In this weekly column, MC/DJ Hesta Prynn pairs pop culture stories with an original playlist.
An Open Letter to Beyoncé Knowles
Dear Bey,
You are a goddess and a living legend, but right now you are risking* overexposure. Your face is on our mascara, your movie ads are everywhere, your thighs are a meme. Perhaps your husband predicted this, as your ubiquity can best be described by his lyrics in the pairings below. We worship you, Mrs. Carter, but if we may speak frankly for a moment...we implore you to let us miss you for (literally) one second.
Sincerely,
The Entire World
*guaranteeing
1. The Movie: Life is But a Dream
The Jay-Z Lyric: "Remind yourself. Nobody built like you, you design yourself." ("A Dream")
Beyoncé is the star, executive producer, narrator, co-writer and co-director of her autobiographical documentary premiering on HBO on Saturday. We all want an inside look, but when the machine itself controls the image, how unbiased can it be? Documentary or infomercial, we're all watching for the rare glimpse at Blue Ivy.
2. The Massive Event Followed by Blackout: Super Bowl
The Jay-Z Lyric: "I'm far from God but I work God damn hard." ("Breathe Easy [Lyrical Exercise]")
If there was ever a case to be made that Beyonce was not God, this is not it. Multiple lioness-like Beys filled the stage with inhuman energy. The other members of Destiny's Child actually shot out from below and proceeded to sing backup on" Single Ladies." (Kelly Rowland asks, "Can we sing 'Motivation' next?") Homegirl shut it down so hard that her version of dropping the mic was powering down the whole arena.
3. The Interview: Oprah's Next Chapter
The Jay-Z Lyric: "I never asked for nothing I don't demand of myself. Honesty, loyalty, friends and then wealth." ("Justify My Thug")
Bey is not only a superhuman diva with thighs of steel, she is also the nicest person you've ever met and an absolute delight to talk to. Judging from her previous sit-downs with O, odds are that she has never been more down-to-earth and her priorities never more in order.
4. The Magazine Cover: Vogue
The Jay-Z Lyric: "I'm so far ahead of my time I'm 'bout to start another life. Look behind you, I'm bout to pass you twice." ("Hovi Baby")
Queen B is omnipotent and omnipresent. Is it possible to be everywhere at once? Turn on the television, put on your face in the morning, open a computer, walk by a newsstand, spot a billboard, open your refrigerator, turn on your car radio... Beyoncé's image surrounds us 24/7.
5. The Endorsements: Pepsi, L'Oréal, et al.
The Jay-Z Lyric: "I'm not a businessman... I'm a business, man." ("Diamonds from Sierra Leone [Remix]")
Someone's gotta pay the bills, yo.