BIG POP GIRLS 2022 - THE END

[Andy French]

WHAT a top 3 though

 

[Isobel]

My 11 in the top 3...YEAH!

 

[reputation.]

Literally THEE perfect Top 3. Let's finish this rate with Pure/Honey winning now.

 

[Joe.]

Cuff Hit would have been my second 11. The EUPHORIA!

 

[beyoncésweave]

​

ALIEN!

SUPER!

STARS!

ASSEMBLE!

​

 

[Mirwais Ahmadzaï]

My 11 might actually win this.

*oprah squeezing the shit out of someone's hands or w/e*

 

[R27]

Well... there goes my top 3 for the album/rate.

 

[SlowGinFizzzz]

1. Alien Superstar
2. Pure/Honey
3. Virgo's Groove

 

[Sam]

Yes, this is shade to exactly who you're thinking. Beyoncé delivers these lyrics with conviction and others should take notes.

Wait who was this about nn

 

[soratami]

Wait who was this about nn

It's funny because it's actually not obvious at all, it could be about a number of pop girls nn

 

[Trouble in Paradise]

It's funny because it's actually not obvious at all, it could be about a number of pop girls nn

Looks at the other girls in this rate…looks back nervously

 

[Ensnare]

‘Pure/Honey’ is the deserved dark horse.
‘Virgo’s Groove’ is the critics’ choice.
‘Alien Superstar’ is the people’s champion.

I have my preferred order, but what an absolutely stratospheric top three.

 

[Verandi]

Alien Superstar is the only correct winner.

 

[boom bazooka joe]

Looks at the other girls in this rate…looks back nervously

Yeah but our fabulous rate host is a stan of who you are likely thinking of so I don’t think aux is referring to her ddd.

 

[Babylon]

An outstanding top 3. These 3 were arguably the standouts/most interesting for me on first listen of the album on that legendary leak night.

 

[aux]

Wait who was this about nn

I think broadly it could apply to a lot of these girlies who have suddenly realised the power of the pink coin and have decided to pander to us in unauthentic ways. An example from a non-BPG would be Jessie Ware awkwardly bringing out a leather whip during her shows like it matches her image in any way.

I also did think of Taylor Swift and “You Need To Calm Down” in particular. Look, the song is okay, but it just feels a lot like other examples of corporate pride. Do I think Taylor hates gay people? No, not really. Do I think she made this song thinking of how it would uplift her image as a queer ally? Of course. That’s why it feels unauthentic to me.

In the case of Beyoncé’s RENAISSANCE, this feels like a true labour of love of queer Black voices without any personal financial or cultural gain for herself. I feel like if you’re going to show your allegiance to queer lives through music, it has be like this.

 

[soratami]

In the case of Beyoncé’s RENAISSANCE, this feels like a true labour of love of queer Black voices without any personal financial or cultural gain for herself. I feel like if you’re going to show your allegiance to queer lives through music, it has be like this.

I know people love to wax poetic about Beyoncé, but come on dd. This is never true about any project by any major label artist and it's very much not true here either.

 

[Maki]

A reminder that my favourite "Renaissance"-related moment came from a cash grab performance:

 

[aux]

I know people love to wax poetic about Beyoncé, but come on dd. This is never true about any project by any major label artist and it's very much not true here either.

I don't think you understand what I'm saying.

Of course every single project made by an artist is to make money. She's literally one of the wealthiest artists in the world. What I'm saying is that, there was no need for her to make this album to gain queer fans' allegiances or better her image. In the case of Taylor with "You Need To Calm Down", this was very much so the case. Instead, Beyoncé decided to make an album dedicated to her gay uncle about the Black queer experience through dance music. The album felt thought out, researched and full of passion; because of those factors, it feels authentic. If it was about financial or cultural gain, she could've made any album - a much safer one than this! - and still made money and sustained her image as a queer ally.

 

[soratami]

I don't think you understand what I'm saying.

Of course every single project made by an artist is to make money. She's literally one of the wealthiest artists in the world. What I'm saying is that, there was no need for her to make this album to gain queer fans' allegiances or better her image. In the case of Taylor with "You Need To Calm Down", this was very much so the case. Instead, Beyoncé decided to make an album dedicated to her gay uncle about the Black queer experience through dance music. The album felt thought out, researched and full of passion; because of those factors, it feels authentic. If it was about financial or cultural gain, she could've many any album - a much safer one than this! - and still made money and sustained her image as a queer ally.

I mean, I don't disagree with what you're saying, there's absolutely no denying Renaissance is a work of passion and also a lot more genuine than many other artists' attempts at targeting the queer community. It's just that suggesting her own financial and cultural gain weren't also part of the equation didn't seem quite right. At the end of the day it's not like we can tell whether releasing a safer, more GP-friendly album would have been more or less beneficial anyway, especially if we're talking cultural impact.