Spotify Listen Link: Beyoncé – 4
2013 Grammy Nominations:
Anyone else feel like Beyonce must be on album 10+ by now? You'd be a wrong as I was - this is legit solo album #4, as the title states.
So, as far as interesting stories behind the album, what we've got here is Beyonce's first release since severing professional ties with her former manager and, more importantly, father, Matthew. She went on a career hiatus for about a year, and came back to us with this more natural tone she was striving to portray.
Also, interesting note: Ryan Tedder is one of her background vocalists on this album. Not sure at all what made me check out the credits list, let alone why I noticed this in particular, but you may more commonly know his as the lead singer of One Republic. Cool, right? He also produced "I Was Here," but isn't credited on any particular track as a featured artist or writer. He's really a legit BGV. Wow.
"1+1" kicks the album off with this very simple guitar pick and Beyonce's soulful voice coming in. I remember her performing this for an awards show, sitting in the room with my mom, and at first, as she was hitting these awkward high notes, we were annoyed. Then, as the song went on, and she just sang her damn heart out, we were mesmerized.
2013 Grammy Nominations:
- Best Traditional R&B Performance for "Love On Top"
Anyone else feel like Beyonce must be on album 10+ by now? You'd be a wrong as I was - this is legit solo album #4, as the title states.
So, as far as interesting stories behind the album, what we've got here is Beyonce's first release since severing professional ties with her former manager and, more importantly, father, Matthew. She went on a career hiatus for about a year, and came back to us with this more natural tone she was striving to portray.
Also, interesting note: Ryan Tedder is one of her background vocalists on this album. Not sure at all what made me check out the credits list, let alone why I noticed this in particular, but you may more commonly know his as the lead singer of One Republic. Cool, right? He also produced "I Was Here," but isn't credited on any particular track as a featured artist or writer. He's really a legit BGV. Wow.
"1+1" kicks the album off with this very simple guitar pick and Beyonce's soulful voice coming in. I remember her performing this for an awards show, sitting in the room with my mom, and at first, as she was hitting these awkward high notes, we were annoyed. Then, as the song went on, and she just sang her damn heart out, we were mesmerized.
The next one is all right. "I Care." I mean, I get it, and the sentiment of it, but the sound's just too broad and not entirely enjoyable. I know she was going for a rawer sound on this album, and she's by far achieved it here with such a simple layering of beats, but it's just not hitting right with me personally.
"I Miss You" just plays to me like a slightly more echo-y version of the last song. It's sad and simple, but nothing that hits hard. At least it's honest. I respect the song for sure - I mean, any self-respecting girl with heartstrings is having them tug in the listening process here.
Ah, my favorite song from the album out of what I've heard, "Best Thing I Never Had." And yes, there was a boy this totally got directed at. Jerk. Anywhos, what a freaking brilliant way to put it. The music there songs so classy, and her voice has so much heart. It's a great feeling to realize you really ARE better than his crap, and that he'll regret it… and you just won't care anymore. Seriously, ahhhh. So good!
So, here's the video. Don't love the garden scenes, or that Jay-Z's not the husband, but watch her expressions while singing - priceless and amazing!
"I Miss You" just plays to me like a slightly more echo-y version of the last song. It's sad and simple, but nothing that hits hard. At least it's honest. I respect the song for sure - I mean, any self-respecting girl with heartstrings is having them tug in the listening process here.
Ah, my favorite song from the album out of what I've heard, "Best Thing I Never Had." And yes, there was a boy this totally got directed at. Jerk. Anywhos, what a freaking brilliant way to put it. The music there songs so classy, and her voice has so much heart. It's a great feeling to realize you really ARE better than his crap, and that he'll regret it… and you just won't care anymore. Seriously, ahhhh. So good!
So, here's the video. Don't love the garden scenes, or that Jay-Z's not the husband, but watch her expressions while singing - priceless and amazing!
"Party" features Andre 3000 and a very confused Janelle. On one hand, I like her throw back harmonies and beats here. On the other hand, I feel like I'm a kid in the 90's again listening to my cousin's R&B albums. Personally, the song doesn't thrill me in the least, but there's that damn respect again for the musical side of things. So props for that, but I don't think this one'll be on repeat for me anytime soon. Here's the video, though it's J. Cole, not Andre?
Speaking of throwbacks, "Rather Die Young" is a Whitney influence if I've ever heard one. It's gentle, sexy, and sung fantastically with a good back beat. Same deal here - mad respect, much like Whitney, even if ever song isn't going to be a perfect hit to my ears. She keeps at it with that voice in a way not many, if any, could.
"Start Over" has be baffled. Maybe it's my own personal situation right now, but I can't tell if they're a struggling couple or two people who broke up and are considering it again. Either way, this song grew on me more and more with each passing lyric. The music's nothing one of this world, but it's okay when you can carry it with these kind of words.
I read that Beyonce pulled influence from some old sounds, including the Jackson 5, but I had no idea until "Love On Top." It's the cutest beat for a love song I've heard since anything they ever put out. It's just so happy and sweet! Man, when I'm finally with someone again, this is going to be a playlist song about them for sure. For now, it'll go on as a hopeful little addition. Nice to know it comes from a place a real love as well - I mean, have you seen her and Jay-Z? Anywhos, here's a video from her Roseland concert:
"Start Over" has be baffled. Maybe it's my own personal situation right now, but I can't tell if they're a struggling couple or two people who broke up and are considering it again. Either way, this song grew on me more and more with each passing lyric. The music's nothing one of this world, but it's okay when you can carry it with these kind of words.
I read that Beyonce pulled influence from some old sounds, including the Jackson 5, but I had no idea until "Love On Top." It's the cutest beat for a love song I've heard since anything they ever put out. It's just so happy and sweet! Man, when I'm finally with someone again, this is going to be a playlist song about them for sure. For now, it'll go on as a hopeful little addition. Nice to know it comes from a place a real love as well - I mean, have you seen her and Jay-Z? Anywhos, here's a video from her Roseland concert:
If you haven't heard "Countdown," you've probably been living under a rock, and that's coming from a girl who only drives with the radio once in a very blue moon (I <3 my CDs!). This is a really cool creative song, literally utilizing a countdown to rock it down through the chorus. The beat could quite possibly get super annoying, but I don't know - somehow B makes this work really well. The shifts could be jaunting, but somehow the transitions work without killing your ears. Everything so of works for a young person.
All right, let me get this out - I went in to "End of Time" with the thought (for no real good reason) that this could just be really, really bad. It's pretty much all backed by a drum line - oh wait, there's some trumpets. Okay, I like the simple use of the marching band - very cool. But it gets old on a casual listening basis. The whole thing just screams the need of a real stage show, which I'm sure is amazing.
I thought, on my first ever listen of "I Was Here," that I'd be prone to hate the cliche sentiment of leaving a mark, but I got over that pretty quickly. The song's quite powerful and does express an inner desire that I think we all possess without necessarily saying it out loud. We all want to be remembered. We all want it to be for something great.
I thought, on my first ever listen of "I Was Here," that I'd be prone to hate the cliche sentiment of leaving a mark, but I got over that pretty quickly. The song's quite powerful and does express an inner desire that I think we all possess without necessarily saying it out loud. We all want to be remembered. We all want it to be for something great.
"Run The World (Girls)" could have been placed first on the album and set a really interesting and independent tone. Instead, it's at the end, and I can properly regard it on its own. The song's freaking fantastic, don't get me wrong! Any girl in the world will probably stand by me on that opinion. I don't love the twists and turns, but Beyonce makes it all work enough to keep me feeling confident and powerful throughout every beat.
Can Beyonce please put out a workout video?
Added to My Playlist:
Yeah, Beyonce. I mean, sheer greatness, right?
Added to My Playlist:
- "1+1"
- "Best Thing I Never Had"
- "Start Over"
- "Love On Top"
- "Countdown"
- "I Was Here"
- "Run The World (Girls)"
Yeah, Beyonce. I mean, sheer greatness, right?
RSS Feed
