“I woke up like this” has become a popular saying on twitter feeds and concert T-shirts this summer. While these bold lyrics are so powerfully sung by Beyoncé, she does a hand shaking dance in which she boastfully fans her face showing that she so flawlessly woke up like that.
The song "Flawless", recently came out this year on her new album titled Yonce. Queen Bey, as some nickname the artist, dropped this album without any announcement and her new collection of work shocked her fans. The surprise release of the unannounced album was a genius move for Beyoncé to drive maximum sales as the album was only accessible through an iTunes purchase. Not only did the album drive maximum sales but the content within the tracks reminded listeners of the existing stereotypes of women. Beyoncé has written songs prior to this album that related to gender inequality and promoted independent, powerful women, but one song in particular on this new album made a very strong statement with the help of a well respected author. The song "Flawless" features Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche, an African Literature Author who gives the silenced women of Africa a voice with her words. Beyoncé used the words from one of Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche's TED talks to send a message throughout the song. The message in Flawless is that traditional societal expectations of girls convince the female gender to grow up as inferiors to the male gender. Chimamanda says “We say to girls ‘ You can have ambition but not too much. You should aim to be successful but not too successful otherwise you will threaten the man”. These two successful women aim to give a cultural voice to women by empowering women's capabilities beyond what society says. Gender roles and women's limitations are not only a true American stereotype, but a global dilemma, that has gone on too long. With the strong words of a feminist TED talk and Beyoncé's music, it is clearly expressed that girls need to wake up with a different mindset than what society has influenced. Instead of thinking girls are expected to become a version of a perfectly inferior woman, the female gender needs to realize they can wake up flawlessly powerful and respected in society.
I love the use of the ted talk in this song. Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche is a great writer, and Beyonce a genius for using this sound bite in her song. What better way to get Chimamanda's ideas about gender equality out there then to use it in her own song that we all know will be heard by millions! I agree that Beyonce does a lot to empower young women, certainly more than other Female performers. Great analysis!
ReplyDeleteThat's really cool, they are both such great role models. It is interesting how Beyonce is so popular in music and American culture, and at the same time she is able to set such a great example.
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