Swiftness vs. Knowlesedge

[vovat]

We all know about Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift's moment in the spotlight at the Video Music Awards to announce that Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time. But was he right? I hadn't seen either of the videos all the way through at the time. I'd heard the songs, which are of the typical pop hit variety, simple and impossible to get out of your head when you've heard them. I do have to say that Taylor had some bad timing with her song, though, because it's about her thinking she belongs with someone because they know everything about each other, when I'm currently learning that that doesn't always work out. Are you mocking me, Taylor? What did I ever do to you?

Anyway, here's the video for Beyonce's "Single Ladies":

It's her dancing for the entire length of the song. The fact that Kanye thinks this is one of the best videos of all time makes me wonder how many others he's seen. Maybe he was like me, and grew up without cable. Mind you, it's Beyonce's choice if she wants to release a fairly minimal video, and she's no slouch as a dancer. But really, I don't know the basis for judging the VMAs (considering that it's MTV, it probably has something to do with the size of the bribe offered), but I would have to think creativity would be an important factor. As you can see, Beyonce's video was sorely lacking in that department. Now, here's Taylor's video for "You Belong with Me":

I certainly wouldn't say it's one of the best of all time either, but it's clever and kind of sweet, and looks like a good deal of effort went into it. So, yeah, definitely a better video than Beyonce's. I'll have to agree with the President on this one.

Watch on YouTube

Comments

[suegypt.livejournal.com]

That is kind of a cute video. I think TS is a talented girl, and by the time she's Beyonce's age, she may be lightyears ahead, who knows. She's adorable, but Beyonce is an undeniable force when she's swinging her pubis symphysis in your face! You just sort of have to say Yes, Ma'am!

But, what do I know? I hardly watch non-concert videos anymore. OkGo's latest is pretty cool.

kinda elegant for masturbation fodder

[bec-87rb.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed that the refrain was, "if you liked it, you shoulda put a ring on it" and yet the entire video was visually about three pairs of magnificent fleshy thighs jiggling and wiggling. The lyric is about fingers, which are never mentioned, in a video about fabulous thighs, which are never actually mentioned.

Re: kinda elegant for masturbation fodder

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Hey, Beyonce points to her finger a few times, doesn't she? {g}

Re: kinda elegant for masturbation fodder

[suegypt.livejournal.com]

Does she? {g}

Re: kinda elegant for masturbation fodder

[suegypt.livejournal.com]

Other artistic points to Beyonce that were swirling through my head ALL NIGHT LAST NIGHT:

* It's in buttery black-and-white

* the lights swing from uber-bleached to shadowy and back a few times as the camera tilts and those girls keep on bumpin'

Bottom line: I could see Beyonce doing Taylor's video long before Taylor could handle doing Beyonce's. Don't know what that means, if anything...

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Beyonce is only eight years older, but that can be all the time in the world when it comes to careers in the music industry.

Heh, "TS." Those are kind of unfortunate initials, aren't they? That's essentially what Kanye said. "You won an award and you want to say something? Well, TS!" While I didn't care for Taylor's "Love Story," she comes across as really cute and innocent, and hard to dislike. While I think Kanye's outburst would have been a breach of etiquette in any case, it might well have been even worse with Taylor. It's like he went up and kicked a puppy.

kicked a puppy

[suegypt.livejournal.com]

Most of what I know about her is that she can handle awkward situations with a mature grace I probably couldn't muster at my age. The Kanye thing, sure, but i first encountered her about a year ago (she was 19?) when she had to share a stage with none other than Miley Cyrus, and sing a song or 2. MC is gut-bustingly un-talented (as in UN), but there was Taylor, playing her guitar and singing a song that each of them wrote. If you can call what Miley does songwriting...

Re: kicked a puppy

[vilajunkie.livejournal.com]

I can't believe Miley is getting "real" acting jobs now, as per that movie she's in now ("The Last Song"?)...

Re: kicked a puppy

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Yeah, considering that her fanbase seems to be comprised mainly of teenagers, it's odd that they'd cast her in a movie it doesn't look like a teenager would be interested in seeing. Maybe it was in her contract that she'd get a serious role, though. When you're rich and famous enough, they'll let you do pretty much anything. ("Paris Hilton wants to record an album? Okay!" Although I've heard a few people say Paris' album actually wasn't bad.)

I've heard that the songs Miley writes herself are the ones that don't get radio play. Then again, the TMBG song everyone knows is "Istanbul."

[vilajunkie.livejournal.com]

What brought you to discuss this now instead of when the VMAs were?

[vovat.livejournal.com]

That's a good question! I'll admit it's a bit outdated, but I wanted to do another post on current pop music, and Taylor Swift came to mind. And, of course, that make me think of the VMA situation.

[poisonyoulove.livejournal.com]

I don't really have any opinion on Beyonce, but . . . that video is bizarrely mesmerizing.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I'd say something about how Beyonce relies on sex appeal rather than creativity and originality, but since I just made a post on hot chicks the previous day, I guess I don't have room to talk. {g}