Beyonce pairs Messika jewellery with her Peter Pilotto suit
Beyonce pairs Messika jewellery with her Peter Pilotto suit
Beyonce pairs Messika jewellery with her Peter Pilotto suit
Beyonce pairs Messika jewellery with her Peter Pilotto suit

Deconstructing the meaning (and brands) in Beyonce and Jay-Z's music video


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Not too long ago, Beyoncé and Jay-Z were plagued by tales of marital infidelity, and Becky with the Good Hair and the world worried if this pop-star union would survive.

Now, not only has the relationship survived, but it has strengthened, if their latest video is anything to go by.

Released under their family name – Carter – to prove the two superstars are now inseparable, the title of the album is Everything Is Love.

For the first single, Apesh*t, the pair filmed the video in none other than the Musee du Louvre in Paris, which aside from being almost impossible to gain access to – unless your surname is Carter, evidently – is also home to some of the most famous artworks in the world.

The result is a video that is loaded with art, symbolism, and lots and lots of very expensive clothes.

Peter Pilotto with Messika diamonds

The pair stand in front of the world most famous painting: the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. Beyonce matches her girlie pink suit by Peter Pilotto with Messika diamonds (diamonds are a girl's best friend), while Jay-Z opts for a more masculine shade of blue. Starring straight into camera, it is impossible not to draw comparisons between the duo and the inscrutable lady behind them.

Versace

Beyonce dons opulent Versace to re-enact Marie-Guillemine Benoist's painting Portrait of a Negress (painted in 1800), which was the first time a woman of colour was depicted for her own sake, rather than a slave or as a thing of curiosity. An important benchmark in European thinking, and part of the glacial move away from slavery, it is no coincidence this painting was chosen. Jay-Z, meanwhile, wears all black, apart from the gleaming gold chain around his neck.

Burberry

Jacques Louis-David's painting The Coronation of the Emperor Napoleon I and the Crowning of the Empress Josephine in Notre Dame Cathedral (1807) is the background for Beyonce surrounded by her dancers. Wearing Burberry, Beyonce is in the centre, and fully in charge, as is Napoleon in the painting behind her. It is telling that Beyonce aligns herself with the emperor, and not his wife.

Beyonce wears custom-made MCM
Beyonce wears custom-made MCM

Couture

The pair dress in all white to stand below the The Winged Victory of Samothrace, a masterpiece in Parian marble. In a sculptural gown by couture house Stephane Rolland, and rippling Alexis Mabille cape, Beyonce looks like Nike herself.

MCM

In the crypts of the museum sits the Great Sphinx of Tanis, which is one of the largest outside Egypt and discovered in 1825. Here, Beyonce wears a custom-made, tan leather bodysuit, hat and coat by MCM x Misa Hylton, and knee-high boots from Y/Project, the label headed by Glenn Martens.

Click below to watch the music video:

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UK-EU trade at a glance

EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years

Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products

Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries

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Cutting red tape on import and export of food

Tips to stay safe during hot weather
  • Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
  • Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
  • Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
  • Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
  • Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
  • Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.

 

 

Credit Score explained

What is a credit score?

In the UAE your credit score is a number generated by the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB), which represents your credit worthiness – in other words, your risk of defaulting on any debt repayments. In this country, the number is between 300 and 900. A low score indicates a higher risk of default, while a high score indicates you are a lower risk.

Why is it important?

Financial institutions will use it to decide whether or not you are a credit risk. Those with better scores may also receive preferential interest rates or terms on products such as loans, credit cards and mortgages.

How is it calculated?

The AECB collects information on your payment behaviour from banks as well as utilitiy and telecoms providers.

How can I improve my score?

By paying your bills on time and not missing any repayments, particularly your loan, credit card and mortgage payments. It is also wise to limit the number of credit card and loan applications you make and to reduce your outstanding balances.

How do I know if my score is low or high?

By checking it. Visit one of AECB’s Customer Happiness Centres with an original and valid Emirates ID, passport copy and valid email address. Liv. customers can also access the score directly from the banking app.

How much does it cost?

A credit report costs Dh100 while a report with the score included costs Dh150. Those only wanting the credit score pay Dh60. VAT is payable on top.

How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE

When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.

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