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Well, ladies and gentlemen, we’re ending another year today, so before we enter 2009, I thought it’d be nice to have our very own countdown to a what great year Beyoncé and Jay-Z have had for 2008. Here’s my Top Ten Best 2008 Moments for the two lovebirds.
#20. Peta Makes Peace With Beyoncé
The number #20 spot on my list goes to PETA making peace with Beyoncé after they basically ambushed Beyoncé for wearing fur and having animal fur in her clothing line. They decided to reach out to her and Jay-Z by saying, “From all of us at PETA, we wish you much happiness in your life together. Please accept this faux-fur throw with many good wishes and a hope from us that together, you’ll be a fur-free couple!”
More after the jump!
#19. Beyoncé Appears on Oprah
So, why does Beyoncé appearing on “Oprah Show” make my list? Well, for one, being on Oprah is an honour, and secondly, the crowd just loved her! It was a fantastic interview and you got to see such a great side to her. She spoke about her album, her married life and who she is.
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#18. Beyoncé and Tina Knowles Launch New Dereon Collection
Image: Newscom
Beyoncé and Tina Knowles launching the new Dereon collection makes my list because this family just keeps on adding to their fortune. The line was inspired by Beyoncé’s new movie, “Cadillac Records.” They continue to put their staple on the world and show their versatility. They can do anything, can’t they?
#17. Beyoncé Named Seventeen Magazine’s Style Star of the Year
Image: Newscom
Taking the #17 spot is Beyoncé being named as Seventeen Magazine’s style star of the year. What a great moment that was, and rightfully deserved! She can pull off things that many people can’t. Her style is full of flavour so I’m happy to see that she’s being acknowledged for that.
#16. Beyoncé Benefits Charity and Stands Up to Cancer
When Island Def Jam announced that they’d be making a cancer benefiting song to raise money for charity, Bey jumped at that opportunity, along with many other singers. Then, at the 2008 Fashion Rocks she delivered a heart touching performance of “Just Stand Up” with a huge number of other celebrities who showed their support on stage. Here’s the video from that night.
#15. Beyoncé and Jay-Z Accept Charity Awards
It was an important day for Beyoncé when she was awarded for all of the charity work that she’s been doing. She was inducted into the Pediatric Hall of Fame in October of this year.
Around the same time Jay-Z was acknowledged at the U.N.A. Global Leadership Awards Gala and accepted the Champions Of The Millennium Goals Award after putting time and money into his “Water for Life” project in Africa.
#14. Beyoncé Pays Tribute to Etta James and Flaunts Wedding Ring
Beyoncé, who plays legend Etta James in the movie “Cadillac Records”, played Tribute to Etta at Fashion Rocks this year, by sporting a short wig and performing the song “At Last.”
She was also the topic on many people’s lips as she gave us the first glimpse of her wedding ring!
#13. Beyoncé Parodies “Single Ladies” on SNL With Justin Timberlake
Who could forget that hilarious moment when Justin Timberlake steps on stage wearing heels and a leotard earlier this year on Saturday Night Live? Beyoncé parodied her own music video for “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)” with Justin and SNL members, in a skit that sent audiences rolling on the floor with laughter. Despite all the marvellous skits about this year’s presidential election, it was still said to be one of the best SNL skits for the year of 2008. It was hilarious! That’s why I thought it deserved a spot on this list.
#12. Beyoncé To Star in “Obsessed”, “Cadillac Records” is Released
This year, for Beyoncé, was all about stepping out of her comfort zone. In March, it was announced that Bey would star in a “Fatal Attraction” type thriller about a man who attracts a temp at his office who turns out to be a stalker. Beyoncé plays the angry wife of the man. This role is quite a bit different than just singing tunes. Good for her for doing something she’s not used to!
Bey’s movie “Cadillac Records” was released this year too. She portrays Etta James in the movie, which follows the rise of Chess Records and the artists. She worked hard for this movie and did her best to try to play the role. She even visited a rehab!
#11. Jay-Z Opens Doors by Appearing at Glastonbury Festival
Despite all the controversy and complaints from Noel Gallagher of Oasis fame, Jay-Z took command on stage at the 2008 Glastonbury Festival and performed his heart out. He later even made a track called “Jockin Jay-Z” in which he addresses that Glastonbury controversy. The video of Jay premiering the song is below.
#10. Beyoncé Introduces Us to Sasha Fierce
Media outlets were buzzing when Beyoncé announced that the persona of the woman who gets on stage and shows us her sexy moves, is not the same person who people get to know on a personal level. In fact, her alter ego, Sasha Fierce, is completely opposite from her. Kudos to Bey for having the courage to say she’s not always so bootylicious and out there. We like Bey for who she is, and we like Sasha just as much.
#9. Beyoncé Gets TWO Spots on MTV’s Top Ten Women of the Year List
Not only did Beyoncé make MTV’s Top Ten Women of the Year List, but she did it twice – in the same year! That’s right, she got two spots on the list. How did that happen? Well, our favorite diva got a spot for Beyoncé on the list – but MTV made sure Sasha Fierce made the list too. You know you’re awesome when, in a list of ten people, you’re there twice. Good for her!
#8. Jay-Z Says European Tour Was Best of His Life
Imagine being able to say something was the greatest year of your life. Jay-Z was able to do that this year. After returning from his European tour, he says that it was definitely the best run he’s ever had.
Talking about Glastonbury specifically, he says “The statement they made before I got onstage (at Glastonbury) was ‘come out and if you’re brilliant, you’re brilliant and if you’re crap, you’re crap’. And I came up and I delivered on it. And as far as the rest of Europe, I’m being very honest, I really had the best run I ever had in my life.”
#7. Jay-Z Creates New Record Label
Jay-Z, the man who can do anything and everything, teamed up with Stargate, Norwegian record producers to make a new record label called, StaRoc. You’ve gotta love him for always finding a new way to stay on top! The number four spot on the countdown made this new label possible.
#6. Beyoncé Releases Double Disc Album
Beyoncé again did something she’s never done before by creating this double disc album entitled “I Am…Sasha Fierce.” She bore her soul on the “I Am…” side and on the other side, “Sasha Fierce”, we get a better look at her alter ego. He released songs have don amazingly well. Her single “If I Were a Boy” is currently at #10 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and has been on the charts for 11 weeks, while “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)” is at #1 on the Hot 100 and has been on the charts for 10 weeks.
Plus her singles have been buzzed about a lot this year. Even with seeing Katy Perry, Shane Mercado, SNL parodies or little girls copying her video, “Single Ladies” has generated a huge amount of talk.
Image: Amazon
#5. Beyoncé and Jay-Z are Top Earning Couples of 2008 List and Among Most Powerful
This year, Forbes released the Top Earning Celebrity Couples of 2008 and guess who made it to #1 on the list? Who else but Bey and Jay? They made an approximation of a whopping $165 million dollars. Jada Pinkett and Will Smith came in second place with a profit of $85 million, which means Beyoncé and Jay-Z earn at least double the amount of Hollywood couples. That’s pretty darn big!
How does it feel to be powerful? Well, happy couple Beyoncé Knowles and Jay-Z also made Forbes’ 2008 List of the World’s Most Powerful Celebrities. Bey came in fourth place, while Jay came in seventh on the list. How great is it that they both made the list? So, not only are they stinking rich, but they’re powerful. The two go hand in hand. This, again, just shows how great they are for each other. They’re both wonderful.
#4. Jay-Z Signs Deal With Live Nation
Amazingly, Jay-Z and Live Nation announced a deal that would set Jay’s earnings to an ultimate high. Their contract requires that every year LN will contribute $5 million with an additional $25 million to finance his investments. Also, for each of his next three albums, Jay will get $10 million dollars! Yes, you heard it right. Now, there’s a smart man who knows how to do his job. That’s why this moment makes it to #7 on the list.
#3. Beyoncé Nominated for Golden Globe
Taking my #3 spot is Beyoncé being nominated for a Golden Globe. The category she’s nominated for is Best Original Song, for the track that she co-wrote called “Once in a Lifetime” from the movie “Cadillac Records.” Not everyone can say been nominated for a Golden Globe, so good on her!
#2. Beyoncé and Jay-Z Nominated for Grammy Awards
It’s every singers dream to be able to say they even got nominated for a Grammy. As a solo artist Beyoncé can say that she’s won six Grammys, and Jay has won seven. This year, together they have been nominated for six more awards. Beyoncé gets recognized in the Best Female Vocal Performance with “Me, Myself and I”, which was used in the “Beyoncé Experience Live Audio CD.”
This year, Jay-Z was nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance for his song, “Roc Boys” and for Best Rap song, “Swagga Like Us” was nominated.Then, in the category for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, “Swagga Like Us” is up for another award. In that same category, Hova was also nominated for “Mr. Carter”, his song with Lil Wayne. His album “American Gangster” was nominated for Best Rap album. Tell me that’s not awesome! The super duo does it again!Grammy Awards are important and that’s why I’ve put this as my second best moment for them.
#1. Beyoncé and Jay-Z Get Married!
How could this not be #1?! After years and years of waiting for these two to get married, the public sighed in relief when they finally exchanged vows. On April 4th, 2008, Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter and Beyoncé Knowles married. This is such a big step for them both. They’ve stepped into something new for both of them, and somehow they manage to stay private, which is rare for couples in Hollywood. They know how to stay out the spotlight. I’m so happy for them! Who knows, maybe next time the #1 spot on the countdown will include children…
Happy New Year everyone!
Great list I love it!
Cool. Wish if I were Jay-Z!
Well put together….they had so many achievements and will always be the BIGGEST and MOST RESPECTED couple in the music business or, to me, in any form of business they enter, because they work hard and they deserve it all… I love them. Represent