Re: [情報] Bee獲頒新聞工作者獎項！
慶祝Bee得獎，
Essence雜誌把得獎作品《Eat, Play, Love》全文放上官網分享～
雜誌掃描
http://giftedvirgo.net/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=593
Beyoncé Knowles' NYABJ Award-Winning ESSENCE Article: 'Eat, Play, Love'
By Beyoncé Knowles
[This article was featured in the July 2011 issue of ESSENCE Magazine. It has
been presented here in its entirety.]
She's notoriously private. For years the only offstage glimpses we've had of
BEYONCÉ (who has won 16 Grammy Awards and held six leading film roles) have
been paparazzi snapshots of her fabulous life: the yachts, the shopping, the
courtside seats hugged up with her husband, Jay-Z. Yet to really understand
Beyoncé, you have to tap into one of her fondest memories — how every year
Mama and Papa Knowles would treat their girls to the Houston Livestock Show
and Rodeo, a spectacle brimming with pageantry and flair. Now with a new life
filled with its own thunder and applause, and on the eve of her fourth solo
studio album, 4, Beyoncé is stepping up to a new kind of power. She recently
announced that after 15 years of having her career managed by her father,
she's taking the reins herself. She spent nine months traveling the world and
sorting out her work–play balance. She also took on the opportunity to write
her first cover story, because, she says, "after doing so many interviews in
my career...with no one asking me questions, what would I say?" Here Beyoncé
shares her journey with ESSENCE readers exclusively.
Whenever I work with ESSENCE, it feels like home. The collaboration is always
smooth and the concept of the rodeo took me back to my days growing up in
Houston, Texas. I had a pair of pink cowboy boots that you'd think were glued
to my feet. My mama begged me to take them off! Memories like these I'll
cherish forever. I especially enjoyed watching Frankie Beverly and Maze
perform at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. It was like the biggest
family picnic; there was laughter and music everywhere and everyone dressed
in their Texas finest. I loved watching all the people. We'd eat fried
Snickers, funnel cakes and fried turkey legs; the smell was the best mixture
of spicy and sweet.
I also spent some amazing days at Headliners, the hair salon owned and
operated by my mother, Tina Knowles. From 6 to 9 years old, I would sing and
put on little shows by myself for the women who wanted a hot press and curl
and some good conversation. I helped sweep hair off the floor for tips to pay
for my season pass to Six Flags. (I still love a good roller-coaster ride.)
And when I wasn't cleaning up the salon, I was watching my mother become my
greatest role model.
QUEEN OF HER RODEO
Tina Knowles was my first example of what a powerful woman is. She shaped my
thinking not so much by what she said, but what she did. At her salon she
worked 13-hour days, managed her staff, styled hair, and gave out free advice
to her clients. She would tell the women to remember their worth and that
they couldn't work all those hours and not treat themselves every now and
then. My mama worked until she had calluses on her fingers and swollen feet,
then she would find time to redecorate houses for her friends and make
everyone's prom and wedding dresses. She took me and my sister, Solange, to
our dance classes and recitals, cooked us delicious meals, and brought us to
church. On Sunday it was family day. Period. She worked hard for her family
and never complained. That has not stopped. Even now, while running her own
clothing company, my mother is there for us at our shows, video shoots and
every milestone in her grandson Julez's life. I'm still figuring out how she
balances it all and makes it seem so effortless.
My mother taught me the principles of hard work, setting my own goals and
visualizing my future. From my early days with Destiny's Child, I understood
I had to be focused and dedicated if I wanted true success. We were taught we
needed a plan and the discipline to execute that plan to the fullest. I
strongly believe if you work hard, whatever you want, it will come to you. I
know that's easier said than done but keep trying. Before Destiny's Child was
signed, we were turned down by so many record labels. Then, when I was 13, we
were signed but later dropped. On Star Search, we lost and were devastated
but we kept on trying.
That never-give-up attitude keeps me committed to helping people realize
their potential. In March 2010, I opened a cosmetology school with my mom
called The Beyoncé Cosmetology Center at Phoenix House Career Academy in
Brooklyn. The academy is for women and men who are in treatment for drug
addiction. They are learning skills that will prepare them for their lives
after recovery. With support, everyone has a chance to make it.
WORKIN' DAY AND NIGHT
From the time my first solo album, Dangerously in Love, was released in 2003
until my last tour ended in February 2010, I've constantly been on the road,
or in the studio, filming a movie, or doing promotions state-side or in
Europe, Asia or Australia. After grinding for so long, I wanted a vacation —
a real one. But getting it was going to take a little patience and hard work
on my part.
I looked to my mother for inspiration — after all, she was the one who made
me realize I needed some balance. She worked hard, but found time to go on
vacations, spend time with me and Solange, go to concerts and dinners. Plus,
she always, always looked amazing. I can still hear her stilettos as she
walked through the house and smell her perfume.
So in the summer of 2006, just before the release of my second album, B'Day,
I called a meeting with key people from my music label and those who handle
my film career. As we sat down in a Los Angeles conference room, I asked for
a calendar. We had to map out the album release date, the movie junket for
Dreamgirls, TV appearances, promo tour, video shoots, magazine shoots and
international press. For years my itinerary had been filled like this from
morning to evening. I'm not complaining. This is what I had to do to be
successful. But it was also time to enjoy my success. After all my work
commitments were penciled in and confirmed, I had two to three weeks to
myself — a nice break, but not the vacation I longed for.
For B'Day, I went on tour with The Beyoncé Experience from April to November
2007, which was almost a year around the world. Then right after the tour I
started recording I AM...Sasha Fierce. On April 4, 2008, I got married and
then geared up for the release of the album, which would drop that November.
By early summer I was shooting the album packaging, magazine covers and the
video for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)." We shot that video on what was
the hottest day on record in New York City, in a studio that had no
air-conditioning.
However, I did make a better effort to relax. I've traveled extensively for
work — Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Caribbean —but have never
had enough time to soak in the history and culture of those places. When I
started my I AM...World Tour in March 2009, I made it a point to explore
every country we visited. As we were plugging in tour dates, we built in some
extended off days for the band and the crew. I pegged these our "tour field
trips." Egypt was the best. When I visited the pyramids, I had an experience
I'll never forget: I started singing "Ave Maria" inside the pyramid. The
depth of the tomb was incredible. I've never heard acoustics so clear. My
voice sounded so pure. It was inconceivable. I could have stayed in there
forever. All I could do was say, Thank you, Lord, for this experience.
During our November 9, 2009, show at Port Ghalib in Egypt, something happened
that inspired some of my writing for my album 4 (arriving in a few weeks). I
was in the middle of performing "Irreplaceable," and as the audience started
singing, "to the left, to the left," there was a woman sitting on top of a
man's shoulders in her full, traditional burka. Only her eyes and hands were
visible. She was waving her hands to the left, to the left, and singing every
word — which I could see because the veil around her mouth was moving.
Although the venue was at capacity, I could see her clearly in the audience.
I was shocked she was even there, that she'd even been allowed to attend a
concert, because after it gets dark, you don't see any women in burkas on the
street. So her presence alone was so moving. Witnessing the power, beauty and
strength of women — especially those living in places where their liberties
are limited — is what moved me the most. I felt she had her beliefs, and
they were important to her, but music also had a place in her life and she
made a choice to be there.
After the tour ended in Trinidad in late February, at last I focused on
taking some time off. I had talked about taking a vacation before, but always
ended up in the studio after two weeks, so no one believed me. This time,
though, I was serious. I was going to give myself a year to do the things I
never get to do. Simple things like play with my nephew, pick him up from
school, visit museums, go to concerts, see some Broadway shows, learn to cook
a meal and spend time with my husband. My priority was savoring every moment.
Yes, I needed some relaxation, but I wanted inspiration too, from regular,
everyday things. They did not have to be over-the-top productions. I was
looking for tiny moments that would speak to my heart and make me smile.
GETTING TO EXHALE
Last spring and summer I attended many different concerts, because for a very
long time I had imagined what it was like to be a fan at a great show. I love
it all — African rhythms, 1980's R&B, rock, reggae — and there's nothing
better than experiencing incredible music live. I decided to travel to some
music festivals I had only heard or read about: Wireless Hyde Park in London,
T in the Park in Scotland, Bonnaroo in Tennessee and Coachella in Palm
Springs. I enjoyed awesome performances by diverse artists, including Muse,
The Dead Weather, Stevie Wonder and Rage Against the Machine.
Visiting a country without an itinerary was so appealing to me. After a few
days in Auckland, New Zealand, for the start of my husband's tour, I settled
in Australia for five weeks. My schedule is usually highly regimented and
requires me to be in and out of a city within two days, so it was refreshing
to be in one place for weeks. I had no schedule while taking in the sites of
Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and my favorite Aussie city, Sydney. They have the
best restaurants and the harbor is awesome. It was a carefree existence for
me. Next on my personal world tour was Japan, where it was my idea to go
unrecognized as a Harajuku girl — the young Japanese women who dress up like
anime characters or in exaggerated gothic costumes — to a couple of Tokyo
clubs. In London I met Sade, one of my favorite artists. I've loved and
admired her for so long. In Russia I found vintage jewelry and saw the ballet
Swan Lake. But what is being abroad without enjoying the food? All over Italy
the streets smell like gelato. In Paris my nephew Julez and I had escargot
for lunch and it was actually tasty (though not as good as a funnel cake at
the Houston Rodeo). In Capri I ate pizza and drank red wine every Sunday. I
discovered I love artichokes and that a salad and fresh fish are not only
healthy choices but incredibly delicious.
I'm drawn to the ocean. Whether it's jumping from a yacht (those photos drive
my mother crazy; she thinks it's dangerous), swimming, snorkeling in the Red
Sea (I've never seen fish so breathtaking), or just walking on the sand, the
sea has a calming effect on me. Croatia has the most beautiful water —
although it's the saltiest I ever tasted. I floated on my back for close to
an hour in the Mediterranean Sea. It was one of the best moments of my life.
BACK TO WORK
As much as I enjoyed my life abroad, I confess I started thinking about my
next album more and more. In the end, my year off was more like nine months.
But it was enough. I'm grateful I had new experiences to write about and new
musical influences to draw upon. My batteries recharged, I slowly started
putting ideas on paper.
For many women, I know planning a two-week vacation, let alone a year off, is
difficult, even unrealistic. But the very best part of my time off was being
at home, where I got to sleep in my own bed. This was a big part of my
vacation. Anyone can plan a staycation, just make the decision to take time
for yourself and explore. Eat alone at your favorite restaurant or the one
you've always wanted to try. Go to a day spa instead of getting the quick
mani-pedi. Grab a friend and visit the closest winery. I'm grateful for the
time I gave myself to breathe, to relax and to be inspired. My personal
retreat gave me strength and a creative reawakening. I returned refreshed,
renewed and empowered to reevaluate my life and do things that will make a
difference. Because let's face it, girls, we run the world.
http://tinyurl.com/75hd9c7 (www.essence.com)
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