September 2009

  • Who Said What About The Which? An Old Person’s Guide to the VMA/Kanye West/Beyonce Knowles/Taylor Swift Fiasco

    By erika on 9/15/09 4:37pm
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    By now I assume that you have heard about Kanye West's interruption at the MTV Video Music Awards.  If you, like me, are over the age of 30, you might be wondering what the deal is, who these people are, why everyone is so upset, and what is so great about that video anyway.  I like to keep my toes dipped in the popular culture of the Kids These Days, so I am here to help!

    Beyonce Knowles: I know you have heard of Beyonce.  My DAD has heard of Beyonce.  You may be less familiar with the video in question, for her crushingly successful hit "Single Ladies."  Now when you watch it, you may ask what is the big deal here?

    It turns out that if you are really into dancing (as many people are), this video is unbelievably awesome - both for the choreography, and for having the guts to just let the ladies dance.  (Compare with Shakira's "She Wolf" video, which frustratingly interrupts Shakira's incredible dancing for a bunch of set decoration nonsense.)


    The choreography in "Single Ladies" is inspired largely by the work of Bob Fosse, who is generally recognized as one of America's best choreographers.  It also tips the hat to the work of J-Settes, which is a style of dancing that has been picked up by the black gay community, particularly in the South, and is therefore unbearably awesome.

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