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Two great performers, singing Tina Turner’s classic hit – Proud Mary. Tina Turner, the Queen of Rock and Roll. And beside her, Beyonce Knowles. Two women showing the world how strong the female spirit can be.

The legendary Tina Turner has rarely performed since 2000, but it took a momentous occasion, such as the 50th Anniversary of the Grammy Awards to bring her out of the closet and back onstage, to sing a duet with her fan-turned-superstar, Beyonce Knowles. Many people feel that Beyonce was outclassed by the 68-year old Mother of Soul (even if her skirt is shorter). The vocal strength and the stage presence of Tina, like wine, just gets better and better through the years.  But outclassed or not, to be able to perform with a legend you look up to as a child, is a dream come true.

Beyonce was given the difficult task of introducing Tina Turner onstage. And she came up with this:

Sarah Vaughan, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Kahn.
Historical women who have performed on this very stage.
When I was a little girl I dreamed on being on this stage.
But I knew I needed all the right elements:
Like the beat of Donna Summer
The Spirit of Mahalia Jackson
The jazz of Ella or Nancy
Bam! Gimme some!
Boy, I try to catch myself
But I’m out of control
Your sexiness is so appealing
I can’t let it go
Lena Horne. Anita Baker. Diana Ross.
Glady’s, Janet and the beautiful melodies of Whitney.
The legacy they have bestowed are simply irreplaceable (to the left, to the left)
But there is one legend who has the essence of all of these things
The glamour, the soul, the passion, the strength, the talent.
Ladies and Gentlemen, stand on your feet and give it up for the queen!
(Tina Turner enters…)

(I had to do some research to get all the names right, but all of them are African American singers who made it big in the record industry.)

Post Script:

• Did Beyonce get a nose job? Her nose looks straighter…
• I think Beyonce stepped on Tina Turner’s feet at one point… I can’t confirm it though, coz I can’t tell if Tina Turner was grimacing in pain, or if it was her natural facial expression at that time.
• Did you know that Tina Turner was born “Anna Mae Bullock?” And didn’t a certain Bullock portray a drag queen singing Tina’s hit song “Proud Mary” in Miss Congeniality 2?