2007 Academy Awards. Beyoncé’s role also earned her a Golden Globe award nomination for Best Actress.

  In 2007, Beyoncé re-released B’Day as a deluxe edition featuring five new songs, including Beautiful Liar, a duet with Colombian recording artist Shakira. Beautiful Liar peaked at number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached number one in the UK, becoming Beyoncé’s third number-one single in the country and Shakira’s second.

  Beyoncé performed at the Grammy Awa
rds on February 10, 2008, with none other than her icon, Tina Turner. She introduced Turner by going through a specially written rap whose creation was a collaboration of various Grammy writers. Then the two women performed a version of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Proud Mary. Controversy followed the performance when Beyoncé called Turner as “the Queen”. Aretha Franklin was displeased and issued a statement:

  “I am not sure whose toes I may have stepped on or whose ego I may have bruised between the Grammy writers and Beyoncé. However, I dismissed it as a cheap shot for controversy. In addition to that, I thank the Grammys and the voting academy for my 20th Grammy and love to Beyoncé anyway.”

  In support of her B’Day album, Beyoncé embarked on The Beyoncé Experience Tour which visited more than 90 venues worldwide. The first leg of the tour kicked off at the Tokyo Dome in Japan on April 10, the second leg was in Australia and the third leg was in Europe. The US leg of the tour began in New Orleans and ended at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

  Beyoncé’s third studio album, I am… Sasha Fierce, was released on November 14, 2008. The album was a double set in its release, with 8 tracks per side. One side of the disc aimed to show a “distinctly different side of her personality, character and sensibility, a forum for the yin-yang of her developing artistry.

  Beyoncé served as the executive producer, alongside her father, for this album. This one was special for her as she spent more than a year with writing and recording. I am … Sasha Fierce was the album where Beyoncé spent the longest period of time since Destiny’s Child’s debut in 1998.