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| Beyonc�: It's the most important song on the album. Kelly: I know that when we all wrote the song we were very emotional, because it was written for each other and [for ourselves]. It was kind of hard to record it, because we [got] choked up. Beyonc�: It's really funny, 'cause some people have criticized that "Thank You" thing. But Kelly, they [are] just hating. It's weird, 'cause whenever you do something different, people have something to say 'cause they don't understand it. I think we have made music history with this album, and I think people will start doing a lot more things like Survivor. MTV: How do you feel about the position of women in the music business? Beyonc�: I think a lot of great artists opened the doors for female artists, like the Supremes and Aretha Franklin, and now I know it's so much easier for women ... [but] it's still hard. Beyonc�: Guys can go onstage and take off their shirts and girls are going to scream, scream, scream. Kelly: And sometimes they don't even have a [good] body. Beyonc�: But girls can get on the stage and they have to work extra, extra hard. It's just really hard for women. And for writers, it's very, very hard. And me being young, it's ridiculously hard. To this day people do not know that my name is [listed] last [in credits], even if I write the majority of the song; or they don't want to say "co-produced [by me]." They don't even want to give me the credit. I didn't want people to know [that I wrote songs] for this album, because people automatically form an opinion when they know the artist wrote the songs. If it wasn't for the fans I wanted the fans to know I would have put a different name on there. It's amazing when people know you write the song, they just have this whole little thing, especially when you're 19 and a woman. MTV: I would think they'd respect you even more. Beyonc�: Well, you get respect, but it's hard in the industry for critics to give you your props. MTV: How important is it for a contemporary artist to be sexy? To look good and to dance well? Beyonc�: I think it is important to look good and to dance, but I think it's more important to be a true artist than a half-talent, because beauty fades. There are million of beautiful people in the world. There have been millions of beautiful bands that have come and gone, but if you don't have any substance and talent behind it, then after one or two albums there's another beautiful band there to take your place. MTV: What should fans expect on your upcoming tour? Beyonc�: It's our first headlining tour, and we're spending a lot of money on the set. We're gonna get pyro and fire and [have] a bunch of dance numbers. Of course, costume changes we always do that stages coming up out of the floor, all of that stuff. We're gonna have a really elaborate set for the first time, which we're extremely excited about. Kelly: Performing is when you put on your happy face. Beyonc�: When I perform, that's the happiest point I can be at in my life. ... There is nothing that compares to that joy, especially when you look to your right and to your left and you see these ladies. It is beautiful, and sometimes when we do all our thank-yous to each other, we get all teary-eyed and cry and just catch the Holy Spirit because it feels so good. |
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