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Beyoncé

Birth Name:
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles

Height:
5' 7" (1.70 m)

Biography

On the closing night of her record breaking, globe-trotting I Am... stadium tour, Beyoncé made a pact with herself. The multi-million selling artist and one of the best performers of her generation decided to give herself 12 months off. In fifteen years of professional life, as a member of the ground-breaking R&B trio Destiny's Child and as a solo pop icon, she had only enjoyed a maximum of one month off previously. Sasha Fierce represented an artistic and commercial peak for the artist - if she could not move away from the spotlight now for some me-time and a personal debriefing, when could she? 

"So I made a list to myself of all the things I wanted to do in that time," she says, in a Downtown Manhattan loft, looking as effervescently recharged as she should after 12 months downtime. She wanted to go to the ballet, to learn to cook, to master the Final Cut Pro edit suite she'd bought herself, to pick her nephew up from school, to see Broadway shows, to sleep in her own bed and not in a hotel. "I wanted to live my life," she explains." 

"For the first time in my life I was able to travel the world and hear different influences," she says, "To see different kinds of dance and choreography and taste different types of food and just be able to relax and have great conversations." Previously, Beyoncé: The Artist had taken priority. It was time for Beyoncé: The Person to step forward. "I felt like I had worked so hard all my life that it was important that I was just able to be inspired and to digest everything I have been doing for so long." 

This being Beyoncé, the rest period started to slowly metamorphose into the new record, 4. She could turn off the schedule, but she could not turn off her intuitive feeling for creating dynamic music. It was time to set a new bar. For the first time ever, she made a record not because the label had penciled one in on the marketing wall-chart but because she wanted to make one for herself. “It was a labor of love. It was done because I love what I do and not because I was trying to make a certain type of album. Because it was my playground, it was real." 

The result is a shape-shifting piece of musical work for Beyoncé . Opening with three platinum-plated ballads to mid-tempos, 4sets out its vision as a radical sidestep from the era-defining club and pop hits of Destiny's Child. For the first half of the album, before she jumps off into the street-smart 90s New Jack bounce of "Party", a collaboration with Kanye West and Andre 3000, you might even call it her rock record. 'Other people have said that,' she says, looking delighted with the note. Touring the world along with her husband and his entourage had opened her up to the possibilities of new genres and the magnitude of the festival experience. She had started looking beyond stadiums, watching Linkin Park and Muse and Rage Against The Machine whip up their adoring fans in different ways than pop music intuits. She liked what she saw. Beyoncé started thinking about the possibility of re-writing her place in musical history:

"It's bolder than the music on my previous albums because I'm bolder," she notes. "The more mature I become and the more life experiences I have, the more I have to talk about. I really focused on songs being classics. I really focused on songs being classics, songs that would last, songs that I could sing when I'm 40 and when I'm 60. I feel like it's important I start shaping my legacy. Doing things that have a little more substance. I really want people to think when they listen to my music. I want them to feel more than 'OK, I'm at a party, I'm dancing'. I want it to be a conversation. I wanted to help them through their painful memories and their most happy moments." 

With long-term co-writer The-Dream in the second chair, a record started to emerge. "I feel like it's important to have a personal connection and a natural chemistry with people who are writing songs with you because it's you at your most vulnerable moments, saying your deepest thoughts. I felt like he's almost like a brother to me." An extended list of collaborators began filtering through studio time she booked herself, for love. An audacious musicality had started to emerge with The-Dream. The venerated songwriter Diane Warren scripted "I Was Here" specifically for Beyoncé and told the press unequivocally "It is the best song I've ever written." 

New collaborators were discovered in new ways. "I am always anxious to find someone new just because I believe it brings out something in me and it keeps me really honest," she says. She first heard new soul voice Frank Ocean in her husband's car. "After one song I said 'OK, who is that? because I want them on a flight tonight.' And Jay told me it was Frank Ocean and I immediately reached out and he came in the next day. He's an artist and I can't wait for everyone to hear him because he is just the truth. He is refreshing to the industry." She says she can "spend hours and hours on the internet and I love to click on the artists that are recommended to me, and I've found some great artists that I would never find any other way."

The new names were complemented by bona fide legends. "I worked with Babyface,” continues Beyoncé, "because I feel like he's one of the best R&B songwriters ever, in history. He is one of the songwriters that opened the doors up for all of the writers that are great and wonderful right now." They crafted the timeless rock/funk workout "Best Thing I Never Had" together. 

"I was really listening to a lot of Boys II Men for the harmonies and Etta James and Aretha Franklin and Prince and Michael (Jackson) and I just wanted to do a gumbo of all the things that I loved, and I wanted to create things that just didn't typically go together." Echoes of Michael can be heard on the booty-shaking summer joint "Love on Top," "and Purple Rain" is an influence on the heartrending opening ballad "1+1". "I mixed the baritone sax with the synth. The synth is very electronic and the baritone sax is so full and warm and real and when you put them together playing the same thing it was just something so new. It was so much fun putting bridges back into songs and twelve part harmonies back into songs and huge choruses and breakdowns and guitar solos and drum solos and all the things that I love in music that I feel like I just want to hear again." 

Still shy of her 30th birthday, Beyoncé's musical maturation is almost complete. "Progression as an artist is the most important thing to me. That is what success is for me. I feel like if I stay in one spot then I am not doing my job, I'm not growing as a human being and I'm wasting time. I always want to challenge myself. I always want to have that nervous ball in my stomach before I go on the stage. That's how I know that I'm doing the right job."
Her personal ethics and work methodology stretch even further. "I always want to challenge the music industry. I feel like it's kind of my job to create the new up-tempos. It's kind of my job to set the tone and be the example. So it's sometimes risky but it's the only reason I've been able to last for as long as I have in this industry. Because it's really short-lived and I feel like if people can predict your next move then it's just not interesting."

Few people would have predicted 4. Few people, that is, other than Beyoncé. In her award winning Hollywood roles, Beyoncé found a new release for her artistry outside of the music industry. Later this year she will begin filming for director Clint Eastwood on his remake of the evergreen classic A Star Is Born. But it was her turn as a locum Supreme in Dreamgirls and Etta James in the story of Cadillac Records that really released something in the singer, that ushered her down a new pathway for her artistry:

"I fell in love with doing films when I did Dreamgirls. That was the first time that I really felt like I acted. I felt like I became a better person and learnt something about myself in that role. But I've taken it steps further when I played Etta James. It's the most I'd learned about myself until the recording of this album, 4. Playing that character and going to a deeper place, completely losing all ego. Completely losing all insecurities and almost being naked and vulnerable and not thinking about what anybody else is thinking about me. Just being completely me. To have that private moment and be able to share it with the world was something really difficult. To express myself and express the imperfections in my voice. The raspiness and the pain. Everything I've been through in my life I put into that film and I learnt that I can make my job so much more than music. It can almost be therapy for me. When I went into the studio for this album I used that same passion, honesty, and approach with my vocals that I channeled as Etta James. It's a lot rawer. It comes from a deep place. I only sang things once. I wanted it to be really emotional and sincere and I learnt that from doing the movies. I feel like when I play the right character it makes me so much better as a musician and a performer."

Next year, 2012, will mark the 15th anniversary of Beyoncé as a pre-eminent member of the musical fraternity. In a fickle entertainment world, where pop icons come and go within three-year cycles, it's a moment worth celebrating. "I can't believe that I've achieved all that I've achieved. I never, ever would imagine all the things that I've done."

Unsurprisingly her forthcoming 30th birthday is not a cause of trepidation but one of celebration. "I am so excited about turning 30. It actually is mind-boggling to me that people get, you know, scared or frightened or 'Oh my God, I'm 30!' it's so old. That's ridiculous. I don't know whether it's because a lot of my friends are a lot older than I am and I always feel young and I can't wait to grow older and wiser and be more comfortable in my skin but 30 is like the best age you can ever be. You're a woman but you're still young and you know, I'm so looking forward to it."

It's just another benchmark in the life of this incredible performer, pop star and woman.

Source: Beyoncé Official Website

Mini Biography

Beyoncé's father, Mathew Knowles, manages Destiny's Child. Her mother, Tina Knowles, designs their glittering costumes. Solange Knowles, her sister (they're about 5 years apart), has released her debut album. She dances with her big sister during DC-3 concerts.

She and her group were discovered by Whitney Houston. One of her favorite songs is "Lovefool" by The Cardigans. Her favorite item of clothing is a pair of path work metallic boots. She writes & produces many of the group's songs, including smash hits "Jumpin Jumpin", "Bootylicious", "Nasty Girl", "Independent Women", "Happy Face" and "Apple Pie a la mode".

IMDb Mini Biography By:  Tee 

Spouse

Jay-Z ( 4 April 2008 - present)
Trivia

Lead singer of the singing group Destiny's Child.

Toured with Christina Aguilera as her opening act. (2000)

Toured with TLC as their opening act (1999)

Has a cat named Master P

Attended The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, Texas.

Older sister of singer Solange Knowles.

Once appeared on "Star Search" (1983).

In 2001 she became the first African-American woman to ever win the ASCAP Pop Songwriter of the Year Award.

Is a fan of Middle Eastern music and dance.

Her biggest hit to date is song "Crazy in Love." [2005]

The Radio Music Awards, MTV Europe Video Music Awards and Billboard Awards are among the awards shows she has performed on in 2003. She also performed at a South African AIDS benefit show in November 2003, organized by Bono of U2 to combat the AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa.

Won 5 Grammys, including Best Contemporary R & B Album for "Dangerously In Love", she took home the most awards for this year's (2004) show. [8 February 2004]

She has Creole heritage on her mother's side of her family.

Has been quoted as saying that to get over her shyness she developed a stage persona named "Sasha".

Was voted number 1 on VH1's 100 Hottest Hotties

Her favorite rapper is Wyclef Jean.

She and Jay-Z are buying a house in Miami as well as in London, England.

Daughter of Mathew Knowles and Tina Knowles.

Ranked #7 in Stuff magazine's "102 Sexiest Women in the World" (2002).

Aunt of Daniel Julez J. Smith, son of her sister, Solange Knowles and her husband, Daniel.

Sister-in-law of football player, Daniel Smith.

Her name came from her mother's maiden name.

Attended Welch Middle School in Houston, Texas.

Sang three of the five Oscar-nominated songs at The 77th Annual Academy Awards (2005) (TV), including one completely in French. [2005]

One of People Magazine's "50 Most beautiful People" for most wanted lips (2004)

She and the other members of Destiny's Child announced that they will disband after their tour ends in the fall. [June 13th 2005]

Ranked #1 on E!'s 50 Steamiest Southern Stars

Along with Nicole RichieVeronica WebbKelly OsbourneAngie EverhartAlexandra RichardsIrina PantaevaMarisa Miller,Wyclef Jean,Rachel HunterNaomi Campbell, and Janice Dickinson, she participated in the "Fashion for Relief" show on 16 September, 2005 in New York, a benefit for AmeriCares to support victims for Hurricane Katrina. Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale were among the celebrities who attended.

Was listed as a potential nominee on the 2003 Razzie Award nominating ballot. She was suggested in the Worst Supporting Actress category for her performance in the film Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002), however, she failed to receive a nomination.

Attended the same high school Seattle Supersonic Rashard Lewis attended.

Launched a clothing line, "House of Dereon", with her mother, Tina Knowles, in 2005.

Named #17 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2005 list.

Has known R&B singer Alicia Keys since she was 14.

Along with her Destiny's Child members, she and they were honored with a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame [March 28, 2006].

Is a big fan of Aishwarya Rai.

Named #17 in FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005" special supplement. (2005)

Was featured as #3 in Maxim Magazine's "Hot 100 of 2002" supplement. (2002)

She and her boyfriend Jay-Z own three apartments in South Beach

Studied acting with Ivana Chubbuck.

Among the guests at her 25th birthday were Sean 'P. Diddy' CombsNicole RichieKelly Rowland and Michelle Williams.

Named #18 in FHM magazine's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2006" supplement. (2006).

First female artist to reach number one position on both singles and albums chart simultaneously in the United States and the United Kingdom. [2003]

Won Best International Female Solo Artist, Brit Awards. [2004]

Was officially in the BAFTA longlist (Equivalently, the semi-finals) for Best Actress in a Leading Role, for her role in Dreamgirls (2006), which consisted of 15 finalists for each category (except Animated Film). However, she was eliminated in the next round, which the five official nominees were selected. [2007]

Beyonce and Shakira are collaborating on a song called "Beautiful Liar". The song will appear on a special-edition reissue of Beyonce's solo album, "B'Day".

Ranked #13 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2007 list.

Ranked #16 on VH1's 100 Sexiest Artists.

Winner of the Gold Media Prize, BRAVO Supershow, Germany. [2007]

Best friends with Kelly Rowland since they were children.

Good friend of Gwyneth Paltrow.

Was featured on the "Most Overrated of 2006" list.

Ranked #14 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2008 list.

Ranked #4 in the 2008 Forbes The Celebrity 100 list.

The Brazilian electro-pop/rock group Cansei de Ser Sexy, famous for their song 'Music is my Hot, Hot Sex' used in an Apple commercial, took their name from a reported quote from 'Beyonce' in which she stated she was tired of being sexy. Cansei de Ser Sexy is Brazilian Portuguese literally meaning "tired of being sexy".

Won Best International Female Artist, NRJ Radio Awards, Europe. [2004]

Nominated twice for International Female Artist of the Year (2007 and 2009), NRJ Music Awards, France.

Before her trio became Destiny's Child they were known as Girls Tyme.

Mother Tina Knowles used to run a hair salon.

She and Destiny's Child were awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.

Chosen by American music-magazine, "Billboard", as Woman of the Year. [2009]

Won three awards for Best Female Artist, Best Song (for "Halo") and Best Video (for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"). She won the most awards at the 2009 ceremony. She was also nominated for Best Live Act. MTV Europe Music Awards. [2009]

Nominated for International Album of the Year (for "I Am... Sasha Fierce"), NRJ Music Awards, France. [2010]

Winner of "World's Greatest Popstars" season, voted by the public - T4/4Music, United Kingdom. [2009]

The gold and diamond nail rings for the music video "Sweet Dreams" is valued at $36,000. It was made by Bijules designer, Jules Kim.

According to a TV interview with Steve Jones for Beyonce: For the Record (2009) (TV), Beyoncé said the music video for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" was the cheapest video made, of all her singles released. This was because most of the budget was used for the single "If I Were a Boy".

Received NRJ Award of Honor, NRJ Music Awards, France. [2010]

In 2010, she launched her new fragrance "Heat" at Macy's in Manhattan. On the TV commercial for the fragrance, Beyoncé sang "Fever," a song most popularized by Peggy Lee.

Her victory at the 52nd annual Grammy Awards (Jan. 31, 2010) set a record for a female artist: 6 Grammy wins in a single year, including Song of The Year (for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"), Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (for "Halo"), Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance, Best R&B Song and Best Contemporary R&B Album (for "I Am... Sasha Fierce").

Sang "At Last" (immortalized by Etta James) at the first presidential inaugural ball as Barack Obama and Michelle Obama danced cheek-to-cheek. Other featured artists in the venue included, Stevie WonderJay-ZStingAlicia KeysMariah CareyFaith HillMaroon 5's Adam Levine, etc. [Jan. 20, 2009]

In her song "Get Me Bodied" from her b'day album she says four numbers at the start of her sing, 9,4,8 and 1. These numbers are her birth date. The 4th of September (9th month) and 8 and 1 because she was born in 1981.

At the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards she won the Video of the Year award and allowed Taylor Swift to finish her acceptance speech for Best Female Video after Kanye West interrupted her.

She and Jay-Z are expecting their first child [August 29, 2011].

Source: IMDB

Personal Quotes

There's plenty of days when I'm like 'Oh God, why?' But that's just life. It's every job, not just mine. Every moment is not perfect. But it's definitely more good times than bad. You can't even compare. And when I'm on stage it feels incredible. There are certain nights that you know you hit that crazy note and you know that spin spinned extra fast. And you look out and people are just into it and you've worked so hard and now it's paying off and you can see why you dedicated your life to this.

"It doesn't annoy me, no, because I respect J-Lo. I like her, I think she's great. And I know that I'm over a decade younger than her, it's so flattering that I'm so young and people are comparing me to someone who has accomplished so much. But I don't think I'm like anyone else and really, I'd rather not be compared to anyone else." - on comparisions to J-Lo

"I wrote that because, at the time, I'd gained some weight and the pressure that people put you under, the pressure to be thin, is unbelievable. I was just 18 and you shouldn't be thinking about that. You should be thinking about building up your character and having fun and the song was just telling everyone just forget what people are saying, you're bootylicious. That's all. It's a celebration of curves and a celebration of women's bodies." - on her song 'Bootylicious'

Who I am on stage is very, very different to who I am in real life. But I don't see that having a sexy image when you are on stage means that you don't love God. No one knows what I'm really like from that. I like to walk around with bare feet and I don't like to comb my hair. I'm always so glammed up and so diva on stage and that's what they see. People don't understand that... No one knows my personal relationship with God and it's not up to me to prove that to anyone.

For me, it's about the way I carry myself and the way I treat other people. My relationship and how I feel about God and what He does for me, is something deeply personal. It's where I came from, my family, I was brought up in a religious household and that's very important to me. But I understand the mentality of people. I know that people judge others based on certain things. I know how celebrities really are. I've done it too. You meet people - rock stars, rappers, whoever - who you have seen on television and you go into their homes and they are regular people, just like everyone else.

"Not because one person wants to go solo. Or not because we don't like each other. Or because we're not selling records anymore. But because it has to end at a certain point." (When asked about the disbanding of Destiny's Child - June 2005)

"We all have our imperfections. But I'm human and you know, it's important to concentrate on other qualities besides outer beauty".

"One of the things that kept me out of trouble was doing something creative - creativity can't be judged".

On Bollywood cinema: "I'm a fan of a few Bollywood films. I have seen Devdas (2002/I) and Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001), both great films. I loved Devdas (2002/I) - the actress was amazing! I cried towards the end of the film. Indian films are very colorful. It can be fun to do a film like that at least once. Given a chance, I'd love to do an Indian film" (December 2004).

On her religious faith and the categorizing of gay society: "Well, you know, I grew up going to church, but I was raised by my uncle who passed away with AIDS a couple of years ago. He was my mother's best friend. And my mother's cousin. He brought me to school every day. He helped me buy my prom dress. He made my clothes with my mother. He was like my nanny. He was my favorite person in the world. And you know, I never really mixed Christianity with how I felt about him. I am about faith and spirituality more so than religion. Doing right by others and not judging."

If I weren't performing, I'd be a beauty editor or a therapist. I love creativity, but I also love to help others. My mother was a hairstylist, and they listen to everyone's problems - like a beauty therapist!

When I sing a song, I definitely have the image for the video in my mind. I kind of hear the choreography that will be in the video, and I can see how I'll look, even before anyone--the record company, the director--has heard the song.

I discovered after going to music festivals that I am a rock fan. I love the guitars, the phrasing, and the abandon of rock fans. You may be shocked to know that I love Peter Gabriel. His voice is so pure. Listen to In Your Eyes.

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