Beyonce' Didn't Have to Call Us "B*tches"

As I've said before, I have always been a fan of Beyonce's...WAY back to the original Destiny's Child days. However, I have always been equally critical of her when, as a fan, I didn't like something she did musically.

Just when Beyonce' was starting to reel me back in, she does something to cast me back into the water. Beyonce' recently released a new song called "Bow Down/I Been On" where she took a unnecessary dig at her "haters":

 I know when you were little girls... 

You dreamt of being in my world... 

Don’t forget it , don’t forget it... 

Respect that, bow down bitches 

Beyonce' usually takes the high road and doesn't answer to criticism in such a negative way, which is why I want to believe that this song was not 100% her idea. She didn't have to do this in a mean and spiteful way because after her SuperBowl performance and SOLD-OUT upcoming tour, it's OBVIOUS that she still has "it" and we still want it. However, she should have continued to let her career speak for itself.

First of all, I happen to be a BIG advocate for women's empowerment and sisterhood, which is why I was put off by Beyonce's tone of "telling off her haters". This is a problem with black women where we "hate" on each other instead of supporting each other. I admit that I was one of the people who wanted her to sit down, have a baby and "get a life" (so to speak), not because I wanted to be her or was jealous of her success but because I cared about her personal life.

I've always wanted her to open up and share her life with me as a fan and when she never did, it turned me off. Beyonce' has been around for 15 years and has never been this open with us. Hmmmmm....I wonder why (new album and tour coming perhaps)? I don't believe in the Illuminati but I do find it interesting that she now wants us to "bow down" to her after she was brought up and raised in church...she KNOWS better.

Let me just say this: No matter how critical I am about her, I will not "bow down" to Beyonce' or any other celebrity because I serve the MOST HIGH GOD who commands "You shall have NO other gods before Me". Amen and HALLELUJAH to THAT!!!!!

Beyonce' was singing a different tune just last month in her HBO documentary, Life is But a Dream, where she actually came across with a women's empowerment message:

"It’s difficult being a woman. It’s so much pressure, and we need that support sometimes. We’re all going through our problems, but we all have the same insecurities and we all have the same abilities and we all need each other. Women have a responsibility to look out for other women.”

I was happy to hear her say this because she has such an unyielding fan base and people would take to that message as well because "Beyonce said it". However, how can you push that message while calling other women bitches and telling us to "bow down"?????


I miss the "independent woman", "single ladies", "survivor" type Beyonce' of old. This new Beyonce'...this media-crazed, needy for attention, everywhere-you-look Beyonce is getting old...and FAST!!!!! Maybe she should go back and listen to her words from "Survivor":

I'm not goin' blast you on the radio (I'm better than that),  I'm not goin' lie on you and your family (I'm better than that), I'm not goin' hate on you in the magazines ('m better than that), I'm not goin' compromise my Christianity (I'm better than that), You know I'm not goin' diss you on the internet, 'Cause my mama taught me better than that 

~Elle Shanice~ APPROVED ✔: Justin Timberlake "The 20/20 Experience"

~Elle Shanice~ grade: A

The term "blue-eyed soul" has come to describe  Justin Timberlake quite perfectly. Since being in the hit boy band of the late 90's and early 2000's 'NSYNC, he has really made his own lane that combines soul, R&B and pop.

I have been a fan of Justin's since *NSYNC and have follow his entire solo music career. I have CD's of both Justified and FutureSex/LoveSounds  so I am familiar with his sound. I didn't want to jump right into his new stuff saying I LOVED it if I really didn't.

This album keeps with his signature sound but takes it somewhere else that I was happy to go. Timberlake has always been soulful but this album is in OVERDRIVE...it's like nothing else on the radio right now or like anything I've heard in a while.

Yes, it's different but every artist should be a little different creatively after 7 years. This album takes you to several different genres of music; from R&B to dance, old school to even futuristic. Timberlake is the hot guy right now; he's fresh off a great Grammy performance and ratings smash of a hosting and performing gig at Saturday Night Live. I have somewhat patiently waited 7 years for new music from him and he did NOT disappoint.

The 20/20 Experience of course included distinctive musical genius of Timbaland, which it is easy to tell by now but hey...if it isn't broke then don't fix it right? I listened to the whole album straight through at least twice before I realized it. I was just grooving to the music and didn't need to skip a song at all.

All the songs are 5 minutes or more, and with the tempo changes when he switches it up, it makes it seems like there are more than 10 songs. The first song on the album, "Pusher Love Girl" is like a soul/blues mix where Timberlake compares his love interest to a drug. It's a song for grown folks with a catchy hook to go with it.

The first single is "Suit and Tie" feat. Jay-Z, which took me a little bit to get into. However, it has grown on me and it's a great song to dance to. My FAV song from the album is "Don't' Hold the Wall" which kind of hypnotizes me with its musicality. Other songs like "Strawberry Bubblegum", "Tunnel Vision", "That Girl", "Let the Groove Get In", "Mirrors", and "Blue Ocean Floor" round out the album and really make it a cohesive project that spans several .

Way to keep us waiting JT, but at least you came through (as I knew you would)!