Beyonce vs Solange-- Who is Better?

Beyonce. Beyonce. BEYONCE!!! This is all that we ever hear. Radio, television, internet and magazines continuously remind us that we are living in a world run by Beyonce and her hubby-boo Jay-Z. They run this town and we are merely their peasants. It's so serious that it makes you wonder—what is up with all this Beyonce hoopla? Is she really as great as many think that she is? If you are easily influenced, you may believe that Beyonce is the greatest thing since sliced bread. But, if you are anything like me, you know that Beyonce is a puppet and the real talent lies somewhere outside of her shadow but still within the Knowles kingdom---Solange Piaget Knowles.

 

Musically, fashionista-lly, and artistically, Solange is the empress of the Knowles castle. She follows the beat of her own drum and lives in ‘Solange World’ basking in the light of her own sun. It makes no difference that her sister is uber-rich with one of hip hop’s greats (and wealthiest) as a husband. Solange is still Solange, with beauty and uniqueness that smashes Beyonce’s fabricated style any day of the week.

Unique & Fly...

I remember back in the day, when Solange was younger and without child, she was living in the Beyonce/Destiny’s Child shadow. She was Beyonce’s little sister who tried to be an actor/singer but could never reach the status of her superstar-bound sister. She came out with an album, and it was ok, but quickly slipped under the radar as Beyonce became more popular and the music industry became more fickle. She continued to live in the shadows and made small attempts at reaching the surface by appearing in a couple comedic films here and there. Then the young teenaged Knowles daughter announced that she was with child. No husband (not at the time of conception), no shame, just with child. Although I am not an advocate of teen motherhood, I was rooting for Solange and her out of wedlock child. At this point, with a dark mark upon her name, I knew that Solange would never be her sister. I knew that in someway, she would be better.

I recall watching the Destiny’s Child Soldier video when I was a freshman in college. At the end of the video, Solange, looking about 9 months pregnant, came out smiling and holding her belly. Beyonce and her back up singers (aka Destiny’s Child) were there as well, smiling, laughing, and dancing. I knew at that moment that I liked Solange waaaaay better than Beyonce and the crew. It was only a matter of time before she would become a star shinning brighter than her sister.

 Check the album cover. It says a lot without saying anything at all. Fresh.

Solange has not released as many albums as Beyonce, and she is no where close to reaching the Bey Bey level of superstardom. She is simply Solange, the underground musical fashionista that is flying higher than Beyonce probably ever will. Solange is brave with her own sense of style and unique musical capabilities. Her most recent album Sol-Angel & The Hadley St. Dreams (2008) is not a rendition of Beyonce-esque songs over radio banging beats, rather it is a retro and soulful testament to Solange's musical talent. As a matter of fact, Solange lets it rip in the opening song of So-Angel entitled ‘God Given Name’, where she tells everyone who will listen: “…I’m not her and never will be/ 2 girls going in different directions/ traveling towards the same galaxy.” Solange strategically places herself in this Beyonce-world by letting us know that she is not, and never will be, her sister Beyonce. At a time when many female artists are striving to be the next Beyonce, Solange has taken her own route, ignoring the nay-sayers and wanna-bes.  She does her own thing and, in my opinion, it is working.

BTW, Ms. Solange is a DJ now. Go DJ, now thats my DJ!