Beyoncé: The Sessions Interview
Source: AOL.com
Posted: 11/17/08 8:00PM
Filed Under: Beyonce Sessions
A few years ago, while well on the road to superstardom, Beyoncé Knowles revealed that she channels her inner diva, Sasha, when performing with Destiny’s Child. Now, after two platinum solo albums and an impressive film career, the singer has fully embraced her alter ego and even given her a last name befitting of a sexy, firecracker performer. On Beyoncé’s new album, I Am … Sasha Fierce, Sasha has her own voice and personality, which greatly differs from the singer’s quiet and classy disposition. “It’s definitely exciting to have an excuse to be so over the top,” she admits.
Inspired by Barbra Streisand, the Carpenters and Prince, I Am … Sasha Fierce tells two stories. The first story emanates from the singer’s love of ballads. “I love songs that are emotional and make you think -- make you feel some type of emotion,” Beyoncé says. The second half, Sasha’s half, tells a tale of an audacious woman who flaunts her very high self-esteem on the album’s possible next single "Ego," and taunts commitment-phobes on "Single Ladies." Luckily for us, the singer brought both sides when she took over our New York studio, and ran through her hit single "If I Were a Boy," along with "Single Ladies," Etta James’ "At Last," "Me, Myself and I," and "Irreplaceable."
AOL: Who’s Sasha Fierce most like and who does she look up to?
Beyoncé: It’s weird talking about Sasha Fierce, but I guess she looks up to Prince, she looks up to Apollonia, she looks up to Michael Jackson. Everyone that’s daring, that’s magical, has no inhibitions and that’s completely free and lost when they’re onstage.
AOL: Who does Beyonce look up to?
Beyoncé: I look up to, wow, Coldplay, I look up to Barbara Streisand. I listened to a lot of the Carpenters when I was recording this album. I’m a little more eclectic and I love songs that are emotional and make you think, make you feel.
AOL: What did you draw from as inspiration while making this album?
Beyoncé: I did this amazing movie, Cadillac Records, and I played Etta James, and I definitely was inspired. After I finished the film, I wasn’t afraid to step out of the box because she was the queen of R&B, of rock 'n' roll, of soul, of jazz, of blues. She did whatever she wanted to do. I figured it’s time for me to take more risks, it’s time for me to do what I really love and to take myself out of this R&B box and do whatever. It didn’t matter if it made sense or if it was shocking to people. If it was something that touched me, I sang it. And definitely my life experiences ... a lot has happened this year. You hear all of that in my music. I know I’m very private, but I always reveal myself on the stage, and I always reveal myself in my music. I’m really proud of it and I feel like it’s my best work.
AOL: "Single Ladies" is yet another female empowerment anthem. How did that song come about?
Beyoncé: "Single Ladies" is one of my favorite songs. I have not been to a club yet and I have not yet seen the reaction of the ladies, but I’ve heard and everyone tells me the ladies want all the fellas to move out of the way. They don’t even care if there are any other men in the room -- it’s all about the ladies. They’re united and they know every step, and that’s my goal, my dream. I love to have something that has that type of impact, gives women self-esteem and reminds them that they’re worth everything. They hold up their head and they’re not afraid to be sexy and confident, and I love it.
AOL: Do you have empathy for embattled celebrities who suffer because of the paparazzi?
Beyoncé: I’m very very fortunate and very blessed to do what I love, and I feel like I was born to do this. I feel like [with] anything wonderful, there’s a lot of hard work. There [are] a lot of things you have to sacrifice and privacy is one of the things I have to sacrifice. I try not to complain about it. I believe happiness is a choice and I chose to focus on all the amazing people I’m able to touch. And I still live my life. Of course I’m cautious about things sometimes -- I can’t go to certain places. I have like a 20-minute window and I know the paparazzi or the fans will start swarming. It’s sometimes disappointing if I want to have a date or if I want to take my nephew to the park, or have just a normal day. But the good outweighs the bad. I feel like it’s just been a part of my personality to always be private. Even in school, I didn’t tell anyone I had a record deal, I didn’t tell anyone I sang, and I feel like it’s protected me a lot. People have been respectful and sometimes it’s difficult, but people have to do their jobs. Whatever your hustle is, I respect that. I’m able to do what my hustle is, and that’s sing and perform and bring music to the world.
AOL: When was the last time you were completely alone?
Beyoncé: The last time I was completely alone was probably yesterday. I have my moments alone -- it’s important. Every morning I try to lay in bed and try to think about what I did the day before and what I have to do. I do my own therapy and analyzing, so I can be smarter, stronger and a better woman.
AOL: The ‘I Am’ portion of the album is pretty emotional. When was the last time you cried?
Beyoncé: ‘I Am' -- that portion of the record is very emotional, very touching and very vulnerable. I’m an emotional person. I’m really sensitive. Whenever there’s someone in the room crying, I cry. When I watch a Hallmark commercial, I cry. I think it’s one of my gifts; I’m able to connect emotionally to people and it doesn’t take a lot.
AOL: What would your mother say is your worst habit?
Beyoncé: My mother would say my worst habit is definitely being messy. They call me Hurricane Beyoncé -- whenever I walk in a room, you give it about 10 minutes, my purse, my shoes -- everything -- is all over the place. I’m extremely organized with my work. I’m very detail-oriented and a little bit crazy. So when I come home I don’t want to think about anything. I don’t want to be put together. I just completely destroy everything.
AOL: I heard you’re a pretty good Connect Four player. What’s your secret talent or party trick?
Beyoncé: I’m a pretty good Connect Four player. I think I’m the champion. I don’t want to talk too much but I really can back it up. I know people are like, "Yeah, right." Everybody thought, "OK, that’s the rumor, but let's try." I beat quite a few legends.
I have other secret talents. When I was a little kid, I had a little too much time in the mirror -- and some people, they’ve seen this -- I can cross one eye, I can make them vibrate and I can move my ears.
AOL: Any possibility of a Destiny’s Child reunion?
Beyoncé: Destiny’s Child -- actually my cousin just had a birthday and all the girls, we flew into New York. We had a party bus and we went to see this show called 'Fuerzabruta.' It was amazing. It was so great to see the girls and we stayed up all night, we played musical chairs.We see each other all the time. I heard some stuff that Kelly [Rowland] is doing for her record -- Michelle [Williams]'s album is out. They’re my girls. Whenever they need me I’m here, and whenever I need them, they’re here for me. Maybe one day. We always have our surprise performances every year, so we’ll see what happens.
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