In 2003, at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), Beyoncé wowed the crowd with her platinum-coated vocal chords and outstanding dance skills proving she was more than capable of mastering the art of solo performance. This was Beyoncé’s first big performance since taking a break from the R&B girl-group, Destiny’s Child, where she achieved much success and fame, to pursue a solo career. The combination performance of “Baby Boy” and “Crazy in Love” at the VMAs helped to display Beyoncé’s transformation into the solo superstar we all know today. By working the crowd and displaying numerous amounts of difficult choreography and sexy gyrations, Beyoncé claims her status as an independent artist and entertainer. This performance also shows that Beyoncé no longer relies on other group members during a performance; she can entertain the crowd all by herself. Beyoncé proves she is a master of her craft as well as the stage; and with her vocal capabilities, this performance also proves she is a diva with attitude and a sound like no other.
For this performance, Beyoncé used several stage dynamics to enhance her claim of performance independence. It was clear from this performance that Beyoncé could handle the stage by herself and still bring immense excitement for her audience. The presence Beyoncé brought to the stage in this performance displayed confidence and she oozed sex appeal. Careful production of the performance provided for a unique opening to the performance. With a pre-recorded track of “Baby Boy” playing, Beyoncé is lowered onto the stage upside-down. The fashion wear Beyoncé chose to don was of a Moroccan or possibly even a Bollywood theme, which matches the sound of “Baby Boy.” This captivating opening allowed Beyoncé to intrigue the audience and to motivate them to take part in the performance, when she switches songs to “Crazy in Love,” by dancing and singing right along with her. Beyoncé’s use of all of these techniques helped her to man the stage, to form a relationship with the audience, and to prove she is a bona fide solo artist in her own right.
This breakthrough, solo performance for Beyoncé made a statement about who she was in comparison to the other members of Destiny’s Child as well as other artists in the music industry at that time. By having two separate songs included in the performance, which are both very different from one another, Beyoncé shows how her sound has transformed since being in an R&B girl-group. No longer able to have vocal harmonies, Beyoncé focuses on her vocal range as well as using vocal performance techniques such as improvisation within her performances. Beyoncé adlibs and goes off on runs that are not on the recorded version of the song during this performance, which gives off the sense that she is really connecting with the song on an emotional and energetic level. Going back to how “Baby Boy” and “Crazy in Love” differ in sound from one another, it is evident that Beyoncé is moving in a different direction with her music. Not totally leaving her R&B roots behind, but bringing in different sounds and music that has evidently inspired her. In “Baby Boy,” you hear a Bollywood type sound with softer vocals; whereas in “Crazy in Love,” there is a much more energetic, pop vibe. Both songs have a small collaboration with a hip-hop artist providing a mash up of genres within a song. During “Crazy in Love,” the audience watches a short musical performance between Beyoncé and hip-hop artist, Jay-Z. With this performance, Beyoncé shows that she samples from multiple genres and is inspired by many things with her art, proving to stand out against the rest of the artists in the industry.
Beyoncé has the vocal capabilities of a diva, the dancing talent of world class entertainer, and an effortless style that can match no other. This combination of skills makes for a superb performing artist. Since the 2003 MTV VMAs, “Crazy in Love” has gone on to be a Grammy award-winning song and one of Beyoncé’s all-time best-selling singles, which led to millions of sales, worldwide, for her debut solo album, “Dangerously in Love.” Beyoncé’s transformation from being a member of the greatest female group of all time to solo status did not harm her fan base; instead, her fan base has grown increasingly. All three members of Destiny’s Child took a break to pursue solo projects. All of their fans were supportive and loyal to each of them. Therefore, Beyoncé had the support of Destiny’s Child fans as well as new fans across the globe, most likely because she incorporated so many different sounds and genres into her music satisfying different music listener’s taste. Also as a performer, Beyoncé is entrancing, gaining many fans that cannot seem to take their eyes off of her.
For an artist who has been performing for years alongside other girls, it takes a lot of guts to go out on your own and leave everything you are used to. However, Beyoncé does this with grace and professionalism. If nobody had ever heard of her, they would never know that she had never been on stage by herself before. That is because Beyoncé is a well-seasoned, master of her craft and knows how to put on a show, whether she is in a group or by herself. Her top-notch vocal chops and dance moves will put any audience member in awe. And this VMAs performance was nothing short. It is a breakthrough performance for a reason. Beyoncé worked the stage and wowed the crowd, proving her independence of Destiny’s Child. She made her mark, claiming that she is capable of having a successful solo career in her own right, with a sound all her own, and that she is here to stay.
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