Soul Not For Sale

Prior to December 13, 2013, society viewed Beyonce as a mainstream R&B/pop artist who topped the charts with generic lyrics set to beats her studio constructed. But, the surprise release of her self-titled album showed not only bravery in releasing new music without any promotion but also an effort that illustrated Beyonce's true feelings and thoughts about life. A common theme throughout the entire album is a woman's ability to feel empowered through sexual awakening while also living in a traditional marriage with a child. Once song on the album that encapsulates this theme poetically is "Haunted."

The whole song is split into two parts. "Ghost" and "Haunted." "Ghost" is a statement on the music industry's restrictions on Beyonce's ability to comment honestly on sex, womanhood, and love. 

And I've been drifting off on knowledge
Cat-calls on cat-walks, man these women getting solemnI could sing a song for a Solomon or Salamander
We took a flight at midnight and now my mind can't help but wander
How come?

The word solemn works on multiple level to help portray Beyonce's comments on women in America. It refers to the dignified nature that comes with women becoming more empowered as society progresses. Women models are not objectified anymore. They are not on a cat-walk for the pleasure of a man. They are on a cat-walk to experience the power they feel while pleasing themselves. The word solemn also refers to the seriousness behind the impact women have on society. As American culture becomes for accepting of women in powerful positions, women are taken more seriously in the work force. Beyonce makes this statement on womanhood but then refers to the restrictions she flt before releasing this album. 

I'm climbing up the walls cause all the shit I hear is boring
All the shit I do is boring
All these record labels boring
I don't trust these record labels I'm torn
All these people on the planet
Working 9 to 5, just to stay alive

Beyonce's repetition of the word "boring" depicts her opinion on the music industry;s role in portraying the truth present in people's lives. She admits the work she had done in the past was uninteresting and tedious to release as it did not reflect real struggles people could relate to. 

After she airs her grievances with the music industry in "Ghost," Beyonce freely describes the sexual awakening she finds in her marriage in "Haunted." An all out and explicit description of her truth that responds to all the things she wanted to say for a long time while she felt obligated to tell someone else's story.

You want me?
I walk down the hallway
You're lucky
The bedroom's my runway
Slap me!
I'm pinned to the doorway
Kiss, bite, foreplay

She refers to a runway like she did during "Ghost" when she mentioned a cat-walk. The multi-dimensional use of the word "runway" connects the broader spectrum of woman empowerment on a public scale like at a fashion show with the very private scale of two people who love each other. Beyonce shows the ability she feels to express empowerment to the world and in her own personal life. Beyonce uses "Haunted" to flip-off the music industry by doing everything not traditional to what labels have forced her to do. She sold a platinum record without a single or promotion and empowered herself by telling her own story that expressed the sentiment of the millions people who listened to this entire album.