…Despite the rougher setting, “Upgrade U” is made a little more lighthearted by the playful interaction between Beyoncé and Jay-Z. The duo’s interplay on B’Day is a marked improvement over their team-ups on Dangerously in Love. Instead of existing as two separate entities appealing to separate demographics, their verses are lyrically intertwined. Also, isn’t it fun to imagine Beyoncé “upgrading” Jay-Z and running his life? I suppose it’s been said that behind every ultra-millionaire drug dealer turned rap mogul, there’s an equally successful pop empress taking the reins.
One Week One Band is covering Beyonce’s solo career this week, courtesy of Jamieson Cox. Jamieson’s nailed the sonic appeal and consistent quality of the songs on B Day perfectly, but I wish the posts went into more detail about each song and it’s relation to Beyonce herself. Obviously the remit of the blog doesn’t necessarily cover digging that deep into a particular song (especially as the author has been rather prolific so far this week) but I can’t help feeling this description of Beyonce and Jay-Z’s interaction on “Upgrade U” as ‘playful’ is not exactly how I would interpret it, given the context we know about them.
That’s ok! I am happy to address this!
From Jay-Z’s opening verse it’s clear that these two mean BUSINESS. Like peacocks in full macho posturing mode: “I used to beat that block - now I BE’S the block” versus “I can do you for you what Martin did for the people”. Jay-Z is the embodiment of millions of dollars worth of prime real estate. Beyonce is comparing herself to Martin Luther King. Sure, it’s over the top and a little silly, but rather than ‘playfulness’ I hear two people with big egos testing the waters of their relationship, seeing who will back down or compromise first. They are handling things like grown-ups, wanting to make it work but also cautious about getting hurt or losing the power that makes them great as individuals. Love is a srs and complicated bsns!
Therefore let’s put aside the bling and think about this interaction in terms of what we actually know about Beyonce and Jay-Z themselves. Their relationship began after she had finished recording Dangerously In Love, so [EDIT: whoops, it was 2002. I should fact-check things better. HOWEVER] B Day was the first chance that we, the gossip-hungry public, got a glimpse of what their life together was like - because otherwise we weren’t getting squat. Fair play to B&J! Their personal life together was and is a well-guarded secret. No tearful confessionals in OK! magazine for them, no tell-all autobiographies and (amazingly), no ‘friends’ phoning up the tabloids saying what they had for dinner last night. Nothing.
So the only way we can find out the juicy details is through the carefully-filtered outlet of their careers! Ouch. Even in Beyonce’s back catalogue it’s hard to pin down *anything* specifically about the two of them. In “Crazy In Love” and “Deja-Vu” Jay-Z bigs up Beyonce and then lets her get on with it. However in “Upgrade U” he is addressing her directly - and she him: “I hear you be the block, but I’m the lights that keep the streets on…”
This is why I find this song so fascinating. If it’s describing a fictional or exaggerated couple then they’ve done a bloody good job. Those nosey questions we want answers for - Is their relationship solid or on rocky ground? Who has the upper hand? - it seems that J and B themselves wish to know as well! They proceed to analyse each other to death like all good post-modern adults should do:
- How are you gonna upgrade me?
- [I] Notice you the type that like to keep them on a leash
- I’m alone for a reason
- You need a real woman in your life
If I’m being honest it is Beyonce that’s doing most of the hand-wringing here (it is her song, after all). Most of the second verse seems to be her talking to herself, wondering whether she could ever play second fiddle to Some Dude. Would it be worth it in order to be happy? Could she be happy living like that? “It’s very seldom that you’re blessed to find your equal/Still play my part and let you take the lead role?”
Jay-Z on the other hand seems more chilled about the whole business, but he’s running the risk of overstepping the boundaries (i.e. being an over-confident dick). If your significant other is trying to decide whether to continue your relationship together, now is not the time to mock her for having jewellery so big she cannot fit her hand in her handbag.
Happily by the end of the track they’ve decided that by working together as a team (the peacocks have reached a compromise!) they can make EVEN MORE MONEY than on their own. Sum of two parts and all that! Jay-Z appears to have slightly better financial management skills so he can deal with that, while Beyonce is better at the whole PR/communications role. Jay perhaps needs Beyonce’s gloss to cover up his dodgy past, Beyonce needs Jay for… well, why does anyone want a partner? Support? Love? Gametes? A big hug when your latest album only sells a paltry 310,000 copies in its first week or when your little sister has inadvisably shaved her head? Someone to attend premieres with?
Either way, judging by “Upgrade U” alone, the two of them are rock solid. They respect each other and are laughing at us opium-sated plebs trying to pick holes in their partnership:
“It’s humorous to me they watching while we just yachting off the island hopping off Amalfi coast…”
It may be humorous to you Sean, but it’s the nearest we’re going to get.
***
The majority of the video is terrible, by the way. Male-gaze-gratifying bollocks, tired dance routine, more bling than a branch of H Samuel in Billingshurst. The only notable bit is at 2.45 when B’s impression of her boyfriend gets very good indeed. In hindsight I think it was a mistake making videos for every single song on B Day, though at least there was enough butter to spread on the slice of bread that is “Get Me Bodied” (where the butter = Kelly, Michelle and Solange!).
