P!NK Thinks Beyoncé is Incredible
James Blake On Working with Beyoncé for Lemonade
Pitchfork: How did the Lemonade feature go down?
James Blake: Beyoncé came to the studio, and I was sitting at the piano when I met her. She was just lovely. I came up with something to go with an idea she had; I just embellished her melody. I think the idea was to use some of her lyrics, but I didn't realize that—I misunderstood and did something entirely different from what she wanted. But it didn't matter, because she really liked it, and they ended up using [my version]. Blue Ivy was there, too, which was nice. She was singing along to the song, which was a huge compliment, because kids just don't have any pretense whatsoever.
Had you been in touch with Beyoncé’s people for a while before you actually did the song?
Not for that long. She has very nice people working with her. To be honest, in that world of very, very high-profile musicians and artists, it's quite rare to have a personal touch, because by that point it's kind of a well-oiled machine and sometimes experiences like that can be quite sterile. I enjoy working with somebody that collaborates in the traditional sense, where you actually sit down and make music. I was worried a little bit that it wouldn’t be like that, but I was working with material that she'd made and collaborating with it. Getting to chat with her about it was really nice. I guess that's as good as it gets with somebody as brilliant as her. With somebody at that level, you can never really be sure, just because there's so many people involved in a record, but she's such an accomplished writer and singer.
Did you have any idea where or how your song would fit into the album or film?
None at all. I was pleasantly surprised to find that my song came in at the point that it did, and that she harmonizes with me for a brief moment. The first time I heard that, I got chills. And I found the way it's used in the film really moving, seeing the mothers holding up pictures of their sons that have been killed via police brutality. I was honored.
What has the reaction been like for you? Were people in your life surprised?
Yeah. It just shows you the reach that she has—I had cousins of cousins ringing me. I really hadn't expected it. It's just really flattering.
Was that a coincidence that it came out so close to your own album?
Yeah, it really wasn't planned. I wasn't sure when she was going to release anything. But it’s very good timing, indeed.
Source: pitchfork.com
Blake Shelton Says Beyoncé's Country Critics Can 'Kiss That A**'
It's not like Beyoncé really needs backup, but Blake Shelton is all about Lemonade and the country-tinged "Daddy Lessons."
And in typical Blake fashion, he's got a message for the haters.
"People that criticize can kiss my a**. That's what I say," the country superstar told ET backstage at The Voice on Monday. "I can't believe people that don't contribute to music that criticize music, it just blows my mind and Beyoncé -- tell them to kiss that a**, is what I would do."
Source: etonline.com
Beyoncé and Olivier Rousteing at Balmain MET Gala 2016 After Party in NYC
Beyoncé in Loewe Leaving Balmain MET Gala 2016 After Party in NYC
Beyoncé (in Loewe pants) and Solange at Balmain MET Gala 2016 After Party
Beyoncé Is Investing in Watermelon Water
Beyoncé commanded the world’s attention with the release of her latest album “Lemonade.” But the iconic singer is giving some love to another fruit: the watermelon.
The superstar has invested in fast-growing, cold-pressed watermelon water startup called WTRMLN WTR. Her involvement with the brand is the latest business move by the savvy star, which generated headlines late last month when she unveiled a line of casual athletic wear called Ivy Park.
“I invested in WTRMLN WTR because it’s the future of clean, natural hydration; as partners, we share a simple mission to deliver accessible wellness to the world,” Beyonce said in a prepared statement. “This is more than an investment in a brand, it’s an investment in female leaders, fitness, American farmers, and the health of people and our planet.”
New York-based WTRMLN WTR is only three years old but is growing quickly. The startup says annual revenue is currently on pace to triple this year from 2015’s level. It is stocked in over 7,500 retail locations, including Whole Foods WFM -1.03% , Kroger KR -0.65% and Costco COST 0.32% . More broadly, bottled waters – including flavored variations – have sold well as consumers ditch sodas for beverage options they believe are healthier.
WTRMLN WTR co-Founder and Creative Director Jody Levy said Beyoncé had joined the company’s investor pool in a recent capital raise, but wouldn’t disclose to Fortune how big her stake is.
Fans of Beyoncé may recall that she has sung a notable lyric involving her love of watermelon in the 2013 hit “Drunk In Love,” which the star sang with her husband rapper Jay Z. That line is “I’ve been drinking, watermelon.”
Levy recalls that there are some synergies between the release of “Drunk In Love” and WTRMLN WTR’s early entry into the retail landscape. She says Beyoncé’s song with the famous watermelon line was released the day her startup signed a deal to stock the watermelon water line in Whole Foods in late 2013.
“It was an awesome coincidence,” Levy says, adding she sent some product to Beyoncé after hearing the song. “About a year ago, we had a conversation about her interest in investing in companies that are mission-driven and connected to people.” Part of that allure was Levy’s partnership with farmers – WTRMLN WTR sources 800 million pounds of unused imperfect watermelons for the company’s waters – as well as the fact that the singer’s investment would be with a company founded by a woman.
Beyoncé’s watermelon water investment is part of two trends. On one hand, there’s been a long tradition of celebrities investing in beverages, with many of those stakes occurring in alcoholic drinks. One of the more notable deals in non-alcoholic drinks would be rapper 50 Cent’s lucrative investment in Vitamin Water.
Another way of looking at the deal is that Beyoncé, especially this year, is building her personal brand around product launches meant to inspire health and wellness. That would connect her interest in developing an athleisure line, fashionable clothes that are meant to be used for working out too. The watermelon water, meanwhile, touts the fact that it uses no added sugar or artificial ingredients, is low calorie, and claims to be an excellent source of Vitamins A and C.
“I’m a fan of her mission to empower people to be the best humans they can be,” Levy says of the new partnership. “I’ve been aligned with her lyrics, philosophy, and everything about Beyoncé’s brand and world.”
Source: fortune.com
All 12 of Beyoncé's 'Lemonade' Tracks Debut on Hot 100
Beyoncé is the first woman to chart 12 songs on the Hot 100 at once, passing Taylor Swift's 11.
As previously reported, Beyoncé's Lemonade soars onto the Billboard 200 albums chart (dated May 14), taking the No. 1 spot with 653,000 equivalent album units in the week ending April 28, according to Nielsen Music. The set also crowns the sales-based Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, with 485,000 in pure album sales, granting the superstar her sixth No. 1 on both charts.
The release of the album additionally spurs all 12 of its tracks to debut on the Billboard Hot 100, while all 12 also appear on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart (with 11 debuting), powered by mostly by sales and streams.
With her Hot 100 entrances, Beyoncé makes history: it's the first time that a female act has charted 12 or more songs on the Hot 100 at the same time, surpassing Taylor Swift's previous record of 11 (set on Nov. 13, 2010, sparked by the release of her album Speak Now). On Dec. 5, 2015, Justin Bieber bested Drake and the Beatles for the one-week record among all acts: 17 songs on the Hot 100 simultaneously, as his album Purpose debuted atop the Billboard 200.
"Formation," originally released Feb. 6 preceding her Super Bowl 50 Halftime Show performance of the track the following day, leads her parade of debuts with points stemming from 174,000 in digital sales (the most of any of the album's tracks) and 6.5 million U.S. streams in the week ending April 28. While "Formation" charts on the Hot 100 for the first time, it re-enters the 50-position Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at No. 6; it had previously peaked at No. 33 (March 19) based only on its performance at radio.
Of the newly released Lemonade songs (i.e., all except "Formation"), "Sorry" was streamed the most in the tracking week, logging 14.2 million U.S. streams, while "Hold Up" racked up the highest sales: 123,000 downloads in its first week. The sultry "6 Inch," featuring The Weeknd, starts with the third-highest weekly domestic streams (12.2 million) and sales (99,000).
Here's a look, song by song, at Beyoncé's dozen tracks apiece on the Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs:
Source: Billboard
Beyoncé in Givenchy Attends the "Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology" Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2016 in New York City.
Beyoncé Earns Sixth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Lemonade'
Beyoncé’s Lemonade album charges in at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, giving the superstar her sixth chart-topper. The set earned 653,000 equivalent album units in the week ending April 28, according to Nielsen Music. Pure album sales comprised 485,000 of that sum. (Lemonade's total unit figure was updated in this story at 12:29 p.m. PT.)
The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption, which includes traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). The new May 14-dated chart (where Lemonade is No. 1) will be posted in full to Billboard’s websites on Tuesday, May 3.
Lemonade was introduced on April 23 through its same-titled film, which was soundtracked by the album’s songs, and premiered on HBO. The 12-song visual album was released by Parkwood/Columbia Records following the film’s debut, initially exclusively through Tidal. By Monday, April 25, the album -- which is bundled with the film -- went on sale through other digital retailers, but Tidal remains the only service with streaming rights to the set. A physical version of the album will be released on May 6.
Lemonade scores the biggest week of any album in 2016, both in terms of overall units and in sales.
All six of Beyoncé’s studio albums have debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Lemonade follows her self-titled album in 2013, 4 (2011), I Am… Sasha Fierce (2008), B’Day (2006) and Dangerously In Love (2003). Beyoncé is the only act to reach No. 1 with their first six studio efforts (and the only act to debut atop the list with their first six).
In addition to her six No. 1s, Beyoncé has charted four further albums on the tally: Live at Wembley (No. 17 in 2004), Irremplazable EP (No. 109 in 2007), Above and Beyonce: Video Collection (No. 35 in 2009) and Beyoncé : More Only EP (No. 8 in 2014).
Source: Billboard
Beyoncé Lemonade Late Night Aftermath on Late Night with Seth Meyers
Lemonjames: A Visual Monologue (Beyoncé Parody)
Beyoncé Covers ELLE Magazine Ukraine 🇺🇦 May Issue, 16th of 45 ELLE Magazine Cover Worldwide
Beyoncé Covers ELLE Magazine Serbia 🇷🇸 May Issue, 15th of 45 ELLE Magazine Cover Worldwide
Beyoncé’s LEMONADE Now Available on iTunes - #1 in Over 70 Countries
Beyoncé’s latest critically-acclaimed stunning visual album is now available to purchase on iTunes. The album includes 12 mastered-for-iTunes tracks and digital booklet along with the accompanying visual album which was previously aired on HBO. It is now #1 in over 70 countries worldwide, including US, UK, and Indonesia!
The album features such collaborators as the Weeknd (“6 Inch”), Jack White (“Don’t Hurt Yourself”), Kendrick Lamar (“Freedom”) and James Blake (“Forward”).
Beyoncé’s LEMONADE Now Available on TIDAL
Beyoncé just released her new album Lemonade, and the 12-track collection is available to stream via Tidal right here.
Preempted by an hour-long televised HBO special, in which Bey premiered all the songs with accompanying videos, Lemonade is a confrontational, no-holds-barred body of work that the streaming service claims “is a conceptual project based on every woman’s journey of self-knowledge and healing.”
The album features vocals from the Weeknd, James Blake, Kendrick Lamar, and also, Jack White — a fellow co-investor with Beyoncé in Tidal. One of the video segments starred tennis champion Serena Williams, who had hinted at her involvement on Twitter earlier in the night.
Download Lemonade here and stream it via Tidal here.
You can also watch the Lemonade movie on Tidal!