Five Things We Learned from That Beyoncé Documentary on HBO

beyonce_hbo.jpg

Life is But a Dream, the HBO documentary about Beyoncé that was directed and produced by Beyoncé, premiered over the weekend. Did you watch it? Of course not, you're much too cool for that. Luckily for you, we ain't, because it was a pretty interesting little film.

Not due to the narrative, mind you, which was really pretty dull. Basically, our favorite homegrown diva walks us through the joys and anxieties of the last couple years of her life since firing her father, Matthew Knowles, as her manager and charting her own course in the biz (oh, and becoming a mommy along the way).

The film was hyped as an unvarnished look at Beyoncé's life, but who honestly believed that? She directed, produced and starred in the thing: We only see and hear what she wants us to. At best, it's a trumped-up episode of "Making the Video." At worst, it's the exceedingly boring video diary of a beautiful control freak.

Still, there were a few revealing moments on display - not all of them expected. Because your mom is too cheap to shell out for HBO, we've helpfully compiled here the top five things we learned from Life is But a Dream:

More »

Beyonce Stoops to Conquer Toyota Center July 15

B profile 0204.jpg
The Right Profile: Beyonce was all the electricity Super Bowl XLVII needed.
Hot off the heels of her electrifying Super Bowl halftime performance, which some believe had something to do with the mysterious blackout at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome shortly into the game's third quarter, Beyonce announced after the game that she will hit the road later this year for her first world tour since 2009.

Presented by Live Nation, the North American leg begins June 28 at L.A.'s Staples Center and visits her hometown arena, Toyota Center, July 15. Also on the itinerary is the Barclays Center, the new arena in downtown Brooklyn in which Beyonce's husband Jay-Z (or "Mr. Carter") owns a small stake.

"It is expected to be bigger in scope than any of her previous shows," a Live Nation press release said.


More »

The Destiny's Child Compilation Beyoncé Doesn't Want You to Hear

destinys_child_comp.jpg
Beyoncé, with others
With all the excitement buzzing around the rumored Destiny's Child reunion during Beyoncé's Super Bowl Halftime set on Sunday, one could be forgiven for picking up a copy of the iconic girl group's latest compilation album, the imaginatively titled Love Songs. After all, it includes a whole stack of DC's smoothest, silkiest R&B ballads, and it's even got a brand-new single attached, to boot.

Rewind:

VIDEO: Beyonce Wows Super Bowl Press Conference Crowd By Singing Anthem Live


But don't do it. Do not buy this record. I know it's bright and shiny and new, and that it's been a while since we got a fresh single from these hometown heartbreakers. But since when, exactly, has Destiny's Child been known for their love songs? You think anybody's going to want to hear "Cater 2 U" at the Super Bowl? Hell no!

More »

MTV: Beyonce Headlining Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show

B SB Oct15.jpg
Photo by Daniel Kramer
Beyonce at Toyota Center in July 2009
Beyonce, native Houstonian, role model, Tumblr-keeper, wife of Jay-Z, friend and favorite of President Obama, supposedly has yet another feather to add to her headdress come February: Super Bowl Halftime headliner.

According to MTV.com, the 31-year-old HSPVA alumna will be the featured entertainment at Super Bowl XLVII, scheduled for February 3, 2013 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome just down I-10 in New Orleans. Citing an unnamed source at the Associated Press, the report said possible guest appearances at the show could include Jay-Z (of course they would) as well as a possible reunion of Destiny's Child.

An official statement is expected from Team Beyonce tomorrow, the report added.


More »

Enrique Iglesias & Jennifer Lopez Heading to Houston August 26

jennifer-lopez-enrique_thelavalizard.jpg
Enrique Iglesias, Jennifer Lopez and Wisin Y Yandel are heading to Houston's Toyota Center on August 26. This marks the third time that Iglesias has been in Houston in the past year, logging a RodeoHouston date this spring and a Toyota show last fall. Does he own land here or something?

From the looks of it, Lopez was last here in Houston with ex-husband Marc Anthony back in October 2007 for a co-headlining date. The only Lopez song I like is "Jenny from the Block," "If You Had My Love", "Waiting for Tonight" and "Let's Get Loud."

Oh, that's five songs, you say? I never finished college.


More »

Report: Beyonce At U of H RIGHT NOW

Beyonce U of H Twitter.jpg
Rocks Off's glitz-tracking colleagues/rivals over at CultureMap are reporting that Beyonce has just dropped in at the University of Houston to watch her mom, designer Tina Knowles, get interviewed for the university's Women's Archive and Research Collection. Like, RIGHT NOW, y'all.

So is about half of Twitter, as you can see above. "Beyonce" and "U of H" are both trending topics right now. Well, OK, they were about 10 minutes ago. Beyonce's better half, Jay-Z, is supposedly chilling at the University of Texas-San Antonio right now too.


More »

Pregnant Teens: Not Beyonce's Fault

Monday, BET.com posted an article suggesting Beyoncé's pregnancy, which she announced at the VMAs and nearly crashed Twitter, might cause a "spike in Black Teen Pregnancy." Have you ever heard anything more ridiculous? It's more than unfair to blame Beyoncé for African American teens becoming pregnant when a plethora of other factors can make a difference in the statistic.

Teenage girls have many different reasons why they have children at a young age. Wanting to emulate Beyoncé, who is a married woman and will be 30 years old next week, is without a doubt the most irresponsible excuse. Granted, the Grammy-winning singer and actress is a trendsetter with die-hard fans, but did we look at other pregnant R&B superstars and think the same thing?

When singer Alicia Keys got pregnant before marrying producer Swizz Beats, were there any thoughts of teens rushing to get knocked up? What about when singers Keyshia Cole, Monica or Christina Milian were with child? These women are role models to some girls across the nation as well; blaming musicians for the consequences of bad parenting has always seemed like the easy way out.


More »

Out Today: Beyonce's 4 Is Square, Limp Bizkit Chokes The Cobra

Limp-Bizkit-Gold-Cobra-New-Track-2011.jpg
What is this I don't even....
This week in new releases sees is one of the most varied in months, with new discs by Beyonce, Limp Bizkit, Dolly Parton, and Thievery Corporation hitting shelves and digital outlets today. By far though, the sexiest album cover is the Beyonce art for 4, and the most WTF one, possibly of all year, is the deluxe album cover of Limp Bizkit's first new album in six years, Gold Cobra, which you can see in all its glory above.


More »

Sony May Reunite Destiny's Child If Beyonce Album Stiffs

beyonce toyota june22.jpg
Daniel Kramer
Beyonce at Toyota Center, July 2009
Following the lackluster response to Beyonce's 4, which leaked onto the Internet wholesale earlier this month, the singer's label has gone into crisis mode and is even considering another Destiny's Child reunion, The New York Post reported today.

Citing the ever-popular unnamed "industry insider," the Post's Page Six column says Sony executives are "bracing for the worst" should the album, scheduled to be released next Tuesday, not turn into a blockbuster like 2003's Dangerously In Love and 2008's I Am... Sasha Fierce.

Sony is "very nervous about Beyoncé's new record," this insider says. "It doesn't have the hit songs that her fans are used to. They asked her to make changes, but she said no."

More »

Beyonce Throws A "Party" With Kanye, Andre 3000 & Slick Rick

Beyonce june8.JPG
Beyonce's wildly anticipated 4 has leaked three weeks ahead of its scheduled release date. One of the songs on the album, "Party," finds Bey joining forces with Kanye West and rap's greatest hermit Andre 3000.

It starts with a classic Kanyeism: "You a bad girl and your friend's bad too/Oh, you got the swag sauce, you're dripping swagu."Then, as soon as the beat drops, Beyonce gushes: "I may be young but I'm ready/ To give you all my love/ I told my girls you can get it/ Don't slow it down, just let it go/ So in looooove..."

Beyonce is a happy woman. Why wouldn't she be? She dons the most coveted tiara in pop, her new album has music fiends salivating, and her man adores her.

More »

From the Vault

 

©2013 Houston Press, LP, All rights reserved.
Browse Voice Nation
  • Voice Places Houston

    Voice Places

    Find everything you're looking for in your city

  • Happy Hour App

    Happy Hour App

    Find the best happy hour deals in your city

  • Daily Deals

    Daily Deals

    Get today's exclusive deals at savings of anywhere from 50-90%

  • Best Of

    Best Of...

    Check out the hottest list of places and things to do around your city