I post this for Siobhan and Mitchell and Jean and all those huge Beyonce fans out there. Her latest video (“Single Ladies, Put a Ring On It”) is addictive (the tune, the beat, and then the video itself) and there are a couple of moments that are goosebump-worthy and I’m not sure why.
I will say this: How wonderful it is to see a dance video that shows THE WHOLE DANCER at all times – not cutting between her body parts to give an impression that dancing is going on, but somehow fearful, a la Flashdance of showing the whole girl at the same time. Beyonce – and her two dancers – are shown in full body throughout, and there are times where it actually feels (to me) like it’s done in one take. It’s not – but the impression is there: that we are seeing a performance, entirely – what the energy and synchronicity of these girls bring to it is NOT from editing or cutting to give an impression … it is because they worked their asses off on that dance and are performing it brilliantly. I love the black and white, too, and I love the final seconds of the video, where the sound goes away, the song ends, and you can just hear the heavy breathing of the girls, breathless from the major WORKOUT they just went through.
The whole thing feels real to me, in a way that is so rare these days in filmed dance performance – it feels like a moment of live performance was actually captured by the camera. And there are no distractions either – no change of costume, no swirling lights, no set … It’s kind of old school and looks like it could be on Judy Garland’s old television show. Just the stark black dancers against the white background – so all you have to look at is the girls performing.
Well done, all around.
Here’s a nice review of it at House Next Door – he says what I wanted to say, just expresses it much better!
Video below the jump:
Excuse me while I get in touch with my inner gay man, but those costumes, those shoes? FABULOUS. And Beyonce is a truly stunning woman. No heavy make up or tricks of light. She’s just beautiful. I love her.
Have you seen this? It’s remarkable.
Single Ladies Single Man Beyonce Mashup
You mention the throw back to the old days of Judy Garland. Take a look at the original Fosse piece that inspired the video: Mexican Breakfast
Watch the first 15 seconds for identical choreography. Clearly the video is in homage, not biting.
And the Single Ladies Single Man was on the Bonnie Hunt Show yesterday dancing. It was breathtaking… Check it out
Patrick -Thank you for the links and the info!!
Ahhhh, Gwen Verdon – Yes, I actually remember that video from somewhere, but hadn’t really put it all together. Brilliant!! How they stalk around in circles, in unison – it’s wonderful!!
Curly – !!!!!!! Holy shit!
Emily – I know, I love how they are wearing old-fashioned dance shoes – the strappy “character shoes” they call them.
Awesome performance and director’s conception!
I am buried in all the videos right now – Patrick, that Bonnie Hunt clip is wonderful. I am so in love with that guy right now. He puts up a video of him dancing in what looks like the corner of his apartment and now he’s on the Bonnie Hunt show.
Alexandra and I have loved Beyonce ever since we watched her waalk up a staircase in a gorgeous green gown…while singing a big ballad…planted herself…gestured dramatically with arm and when she opened her palm skyward…a dove flew into it and landed on the last note!!!! We lost our minds…it was sooo old skool DIVA…Lord love a real Diva.
She is totally old skool … and I love how they are trying to capture that about her in this throwback-type video.
love it. love it! sexy but somehow meaningful? i don’t know how but it sort of made me cry a little bit. just the sheer energy and work it must have taken to choreograph and then execute? it is generous.
Bren – Beautiful comment. I agree. She’s doing what she SHOULD be doing: performing, giving it all to us – not relying on editing or cutting to piece the performance together. Good for her.
Also, I love how joyous it is. You don’t see much of that nowadays either.
yes, she is talented. yes, I love watching her do hot dance numbers. But how do you feel about her playing Etta James? I’m gonna say it, I do not like it at all. mitchell, can I get an amen?
It’s really amazing dancing, even if you ignored the part where her hips gyrate like a Tilt-a-Whirl.
Also, “The Raving Ovulations” would make a good band name. I mention that here instead of on your “My Friend Allison post, because I didn’t want people to read that charming post and at the end read:
“But more than that: I cherish her friendship because when I am with her, I remember what it was like to be 10 years old again.
Happy birthday (belated), Allison.
I love you. You are essential to me.
The Raving Ovulations would make a good band name. -Posted by dorkafork.”
I hate it when my ovulations are raving. Lunatics, the lot of them.
And you say: even if you ignored the part where her hips
gyrate like a Tilt-a-Whirl.
We must not ignore the gyrating tilt-a-whirl hips! They make the world go round!