Beyonce sets stage on fire in Mumbai

Mumbai: Multi Grammy award winner Beyonce Knowles rocked Mumbaikars at a dazzling concert here on Saturday. Huge 15,000-plus crowd danced and sang merrily, applauding her to their hearts content as she crooned her evergreen numbers.
The diva who arrived at the Mumbai International airport on Friday night is on her first visit to the country.
The singer/actress who has had a huge fascination for the country said that “I am very excited to be here. Thank you for all the support”.
She performed live on Saturday night at Mumbai`s MMRDA grounds as part of her The Beyonce Experience tour, and surprisingly, this time, her popular 10-member all-female band was accompanied by a couple of men.
Me, Myself and I
Beyonce Knowles is the ‘Destiny’s child’ in the true sense of the word. The sizzling 26 year old has become a style icon for millions across the world. Not many know that the Houston beauty stepped in to the glam world at an early age of seven years, when she auditioned for a part in a child-singing group.
Starting out young, Beyonce along with her cousin Kelly Rowland and her childhood best friend Latavia Roberson went to form their first band ‘Girl’s Tyme’ with Le Toya Luckett. The band that found its manager in Beyonce’s father, Mathew Knowles, went ahead and performed upon every tiny little opportunity to sing, be it the performance at local events, Church choirs or at the hair salon of Beyonce’s mother, Tina Knowles.
Inspired by the legendary R&B singers such as the Supremes and the Jackson 5, the Quarlet got their first big break when they entered a television show Star Search. Though the group did not win the competition, it provided them with the much-needed recognition.
Looking out for an appealing band name the group experimented with a series of funky names The Dolls, Something Fresh, and Cliché before it finally decided to stick with Destiny`s Child.
The group zeal and enthusiasm along with the Beyonce’s mesmerizing beauty and sensual voice made the group an instant hit with the crowds. The refreshing and innovative rap approach don by the group gave the audience a mere preview as to what was to rock them over the coming years.
The very first album of the group released in 1998 named after the band itself "Destiny’s Child’ was an instant platinum success. With hits like the double platinum number-one single "No, No, No Part 2" there was no looking back for the group.
The very next album ‘Writing on the wall’ was even a much bigger success. The album grabbed a strong place in the Billboard Top Ten charts right from the day of its realease. The four hit songs singles, "Bills, Bills, Bills," "Say My Name," "Bug a Boo," and "Jumpin`, Jumpin` made the nation groove to its tune.
Though the group went on giving smash hits and claming awards , the internal rift in the band came out in the open when the two leading memebrs LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson surprised their music lovers by quitting the group.
The two were apparently dissatisfied with the management of Matthew Knowles, and it was later said that the two quit because of existing "creative differences." The group again found itself in the limelight but this time for all the wrong reasons. LeToya and LaTavia took the group and its management to court for the unfair treatment metted out to them.
The rift however did not affect Beyonce’s love for music, who took on solo singing and has appeared unstoppable ever since. Her debut solo album "Dangerously In Love" has put all the apprehensions to rest. The album made a grand entry at the Billboard chart and was certified as Platinum in about four weeks of its release, making the world rock to its tune with singles like the ‘Crazy in Love’ and ‘Baby Boy’.
Claiming the number one spot and selling over 320000 copies in the opening week itself, the album domintaed the Billboard and the R&B weeks after it was realsed in countries across the globe.
However, it is not only Beyonce’s singing that has kept her in spotlight. The singer cum actress had been making headlines by landing up in roles of Hollywood flicks besides her much talked about realitionship with singer Jay Z.
The muti talented artist , Knowles once again proved to the world that she was not only a commendable singer but even a natural actress. Some of the widely acknowleged performances of the singer cum actress in her career so far have been in flicks such as the ‘Austin Powers in Goldmember’ and ‘Pink Panther’ where the actress has been stared against the Hollywood biggies like Mike Myers and Steve Martin.
Her popularity can be well judged from the fact that the singer is being voted as the Most Desirable Woman of 2007 by a men’s website. The 25-year-old singer/actress topped a poll that saw a huge participation of men. The poll considered beauty, intelligence, humor, charisma and ambition of the 99 "most alluring" women in the world.
Though the singer cum actress has always been tight lipped about her special reationship with Jay Z, Knowles has often said that Jay Z has had a very postive influence in her life.
Even though there have been rumours of the couple heading for splitteville due to marriage issues the two appear to be very much in love for a couple heading to call it quits. The rumour mills run that Jay Z has been all up for marriage after their five year long realtionship but has been unable to convince Beyonce who still feels the need to take it slow.
One of the recent controversies that does not come down good with the singer fans is the usage of fur in her clothing line, House of Deréon. The People for the ethical Tratment of Animals (PETA) approched the actrees over the issue.
Beyonce’s most-popular numbers
"Crazy in Love" (Dangerously in Love)
"Baby Boy" (Dangerously in Love)
"Naughty Girl" (Dangerously in Love)
"Me, Myself and I" (Dangerously in Love)
"Déjà Vu" (B`Day)
"Ring the Alarm" (B`Day)
"Beautiful Liar" (B`Day)
"Irreplaceable" (B`Day)
"Check on It" (The Pink Panther movie).

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