With today's announcement that Beyonce has been given the upcoming Superbowl Halftime performance slot, she effectively joins the ranks of legends such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Prince.
The fact remains that this highly elusive performance slot was granted to her following her "4" era, which many ATRL members incorrectly label as a flop.
Look at it this way:
Would Christina be handed the halftime slot after her Bionic era? No, because it was a flop.
Would Nelly Furtado be handed the halftime slot after her TSI era? No, because it was a flop.
4 had mass critical acclaim, good good enough sales for someone who's name is not Ms. Adkins, and is honestly far from a flop.
Certain stanbases believe that #1 singles are the only sign that an era is a hit, and therefore claim that the 4 era flopped due to under-performing singles. Needless to say, this belief is false. If having #1 singles was all it took - certainly some other girl would have been invited to perform at the Superbowl. This is not the case. Success in the music industry is about FAR more than single performance, and Beyonce is evidence of this.
With today's announcement, I think it's fair to say that the wind has effectively been taken out of the sails of those who argue that the 4 era was a flop. When do you think this argument will eventually be abandoned?
The Black Eyed Peas did a halftime show, does that make them legends? No. I love Bey but the only reason they picked her is because they'll know she'll be all over the media in 2013, it has nothing to do with 4, they just want whatever is big at the moment and they've predicted Beyonce. 4 flopped hard and it's a very well known fact.
'4' didn't flop. compared to her other eras, it's an underperformance for sure, but it kills me when ATRLers deem is as a flop just because it didn't produce a string of top 10/20 hits like its predecessor.
basically, Beyonce haters will use '4' against her to make their faves look good or to make themselves feel better.
A flop is a flop. Critical acclaim doesn't make up for the lack of commercial success. Blackout was an amazing album with plenty of acclaim, yet that flopped commercially and ATRL has been ruthless. 4 is no different.
The "4" era was so disjointed. The "pregnancy" kinda threw it all over the place..The single choices were a mess. It underperformed and that's just that. In other words, it was her "flop".
Y'all are missing the point. If 4 truly was a flop - she would not be given the stamp of approval that comes with a Superbowl Halftime slot.
Edit: and of course she sold less. It's 2012 and that's the state of the industry and to be expected. Show me one girl who still sells like she did in the early 2000s. With the exception of Adele, everyone sells less - that's not exclusive to Bey.
It underperformed. It's funny because Bey says that 4 is her luck number. It was the day that she was born, her husbands and mothers birthday, her wedding day and the amount of years since her last top ten hit
Bey being on halftime won't ever make "4" a success. no shade but the album is pretty forgotten anyways so i don't think anybody else cares if it flops. why make such a big deal out of it.?
Y'all are missing the point. If 4 truly was a flop - she would not be given the stamp of approval that comes with a Superbowl Halftime slot.
Edit: and of course she sold less. It's 2012 and that's the state of the industry and to be expected. Show me one girl who still sells like she did in the early 2000s. With the exception of Adele, everyone sells less - that's not exclusive to Bey.
Hard Candy wasn't a massive seller and last year we had Madonna as performer, sis? Although she's the Queen of Pop.
Y'all are missing the point. If 4 truly was a flop - she would not be given the stamp of approval that comes with a Superbowl Halftime slot.
.
What exactly does that have anything with performing at the SB though because she flopped. She's been in the biz for 15 years..her album flopping isn't indicative of her doing the SB.
