Last Sunday a new track supposedly from Beyonce‘s upcoming album was leaked and it immediately started stirring up quite a bit of controversy.
While the R&B star has been known for releasing female empowering songs like “Run the World,” and “Single Ladies,” her new track is called “Bow Down/I Been On,” with the lyrics:
“I know when you were little girls/you dreamt of being in my world/Don’t forget it/Respect that/Bow down b**ches/Bow down b**tches”
It could be construed that Beyonce is telling all her female fans to bow down to her and she is referring to them as b**ches. When I first heard the song, however, I felt she was calling out her imitators and competition in the industry who are attempting to steal her thunder. Which is what her husband Jay-Z did with the Watch The Throne album he made with Kanye West. It could be argued that, as an empowered woman, she should be able to express herself in the same demeanour as a man would.
What I find interesting is that, from the hundreds of comments I’ve read online, it’s the fact that it’s not cool for a woman (like Beyonce) to swear, while it’s fine for a man.
“She’s a smart girl – surely she can make her point without using offensive (language)?” wrote Jackie Van Enk on the UK Mirror site. I’m not sure why she’s referring to the 31-year old-woman as a “girl,” but…
“This song makes no sense, is randomly offensive, and is way out of Beyonce’s lane.” wrote another fan on Twitter.
Others didn’t agree: “She’s back.. Killin it. Can’t wait for the new album!” (Mirror)
“BEYONCE IS QUEEN. NO ONE IS NOR WILL THEY EVER BE ON HER LEVEL. END OF CONVERSATION.” (Mirror)
As for Beyonce, so far she has yet to comment on the song and reception. Back in 2011 she began referring to herself as “King B,” (as opposed to a Queen Bee) which seems to suggest that, in the hierarchy of royalty, the King is the highest ranked and that’s where she feels she exists. This song seems to be more proof of that. Besides having an incredible voice, she has an incredible ego. And in the music business, especially rap and R&B, that is a huge asset.
Beyonce will be embarking on The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour. That name alone, referring to herself as Mrs. Carter (Jay-Z’s real last name) instead of Beyonce, has had it’s own share of criticism. Beyonce isn’t budging on the title, showing that you can’t please everyone, so you might as well plow ahead and please yourself. After all, isn’t that what independence is all about? Standing up for yourself?
Here’s the song. Obviously NSFW.
