Beyonce and Taylor Swift: Sisterhood is powerful, especially when male-directed

Plenty of men know what it's like to cross a line and discover that nothing -- not flowers, not tears, not emotional blog posts -- can eradicate the skunk-like scent of jerkiness once it's sprayed. Kanye West can't seem to apologize enough for bursting in on Taylor Swift during her acceptance speech for Best Female Video at last night's MTV Video Music Awards, even though a replay of the moment reveals that West's imposition started with the words, "I'm sorry, Taylor." Whatever motivated West's words, his aggressiveness read as impossibly rude, not in small part because he is a 32-year-old man and the target of his scorn was a young woman of 19.

From one vantage point, it was a case of chivalry gone horribly wrong. West meant to stand up for Beyonce Knowles, whose "Single Ladies" video is in fact much more memorable than the one for Swift's "You Belong With Me," which took the prize in question. Knowles herself made it fairly clear that she doesn't require the blustering gallantry of West or any other guy when, upon winning Video of the Year for "Single Ladies," she ceded her own acceptance speech slot to Swift. The two women staged a quick sisterly embrace, adding another layer of meaning to an already complicated moment. Now this controversy was about women sticking up for each other, too.

If, as some bloggers are suggesting, West's intervention was staged, there had to be a reason Knowles and Swift agreed to participate. And even if his tirade was spontaneous, that climactic hug between Queen B and Princess Taylor had clearly been arranged (if only within the previous hour) and benefited both parties.

Here's one happy side benefit to what was likely a real gesture of generosity on Knowles' part and humility on Swift's. "You Belong With Me" and "Single Ladies" have both become mega-hits partly because women have embraced them as anthems of empowerment. Little girls and their moms raised their voices together and joined Swift in a round of confidence-boosting during her current national tour. All kinds of people, but especially self-styled sassy females, have posted video tributes to Beyonce's bounce-and-snap display of attitude, and on the VMAs she multiplied her backup dancers to simulate a small army of leotard-clad independent women.

Swift's ditty pleads with a high school crush to give up his superficial affair with a sexy cheerleader and give in to the singer, his smarter, more substantial soul mate. "She wears short skirts, I wear T-shirts," sings Swift, who adds to the picture in the video by sporting Austin Powers style glasses and letting her usually pristine curls go frizzy. It's an argument for inner beauty, and certainly a more appealing take on the dump-your-girlfriend theme than other recent contributions, such as Avril Lavigne's spiteful "Girlfriend" or the predatory "Don't Cha" by the Pussycat Dolls.

Knowles is a few steps past the prom in "Single Ladies." She's up in the club, having a night out in celebration of ending an unhappy relationship. Enter the old flame; B gives him a show with her new companion, with the stated intent of making Mr. Formerly Right realize exactly what he's missing. While Swift laments male cluelessness, Knowles scorns male carelessness. Her edgy vocal performance and the impudently sexual dancing featured in the video gives "Single Ladies" its tingle of liberation. Girls this fierce can certainly do whatever they want. But what they want is to be treated as prized possessions. The song's ubiquitous refrain, "If you liked it then you should have put a ring on it," makes the point explicit: the ultimate satisfaction for this kind of lady is to be made into an object, a glittery "it."

"Single Ladies" and "You Belong With Me" are both outstanding singles that, like every great pop tune, can be taken on and examined for new meanings by their fans. At the heart of both is the desire to be seen in a highly competitive environment: to be able to step back from the exhausting sport of feminine allure (one that Swift describes as a losing game, and Beyonce presents as all-consuming) and simply be loved. But there's no getting around the fact that these songs imagine female self-worth solely in terms of male approval. And though in Beyonce's video, she's flanked by two female seconds, both hits also mine the energy of female competition, not solidarity. These sisters might be lovable and strong, but they're not doing it for each other or themselves.

Swift and Knowles know a lot about competition. They're pop stars, after all, paid millions to fulfill our fantasies of beauty, talent and personal power. But these young women also represent a new era of female self-possession within the entertainment industry; writing and producing their own material, supported by family and (in Knowles' case) strong mates, but publicly standing at the controls of their own careers. They inspire young women to do more than worry about whether a guy likes them. Reaching toward each other in the wake of West's cocky move, they reinforced that sense of female pride and mutual support. Now, if only their hit singles did the same thing.

-- Ann Powers

Photo: Christopher Polk / Getty Images

Comments

[Steve]

Wow, Ann Powers, for an entertainment blog you went far beyond the realm of "cliche".

Female Empowerment? Are you kidding? Both songs are about fierce women upset/distraught about the other sex.. certainly an "empowered, independent" woman would not let these things happen to them, since they don't require the gratification of a man.

The spectacle of the VMAs has always brought about controversy. Don't make this event out to be anything more than publicity in an economically stagnant climate.

[Deana]

I just think it was very sad that Kanye did what he did to such a sweet girl and I like that Video! It's Great, she deserved the award and the spotlight! His mother would not teach him to do this. He has a serious problem! He's too arrogant for one thing and self centered. I was a huge fan of his but I'm questioning that now.

[tiffany]

beyonce is and always will be better than taylor swift because her shes a legend and her name is out there waaaay more but it still didnt give kanye the nerve to do that lol although it was funny to me

[cici]

why did you write this? you are reading way too much into this VMA moment.

[EBC Brakes]

The red outfits, the fact that Taylor came out from behind the stage as soon as Beyonce called her definitely points to this being set up. I'd love to have heard exactly how B and T set it up, though. I'm also curious about how B's hubby, and Big Brother to Kanye, thought about her move.

[Nicole]

Beyonce's and Taylor's act of "sisterhood" was truly male-directed. Matthew Knowles (Beyonce's father) arranged for Beyonce to defer her time at the podium to Taylor...Beyonce simply defered to her dad (and common decency).

[layla]

I do agree that what he did was wrong, but it is time to move on. People do stupid things, but they should be forgiven. He is probably confused and hurt due to the death of his mom. He said sorry. Let it go. And honestly, Beyonce definitely was the better artist

[layla]

I totally agree!! No one cares about the Video Music Awards-it is barely legitimate. He said that he was sorry, just get over it and forgive him. He cant erase time.....

[Jane Doe, PA]

Is it just me or is it just a wee bit too coincidental that Little Miss Taylor just HAPPENED to have a red dress that stunningly matches Beyonce's? Were they singing a duet or was this all staged/coreographed by the industry? (If it wasn't a duet...how stupid does the music industry think we are?)

[SUSAN]

That was one outrageous thing kanye west did but he was in-honest, single ladies is more popular,but in-spite of that,beyonce was frighten yet still glad by the fact
but knowing that he hurt TAYLOR feelings and it could have happened to her,she had to take action to cheer her up.And believe Beyonce did a good job with that. I got to love her

[TAS]

Kanye is clueless and ignorant. Hats off to Beyonce and Taylor for being such classy ladies and handling Kanye the way they did. They allowed him to look totally ignorant. He consistently blames others for his actions (mother's death, etc.). C'mon, grow up or get out of the game, boy.

[c squard]

i think what beyonce did was very commendable and i apreciate the fact that she didn't become part of the problem, but part of the-solution. i love kanye he just needs to know when to keep his mouth closed regardless of how muc money he has or how many records he has sold.