Beyoncé: The House that Gay Built

Wow Beyoncé. Just when I was ready to complete an exorcism and write her off she released Single Ladies. It was brilliant, as I watched thousands of people redo the video on YouTube. ( It made me wonder, how many people would have tried the same thing with Michael Jackson’s Beat It or Billie Jean had the internet been around during the 80s.) Then she released Ego which was cute, but didn’t have that Beyoncé flair. Yawn. Then there were the BET Awards and her subtle tribute to Michael. For an artist who is often the highlight of most award shows, that performance was a little subdued and sleepy. I understand the honoring Michael, but like I said on Facebook, Michael would want you to dance and DROP it.

THEN SHE DROPS THE ATOMIC BOMB----Sweet Dreams!

With the newest addition to her video collection, she has once again resurrected herself from the mundane moments which now make up music videos (when and if you can find them). “Sweet Dreams” has placed Beyoncé on the path to greatness, pushing her legendary status even further. Sure, a lot of critics will say that her Dreamgirl inspired –repeat of Single Ladies and Ego is nothing but reputation. But I call it genius. The video reminds me of a crazy work of Salvador Dali. It hypnotizes, mesmerizes and remains fixed in the brain. From the opening scene when she is in the middle of a deserted plain moving in jerky motions that are reminiscent of some creature in the Jennifer Lopez’s The Cell (2000), she nails it from her first movements and notes she sings. She is simply flawless. Amazing. Graceful. Fierce.

Of course, Fierce is the operative word. Beyoncé as of late (particularly with this most recent LP: I Am Sasha Fierce) possesses a little something extra that I think catapults her to superstar status. That magic that so many people, particularly men find appealing can be found in her chorographers who are essentially gay men. Not to take away from Mrs. S. Carter sex appeal. She has that. But her dance moves which her own chorographer has stated is influenced by J-Setting (a sequenced dance routine originating at Southern HBCUSs and perfected by gay men in the club—two snaps for the kids). Her moves also remind me of my own college days and the majorettes that popped along to the beats of the band. Beyoncé manages to recycle these energies and create a gumbo of Fierce-ness. It is this nostalgia of bootyshake, vintage funk, Gay boy glamour and magic that has us still stuck on Beyoncé Wow.