It was probably right when you went for your cousin walk or as your over-served uncle embarked on identity jokes when Beyoncé was setting the gold standard for halftime performances. It was nestled between a forgettable 31-2 beatdown by the Ravens over her hometown Texans, which seems like it should be a Scorigami, but it unfortunately was not (though it was the first time a game ended in that score in over 50 years).
The Queen Bey proved that she was the rightful heir to her throne by combining some halftime show staples into the Beyoncé Bowl, including marching bands, choreographed dances with large swaths of people, famous featured guests, and trapezing into the nosebleeds. She opened with a (probably) pre-recorded intro on horseback, which begs the question: How the hell did those horses keep their chill around pyrotechnics, live musicians and cars?
And while the football players who usually sprint around NRG Stadium are usually what come to an American’s mind when asked to think of an “athlete,” Beyoncé showed that she and other stadium status performers should be in the discussion. She went coast to coast on that field several times while singing and dancing and riding on cars, horses and a group of men. The coordination, preparation, and cardio is that of any professional athlete, no oxygen tank needed.
Whether or not Cowboy Carter brings home a Grammy in a few weeks, Beyoncé can take the $20 mil from Netflix, 27 million Beyoncé Bowl streams, the record for most Spotify streams ever of a debut album by a Black woman, and Billboard #1 debut, and carry it into a Cowboy Carter tour that will certainly rake in nine figures. And the CMA can take all of it and shove it up their chaps.
Starting Five
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Album of the Week
Can’t Buy a Thrill by Steely Dan
I’m on a bit of a Yacht Rock kick, the feel good, sunshine pop-rock of the late 70s and early 80s, and Can’t Buy a Thrill is at the nucleus of that universe. As Steve Huey, who co-created a series parodying this delightful little genre back in 2005, described in an interview with Rolling Stone:
I turned 30 right before we started doing the series, and I thought, well, this is a nice round number. What do 30-year-olds do? I feel like it’s time I get into Steely Dan. I bought most of the catalogue and was like, This is my new identity. I’m gonna unwind, start listening to Steely Dan, and leave parties early.
Right around the same time as Huey’s show, Tony Soprano was singing “Dirty Work.”
Featured Tracks
If you’ve ever seen a cymbal before, it’s probably a Zildjian. Here’s the story of the 400-year-old cymbal-making company based in Massachusetts and the love and care they put into their craft.
I had no context or preconceptions going into Wicked. I never saw the play and I honestly couldn’t remember the ins and outs of the plot of The Wizard of Oz other than Dorothy being swept from Kansas and introduced to a strange, maybe creepy, quartet that escorted her to flying monkeys. Anyway, Wicked was a spectacle and worth a watch. #FreeElphaba
I know, Doechii is here again, but her “DENIAL IS A RIVER” music video is fantastic and features Zack Fox (aka Tariq from Abbott Elementary).
Peace, Love, and Positive Vibes.