Pushing the Limits

Today in Music History: December 6, 2008

The alter-egos of many recording artists portray two opposite sides of music and/or performance. One could be pop while the other country, one could be slow, mid-tempo with the other more upbeat. The intent of dual egos is often to market contrasting facets of artistry. Such is the case of the recording artist in today's spotlight who was inspired by her husband, rapper Jay-Z, and jazz singer Etta James to push the limits of her songwriting and artistry.

Welcome into the spotlight...

 Beyoncé: a multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning recording artist who's acclaimed for her thrilling vocals, videos and live shows

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter is an American singer and actress born and raised in Houston, Texas. Beyoncé rose to fame as the lead singer of Destiny's Child, one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time. She released her first solo album a year before the group disbanded. Critics hail her as one of the best entertainers in contemporary popular music. In addition to her music career, she has appeared in several movies, including Austin Powers in Goldmember, The Pink Panther and Dreamgirls.

Beyoncé is well-known for her close family ties—her father was her longtime manager, and her mother, with whom she launched a clothing line, designs her stage costumes. Her cousin Angie is her personal assistant, and cousin Marlon is her road manager. Her sister Solange, who is also a singer, sometimes lends a helping hand in songwriting. 

"There's always one or two family members with me at all times. I don't go anywhere without someone that loves me and that can tell me the truth. Family is so important to me." ~Beyoncé

2008 Beyoncé went to No.1 on the US album chart with I Am...Sasha Fierce, the singers third studio album. It debuted at No.1, making Knowles the third female artist this decade after Britney Spears and Alicia Keys to have her first three albums debut in the top spot. As of March 2011, I Am... Sasha Fierce had sold over seven million copies worldwide, with its digital tracks accounting for an additional 30 million units. The album garnered eight Grammy Award nominations at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony, eventually collecting a record setting six wins—the most awards won in one night. 

Songfacts: With the release of her third album she introduced her alter ego Sasha Fierce, who is "too aggressive, too strong, too sassy, too sexy." She told CBS News: "I'm not like her in real life at all. I'm not flirtatious and super-confident and fearless like her. What I feel onstage I don't feel anywhere else. It's an out-of-body experience. I created my stage persona to protect myself so that when I go home I don't have to think about what it is I do. Sasha isn't me. The people around me know who I really am." Two years later, Beyonce told MTV she got rid of Sasha Fierce because she's grown enough to be able to merge the two.

No.1 singles on this day through the decades...

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  1969 Led Zeppelin made their debut on the US singles chart with 'Whole Lotta Love', it went on to make No.4 on the chart and was the first of six Top 40 singles for the group in the US. During the bands career, Zeppelin never released any singles in the UK.

• 1969 One hit wonders Steam started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye'. The song was actually recorded by Gary De Carlo, who intended it to be the "B" side of his first single. Gary didn't like the song and when record executives wanted to issue it as the "A" side, he insisted it be released under an assumed name. The song became a UK No.5 single for girl group Bananarama in 83.

• 1976 Showaddywaddy were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Under The Moon Of Love', (originally a hit in 1961 for Curtis Lee). The rock 'n' roll revival group from Leicester, England had nine other Top 10 hits with remakes.

• 1986 Europe were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'The Final Countdown'. They became only the second Swedish act to score a UK No.1. The song reached No.1 in 25 countries and the song's lyrics were inspired by David Bowie's song 'Space Oddity'.

No.1 album chart toppers on this day...

1975 Paul Simon went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Still Crazy After All These Years', his first US No.1 solo album.

1994 Tower Records released The Beatles' 'Live At The BBC', a 69 track, double album of tunes recorded for BBC shows such as Top Gear, Easy Beat, Saturday Club and Pop Go The Beatles. The LP will rise straight to the top of the UK chart, selling over 600,000 copies by the end of the year and 2,000,000 in the US four weeks later. 

Yes, it really happened...

1966 The Beatles recorded Christmas and New Year's greetings for pirate radio stations Radio Caroline and Radio London. Both stations were broadcasting from ships anchored off the British coastline.

1969 The Rolling Stones played a free festival at Altamont in California, along with Jefferson Airplane, Santana, The Flying Burrito Brothers and Crosby Stills Nash & Young. Rolling Stones fan Meredith Hunter was stabbed to death as the group played by Hell's Angels who'd been hired to police the event. It's claimed Hunter was waving a revolver. One other man drowned, two men were killed by in a hit-and run accident and two babies were born.

1972 While reading the morning newspaper in Nice, France, The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards was surprised to learn that arrest warrants had been issued for him and his girlfriend, Anita Pallenberg for drug possession.

1975 Rev Charles Boykin of Tallahassee, Florida organized the burning of Elton John and Rolling Stones records, claiming they were sinful. Boykin was reacting to the results from a survey that said, 984 of the 1,000 local unmarried mothers had sex when listening to rock music.

And the music goes on beating to the rhythm of the changing times...