Sunday on the Billboard Music Awards, sometime after
Of course the Beyonce Stans launched a full attack on any blogger who dared post the video. At first i joined suite, but then i after reading an article posted on yahoo (HERE) about the amazing performance i kind of changed my mind. In the article Beyonce's team openly admits that they did in fact draw "inspiration" from the Italian singer, Lorella Cucarrini's performance, and sought out the same graphic designer who did it. Just like she drew "inspiration" from Chicago and added The Cell Block Tango to one of her tours. Just like she drew "inspiration" from a you tube video for her Single Ladies video. Beyonce is so heavily inspired that it makes me actually sit down and question The Queen. What is the difference between "inspiration" and just a down right dirty ol copy cat.
I know all artist draw inspiration from each other. Its no mystery that Lady Gaga is heavily inspired by Madonna. Beyonce's performance style is heavily inspired by Tina Turner. Ciara has mentioned time and time again shes inspired by Janet Jackson. Nicki Minaj....we won't even go there. So whats the difference between being inspired by someone, and trying to BE someone. I remember when Rihanna dyed her hair black and cut it all off, Kelis fans (whoever they may be) had an absolutely conniption fit, like Kelis is the only person allowed to cut her hair. When Rihanna found a new and improved stylist, Kelis claimed to have done that 1st to. The 1st to find a new stylist? I guess girl.
In my opinion, everyone is inspired by something. But you must put your own twist to it, to make it a little bit more original. Beyonce made the Single Ladies video her own. Yes she did see three old white women doing a full out dance routine filmed in 1800 BC. But she added many of her own elements to the video that kind of made it HERS. The intricate choreography. The black and white aspect. The hair style. The matching leotards. I know it doesn't seem like much, but think back to Halloween 2009 when you saw all the fat girls in the leotards...who were they trying to be? You get my point? She made it her own. I can respect that.
We all know anything you can do, Beyonce can do better. That's a given. But i felt like the video above did make me stop and think. Sometimes, i go back and forth. Was it "inspiration" or was it "copying". The graphics used we not left up to her, the designer decided on those. So the similarities as far as that goes, the designer takes full responsibility for. But i honestly feel because Beyonce is placed on a pedestal in the industry, and because seriously ANYTHING YOU CAN DO, SHE CAN DO BETTER, we give her a pass sometimes. And i believe we do that because we believe it will t take away from her greatness as an artist. She's still the greatest performer alive, and definitely one of the most talented women in the industry. But there is a very thin line between inspiration and copying, and Beyonce is dancing on it a little to often (in 6 inch heels and singing at the same time). At the end of the day it just gives the haters a reason to question her greatness.
I firmly believe there is nothing new under the sun. Everything has been done before. So the difference between reinventing something and making it your own vs copying, i guess it's up to the viewer. Many people will argue me down about the Single Ladies video that it was in fact a carbon copy. I don't think so, but you may. So i guess it's left up to the viewer. Its all opinion. Beyonce never seems phased. Neither does Rihanna. Neither does Lady Gaga. Even the great Michael Jackson has been accused of being "overly inspired" by someone. Hell, who knew he didn't invent the moon walk?
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