Beyoncé: The Queen, Bé
Tuesday ,22nd August 2006
Your girl is back with another banger of an album timed to coincide with her 25th birthday (and fellow Virgoan RWD’s very own fifth). RWD talks Sean Carter, Scandal and Getting Grown with the Queen of modern music and one of the world’s most amazing artists, Ms Beyoncé Knowles. Interview by Hattie Collins.
A couple of things you need to know about Beyoncé (no bread-age (well, ok, maybe a bit)) is 1) not just how absolutely lovely she is but 2) how even MORE beautiful she is in the flesh. Her skin is flawless, her eyes big and brown and her figure to die for. It would almost be enough for you to hate on the woman if she wasn’t so overwhelmingly warm, polite and nice. Maybe it’s that ‘Southern Hospitality’ or perhaps she’s just incredibly well bought up - either way Ms Knowles is the nicest pop star you would ever want to meet.
Not only down to earth, she’s crazy-talented. By now you’ve heard the speaker-shaking Déjà Vu and second single Ring The Alarm from her forthcoming album B’Day. Set for release on her 25th birthday (hence the title), this is Beyoncé’s follow-up to her debut solo disc Dangerously In Love released back in ’03. It’s a much harder record than last time round; there’s just one ballad and the rest is full-on, unabashed big-ass beats courtesy of Rodney Jerkins, Swizz Beatz, Pharrell and Crazy In Love collaborator Rich Harrison. As ever, it’s co-produced, written and arranged by the multi-talented Ms Knowles. It’s also co-starring some guy called Jay-Z.
What did Jay bring to the record?
Well, I played Déjà Vu to Jay but I wasn’t expecting him to be involved in the record at all. I could see he was inspired though because he started mumbling and we know what that means (Laughs)! So I asked him to go to the studio and he did the record and then the same thing happened with Upgrade You. He said ‘You need a male perspective on that record.’ I was like ‘Great, here you go...’ (Laughs)
Would you like to see another Jay-Z album?
I think everyone would.
Is there one?
You gotta ask him!
Is he the greatest rapper around right now?
(Laughs) I would say so.
You don’t like to talk about Jay-Z too much, right?
No. I feel like my private life is the only thing I’ve got. Everything else is
so exposed.
Moving on...! Why did you pick producers Pharrell, Swizzy, Rodney Jerkins and Rich Harrison for this record?
I ran into them three times, separately, at such random places. I went to a Four Seasons brunch and ran into Swizz and Rodney twice there. I ran into Rich at the studio where I was visiting Kelly who was recording her album; he came walking out as I was walking in. So I was like ‘This is really weird, we keep running into each other, maybe we should work together, maybe it’s a sign.’ So we hooked it up.
What inspired you to make this album?
Definitely working on the film Dreamgirls and the character I played, Deena - she was so contrived and controlled. While I was personally not going through that, I was emotionally trapped in the character and I felt like I needed to release it. When you do something for six months it takes a while for you to be able to click your fingers and say ‘I no longer walk, talk and dress like this.’ So my release was going into the studio everyday and writing how I felt while I was doing the film.
Ring the Alarm is FIERCE! How much of that is Beyoncé and how much Deena?
Everything I do is a part of me but I never normally scream that loud unless I’m doing a part in a movie or something!
The lyrics appear to be saying you’re more worried about losing the man’s money than his love?
No, no. I go through everything in terms of mentally, emotionally, sexually...When you’re with a man for a long time, you raise each other, you teach each other things that have nothing to do with money. It’s kinda like, now the guy becomes a gentleman and then some new girl comes and she’s like ‘He’s such a gentleman’ and you’re like ‘Oh lord, you should have met him five years ago’ (Laughs). So that’s what it’s really about.
That song has the Internet going nuts with people saying it’s directed at real-life love rivals like Rihanna. Is there any truth to that?
Absolutely not. It’s hilarious what people are saying and making up. I don’t know where they get it from...
Do you Google yourself?
Oh no, I stay off the Internet. I learnt that maybe seven years ago – don’t go on it.
But you have heard about the petition that ‘fans’ got together complaining that the video to Déjà Vu is too sexual?
It’s really amazing to me that 2000 kids – or who knows who they are – could get together like that. That’s the scary thing about the Internet. But when we looked at the names on the petition it was my mother’s name, my stylist, Kelly – so it’s made up, it’s not even anything to respond to. The good thing is my real fans signed another petition against the petition with far more signatures. I don’t know, should I respond to it and give them more play or should I just leave it alone? I love that video. I feel like I have a responsibility as an artist to grow and to not do what’s predictable. As far as it being racy, I feel Baby Boy and Crazy In Love were even more racy. My goal for this was to not be racy; I feel the video is classy and beautiful.
Do you attract more criticism because you’re a woman – the whole ‘Diva’ thing etc?
Well I think diva is really positive if used in the right way – I want to be a diva onstage! Please call me a diva cos that’s what I want to be (Laughs). But the second I get offstage I don’t like that term. I feel like it’s a time and a place for it, which is why I created Sasha, so I could keep them separate.
When did Beyoncé turn from girl to women?
I feel like it was Crazy In Love. I’d turned 21 and I felt like I could be completely free. I don’t know if it was because it was a solo record or what it was, but I felt like I could let myself go completely.
You’re one of the few women in the game who writes/ produces/arranges your own music. Why is that so important?
My dad always talked to us about the business. He told us how a lot of artists, even after they go double platinum, unless they’re touring, don’t make any money. So we knew the importance of writing and touring from early on. I’ve been writing songs since I was nine and I used to go into the studio and write records like any other songwriter. That’s how Independent Woman and Survivor got done; me fiddling around in the studio. That’s what made me go back into the studio this time. I went in alone and played around - that’s how the record was done.
You’ve become an icon and a symbol for Independent Women everywhere. How conscious are you of writing for women?
I just write music but I do like to write records that I think women need to hear and that I need to hear because I’m a lot stronger in my music than I am in real life. So if I have a big board meeting with the label and I’m nervous then I’ll pop in Independent Woman to hype me up like ‘Yeah, I can do this!’
Are you a girl’s girl?
Oh yes! I love being around women. I grew up with six girls; the girls from Destiny’s Child, my cousin, my sister, my mom... I grew up eavesdropping conversations between my aunts and my mom at her hair-salon. All of that stuff stuck with me and I feel like I’m the friend that can give you advice. I feel like, know who you are and don’t be afraid to know what you’re worth.
Who is Beyoncé Knowles?
I have a strong-knit family and alongside my friends, they always come first. I think people see me onstage and expect that person to be there in front of them when they meet me, but I’m really the opposite of that.
What makes you mad?
I’m very loyal; I do what I say so I don’t like it when people make things up or mis-quote me.
Finally, where do you see your future?
I’d like to do a film a year. I hope to keep putting out records until I can’t think of any more songs. If I feel like taking a year off then I will, if I want to do a movie cos I got a great script then I’ll do it. But I do plan on doing more movies. Honestly, I just want to do what makes me happy. I don’t want to plan anything.
It’s RWD’s birthday this month. What are you doing for yours?
Happy birthday to you guys. You’re five years, huh? That’s really impressive, well done. Me, I’m going to be having a party at Jay’s 40/40 club in NYC.
How do you feel about turning 25?
I feel good. It sounds older than 24 somehow...but it’s still young, so I feel good. I feel I’ve accomplished way more than I thought. When I was 16, I said I would retire at 27 but that’s only two more years so I don’t think so! (Laughs). I’ve no plans to retire just yet.
Ciara sent us some flowers, Kano gave us a tracksuit – what would Beyoncé buy RWD?
Ohh, I don’t know (Looks desperately around hotel room...) Oh, how about a computer so you can write the perfect interview about me? Does that work?
Yep, we’ll take that. Ta!
(Laughs) My pleasure.
Déjà Vu is out now. B’Day is out September 4
http://www.rwdmag.com/articles/fulls...?&sid=&id=2851
