Run-D.M.C Vs. Beyonce

 

In 1986, Run-D.M.C revived the 1977 Aerosmith hit “Walk This Way” and became the first Rap/Hip Hop song to crack the Billboard Top Hot 100 Chart.

"In 1986, the hip hop group Run–D.M.C. performed a cover of "Walk This Way" with Steven Tyler and Joe Perry guesting on vocals and guitars. While working on Raising Hell, Rick Rubin pulled out Toys in the Attic (an album they freestyled over) and explained who Aerosmith were. While Joseph Simmons and Darryl McDaniels had no idea who Aerosmith were at that time, Rubin suggested remaking the song. Neither Simmons nor McDaniels liked the idea, though Jam Master Jay was open to it. Later, however, Run–D.M.C. covered the song. D.M.C. called it "a beautiful thing" in a trailer for Guitar Hero. The 1986 version of the song is often credited as helping break hip hop music into mainstream pop music as it was the first hip hop song to hit the top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the remake demonstrated how elements of hip hop music can be part of rock and pop songs."

The 1986 music video for "Walk This Way" symbolically placed Aerosmith and Run–D.M.C. in a musical duel in neighboring studios before Tyler literally breaks through the wall that separates them. The video then segues to the bands' joint performance on stage. The highly popular video was the first hip hop hybrid video ever played in heavy rotation on MTV and is regarded as a classic of the medium

 

 

 

In 2008 Beyoncé released one of her most popular singles to date, “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).  

"Single Ladies" peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and has been certified quadruple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), having sold more than 5 million paid digital downloads as of October 2012. "Single Ladies" won the Grammy Awards for the Song of the Year, Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. It received many other awards and nominations between 2008 and 2010, and was named one of the best songs of 2008 by media outlets including MTV News, Rolling Stone, and Time magazine. It was also included on many critics' list of the best songs of the 2000s.

“The-Dream conceptualized "Single Ladies" after Beyoncé's secret marriage to hip hop recording artist Jay-Z in April 2008.[1][5] Stewart commented that the song was "the only public statement that [Beyoncé and Jay-Z had] ever made about marriage",[1] and that while in the studio recording the song Beyoncé had remained tightlipped, even to the point of removing her wedding band.[1] Beyoncé's marriage inspired The-Dream to compose a song about an issue that affected many people's relationships: the fear or unwillingness of men to commit.[1] In an interview with Billboard magazine, Beyoncé added that she was drawn to the song because of the universality of the topic, an issue that "people are passionate about and want to talk about and debate".[6] She stated that although "Single Ladies" is a playful uptempo song, it addresses an issue that women experience every day.[6]”

The song is relatable and addresses a popular issue of our current culture. Another reason this song is widely talked about, is due to Kanye West's outburst at the VMA's, after he grabbed the microphone out of Taylor Swift's, whilst she accepted the award for best music video, and proceeded to tell the audience that he felt Beyoncé should have won and that "Single Ladies" was one of the best music videos of all time.

Beyoncé opted for a simple style of music video, there was only one costume, a few cameras to capture each angle and was shot in black and white. The choreography combined urban street and 1960's Fosse jazz and was created with the idea that any viewer could attempt the movement if the wished.

Both videos represent popular culture very strongly in both eras, and also show the progression of Hip Hop music. We see strong male roles in the 1980’s music video, and then in the music video from 2008 it is time for the female to take the stage and rival the power and success of men. Run-D.M.C and Beyoncé and idols from their respected time periods and ruled the music scene of the time.