Generation gap and Beyonce

[Harmony Blue]

I am surprised there is this much Puritan outrage over Beyonce's performance. I am not a fan of pop music, but this has always been Beyonce's brash style, so I am surprised at the outrage even though it is the year 2013. Can't us young grasshoppers get along with you old farts pretty please?

[cthulu2016]

1. Do we have evidence that it is generational?

[Harmony Blue]

4. I don't think Elvis has a trademark

for gyrating hips. So Beyonce has always been known to be provactive. Yeah it is generational and hypocrtical if you ask me.

[duffyduff]

35. The criticism is she has no talent. n/t

[snooper2]

2. I remember when people got their undies in a twist over--

this-

[hlthe2b]

3. RIdiculous... I think there are plenty of young and old who like her (or not).

But, the very ugly ageism is apparent in your post, emoticons not withstanding.

[RebelOne]

37. I agree. I can be classified as an old person.

I am not a fan of Beyonce, but I saw nothing wrong with her performance. And yes, I resent the ageism in the post.

[Bonobo]

5. Less outrage than "meh" indifference.

We have seen better and are amused to see people taken in by the visuals and mistaking that for the artist.

It is packaging and sort of like thinking that a hamburger wrapped in silk is filet mignon.

[FedUpWithIt All]

44. ^^This.

My twenty-eight yr old husband and myself were not impressed with the performance because the singing aspect, what she is supposedly famous for, was seriously lacking. In it's place is what he called a "stripper routine" which is not supposed to be the performance skill that earned her the coveted performance slot.

[zappaman]

48. +1 n/t

[JaneyVee]

6. And she flashed the illuminati symbol at the Superbowl.

At least according to this silly article: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/did-beyonce-flash-illuminati-sign-why-did-superdome-064347471--nfl.html

[FSogol]

11. So all the young men w/ Triangle rainbow stickers on back of their Subarus are members of the

Illuminati?

I had no idea.

[Agschmid]

16. Who me?

How did you find out...

Who told you...

[FSogol]

23. I was in the Jeep behind you. Don't worry, I won't spill the beans on the

olewhay Illuminatiway ecretsay ingthay

[PasadenaTrudy]

7. Not sure

what you consider "old." I just think she's boring and unoriginal. Also, too plastic and perfectly airbrushed looking. I'm also not a fan of such tight choreography. So, we weren't offended, just bored and changed the channel. More of a Janis Joplin fan here

[flamingdem]

8. Let's face it this is about her strong body and unabashed enjoyment

of it. We've seen plenty of skimpy costumes, this poutrage is about a black woman owning her space and her beauty.

Oh and she is a strong Obama supporter.

Generation gap? I doubt it.

[TM99]

13. So are you saying then

that you only like her because she is a black woman who votes Democratic?

Therefore, if I do not like her, I must be racist, misogynistic, and not a 'true' Democrat?

Well, that cleared it up for me.

Perhaps, it is just that a growing number of adults of all ages are simply getting sick of the "Generation over-share", fake, shallow, persona-based take-over of all things artistic. In particular, music is now dominated by pop stars. They now define what is considered a great performance and great music. Beyonce is a mediocre singer and plays no instruments, but because she is bi-racial and votes Democrat, I must accept her as the most amazing singer ever? Lady Gaga dropped out of music school but I am supposed to recognize her musical genius as a poor Madonna derivative simply because she supports gay and lesbian causes?

As a musician, I generally do not like pop. Oh, sure, there are some wonderful little catchy tunes from time to time. And like sugar, a little goes a damned long way. But after you have heard a dozen I - V - vi - IV chord progression based songs in the key of C major or a dozen i - VI - III - VII chord progression based songs in the key of A minor, it does really start to get old quite fast.

Give me Etta James over Beyonce or Debbie Harry over Lady Gaga any day.

[flamingdem]

15. Like most people you don't understand that those dance movements

are African descendant for the most part and that there are racial markers involved with our culture when this is put on display to that extent.

It's still a judgemental puritanical culture at the root. We're not anywhere near the realm you're talking about with Etta James, this is a spectacle.

People know this, they've seen Madonna, but she does the white version, much less ability to communicate with the body, she wouldn't get this reaction.

Beyonce is a powerful performer in the pop realm and yes many are uncomfortable that this type of culture and the markers for blackness have gotten this far.

[TM99]

17. But I do understand

you see, as I am of mixed racial heritage as well.

So really this isn't about puritans or suggestive dancing or anything racist. It is about the take-over of music by pop stars who 'perform' more than they create. I could care less about how she was dressed or that she gyrated her hips suggestively or not. I care that she is considered a great musician because of those things and a mediocre voice.

[flamingdem]

20. Okay but I stick with my point for most of the complaints

because this isn't about a great voice and the gyrations are markers for black culture and she didn't hold back much.

When did we see this kind of poutrage before? Over a pop spectacle? That's what you should be asking yourself. It's bothering people and it's not really an artistic problem since we know or should know that the halftime show is spectacle.

[TM99]

33. I have seem far more

complaints over the show as a whole than just the suggestive dancing. I think what made that stand out more for many is that this supposed glorious performer sang horribly tonight and spent most of the performance 'dancing'. It wasn't even her own choreography, and her fellow dancers moved the exact same way. It did not show any particular skill (shaking hips, hip thrusts, etc.), creativity, or passion even in the dancing. I, and others, have seen more passionate and creative dancing in suggestive ways in skimpy clothing from strippers.

[PasadenaTrudy]

21. Helllo, thank you n/t

[deutsey]

22. +1

[Buzz Clik]

31. NOPE. None of the above.

[MicaelS]

36. No, I'd say it's about too much of popular "music"

Being more about dancing instead of singing. Anyone can get onstage and shake their body and grab their ass and their crotch. Few people can really sing without Autotune or something similar. And race doesn't have a damn thing to do with it. I say the same thing about Madonna, or Britney Spears or any white female whose every "performance" consists more of dancing instead of singing.

[seabeyond]

9. both teenage boys were watching and neither impressed. we had about the same issues.

had nothing to do with puritan, though a lot of people like to project that on people, and had everything to do with performance.

my boys regularly give me their music today. i love music. and a lot fo stuff they give me, i really like. so not about age. but preference.

[firehorse]

10. agree with those who just think she's boring and that kind of choreographed stuff is boring

It's not about being "old farts". Judging by my FB page, some old farts in their 40's and 60's enjoyed it. But these same people liked a good spectacle and pop from every decade.

Those like me who rather resurrect punk bands from the 70's find her boring the way we found the genre that included Brittany Spears, (yes Madonna too back in the day) boring also. That kind of dancing and singing has always reminded me of cheerleading, doesn't matter if it was the Menudo, Michael Jackson or Paula Abdul in the 80's or Justin Timberlake or the Spice Girls in the 90's. The pop genre is just not my thing, sorry.

[lunasun]

12. Wait til SB1/2 time does some dubstep!

[Agschmid]

18. Wub wub wub.... rrrrrrrrr

Skrillex/Deadmau5 to headline Halftime show in 2014!

[lunasun]

26. Or something say a virtual band like Gorillaz -Waaah waz that Mildred?

Seriously I think something more mainstream like Calvin Harris could work the crowd but I do not know ...great light show etc. .... but wait a few more years.........music is ever evolving!

[bigwillq]

29. I can only hope! DEADMAU5!!!!!!!!

Love him!

[bluedigger]

14. I just wish she could have mumbled her way through more than one song.

Thank goodness she was cavorting around, because it was shit to listen to.

[riqster]

19. Generation, Schmeneration: Race, Schmace

I have never liked pop music regardless of era or ethnicity. Didn't like the Beatles, didn't like the Jackson 5: don't like 1 Direction or Beyonce. I'm a rock guy.

So kindly take your assumptions and projections elsewhere.

[Tikki]

24. She appears to be a nice person, I don't care much for that kind of music or performance..

but then many would be complaining if Social Distortion was the half-time show.

I am not tied up to the half-time show, you know..


Tikki

[Livluvgrow]

25. when Sandy Hook Chorus

And Jennifer Hudson finished I looked at my wife and said that is the performance of the night. Those children did a beautiful job and has a fabulous soulful voice. I just didn't hear much soul or clearity or power from Beyonce's voice. I think she flubbed. That is MY opinion and I will stick with it.

[cherokeeprogressive]

27. Who. Cares.

[deutsey]

28. Nothing puritanical about my reaction

I'm just not into that kind of performance for the same reasons others have noted here. Never have been.

Even though I didn't care for it at all, I believe her spectacle seemed appropriate for something like the Super Bowl.

[Buzz Clik]

30. I guess I qualify as an old fart who didn't like Beyonce's half time performance.

I'm no Puritan. I have seen a lot better strip tease performances in clubs across this great land of ours than Beyonce offered up last night.

Put the scanty attire aside -- that was NOT it.

She was awful. The staging was stupid and overblown. The sound mixing on "Single Ladies" was a disaster. The electronic enhancement of her staging (the overhead shots with her image replicated like a kaleidoscope) was just stupid.

Thumbs up for the Destiny's Child reunion. The rest? BOOO! HISSSSSS!!!

[The Straight Story]

32. She is a good showperson/singer but not much of a musician

I think that is more where people have the differences.

Many older folks may remember people/groups who could sing, play instruments, and put on a good show all at the same time.

[cali]

34. I think she's a snoozefest. So for that matter does my 25 year old son

I'm not outraged by her, I was just never into the whole overproduced pop shit. She's just boring as hell.

Now here's a woman who can really sing- anytime, anyplace.

[TheManInTheMac]

38. From this old turd's perspective, it's just good to see someone relevant in this century

perform at the Superbowl for a change.

[Cleita]

39. Truthfully, I'm finding racial undertones here. btw I'm a 73 y/o old fart.

There doesn't seem to be quite the snark with white entertainers. I thought the show was stylish and hot. I don't think the women showed too much skin. The moves in their dancing are no different than I see in classes at my gym. She has a voice most wanna be singing stars would kill for. She put on an almost perfect performance and the fans in the stands loved her.

So I can only think that she's getting the same "love" President Obama gets. It's actually jealousy. People of color aren't supposed to be as talented, smart or accomplished as white people. Dontcha know?

[dmallind]

42. Bit overblown and misguided when you think about it.

So I can only think that she's getting the same "love" President Obama gets. It's actually jealousy. People of color aren't supposed to be as talented, smart or accomplished as white people. Dontcha know?

(bolding mine)

So this was big news because it was part of the biggest mass-audience entertainment event in the US, made so by the adulation given to the talents of 53 purely lily-white people per team? Damn that blackface most of those talented and accomplished crackers wear is far more realistic than it was in Jolson's day - could almost swear it looked like the Superbowl was half of America going nuts over the talent and accomplishments of a majority black group of players, with nary a word of distinction about their race to be heard.

[Tikki]

43. Believe me...I am not a Madonna fan...for the exact same reasons..

Tikki

[Cleita]

46. Neither am I, nor of Lady Gaga. Neither sing as well as Beyonce.

Sure, her music is commercial but she's far more talented than either of those above mentioned Divas. If I had a choice of buying one concert ticket for either of the above, I would choose Beyonce. Others, like Britney Spears, you'd have to pay me to attend one of their concerts.

[we can do it]

40. Well, it's not just age, I think it has to do with being rigid in what music you like.

I have actually embraced many more music genres since I've grown older. I was much more narrow minded about music when I was young, if I didn't like it "it sucked". I was a headbanger early on (but I admit I did like the Carpenters). I also get that entertainment equals more than just sound (or it may not depending on the person). Art has something for everyone if you just give it a chance.

[hamsterjill]

41. I am an old fart.

I just don't like Beyonce.

I do, however, LOVE Lady Gaga.

[FedUpWithIt All]

45. It is not an age thing.

The performance simply wasn't a great singing performance.

[Luminous Animal]

47. I thought it was silly when Madonna grabbed her crotch 25 years ago...

I think it is silly when Beyonce does it today.

My 22 year old daughter and her 25 year old boyfriend agree.

[Blaukraut]

49. I loved her outfit and her performance, but her singing sucked

With all that jumping around and dancing, it's really difficult to sing an entire tune, and it showed last night. But for what it was, her performance and choreography was impeccable.
FWIW, I'm a middle aged woman whose music tastes range from 70s rock to The Mars Volta, Timbaland, Tool, Gorrilaz, etc.

[Trailrider1951]

50. Sure we can, Sweety

It's just that we old farts have a different idea of what constitutes a talented female artist:

And they didn't have to dress scantily to get attention.

[Apophis]

51. Where's the outrage over the mostly naked dude in the CK ad?

Why is there outrage over a woman in a skimpy outfit but no "outrage" over the nearly nude male?