Listen: Beyonce – ‘Rather Die Young (Original Demo)’

Published: Sunday 13th Apr 2014 by David
beyonce-she-is-diva-that-grape-juice-she-is-diva-2

A prolific writer responsible for co-writing the bulk of her own discography, 2011 saw Beyonce score praise from critics and fans alike following the release of her fourth studio album ‘4′, unveiled two years before the arrival of 2013’s ‘Beyonce.

Hailed for its raw honesty and a track list that saw her dabble in Funk, Dancehall  and PBR&B, the album delivered the Bee Gees-esque ‘Rather Die Young‘, performed live for the very first time during the star’s ‘4 Intimate Nights With Beyonce’Roseland’ residency.

Knew all of the above already?

Well, one could forgive you for not knowing that before being presented to and subsequently re-written by Carter, ‘Die Young’ was originally served a solo single for songwriter Jeff Bhasker under the alias Billy Kravenreleased under the title ‘I’d Rather Die Young.’

Press play to give it a spin below…

‘I’d Rather Die Young’:

‘Rather Die Young’:

So, let us know…

What do you make of the original?

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      • FutureCIARA April 13, 2014

        Thats not a drag anymore^^ The City of California threw out the case, when enough evidence proved the people presenting the lawsuit were completely wrong……..

        You tried though. Go back to the shadows

      • Ooops April 13, 2014

        F****** DEAD at that C-error stan failing at trying to come for Beyonce then Naomi posting that video of her gettin them papers served LMFAO i can’t!!

      • Naomi April 13, 2014

        It will forever be a drag. She actually thought it was something from a fan kiii. Mrs Carter would never.

      • FutureCIARA April 13, 2014

        ^ ……………. ^

      • FutureCIARA April 13, 2014

        Mrs Carter would never WHAT?????????

        Be sued 31673189728197382136786348274893784392 times in her career span?

      • CiaraFOREVA April 13, 2014

        Sis doesn’t Mrs Carter get sued like twice a year.

      • FutureCIARA April 13, 2014

        Anybody can do a quick Google search showing that case was thrown out against Ciara…….. It was a pressed loose booty bottom that couldnt take Ciara for not performing at their venue……..

      • Naomi April 13, 2014

        Mrs Carter would never be served on stage like that lessor lmao. And yes she gets sued, but always wins my dear.

      • HBIC_MamaPope April 13, 2014

        @naomi gurlll you better serve dem receipts.

        YAASS at my fave turning a tumble into a handstand-flip and then dancing her ass off whilst singing.

        all i wanna know is when WILL your fave?

        and yeah Ciara got SERVED LOOOL

    • CiaraFOREVA April 13, 2014

      Lol Bey trips more then she actually sings live.

    • Yeah I Said It April 13, 2014

      Shouldn’t you C Squad members be trying to help your fave sell 200k not worrying about Beyoncé.

      • FutureCIARA April 13, 2014

        Bye Naomi!! Stop TROLLING and go help ya girl find her legendary edges….

      • CiaraFOREVA April 13, 2014

        Lmao ok we all know its Naomi behind all these random names kii

      • Yeah I Said It April 13, 2014

        I am Naomi then you are definitely CiaraFOREVER

      • Yeah I Said It April 13, 2014

        @CiaraFOREVER AKA FutureCIARA and who tf are you? Actually I have been commenting under this name for years you can find my name in many older posts I’m not random like you.

      • FutureCIARA April 13, 2014

        What makes it DEFINITE babe???

        That fact that 2 separate C-squad accounts are clocking you at the same damn time??

        Your really delusional, I will continue to pay you unknown gorls DUST!

      • Yeah I Said It April 13, 2014

        Ok Ciara Forever. Believe what you want its not serious to me, I hope you’re getting paid for it though. Doesn’t change the fact Beyoncé>>>>>>>>>>Your Fave.

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  1. Naomi April 13, 2014

    I absolutely adore this song, my fave from 4.

  2. Revolution April 13, 2014

    Beautiful.

  3. VisionOfMimi April 13, 2014

    This is freakin amazing! Omg where has this been hiding?

    • metzo April 13, 2014

      On the Album “4”. Beyonce has a lot of amazing songs that people don’t know about. I’m talking about quality vocally served songs, not generic #1 songs. She makes real music, not just fun songs Luke “partition” or “DIL. 🙂

  4. Numb Navy April 13, 2014

    Lmao Beyonce thought she was that b**** until she tripped…

  5. JOHNVIDAL April 13, 2014

    LOL TGJ guys PLEASE stop it! You worship Beyonce but give us a break. Hailing her songwriting abilities is the way to open an article? 🙂
    And this song was definitely one of my faves on that album btw.

    • CiaraFOREVA April 13, 2014

      Agreed do they realize they stan for a backstabbing phony thief?

    • JanetXone April 13, 2014

      How’s You’re Mine doing sis?

      • Realest April 13, 2014

        #6 on billboard dance charts tho.. Not too shabby.

      • JOHNVIDAL April 14, 2014

        How is that relevant in this post? Can´t you focus on the topic in hand? Or at least talent, not charts?

  6. BeySting April 13, 2014

    This just proves that Beyonce does write her own songs 2bh. Even if she didn’t start them she obviously changed the lyrics to suit her and that’s still writing so thank you for this thread TGJ.

    • James April 13, 2014

      How does it prove it again? everythings almost exactly the same in both songs.

    • ronnoc April 13, 2014

      theres approximately 6 changed words… shut up.

  7. WhenItComesToBey April 13, 2014

    David is a f****** boss for this. You better let those h*** know that Queen is a PROLIFIC writer! Profuckinglific!

  8. CiaraFOREVA April 13, 2014

    Beyonce girl i thought you were a songwriter!?

    • IggyIggyIggy April 13, 2014

      Did you not read the post?

      • James April 13, 2014

        Im a big beyonce fan, but clearly she did not rewrite this song. If you play them at the same time the lyrics are exactly the same except for norma jean its billy dean. Ive heard when writers submit songs that she uses that they have to sign a contract saying she was a main writer. I cold be wrong, and if i am please explain what she rewrote in this song, becuase I dont get it.

    • SolAngelite April 13, 2014

      You should learn to read before you TRY to read.

    • Ooops April 13, 2014

      This coming from a C-error fan you a flop just like your fave…please go collect some common sense with this buffoonery!

  9. BaddieBey April 13, 2014

    The article clearly says that the writer gave her the song and she rewrote it and that is why she is the Queen imo because truth be told Rihanna doesn’t even change a single word in any of her songs.
    Come to think about, how many of her #1s did Rihanna actually write. Oh zero? Yeah b**** I thought so.

  10. metzo April 13, 2014

    Her Vocals>>>>>>>>
    When will the lessors?

  11. BEYSUS OVER JESUS April 13, 2014

    YASSSS BEYSUS SLAY MY LITTLE PEASANT EARS! I LOVE YOU BEYSUS! THEY’RE ARE THE 5 BIBLES. DANGEROUSLY IN LOVE, B’DAY, I AM…SASHA FIERCE, 4, AND BEYONCÉ. AND RATHER SLAY YOUNG IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE BEYSUS SONGS. TEACH MY THE RIGHT DIRECTION QUEEN! PRAISE BEYSUS!

  12. Felix April 13, 2014

    Just listened to Platoon by him. Why didn’t Bey record that instead? Amazing song.

  13. HistoRih April 13, 2014

    This changed my entire perspective on Beyonce for the better if I’m being honest.

    • CiaraFOREVA April 13, 2014

      lol loser

  14. Yeah I Said It April 13, 2014

    The C Squad is asking to get dragged again. Why are they always doing the MOST on other peoples posts. Oh because their fave is a FLOP and isn’t bringing anything to the table besides a b****** child.

  15. CiaraFOREVA April 13, 2014

    Damn the niggr hive is seething lol

    • Ooops April 13, 2014

      Why are you here?? Go help C-flop’s last album go gold or find a hobby… something

    • Yeah I Said It April 13, 2014

      No one is seething over flop squad Future Ciara.

  16. Chaka Can April 13, 2014

    And this is the why I stay coming to this website. Y’all really do care about the music.

    • ANewDayHasCome April 13, 2014

      I agree.

  17. CiciFinnaBeABride April 13, 2014

    I’m impressed with the original song and Beyonce herself 2bh, I can’t even lie.

    • CiaraFOREVA April 13, 2014

      ass kissing isn’t cute

      • KerimelKisses April 13, 2014

        Neither is having multiple children with multiple women.

  18. Lana Del Slay April 13, 2014

    Just wow.

  19. OVORobbie April 13, 2014

    This dude just earned himself a new stan.

  20. The Great Lacefronce. April 13, 2014

    Lmao@ prolific writer!! how dare you tell such a lie on a Sunday??? What songs have THIEVINVonce written, I don’t recall

    • Draggin4MrsCarte April 13, 2014

      You don’t recall because you were too busy greasing your stretch marks to notice.

      • Career Ender April 13, 2014

        HAHAHA!

        DRAG OF THE CENTURY!!!!

        The great lacefronce is officially eternaly scalped!!!!!!!!!!

        Wooooooooowwwwwww!

        deadddddddddddddddddd 😆

    • metzo April 13, 2014

      Beyonce wrote many of her songs including Danderously In Love and many more. Sit to hatin Ass down

  21. Dance4Dawn April 13, 2014

    Queen.

  22. Tiffany Xelia Jackson April 13, 2014

    Lol! Chile, i’ve been on this site for only a few weeks now & you can certainly tell yall are a bunch of children/teens.

    Also, this post was made just to generate some hits cause today was dry as hell.

    Beyonce can sing & perform her ass off but I will NEVER believe she is a REAL song writer. Maybe songs like “Video Phone”, “Independent Women” or “Bootylicious”. But her interviews/speaking does not sound like a person that can print songs like “Rather Die Young” or “Halo” lol

    Anyways, Beyonce vocals are very impressive on this demo. REAL RAW TALENT!

    • BitchyBey April 13, 2014

      Why is your nose taking up the whole picture?

      • Marley April 13, 2014

        No darling, the site writes stuff like that to create stan wars that’s all. You better learn.

      • Marley April 13, 2014

        That was for Tiffany.

    • metzo April 13, 2014

      I’m sorry but why are all the haters saying Beyonce doesn’t write none of her songs as if you Were there in the studio with them? I’ve seen record producers themselves say Bey writes her own songs and any of them are songs originally written by other songwriters but she would take it and change the lyrics and keys.. also, she co-produces most of her songs.
      For example , producer “Detail” (who originally came up with “Drunk” later known as “Drunk in love” said he gave the song to Bey and Bey loved it instantly, she kept some of the keys and changed all of the Lyrics. The guy said it himself!
      So stop acting like yall are sure about what y’all talking as if you were there when the songs were being made!! Idiots in denial!

      • metzo April 13, 2014

        Many of them*

    • metzo April 13, 2014

      Beyonce never said she wrote “Halo”. She is not even given credits for “Halo”. It was written by Ryan Tedder and everybody knows that.

  23. NaviBoi April 13, 2014

    I’m just waiting on Future’s opening numbers to drop, the banter will be so real.

    • NowUCiMe April 13, 2014

      Sis, I’ll be right there laughing with you. I can’t stand his disloyal ass.

      • BarbzRUs April 13, 2014

        It’ll be the ultimate kii kii.

  24. Marley April 13, 2014

    This song is beautiful. 4 was a brilliant album in its on right. It really showcased the growth in her vocals and has very old school theme throughout. I respected her for not going down the easy route. Songs like this are definitely album gems.

  25. pussyy juice lover April 13, 2014

    @Tiffany Jackson I agree

  26. THE GREAT LACEFRONCE. April 13, 2014

    THIEVINGonce is a known thief, the world will forever laugh at you when you describe her as a songwriter

    Even Billboard dragged this whale for her THIEVERY 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

  27. pussyy juice lover April 13, 2014

    @Beysus over jesus u are one lunatic bitxhh. V

  28. Marley April 13, 2014

    Lol you people are too easy for them to provoke. Their Journalism never fails.

  29. pussyy juice lover April 13, 2014

    Yes beyonce has a powerful voice she has talent and shitt but she aint no songwriter and idk why does da b**** keeps taking credit for shitt she doesnt do herself.

    • BeyQueence April 13, 2014

      Shut up you no walls having b****.

    • Dirty Laundry April 13, 2014

      Everyone knows Rihanna don’t write s*** but she plasters her name on those credits. Must be a ROC thing huh?

      • pussyy juice lover April 13, 2014

        Nigggghgga rihanna dont take writing credits for every song she has unlike beyonce and when you stan for beyonces lessor aka kelly flopland u not in the place to response u c** sucking mothafuckaaaaaa.

  30. Dirty Laundry April 13, 2014

    Top 5 songs from 4:

    Start Over
    Rather Die Young
    Love On Top
    I Miss You
    I Care

    The album was gorgeous I must say.

  31. pussyy juice lover April 13, 2014

    Damn sam ur d*** site has been dry as f**** today.

    • Dirty Laundry April 13, 2014

      I know, I think they should make a post on Rihanna getting her Hank Hill ass out that would be much more juicy.

      • THE GREAT LACEFRONCE. April 13, 2014

        Now you know you’re not a Kelly Rowland fan, just a FLEA HIVE in disguise, reveal yourself UGLY!!

        Queen Rih>>>>>>>>THIEVINGonce’s cellulite 😉

      • Dirty Laundry April 13, 2014

        I am a huge Beyoncé fan never said I wasn’t. But I like Kelly more as person. Yew mad R******?

      • Benji April 13, 2014

        Yesss lool I been waiting for that post too

  32. Mark111 April 13, 2014

    Just proves that she don’t write her songs. Changing adverbs and a word here and there isn’t writing. Another argument was that she arrange her songs, but that seems to be false as well seeing how song is no different from the demo.

    She’s a great vocalist and performer, and that should be commanded for. But what bugs me is that she tries to be more than what she’s actually is and not put in the work nor effort. This is the final nail in the Bey Hive.

    • pussyy juice lover April 13, 2014

      Couldnt say it better sis

  33. Brandys Starr April 13, 2014

    Beyoncé is not no Sade type songwriter, but its obvious she is VERY involved in her work and has a lot of control unlike most of todays artists.

  34. NICKI IS QUEEN OTHER B****** TAKE A SEAT April 13, 2014

    Sorry but this b**** can’t even articulate a sentence and u want us to believe she writes her songs

  35. pussyy juice lover April 13, 2014

    Dirty laundry shut da f*** up you stupid ass troll kelly rowland will forever be a lessor , we have a name for her here tho catch up n****, #12yearsalessor

  36. pussyy juice lover April 13, 2014

    Please if beyonce wrote than song then i am madonna lol , ill give her credit when its due cuz she is a great performer/singer but she aint no mothafuckin songwriter.

    • metzo April 13, 2014

      You motherfuckaz irritate me!! How do you know she didn’t write the song? We’re you there?

      • pussyy juice lover April 13, 2014

        cuz the way she speaks doesnt seem like she can write such deep lyrics , so shut ur whoring ass up and keep your flat rrtarted ass out of my reply box u obesessed ass dickhead.

      • Marley April 13, 2014

        Verbal speech doesn’t reflect your ability to write. Some people struggle to articulate themselves for many reasons(shynesss, overthinking etc) doesn’t mean they cannot write. That’s just a general FACT.

      • Rih Rox April 13, 2014

        She’s in her 40’s and sounds like a r*****.

  37. Rih Rox April 13, 2014

    She probably got somebody else to rearrange the song and slapped her name on it…you know a ghost writer.

    • pussyy juice lover April 13, 2014

      Probably

  38. Benji April 13, 2014

    Rihanna fans are just seething because she’s not a respected artist. Beyoncés artistry has been praised unlike your fave who is just praised for her fashion and predictable hits. I want to know which of you sat in the studio with Beyoncé?

  39. Benji April 13, 2014

    I love this song. Her vocals>>>>>> Rihanna and Ciara could never COMBINED.

  40. Royalkev April 13, 2014

    I haven’t heard this song in such a long time and it sounds so good listening to it again today. I don’t care what anybody says “4” slays! If there’s any justice in the world that album will be appreciated 15/20 years from now along with all of Bey’s albums that had commercial success!

  41. metzo April 13, 2014

    I’m sorry but why are all the haters saying Beyonce doesn’t write none of her songs as if you Were there in the studio with them? I’ve seen record producers themselves say Bey writes her own songs and many of them are songs originally written by other songwriters but she would take it and change the lyrics and keys.. also, she co-produces most of her songs.
    For example , producer “Detail” (who originally came up with “Drunk” later known as “Drunk in love” said he gave the song to Bey and Bey loved it instantly, she kept some of the keys and changed all of the Lyrics.
    The guy said it himself!
    So stop acting like yall are sure about what y’all talking as if you were there when the songs were being made!! Idiots in denial!

  42. gurlbye April 13, 2014

    Man…. Beyonce changed a few words from female to male and got herself a nice juicy writing credit!
    Jeff Bhasker is a badass.

  43. Rih Rox April 13, 2014

    beyFATce changes one word and sometimes a line…eg: when she stole ‘smack into you’ to smash into you… lol!!! Thieving elephant.

  44. pussyy juice lover April 13, 2014

    Lol @metzo Writing a song like DIL lmfaooo what a poet i just cany those lyrics are so deep and s***… a retarted 11 year old can write that s***, Ive been drinking watermelon like where is the f***** sense??? Lovee the song tho lol

    • pussyy juice lover April 13, 2014

      Cant*

      • metzo April 13, 2014

        I guess Beyonce’s goal was reached then. Sincee you “loved” the song. Hypocrites.

    • pussyy juice lover April 13, 2014

      B**** i am everything besides hypocrite, i love the song cuz its nice catchy song, do i think the lyrics are something that a retarted ratchet 11 year old cant write? No. F**** u bye niigga.

      • metzo April 13, 2014

        Exactly ! And you just proved my point by saying “You like the song because it’s catchy”. WELP, Then

        Plus you do remember That “Pour it up” and “S&M” happened right? Exactly.. Bye b**** *waves*

  45. My Gums Tho(aka Teacher) April 13, 2014

    LOL Beyonce is NOT a songwriter! Changing a word here and there doesn’t make you a songwriter.. and seeing that this b**** can’t even spell simple words (challange)<—dumb b****) I doubt she is even the one changing the words! And she sang this exactly the same as the demo! Changing arrangements my ass! Y'all can keep that s***! BYE!

    Btw 4 was a good album….it just FLOPPED (2.8M WW)

  46. fatusankoh April 13, 2014

    Omg our queen bey is all that and more talented writer singer performer no wonder the hate mongers are mad she is too good thanks Sam for posting this make my day

  47. metzo April 13, 2014

    @P**** Juice lover.. and that was just one example out of many! Another is “Irreplaceable” written by Ne-To. He gave the song to Bey and Bey changed the lyrics and added a few more including the catch phrases ” To the left to the left” and “You must not know about me” which really made the song what is is. Many people know the song by “To the left to the left” and Bey had an impact on that. Therefore, I give her big credit for that because that “To the left” and “You must not know about me, I can have another u in a min” was my fave parts and I’m pretty sure everybody else. Being called a “Song Writer” is complex. And it’s not. Just about the lyrics. Melody/Instrumental makers and composers are also considered song writers even hen they don’t write the lyrics. I’m just saying.
    Plus a tiny phrase can change a whole song and make ppl like it even more, so if that’s what’s. Beyonce is doing majority of the time, then I strongly consider her a Writer, en though she’s not the Sia type of writer.

    • pussyy juice lover April 13, 2014

      Niggaa i aint got damn time to read your d*** ass novels but again ho beyonce is everything but a songwriter. Your dismissed bitchh

      • Lolz April 13, 2014

        The irony is you’re doing the most talking about song writing when you can’t write a single grammatically correct sentence yourself.

  48. pussyy juice lover April 13, 2014

    Hey mom!! Look what i just wrote at my ratchet class today wanna hear? Ok it goes like this, ive been drinking watermellon.

    • pussyy juice lover April 13, 2014

      Deep s*** yall

  49. Lolz April 13, 2014

    This post is boring. Where are the fun commentators? Just boring random Rihanna fans talking about song writing (lol).

    • pussyy juice lover April 13, 2014

      Metzo you sound so stpid !!!! “To the left to the left”? Wow if u think that this makes her a songwriter than you are one stupid f***. .

      • pussyy juice lover April 13, 2014

        Oops wrong section

      • Lolz April 13, 2014

        Why are you replying to me? And can you learn to write properly yourself before you address the topic that is song writing.

    • pussyy juice lover April 13, 2014

      I said it was by mistake shut uo c** sucking f***.

  50. Hadley April 13, 2014

    I love this song its so pretty with its old skool vibe.

  51. Matthew Charlery-Smith April 13, 2014

    Everyone’s arguing above. Can we just acknowledge three things:

    1) The lyrics are the same
    2) The arrangement is the same
    3) The Stan War instigation is clear, I will not take the bait of Satan.

    Be blessed! *exits*

    • Touché April 13, 2014

      ^This

  52. metzo April 13, 2014

    Lmfaoo. You can’t be a R**** fan and talk about song writing. What’s her talent again besides chocking on multiple d**** at a time?? I guess that’s a talent. X’#

    • pussyy juice lover April 13, 2014

      She can sing (see some of her diamonds and stay performances), she is veristile , she can deliver EVERY type of genere.Unlike beyonce she been foing the SAME shitt for 5 damn albums.

      • pussyy juice lover April 13, 2014

        Doing*

      • Lolz April 13, 2014

        What kind of LIES. This comment is for you I read a while back:

        Beyonce has always kept a healthy balance between pop/R&B since her DC days!

        Beyonce has done:

        Reggae (Baby boy)
        POP
        Urban Pop
        Rock ( Alanis morisette)
        She’s trained in Opera
        Jazz
        Spanish
        R&B
        Soul (Etta James)
        Hip-Hop (rapping)

        Beyonce does it ALL! The only thing Rihnna has over Beyonce is her generic singles and her constant wig changes #identitycrisis

        FOH

      • metzo April 13, 2014

        B**** First of all, I didn’t @ you so you and your pressed Beyonce-Obsessed Ass can go somewhere else. Second, you need to go read a book because your grammar is as mediocre as R****’s U.S album sales.

      • Lolz April 13, 2014

        Beyoncé is much more versatile than Rihanna. And all her albums are different and show her growth in one way or another, I wouldn’t expect a shallow Navy like you to recognize since your fave band hops what’s in with every album and none of her albums show any kind of artistic growth besides Rate R. They’re catered for charts.

      • metzo April 13, 2014

        @Pussyy Juice Lover.

  53. metzo April 13, 2014

    Beyonce is more versatile than R**** could ever be. She’s done MULTIPLE genres including Funk/Jazz (Schooling life). The only pop artist I see doing Jazz is Gaga.

  54. pussyy juice lover April 13, 2014

    Growth? S*** it up at 32 when ur a mother is growth?? Atleadt rihanna isnt married and doesnt have a child. And rihanna keeps envolving with each album, she did almost every genere you can think off, rnb pop dance edm REAL reggae hip hop dancehall dubstep trap and many more, you can keep trying it but everyone knows rihanna is the queen she has 13 number ones that made a mark and everyone eill remember, the only bey song that will remembered is that corny ass single ladies lmfao

    • pussyy juice lover April 13, 2014

      Sorry for all the typos but you niggass will f***** deal

  55. THE GREAT LACEFRONCE. April 13, 2014

    “Perhaps visual and dance concepts don’t come as naturally to her as vocal prowess, but I’m doubtful that she can recruit those for which it does. No shots at Frank Gatson Jr. (but shots?) who is a director, visual artist developer, creative director and choreographer who’s worked closely with greats like Diana Ross, Mariah Carey, Tina Turner and consecutively with Beyoncé.

    Even as a vocal performer, Beyonce is more of a canvas than a creator. The majority of her discography was written (yes, some co-written) by other singer-songwriters, from the likes of Ne-Yo to The-Dream. But the formula works for her: she holds 19 top 10s on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart with six No. 1s.” -Billboard

    LMAO, the LEGENDARY, WORLD RENOWNED THIEF Beyonce 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

    • Lolz April 13, 2014

      ‘What Happened To Our Divas? Beyonce Must Be Very Lonely At The Top

      Aretha. Celine. Whitney. Mariah. The ultimate divas.

      Miley. Katy. RiRi. Gaga. The … ummm?

      We hardly blink an eye when Lady Gaga gets puked on, or when Madonna attempts to stay relevant by performing with Miley Cyrus. And how about Rihanna? She’s too busy on Instagram to be belting out her beloved hits. Seriously, what happened to our divas?

      HuffPost Live took on the subject of divas with a little help from host Caitlyn Becker, who asked, “What defines a diva?”

      “There are really four ingredients for a diva,” guest Gerren Keith Gaynor of CentricTV.com explained. “You have to actually be dominating the charts, you have to actually be talented, you have to have longevity and you also have to carry a certain level of grace and a certain level of mystique about you.”

      But do the “pop stars” of today have those four ingredients? Not entirely.

      “We live in an industry where we have the bootleg or manufactured diva, and not an actual talented diva,” Gaynor went on to add, explaining that, in Lady Gaga’s case, the gimmicks have overshadowed her talent. “We should stop throwing around the word diva like it’s candy … it’s not.”

      Singers including Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus may be dominating the Billboard charts, but they don’t seem to have the same effect Mariah Carey or Aretha Franklin had on their audiences. Lately, Queen Beyonce seems to be the only songstress keeping the diva torch alive, with a little help from her friends J.Lo, Kelly Clarkson and Adele — who is, technically, still working her way to that prestigious status.

      As renowned singer Patti LaBelle said earlier this year, todays “divas” are “little heifers who can’t sing.”

      Huffington Post

    • Lolz April 13, 2014

      ‘At the Last Minute, Queen Beyoncé Saves Pop Music in 2013

      For the better part 2013, the release of Beyoncé’s new album had been somewhat of a running joke. We expected a new album after her Super Bowl performance. When we didn’t get that, we expected it in the summer. No luck. We waited patiently, thinking she’d release sometime in Q4 alongside other pop stars like Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Katy Perry, and Miley Cyrus. Our pleas for information went unanswered. Instead, we got snippets of new songs by way of Pepsi and H&M commercials. Eventually, rumors began to swirl that Bey had scrapped her album and started anew, which is hardly ever a good sign.

      But then, last week: SURPRISE! Beyoncé released her fifth (and best) solo album exclusively on iTunes without so much as an announcement tweet. And just like that, she changed the game.

      The Music

      It’s good. Like really good. Like, if it had been released a month ago, it would have topped a lot of “Best Of” lists good. It is, unquestionably, Beyoncé’s best album. Bey made great strides with 2011’s 4, and Beyoncé takes the best elements of that album and expands upon them.

      Until 4, Beyoncé albums were always something to get excited about, but taken as whole pieces of art, they were inconsistent, full of fillers, and a bit all-over-the-place. For every “Crazy In Love,” there was a less-exciting “That’s How You Like It.” For every “Single Ladies,” there was the entire I Am… half of I Am… Sasha Fierce. Beyoncé is an album, a complete body of work that demands to be heard (or seen — more on that in a bit) start-to-finish. It owes more to indie, minimalist R&B like The Weeknd than it does to anything currently storming up the Billboard charts. In that way, it is a quieter, more nuanced record than any of Bey’s previous attempts.

      Beyoncé is aggressively sexual, but not in a “Miley Cyrus at the VMAs” way. “Drunk in Love,” “Blow,” “Partition,” and “Rocket” are all songs built by s**, for s**. They are s**. They are s** in the back of a limousine, they are intoxicated s** on the kitchen floor, they are slow, sensuous, all-night s**. They are the sounds of an adult woman confident in her own sexuality, not of an awkward teenager looking to attract a mate at a school dance. There is nothing wrong with sexuality, and so much of the criticism focused on Miley this last year was not because she’s a sexual being but because she just looked ridiculous, like an unwrapped gag gift placed atop a pile of immaculately-dressed Christmas presents. Beyoncé, on the other hand, is incapable of looking ridiculous. (Just kidding!) But seriously, Beyoncé’s embracing of her sexuality is empowering, especially when you realize that she is simultaneously embracing her motherhood, her independence, her marriage, her success, her self. This is a celebration of every facet of her own womanhood.

      The key to deciphering this aspect of Beyoncé comes during a spoken word sample from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED Talk in “**Flawless*” Here is the transcribed sample:

      “We teach girls to shrink themselves, to make themselves smaller. We say to girls, you can have ambition, but not too much. You should aim to be successful, but not too successful. Otherwise, you would threaten the man. Because I am female, I am expected to aspire to marriage. I am expected to make my life choices always keeping in mind that marriage is the most important. Now marriage can be a source of joy and love and mutual support but why do we teach girls to aspire to marriage and we don’t teach boys the same? We raise girls to see each other as competitors not for jobs or accomplishments, which I think can be a good thing, but for the attention of men. We teach girls that they cannot be sexual beings in the way that boys are.”
      On Beyoncé, there is no “Single Ladies,” no “Irreplaceable.” Were any of these songs to truly take off at radio, I would find myself genuinely surprised. That is not to say songs like “Pretty Hurts,” “Jealous,” or “XO” couldn’t catch on, because they could. But that’s not the point. The point, as Beyoncé herself explained, was to create and release a full body of work, for the fans. Because she’s Beyoncé, she did just that. (This is what Lady Gaga claimed she would do with ARTPOP, and despite that album not being bad, she ultimately didn’t walk the walk.)

      The Videos

      The concept of a music video for every song on an album is not new. In fact, Beyoncé did this in 2006 for her B’Day album. This is the first time, however, that all of the videos have been released simultaneously with the album. Beyoncé calls it a “visual album,” and that’s exactly what it is. Until now, though, this gimmick never succeeded. The videos always looked cheap, because artists spent their video budget on 12 videos instead of just two or three. That is not the case here.

      Like the music, the videos are good. Many of them are among Beyoncé’s best (Destiny’s Child days included.) Directors like Jonas Åkerlund, Hype Williams, and Melina Matsoukas contributed. The videos are just as important as the music, and you only really understand how good this album is if you watch it from start to finish. From the melodramatic pageantry of “Pretty Hurts” to the tongue-in-cheek face-morphed footage of (bonus video) “Grown Woman,” Beyoncé works just as well visually as it does sonically.

      The Release

      Generally speaking, the music should stand on its own, outside of its historical context (read: album hype cycle). In Beyoncé’s case, though, we must make an exception, if only because there was no album hype cycle. While artists like Lady Gaga and Katy Perry spent months promoting their new albums ahead of release, only to sell a fraction of what Beyoncé’s on track to sell in just three days, Queen Bey proves that, sometimes, the best gimmick is no gimmick. Sometimes the art just needs to speak for itself.

      And perhaps the most genius part? This can never be replicated to the same effect. Sure, other artists will try it, but the novelty will be gone. This is Bey’s moment. And she owned it.’

      • THE GREAT LACEFRONCE. April 13, 2014

        Still a thief 😉

      • Lolz April 13, 2014

        A thief that has you seething 😉

      • Lolz April 13, 2014

        Speaking of thieving… How’s RiRis S&M lawsuit going anyway?

      • THE GREAT LACEFRONCE. April 13, 2014

        As a Beyonce fan, do you really want to bring up lawsuits for copyright infringement??????????????? LOL, Not very smart just like your fave!!

        Do you have a 5th grade education as well? 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      • Lolz April 13, 2014

        Sis, my Bey stays coming out successful in her lawsuit. That’s why I’m asking? Just highlighting the fact you stan for a thief like I do. But you didn’t get it. Did you drop out of school at 15 like the island m*****?

      • Lolz April 13, 2014

        Missed the point your fav is still a thief regardless sis.

    • THE GREAT LACEFRONCE. April 13, 2014

      Missed what point? Your fave has a lawsuit with nearly every album

      Even Ne-Yo called your thieving fave out for lying about writing Irreplaceable 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      • Lolz April 13, 2014

        And your fave is still a thief regardless sis. That’s the point you’re missing.

  56. Lolz April 13, 2014

    You think just because she hops from genre to genre shes versatile. All the versions of her genres are watered down anyway besides urban and pop. Call me when she can sing in another language or operatic style like Beyonce has and we will talk versatility.

    Rihanna will never have the acclaim Beyonce has end of story seethe. And dead @ 13 #1s over half of them are no more memorable than Beyonce songs that did not go to #1 try again. Who will playing live your life and s&m years from now to name a few.

  57. metzo April 13, 2014

    Ratchet, illiterate Rihanna fans everywhere!

  58. Kendall April 13, 2014

    This song is ****Flawless

  59. coolness April 13, 2014

    Her self-titled 5th album is her overall best body of work but the preceding album, 4 is my favourite from her! “Rather Die Young” is one of the standout tracks and like David pointed out, it was quite reminiscent of work by the Bee-Gee’s. I hope this is isn’t a reach but this song really reminded me of Whitney Houston circa The Bodyguard era, like something in the vein of “I Have Nothing”. Yes, Beyonce isn’t a song-writer in the traditional sense but it’s clear that she’s HIGHLY involved in the music-making process for her albums. Sure, there have been moments where we’ve questioned her sincerity as an artist with alleged stolen credits and all that but that’s happened to a lot of artists and I hope they’ve learned their mistakes. 4 really is an R&B/Pop gem. It was delivered at the height of the EDM dance craze where the music landscape wasn’t as diverse as it is now and some of her R&B peers were hopping on the bandwagon to cash in on a quick top 10 hit. It went against the grain and showed that she was willing to stand by the genre that gave her a start in the industry. I was disappointed in the way certain fanbases ridiculed her for it’s ‘underperformance’ but I bet they’re eating humble pie now especially seeing how she’s slaying with her new album. Bey is truly a legend in the making.

  60. elmo can sing April 13, 2014

    #dead i didn’t know elmo sang

  61. lets be real April 13, 2014

    So the argument is that because Beyoncé. Doesn’t speak like Maya Angelou dhe didn’t write her songs? First off if you change anything to a song you deserve credit. If we are baking a cake and I change the recipe or add something special to it, I deserve a cut of the credit and profit because who’s not to say thepinch of sugar or dash of salt isn’t what sold the cake? Catch my drift?

    Songs nowadays are conceptualized by a TEAM of collaborative efforts and Beyonce likes to be a part of that creative process. We all can’t just get songs wtitten for us..but saying that…NOTHING IS WRONG with noyt writing your own somh! Whitney didn’t write hardlyany of her hits her gift was INTERPRETATION. But Beyoncé has been in the company of GENIUS songwriters and it was proven her I.q is rather high. She could be a dope writer as well. I remember Beyoncéz younger interviews where she seemed sarcastic and witty and when asked about why she writes her own music she said “as a black woman I want to make it common” bey is NOT stupid and ifu think that she is, you are the stupid one

    • Thando April 14, 2014

      Don’t be ridiculous. You cannot change a word in a song you had nothing to with and then claim credit that’s selfish and inconsiderate.
      It is a matter of opinion whether Beyonce has been in the company of genius or not, it would depend what you mean by genius. Whitney Houston did interpret songs that were written by other people very well because that was her job, she was a singer. She made millions of money from just singing and not hijacking songwriters of their due credit. If you do not know the work that is involved in composing a song, melody and key and wording you will never understand the fundamental error in creative bullying that goes on these days in music. It’s violent, horrific and quite frankly it is about time some of us tackled it head on!
      Dolly Parton deserves ALL credit AND MONEY that she gets from “I will Always love you” because IT IS HER SONG, SHE WROTE IT, NOT A CO-WRITE, SHE WROTE IT!
      No one is saying Beyonce is stupid, what I’m saying is it is WRONG to force credit for a song you had nothing to do with, and there should be legal measures put in place to prohibit PERFORMING ARTISTS from bullying songwriters into giving them credit for things they did not do.
      In 2007, the song “Listen” from the motion picture “dreamgirls” was nominated for an Oscar for best original song, but Beyonce was not included in the list of nominees because “she had the least to do with writing the song”, which is euphemism for SHE DID NOT WRITE IT!
      The law needs to protect us REAL SONGWRITERS from greedy people like Beyonce who are not satified with huge loads of money they already get that they neeed to swindle out more money from songwriters like me for s***.

  62. H2O April 13, 2014

    One of her best songs… so adorable!

  63. Danny b April 14, 2014

    I can’t with the closet stans coming out the woodwork saying how much 4 was a great album and drinking it’s p**** juice but before the BEYONCE album came out it was “it’s boring” “it’s a flop” etc etc. #bandwagonwishywashyassbishes

  64. Navy Commander(WEST COAST) April 14, 2014

    Lmao yall are a mess

  65. Thando April 14, 2014

    This is full proof that this woman (Beyonce)has never written a single song her entire performing career. How on Earth do you get a songwriting credit for a song that you only changed feminine and masculine pronouns to and have the stupidity to call that a “co-write”. Beyonce bullies songwriters into giving her a credit so she can make more money off of the effort of others, ill-gotten money. The law should intervene cause this seems to be the norm in contemporary music. There should be civil laws that legislate the proprietorship of creative and intellectual property to its rightful owners, not greedy bullies who cannot write songs.

    • Matthew Charlery-Smith April 14, 2014

      ^THIS

      Try as she might Beyonce is not a Michael Jackson, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey or comparable to the legends that have shaped music.

      Non-writing Whitney > Beyonce’s “writing”

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