Did Beyoncé Really Say This?
by 
Jeanne on September 9th, 2007
Oh Beyoncé, say it isn’t so! I’m all for people appreciating diversity and admiring other cultures. Wishing you were part of one that you aren’t isn’t as cool in my books. Especially when many people struggle like Kelly Rowland did with accepting who they really are. While Kelly longed to be White as a child (and most of us were saddened by her story), Beyoncé is going around saying she wishes she had been born Latina! Man! Here’s Jessica Alba not wanting to be called Latina and Bey’s wishing she was!
I love Beyoncé but please girl, get it together!
Here’s the interview with Latina magazine where she commits, what I feel, is a cardinal sin! Read:
Beautiful Crossover: Q and A with Beyonce
Think about it: Although there’s a long list of Latino stars who’ve crossed over to sing in English (Shakira, Ricky, Paulina…) what non-Latin star has successfully sung in Spanish? We can’t think of anyone, which is why Beyonce’s new all-Spanish EP, Irreemplazable, is such a big deal to us.
We caught up with her recently to find out why she took that risk–and which Latin stars she thinks are hot:
Latina: So, your name has French roots. And, you know, you could have pursued singing in French. But you’ve chosen to sing in Spanish on this album instead. Why was that?
Beyonce: Well, I did actually sing a song in French at the Oscars. It was very hard. But that gave me the confidence to sing in Spanish because if I can do that, then I felt like, well maybe I can sing in Spanish. I’ve always loved the way Spanish sounds with music and with melodies. It’s just so beautiful and so passionate. I also grew up in Texas and I remember listening to Selena all the time.
Latina: How did you learn to sing in Spanish?
B: I only took classes for a few years in middle school, when you learn to say things like, “Where’s the bathroom?” But, even that helped me with my pronunciation when I got in the studio. I still get a little nervous when I have to do it live, but I’m getting pretty good at it, especially when it has a melody attached to it. I take a lot of time and focus because I want to do it right.
I go through everything with Rudy Perez who rewrote my songs in Spanish–he is so incredible and he completely gets it. So I don’t have to correct anything because he’s right on it all the time. Then I learn each line phonetically, how I would say it. It’s hard–my songs are hard enough to sing in English!
Latina.com: We all want to know: What was it like to work with Shakira on Beautiful Liar?
B: She’s amazing. The day we did the shoot, she had been on tour and I was doing a promotion also, so we only had two hours to rehearse. Usually you have two or three days to prepare, but we were so busy we hadn’t even seen each other since we recorded the song. We ended up both freestyling some moves and that’s how we came up with the choreography. She taught me some things and I taught her some things. But, it was so great because she was so easy to work with and so supportive, such warmth. There was no negativity or competitive energy, just love and respect.
Latina: What was it like working with Alejandro Fernandez?
B: Oh! I told one of my best friends, she’s Cuban, that I was working with him. And, she was like, “You’re lying!” And I’m like, “No, I am!” And she’s like, “You know who that is?” She schooled me so I would know.
When I met him, he sang in the studio and I was like, God! He’s incredible. He has soul and passion and his voice sounds like a man, a very masculine man. I loved it!
Latina: You’ve also worked with Alejandro Sanz, I remember, it was Destiny’s Child and him singing “Quisiera Ser” during the Latin Grammies.
B: That was my first experience singing in Spanish, and that actually was the reason why I did this project because we got a great response from the fans. It took a couple years because I was scared. But I’m a little older now and I’m not as afraid to try uncomfortable things.
Latina: Who would you love to work with?
B: Well, I love Luis Miguel, but I still have to get educated, you know? I love merengue, but I don’t know the names of the artists. I just know that I love to dance to the music. Good music is good music, you know? It doesn’t matter what type.
Latina: Which Latin artist do you think is cute?
B: I think, Alejandro Sanz and Alejandro Fernandez.
Latina: Have you ever considered touring in Latin America?
B: I have to go. I’ve never performed there before. But now, I have this album, so maybe I’ll take a month off and visit some places in Latin America at the end of the year. There are certain trips I’ve been saving, so I have something to look forward to–and Brazil is one of those places. I’d love to go there.
Latina: Do you plan to keep singing in Spanish?
B: I don’t know, I’m trying to see how this goes. But do I enjoy singing in Spanish. I think it’s so cool. I want to learn more, but right now I don’t have time. I’m always so busy–I haven’t had a real vacation since I was about 13. So when I finally get a break, the first thing I want to do is learn how to cook, and the second thing is to learn Spanish.
Latina: What’s one thing that you’d like to tell your Latina fans?
B: I would thank them for embracing me. I did radio (promotions) this morning for hours and hours and I noticed a big difference between speaking to all of the Latino stations and speaking to the pop stations or the other stations. With the Latino stations, there was so much love and everyone is so genuine. I’m just jealous that I wasn’t born Latina. I wish I had been because the culture is so beautiful. I’m very grateful Latinos are embracing me.
–Interview: Angie Romero
Tags: beyonce, beyonce knowles, beyoncé, latina, latina magazine, interview, beyonce latina
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31 opinions for Did Beyoncé Really Say This?
Sep 9, 2007 at 11:27 am
Well she answered my question I asked on this blog months ago, so she isn’t Latin.
Sep 10, 2007 at 9:59 am
WOW! I’m sure that Beyonce’s grandmother didn’t appreciate that comment! Wish you were born Latino…Well you are Black! Embrace it!
Sep 10, 2007 at 7:57 pm
That sad see how black people act when the get money they want to be every race but there own.
Sep 13, 2007 at 6:14 pm
First of all, Cha Cha, Salsa, and Rhumba began in Cuba with African descendents. Samba originated in Brazil with African descendents as well. Both African and Latin cultures have much to be proud of as individual cultures and when we work together as one people.
Sep 13, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Black youth need to see more successful Black men and women when they are young babies and children so when they become adults they feel proud of the accomplishments our ancestors made as civil rights activists, entrepreneurs, Certified Public Accountants, Doctors, Lawyers, etc. These blacks don’t get enough recognition as much as those in entertainment. That’s the problem. Blacks need to be encouraged in all fields of study and not just entertainment, so black youth know that they have so much to be proud of. When I was a young child, I knew so many successful black men and women, that I never had to question my selfworth as a black woman. I’ve always been so proud of my people. I now am a university student in Business Accounting and look foward to graduating soon. I also work in finance at the same time.
There are so many of us who are successful at what we do as Black people.
Kelly Rowland, Child Psychologist
Sep 16, 2007 at 8:19 pm
[…] As much as I like Bey, maybe she should start with her since Bey seems to be having ethnic identity issues. I’m sorry but I’m still a little miffed about her saying that she wishes she was Latina. […]
Sep 24, 2007 at 3:19 pm
Thanks for disgracing the people that support you most.
Learn your heritage and be proud. Besides the value of education, it’s all you have to pass to your children.
Sep 25, 2007 at 6:54 pm
There is nothing wrong with admiring another culture, but to go so far as to say that you wish you had been born into that culture is ignorant. Even if Beyonce did make those comments to boost her records sales in Latin America, it was still a slap in the face to African Americans. She could have found several ways to express her liking for the Latina culture. J-Lo has never once stated in public that she wishes she was another race - and look at how successful she is in the business. Because of the ever so present color complex that exist in the black community, black entertainers such as Beyonce must be mindful of what they say and how they say it as it relates to race. I know for the most part, black people are undivided, and jealous of one another, but you can’t play into that attitude. There are blacks who do stick together, there are intellegent blacks (although not famous) who are making a difference in the African American community. Stop doing and saying anything for a quick buck. I love Beyonce as an artist, but her comments do not sit well with me. Someone should pull her aside and tell her that what she did was naive and wrong.
Sep 25, 2007 at 7:20 pm
I dont think Beyouce really cares bout race she has fallin in luv with the fame. Being that she is a vergo she wants to have and do it all and be the best @ it and also stand out from the rest. Yes its true that african ameriacns dont stick together like we should but we do support one another and f*ck with one of our people here we come with NAACP and who ever else that we need. Someone made a comment stating that blacks our jealous of one another. Yes you are correct but thats in every race it a sin jealous comes from envy. People need stop with the BS.Are days here on this earth are getting short for the rich and famous or poor and lonely GOD IS ON HIS WAY save your souls and pray for each other God Bless BLane Peace
Sep 29, 2007 at 12:19 pm
I really don’t think she meant it in the same way Jessica Alba did. Bey just said it as an afterthought, like she didn’t really think it through. People say stupid stuff they don’t really mean all the time, and I guess they just caught everything in this transcript. In Jessica Alba’s case, she actually dedicated an entire interview to distancing herself from her ethnicity. Give Beyonce’ a break; she was admiring another culture and kinda muffed up on the execution. It really isn’t that serious.
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:39 pm
Oh God…I really don’t think she meant it like that..I can say like “aah I wish I was born here or there because of the culture” it doesn’t mean that I’m not proud of where I come from…are you people really telling me that everything you say is what you mean up to 100%. come on! she even said that she would love to be a latina because of the culture and so on…of course she’s proud of who she is and where she comes from…don’t take every little thing so seriously like she just said that she hates her roots..chill out folks!
Singing Blog Feeds » Blog Archive » Did Beyoncé Really Say This?
Sep 30, 2007 at 7:09 pm
[…] You can read the rest of this blog post by going to the original source, here […]
Oct 3, 2007 at 12:55 pm
Yea its really not that serious but she did say it. She can be what ever race she wants to be and the world will still go on.God Bless
Oct 3, 2007 at 10:40 pm
you people need to get a life!!!!! i am an african american woman and i see nothing wrong with what she said. it didn’t come across to me as though she’s not proud of her heritage… the comment reads as if it was said in a light-hearted spirit DON’T MAKE A MOUNTAIN OUT OF AN ANTHILL.
Oct 6, 2007 at 3:41 pm
U people that sounds like a white statement. That comment Bee made was so long ago we are not even thinking bout that any more. Lets start thinking bout who is going to be are next president and if the worle is going to be here tommorow.God Bless Peace BLane
Oct 8, 2007 at 3:23 am
http://www.latingossip.com/chisme/los-50-mas-bellos.html
Oct 9, 2007 at 11:19 pm
Wow I just read some of the latino gossip and they r just like us I am black. Just when Be thought that they were not judgemental r would get jealous they r. To think bout it its very sad this is a sad fuccin world. Why the fucc r we mad @ that girl shes doing what ever the fucc she wants to do and is damn good @ it. Now like i said before she’s not the best but the girl is doing her damn thing.She can learn and speak as many languages as she wants. Yea its all bout money and she wants it all personally i think she needs to slow down like her boy said fame is the worse’s drug all eyes r on her the game of fame can be very wicked so Be if u should ever read this mail slow down. Your fans will never forget u it wouldnt hurt to take off for a year u need time with your family and your future husband. Lay up and try to make a baby u got enough money to just chill for a while think about it.God Bless Peace Blane
Nov 18, 2007 at 4:13 pm
she has french spanish and african blood why does she just have to embrace just the african part? Black people need to get over their race issues. there are very few true all blood africans in america. WE are all mixed races and should embrace all of them
Nov 18, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Bob, she is French and African-American. NOT Spanish.
I am of mixed-race and I am more than happy to embrace my two cultures. I’m not going to add a third, know what I mean?
I don’t need to get over anything. I’m not “Black Power” or anything like that. I think, though, that sometimes some people seem to be more proud of other cultures than their own.
Incidentally, the “French” is actually “Creole” and that’s an entirely different culture.
Nov 18, 2007 at 5:29 pm
I don’t think people are making a mountain out of a molehill but this was the line that bothered me:
“I’m just jealous that I wasn’t born Latina.”
What if Cameron Diaz said, “I’m just jealous that I wasn’t born Black.”
People would laugh, I think.
What if Sidney Poitier said, “I’m just jealous that I wasn’t born White.”
Would people think anything weird about that? Beyoncé is not Spanish.
Again, I’m not freaking out but I’m surprised that people can’t see why some were bothered by this.
Feb 13, 2008 at 8:53 pm
I do believe that Beyonce wishes she was born Latina because of the reasons she has stated. But the reason (the main reason) she did not mention has to do with the hair. She’s just tired of wigs slipping off her head, and having to wear weaves all the time. If she was born Latin, she wouldn’t have to try so hard to look like one.
Feb 13, 2008 at 9:33 pm
She only made a remark about an admiration she has for another culture. Remember we are talking about culture, not skin color. I hope that at some point in the future, We all learn to admire what each race or culture has to offer. I wish I had the pride of a black man, the passion of a latin and the tanacity of an asian. For that matter I wish I was born Jay-Z for obvious reasons.
Feb 16, 2008 at 11:28 am
Look people..She said how she liked the Latino culture and all that good stuff and how she’s jealous she wasn’t born Latina..Latinas are black too!!!
What she says is equivalent to a white American saying “I wish I was French, I love their culture”. That’s it. She’s not wishing to change her race. And if you really think about it she is Latina, she is Creole which is a mix of Spanish, French, African.. I am creole and sometimes I say that am Latino(I’m not usually serious when I say it) but I could if I wanted to.
Apr 7, 2008 at 12:17 am
OKAY PEOPLE YOU ARE MAKING SUCH A BIG DEAL OUT OF THIS, I THINK ANYONE CAN SAY THEY WANT TO BE ONE RACE BUT STILL BE PROUD OF THEIR OWN, AND BESIDES NO ONE CAN CHANGE THEIR RACE SO WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL OF MAKING A BIG DEAL?? AND SINCE RIGHT NOW AS I HAVE SEEN BEING LATINA IS SOMETHING A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO ME IT’S HOW THEY ARE POTRAYED SO BEYONCE SAW NOTHING WORONG WITH SAYING THAT.
Apr 10, 2008 at 1:11 pm
@ German RC-how are Latinas black? The majority of Latinas are of white (Spanish/Portuguese) and/or Amerindian decent! Some are of black or part black decent (mullattos) but you still cannot say that all Latinas are black! @ the end of the day Beyonce would have been villified if she had said she wishes she had been born white but because she said Latina its somehow ok? People dont seem 2 realise that alot of people of Hispanic decent have ancestors in Europe (Spain/Portugal) so are infact either wholly or partially white themselves so Beyonce really should have been more villified for this! Look at what happened to Jessica Alba when she said she didnt feel Latina & her mother is actually white (of Danish decent) so Beyonce as a black woman saying this is even worse yet people are making excuses for her!!!
Apr 10, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Sometimes people get caught up in the conversation and before you know it, it’s too late, you can’t retract the statement. I think it just came out wrong. Bey has always praised that she is an AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN!!! Bottom line. She is not french and African American. Having a parent or grandparent born in Louisiana doesnot make a person Creole. Creole is not a race but a culture. It’s like being a Jewish, it is not a race but a religion. People hate that she is AFRICAN AMERICAN.
She said she was jealous she wasn’t latina. Well guess what, I’m jealous that I can’t have all of her Christian Loubotin shoes, does that make me less proud of the Fendi shoes that I own. Of course not, it was just taken out of context. Plus I’ve never heard anyone interview her about the comment and I never heard anyone in her camp defend or diffuse the comment. For all we know that comment never happened.
GIVE IT UP PEOPLE!!
Apr 12, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Remember the majority of spanish speakers are of African descent. None of them will admit it. Research history.The latinos music and dance is African.Dna test will give you truth. When children are young they imagine being alot of things even adopted etc. People oftentimes dont like themselves that is why cosmetic surgery is readily available.
Apr 28, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Both of my parents are black and I relax the roots of my hair every 2 to 3 months. My hair is waist long. I don’t believe black women have to be biracial in order to have long hair if we learn more about ourselves and holistic ways of caring for our bodies and our hair while changing our hair styles conservatively.
May 13, 2008 at 9:15 am
I just want to say to the comment that said Bey was french and African American, her grandmother is creole and that is just black folk(most light skin w/nice hair) that speak broken french, I should know I’m from Louisiana and I am also creole, you still check the box for African American/Black. Creole is not a race its more of a culture, a way of living.
May 13, 2008 at 11:22 am
well said CREOLE!!!!
Jun 9, 2008 at 11:56 pm
WOULD ANYONE CARE TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION ? WHO THE HECK IS TALKING—–
SASHA OR B ? WHO IS THINKING SASHA(NOT B).
PLEASE, PLEASE,P;EASE,-NO MORE QUESTIONS !
WONDER WHY THERE ARE FEW INTERVIEWS ????
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