Okay, so here we go. I haven't anything blogging related in a while, so I thought I would get back into it. Hopefully somebody likes this. I was thinking about doing videos, but I know I'm super self conscious and don't have an adequate place to film in my apartment. BUT, that's not what I'm here to talk about.
BEYONCE. Beyonce, girl, why did you do this to me? Let me tell you, I stan for the baddest bitch on this planet, who snatched wigs and edges and made everybody #BOWDOWN. She let these young women "Work", "Wreck Balls", "Applaud" and "Roar", but NO ONE snatched like King Bey did. When I first heard of this phenomenon that is the secret Beyonce album, I was sitting in the very room I am writing this on and was just surfing the net, when my roomie Kira, came in and said Beyonce had an album out. Now, of course, like most Beyonce fans, I wasn't believing that because people had been saying that Beyonce was going to have an album out months ago, so I figured if Beyonce was going to put an album out, it would've been sometime next year. BUT BITCH, when I looked on Itunes, clear as day, there she was in all of her glory, BEYONCE the visual album, for $15.99. Needless to say, I had a mini-freak out and bought it right on the spot and haven't been listening to anything else since.
Beyonce's new album, to me, sounds like the music she always wanted to make. She has stepped into her "Grown Woman" shoes and is saying "I'm here damnit, and this is what I'm gonna sing about. Like to hear it? Here it go." The album itself could be split into a double disc production, like I Am...Sasha Fierce, but include one half for the inspirational ballads and the other half for music you play in the bedroom. *hint, hint*
However, I'm going to go through this album, because I think it is amazing and give you the breakdown of each song and the videos.
1. PRETTY HURTS. So Beyonce's 5th studio album starts when a inspirational ballad entitled "Pretty Hurts". Within the lyrics of the song, Beyonce sings about how a woman's looks is more important than what she has to say or what she wants in life. I like how the song opens with a beauty pageant judge asking her what she wants in life, and her response is simply, "to be happy". I think this song correlates to the look-ist society we always are living -- always striving to be the best looking, when beauty is a privilege that is fleeting. Beyonce's vocals are amazing on the song, especially towards the end of the song, but what sold me on this track was the video. The music video for "Pretty Hurts" is set in the beauty pageant world, with Beyonce participating and being subsequently broken down to win the pageant (which she doesn't). In the video we see Beyonce working out in a tight corset and weighing herself, going in for plastic reconstruction, fighting with other pageant girls, throwing up the toilet, and just being completely unhappy. I loved the message in the video and song and its slowly becoming one of my favorites. 4/5
2. HAUNTED. Now, I've heard many conflicting things about this song in particular, but I love it. It is so different than anything I've heard Beyonce sing about, and the fact that its 2 songs in one makes it one of my favorites on the album. The song starts with "Ghost", where Beyonce channels spoken word to convey her message. The video for this song in particular is my absolute favorite for the video portion of the album; its so artistic, but simple and I couldn't ask for anything else. The song leads into "Haunted", with the heavy bass and (in my opinion) Afrocentric beat. This starts the middle portion of the album that could've been saved for the bedroom; and I can't help but groove when this comes on. The video channels Madonna in the back-back days, with Beyonce in some sort of haunted house, in her version of a tux walking through the halls to see some very odd things in the rooms. With Beyonce singing on the screens, who wouldn't say this isn't a banging ass video? 5/5
3. DRUNK IN LOVE (FT. JAY-Z). Another one of my favorites, definitely meant for someone special. I do think is adorable how 10 years ago it was "Crazy in Love" and now its "Drunk in Love". With a feature from husband Jay-Z, I could quickly see this as a #1, at the very least on the urban charts. To be honest, when I heard this preview on Itunes, this is the song that made me want the album. The video, classic black and white, with Beyonce looking fine as hell in a bathing suit on the beach (I told Kira that if I have a baby, I want to look like her when its said and done). I love the beat on the song, the synths, and Beyonce rapping is EVERYTHANG! Her Texan twang comes out in full effect, and a little rap verse from Jay-Z to tie it all together. 5/5
4. BLOW. Beyonce's ode to oral sex is subtle but blatant in this little diddle. The song channels a late '70s, early '80s sound to it, with a nice little change up in the middle of the song to something that sounds Rick James inspired. "Blow" reminds me a bit of "Lay Up Under Me", that Beyonce recorded for her 4 album in 2011. The video is full of color and cameo from the best sister in the world, Solange Knowles (my hairspiration). Set at the skating rink, the colors and neon lights easily makes this another one of my favorite videos. The video actually made me like the song a whole lot more than I did upon first listen. Beyonce dancing in roller skates sold it for me.
5. NO ANGEL. To be honest, this was not one of my favorites when I first heard it. However, one particular part in the song made it another one I can't live without. "Tell me if you wanna riiiiiiiiiddddddeeeeeeee." (YAS BEY!!!) Its a very mellow song, that people have said reminds them of something Prince could've done, but to me it channels Mariah Carey in her Butterfly days and late 90s R&B. The video, I could live without. Nice that's its a ode to Houston, but I could watch it once and not wanna look again. The cameos from Houston natives were a nice add (Paul Wall where you been?), but its not a video I particularly like. 3/5
6. PARTITION. LISTEN!!!!!! If there is one song on this ENTIRE album that I would say is my favorite, damn it this would be the one! Like "Haunted", this is a song that incorporates 2 songs into one. The song starts out with "Yonce", with Bey rapping and letting you know your man wants her and your woman wants to be her. The beat and the horns in the background make it an instant jam session. The video featuring some of the best Black models in the business, just makes it that much better. The song leads into "Partition", with its heavy bass, while Beyonce croons about getting it on in the back of the limo. When mama said, "I don't need you seein' Yonce on her knees", I was dead on the floor. That proved to me that Beyonce said "fuck it" and shed that cookie cutter image she's been upholding for a while now and decided to show off her sexuality. The video, with its colors and Beyonce, once again, looking sexy as all get out makes this another one of my favorites. Once I saw Beyonce on the pole, I died and needed to be revived again. (Why did you do this to me Bey? I know that video had many questioning their sexuality.) Definitely a fan favorite, and I do think this should be one she releases to the public, but who knows? I hope she does, though. 5/5
7. JEALOUS. I won't lie, not one of my favorites on the album, but still a good song nonetheless. Here the B sings of being "Jealous" of her partner, a-la "If I Were A Boy", 2.0. The video is also one I could live without. However, when she through the food off the table was everything for me. (BTW, the people on the street. Were they actors, or were they genuinely surprised Bey was on the street? I need answers.) 3/5
8. ROCKET. I can feel the sweat building in here. Reminding me of D'Angelo's "Untitled (How Does It Feel)", another one of my favorites. Classic R&B song, and an updated Speechless...Speechless 5.0, if we will. Another black and white video, all slow motion with Beyonce in lingerie, in the bed, and in the shower. *Starts to sweat* Bey, girl, you took me out. However, the video ends halfway into the song, and the last parts of the song are where Beyonce sings to "punish" her. Beyonce, listen. I was NOT ready for that. 5/5
9. MINE (FT. DRAKE). This song is conflicting for me. I like the very beginning with Beyonce singing and just the piano playing, but then it turns into a Drake song featuring Beyonce, and I don't know how to feel about it. Not saying that it isn't a good song, but I could do without Drake on the song (and that could be just because I'm not a Drake fan). But the video is great, and extremely artistic. What was up with the people kissing with t-shirts on their face, though? 3/5
10. XO. A great cross over song that really has to grow on me. It sounds very Katy Perry-esque, but that also doesn't mean it absolutely terrible. The very is super cute, with Beyonce and friends at Cony Island partying with fans. All the colors and Bey just enjoying herself make the video fun and light. 3/5
11. ***FLAWLESS. TRAP MUSIC!! (Kidding.) However, another one of the albums uptempo and urban inspired songs. The song starts with "Bow Down", which Beyonce took a lot of heat for earlier this year. The middle of the song is accompanied with a snippet of a speech by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie entitled "Why We Should All Be Feminists", which made its rounds on tumblr months ago and caught my attention. The last 2 minutes of the song end with ***Flawless, and is sure to an anthem for all women next year. I can imagine Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook full of "I woke up like this...flawless #nofilter". The video is another black and white, with Bey and others at a big ass moshing event. Whatever the case, the dancing was fun to watch, and Hood Bey is always wanted and needed. 5/5
12. SUPERPOWER (FT. FRANK OCEAN). I may be in the minority, but I'm glad Frank Ocean wasn't super present on this song. I'm just not a big fan of his music; it all just seems like something you listen to when you're going on a bad trip. However, I do like the song and it reminds me of the Etta James era in song style. In the accompanying video, Beyonce and her masked main man, are leaders of a revolt. Lots of slow motion walking and vandalism, which special appearances from Pharrell and fellow Destiny's Child band members, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. 4/5
13. HEAVEN. A great ballad with the simple production and amazing vocals. This song, in particular, always makes me tear up at the end because it songs like she's crying when she sings, "So go on/Go home". The video is centered around Beyonce and her lovely dancer, Ashely Everett, doing lots of best-friend things together like going to weddings and driving with the top down. Scenes also include Ashley doing an interpretive dance and Beyonce at a cemetery and inside of a church. 4/5
14. BLUE (FT. BLUE IVY). Last song of the album is Beyonce's little ode to her little girl, Blue Ivy Carter. The song is based around Beyonce being fulfilled when she sees her little girl, and ini general the joys of parenthood. The video is based in Brazil (I believe) showing off the culture and the beautiful people. The last few seconds of the song include the super adorable Blue Ivy singing "Hold on to me", and laughing, while a amused Beyonce laughs in the background. (I didn't know Blue Ivy knew how to talk...Jeez, it seems like she was just born.) And of course, the video shows us fully, Blue Ivy in all her glory.
OVERALL VERDICT: 5/5
All in all, I love the album and haven't been listening to anything since midnight Friday, December 13, 2013. As far as I know, the album has sold over 800,000 copies and of course will be the #1 album on Billboard for weeks to come. I'm hoping my the end of the week it sells over 1.2 million, which is the record set for Taylor Swift. I WANT BEY TO BREAK THE RECORD! I feel like those who have Androids and those who don't want to buy the album on Itunes will be buying it when it comes in hard copy (whenever that happens). Bey has already broken the Itunes record, and the critics reviews are saying this is one of her best albums yet. Dropping the album out of the blue like that was definitely brilliant on her part, and focuses more on the full album, instead of the steroid filled "singles" industry we've currently been experiencing.
It's a great album and I encourage you to at least listen to it. #KINGBEY
