January 21, 2010

Did Beyonce sell her soul?


So what did you do on New Year's Eve?

Pop star Beyonce spent New Year's collecting $2 million for a private concert. This is not unusual, as celebrities do highly-paid appearances at private functions all the time --- according to abc.com, you can hire Jessica Simpson for $75,000, or Usher for $175,000, or Mariah Carey for $3 million, or apparently, Beyonce for $2 million.

So what was newsworthy about Ms Knowles' private concert? Well, first of all, holy crap, she makes two million bucks to sing five songs? I so chose the wrong line of work. Secondly, and most importantly, she was performing at a private party thrown by Hannibal Gaddafi, son of the Libyan dictator Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, so you know where the two million bucks came from.

Does that make it wrong? What should she have done? Should she take the high moral road and decline the gig? That may be a stance with honour and value, it also means that the evil dictator's family has two million more dollars.

When challenged by the press, Beyonce's spineless PR hack gave a non-answer, pointing out that Beyonce is not alone in the 'dancing for dictators' club: pop tart Keesha performed for Zimbabgwe's dictator Robert Mugabe, Chris Brown has performed for Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, Eminem is working for Eritrea's military dictator, blah, blah, blah... Yeah, so, if they all jumped off a bridge, would you?

Back to Beyonce on New Year's Eve... so, is it wrong? I like Beyonce, have one of her albums, the first one, it was a gift, and yeah it's pretty good. About this mini-controversy I am of two minds; Hey, I am a Gemini, it happens a lot, deal with it. First, I am a democrat and capitalist, so Beyonce is entitled to make choices and make money, and hey she is taking it from the bad guys. On the other hand, what the fuck was she thinking? How do you get up there in spandex and sequins and shake it for families of terrorists?

What should she do now? Well, Ms. Beyonce, you did the show and you took the money. Now give the two million bucks to orphans or AIDS research or breast cancer care or Haiti relief or any other good cause. Just give it away --- you don't need it, and it's dirty.

14 comments:

Mxdthingz said...

well said!!!

Vodka Logic said...

I didn't know that, not that I should I don't follow Beyonce but how interesting.

I agree with you, give it away. It's not like she needed the money. 5 songs, I better get to pick them out for $2million.

All pretty sad imo.

Bob said...

I hadn't heard this and it sickens me now that i have.
Is she so desparate for "more" that she'll take that kind of money?
Seriously. Grrrrrl needs to rethink her career choices.

Michael Rivers said...

That's really interesting. I don't think she should have done the gig. I also think this stuff happens way more than we realize. Just like when A-List celebs who would NEVER dream of doing commercials here in the U.S. go to other countries and take millions to do it.

Aunt Juicebox said...

Wow. Did she really need another 2 mil? Greedy a-hole.

Bo said...

I hate doing promotion on your blog, but I will be willing to do a private concert for you and your friends...five songs $50,000. Seems like a steal doesn't it. Please contact me for booking information.

injaynesworld said...

She doesn't strike me as the brightest bulb on the tree. Wouldn't be surprised if she was totally clueless about the implications here. However now, if for no other reason that to repair her image, you're absolutely right. She needs to donate that money.

Kevin said...

You're a democrat? I thought you were a Canadian.

Lizzy and Elle said...

omg totally bummed...


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Brent said...

Her ethics are certainly questionable, but she is only an entertainer. If she was doing a world tour and Gaddafi bought all the seats at the stadium she was booked at, should she still play the show? Would she tell him not to buy her albums? (I'd like to think she'd turn it down, but clearly...)I can't imagine someone at her level of career success being happy to be a personal singing/dancing action figure for the highest bidder. If she records anti-terrorist songs on her next album, then she's lost all credibility. Definitely not smart move in any case. It would be nice if talent and integrity went together, but it would appear that in this case they don't.

Brahm said...

Hey all - thanks for comments, and I agree she is just an entertainer, and gig was probably arranged by her handlers, that being said she is a role model, and even if Ms Beyonce isnt reading my blog (whaaaat?), then there is enough PR here to prompt action, no?

Kevin - "small d" democrat...

Liz and Ellie, will check out sex'n fries (love the name!).

The Maven said...

I like Beyonce a little list having just read that. Her and Jay-Z are one of the richest couples in the world. She didn't need to do this one. Ick.

Anonymous said...

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cheap viagra said...

That's not wrong, that's WROOOONG!!!!
you can't sing for a couple of ''monkey bussines'' dollars, that's not right in many levels, even if you don't know where the money exactly came from, too bad for that hot hip-hop mommy...

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