In Peter Dundas
Oh, Beyonce. There is something magnificent in her absolute refusal to be subtle. I think any artist, to be at this kind of level, has to have a healthy ego. I'm sure they're all egomaniacs in their own ways. One cannot argue Beyonce does not take herself very very VERY seriously, it is true. But the flip side of that, and it's important, is this: She has never phoned it in a day in her life. And I do not think Mariah, to list just one example, can say the same.
The LA Times had a too-short but still interesting piece about some of the prep work that went into this performance, which involved merging Real Bey with video screens depicting other versions of her. Honestly, it was such a visual extravaganza that I lost the plot sometimes because I didn't know where to look.
However, I will say this: If the U.S. ever gets the Olympics again, I hope the organizers turn the entire opening and/or closing ceremony over to Team Bey. Regardless of whether she even includes herself in it, can you IMAGINE how elaborately conceived and designed it would be, if she had that kind of time and budget? I am not even a particular Beyonce fan, and I still want to make that happen.
I do not know what I was doing when this happened on the show, because I don't remember it, and this photo TERRIFIES ME even though I'm sure she has 85 safety features built nto whatever this is. BE CAREFUL, BEYONCE. Kids, don't tip your chairs.
I'll update this if I find anything breaking down the visual significance of all this; my Google-fu has let me down, but also, as I type it's actually 11:37 p.m. Pacific on Sunday night, and those pieces might all be in the ACT of being written right now. But that is... I mean, in the Knowles-Carter house, that had better be atop a piano.
The outfits, by the way, are from a dude who used to run Cavalli and Pucci. This is evidently how he confirmed that he's starting his own line. That's quite a way to make a splash.
She accepted the Best Urban Contemporary Grammy shortly thereafter, and OF COURSE had her speech -- which was great -- written on gold paper (which, I think, she accordion-pleated later and used to fan herself, because she appeared to be clutching that during one of Adele's speeches and I bet it was hot as hell in there for ANY lady much less a pregnant one).
Blue Ivy
Blue was dressed in a Prince tribute suit. No, seriously. Also, people were saying how much she looks like Beyonce, and maybe she's one of those people who looks like whichever parent she's next to in that moment, but... is she not Jay Z's clone?!?
Blue got into the Carpool Karaoke act, too, which was super cute. James Corden was like, "OH HELLO THERE" when she toddled up.
In Peter Dundas
Bey changed into this for what I'm sure people thought might be an "Album of the Year" win at the very least, and I think she looks quite splendid in it.
"Formation" did win for the best music video -- other issues aside, I do also wonder if some voters neglected to divorce Lemonade's lyrics from the stunning visuals. Meaning, they thought it leaned so heavily on the movie aspect that they didn't pay it enough heed as music. Regardless, Bey now has 22 golds, so to speak. With more to come. At least this photo will make a stellar shot for the baby book.