"If I Were A Boy" by Beyonce
Note: We focus on reviewing songs, and therefore cannot comment on the appropriateness of the album in its entirety. Please use your best judgment whenever purchasing or listening to music.
The Artist
Beyonce Giselle Knowles was born on September 4, 1981, in Houston, Texas. She became a star as the lead singer of the group Destiny's Child in the late 90s. By 2003, Beyonce released her first solo album, "Dangerously in Love," which won 5 Grammys.
In 2006, Beyonce decided to begin a career in acting. She starred in the comedy "The Pink Panther" and in "Dreamgirls" (nominated for a Golden Globe). Her newest film, "Cadillac Records," was released on December 5, 2008. She also married long-time boyfriend Jay-Z this year, and two months later she was declared the second highest-earning musician in the world from June 2007 to June 2008. She made $80 million.
The Album
"I am ... Sasha Fierce" is Beyonce's third solo album. Since both of her previous albums were multi-platinum Grammy winners, this album has high expectations to live up to. It is a concept double album. The first disc, "I Am," is made up of heartfelt love ballads while the second disc, "Sasha Fierce," is full of fast and furious dance music.
Beyonce says the project shows both sides of her character. The "I Am" disc is her honest, vulnerable side, while "Sasha Fierce" is the name for her aggressive, sexy side. Both discs have hit songs. "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" on the "Sasha Fierce" disc and "If I Were a Boy" on the "I Am" disc. Beyonce's voice is incredible on both discs, and the quality of music is what we have come to expect from this talented artist.
The Song
"If I Were a Boy" is a slow, beautiful piece in which Beyonce describes what her life would be like if she were a boy. The premise is simple, yet her depiction of the male species is close enough to the truth to make us guys pretty uncomfortable. Beyonce's picture of men might be one-sided and unfair to a lot of guys, but there's truth in it, too.
Lyric: "You don't listen to her / You don't care how it hurts / Until you lose the one you wanted / Cause you've taken her for granted / And everything you have got destroyed / But you're just a boy"
The stereotypical flaw of teenage guy in America is a lack of empathy. Beyonce tells her boyfriend, "You don't care how it hurts." And many guys don't care. Until it hurts them. But in the book of John, Jesus gives Christians a much different path to follow.
John 13:34-35: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
John 15:12: "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you."
1 John 3:10: "This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another."
Are you starting to get the message? Jesus thought that loving each other was enormously important. And there are several passages in John that show us what Jesus means when He says "love": Jesus washing the disciples' feet, the crucifixion, and Jesus at Lazarus' death.
Let's look at that last one for a minute. Lazarus had died, and Jesus knew that he would raise him from the dead. Death is no barrier to Jesus. But when he sees Mary and Martha weeping, ". . . he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. . . . Jesus wept." (John 11:33-34)
Jesus saw the pain of others, and He wept with them. One keystone of love is empathy. You cannot love your neighbors unless you know them, and you cannot know them unless you feel for them. Empathy is a stereotypical "girl" emotion, but it is also one of the most valuable characteristics a follower of Jesus can have.
Empathy means we hurt when others hurt, and we laugh when others laugh. Everyone has to work at being empathetic. And empathy is not always good. Empathy can give us great power to hurt others. Think of the girls who know exactly how to crush each other emotionally through a few well placed words and gestures.
But empathy is worth having! Only when we truly care about people and truly live with people will we really sacrifice for them in Christlike love. Are non-Christians going to believe that we are ambassadors of Jesus Christ if we don't truly love them? The Bible says, "No." How will they believe that God became a man to bridge an uncrossable gap if they don't see us reaching across the much smaller bridge between human beings?
Questions
- Are you a loving person?
- John 13:15 says that non-Christians will know that we are followers of Christ by our love. Do you think people know that your youth group is Christian based on that standard?
- What have you done today to show love for another person?
- Do you consider yourself an empathetic person?
- Do others consider you an empathetic person?
- Have you ever used your empathy to help another person? To hurt them? How?
Comments
Amill on Oct 16, 2009 said...
Its a nice post regarding law and its values.I think its necessary to each and individual to follow the law and order.
free webcams
online arcade on Jan 11, 2010 said...
online arcade
i cannot love your neighbors unless you know them, and you cannot know them unless you feel for them. Empathy is a stereotypical “girl” emotion, but it is also one of the most valuable characteristics a follower of Jesus can have
Sibraneence on Sep 28, 2009 said...
I’m shoked! I see in google.com
SDGTR23YHT234FD