So Beyoncé released tour dates for her second round of the Mrs. Carter World Tour this week raising the question of “how in the world is this woman touring on no album?” Sure once was a coup and something novel, but two years doing her greatest hits? Who does she think she is? BEYONCE GISELLE KNOWLES CARTER, that’s who. In keeping with the idea that Bey does what she wants WHEN she wants, she has quietly released her fifth album online via itunes. A Friday the 13th release without any radio or promo tour? Who does that? BEYONCE, that’s who.
I heard awhile back that she was going to drop an album in December following the Jay Z Magna Carter blueprint (announce and release within a week) but had kind of given up. I knew that she was going to release this album when she was good and ready. This release comes weeks after Britney Spears’ album release, which was plagued by an early leak. Britney also streamed her album online for a full week before its release, which is another trend people are doing to drive promotion. Bey wasn’t here for that. Clearly she’s hit the point in her career that you want to see someone you admire hit: THE POINT OF NOT GIVING A FUCK. She’s doing things on her own timetable and in her own manner and I find it quite refreshing.
This album comes in an era where people have zero attention span. As a child of the 80s, I remember having to wait for things. Janet Jackson’s album got released when she said it was going to be released. There were countdowns and making the videos for all of my top artists and then you lived with the videos for months learning the dance moves. Now there is so much information constantly bombarding us, we really don’t take time to appreciate music the same way. I find that kind of sad.
Pretty Hurts: The video takes us back to Bey’s pageant days. This time around it’s a darker look into the pressures of society to be perfect on the outside. It’s an interesting way to start an album off and kind of feels like a modern day “Unpretty"
Ghost: This visuals will have illuminati conspiracy theorists saying “TOLD YOU SO” but I see a simple beauty video of her on a white background. The song has her pretty much doing spoken word over a pretty banging beat. Sounds like she is channeling her Ms. Hill as she seems to be over the politics of the music industry. “Probably won’t make no money off this but oh well” Girl, we all know by now that money is made on touring and merchandise!
Haunted: This track is unlike anything I’ve heard from Bey. I like how it starts out all sparse and then builds to a bit more of a dance song. It’s not David Guetta dance, but there is a thumping beat that makes me want to move. The video makes me think of American Horror Stories meets Disturbia. The whole time Beyonce looks like she is shooting a spread with Ellen Von Unwerth. I love the look.
Drunk in Love: This song… It’s a song about being dickmotized set to a beat that makes you want to screw up your face and bounce. Needless to say, I LOVE this. The Jay verse is good, but odd that’d he’d choose to refer to himself as Ike Turn Up and tell Anna Mae to eat the cake. When you are a musical couple, is that a wise analogy? Fuck it, you’re Jay, you talk your shit and leave us all to deal with it. The video looks like it was filmed moments before the two went off to try to give Blue Ivy a new brother or sister.
Blow: This video looks like Solange’s wet dream come true. There is roller skating, lowrider bikes and hipster looking people. The song has a decidedly throwback 80s vibe to it. It sounds like Pharell/Neptunes production. Towards the end of it, it switches into “Cherry” which sounds like TImbaland. Then right when you get used to the fact that Blow is over, she brings that beat back. The song(s) are light and fun and I love any choreography on roller skates.
No Angel: The video takes us back to H town and highlights all the hood shit that goes on there. Candy coated Lacs? Yup. Mean mugging thugs with gold toofeses? Ya bet! Stab wounds? CHECK! The vocals on this are falsetto and breathy. I enjoy it. IN other news: I still can’t get used to a skinny Paul Wall.
Yonce: I love the beat. It has a nice knock to it. This is a cocky/fun song and I love it when Bey acts out on tracks. Bey has recruited Chanel Iman, Jorudun Dunn and Joan Smalls to create a fly as hell girl gang. I’m seriously hurt that no one reached out to me.
Partition: I love how the video starts out with Bey sitting across from her lover at breakfast and he is reading the paper. She then goes into a daydream of her doing ho shit (but not like NIcki ho shit, but like classy Vegas showgirl type ho shit) The choreography is cool and sexy and goes with the vibe of this sexual song. I don’t have a car with a partition (or a car at all, actually) but the notion of getting freaky in the back of a car that has one just screams LUXURY. You know what doesn’t: he gonna Monica Lewinsky all over my dress. GIRL NO! OK, I’ll allow it.
Jealous: The video starts out the same way as Partition, but this time Bey goes in a different direction. Instead of sexy fantasies, she jumps up from breakfast, put on her lace robe with a collar higher than her neck, and stomps out. Sick of being ignored, she launches into Jealous, which I love. Then she flips it and talks about going out, talking to her ex and making her man jealous. Lyrically this feels very Frank Ocean to me and I am not mad about that in the least. Random note: I’m pretty sure Renee from ANTM 20 is in this video around 2:27.
Rocket: This makes me think of D’Angelo’s “Untitled” It is dripping sex. The video starts out following Bey’s amazing curves. For the majority of the video she is writhing in bed. When the song starts to reach its climax there are thinly veiled references like a gas nozzle being put into a tank and a drill penetrating a wall. Girl, you so freaky!
Mine: These are some pretty striking visuals. Bey starts out looking like saint holding someone painted all white, while holding a white mask. Behind her dancers in long, drapey fabric twirls for their lives, HUNNY! It all comes together to look like a moving painting. Drake comes in looking as emo as he wants to and I actually like the way the two blend together. I hate when people have a feature for the sake of a feature. I bet they stayed up late writing this song while eating Ben and Jerry’s and watching “Girls”
XO: So this track might be an early winner in my head. Something about it speaks my soul. It almost reminds me of how I felt when I first heard “Halo” It’s just quite simply, a beautiful love song. The video was the one she shot in Coney Island a few months back. Nothing too stellar here. Just her bopping around the park and people losing their damned minds. (not that I blame them)
Flawless: Ok, truth be told, I was upset when I didn’t see “Bow Down” on the track listing. Bey heard my prayers and she answered with this song which takes Bow Down, adds some lady talking about gender inequality and then ends with another cocky song. With new additions, Bow Down, seems a lot less anti female (as pressed bitches accused Bey of being) and more empowering to women and zestlemen alike. The video made me nervous at first as it looked like Bey was at a Skinhead concert. Turns out I was wrong. Apparently not all white people with shaved heads who are moshing are skinheads. Leave it to Beyonce to teach me lessons in a simple music video. #themoreyouknow
Superpower: A beautiful song with great lyrics. I like her with Frank Ocean and think their voices mesh well together. The video seems to have kind of picked up where “Run the World” left off. It’s that whole post-apocalyptic feel. Beyonce is doing a slow motion walk and people keep on joining. They all look mad as hell for some reason. I didn’t get the video. I mean, at one point Kelendria, Michelle AND Pharell have joined this march and we aren’t sure why they are marching. They all look amazing (yes, even Michelle) which makes it hard to look away. The video all made sense to me in the very last few seconds. Well played, Bey.
Heaven: Ok, I guess it wouldn’t be Beyonce if she didn’t make me tear up. The line of “Heaven couldn’t wait for you” just put me through it. The video is features my favourite dancer of hers and focuses on their friendship. Pretty simple. You know what wasn’t simple? Those seizures that followed after watching the last 30 seconds. Like who thought that’d be a good idea? I literally thought I was on my way to heaven. Wait.. Hold on. Maybe that’s the point. Bey, you’re so smart!
Blue: you already know I’m a sucker for a song that people write for their child. This song is so sweet you can’t help but smile and think about someone you love. If you don’t then you’re a heartless fuck. The video makes me want to go to Brasil STAT.
Grown Woman: I have waited for these visuals for so long. I love this song still and the video did not disappoint me. I love how they have her and Kelly re-enacting old footage and how the vintage footage is singing along to the track. This video brings us full circle to the pageant beginning of the album. I like the choreography and love the regal realness Mama Tina is serving up. Also, I wish I was the baby that she kisses in the end.
Overall I am satisfied with this album. It was refreshing to experience an album with visuals for every track all at once. I know I’m in the minority of people who still buy music, but it’s albums like this that demand I buy it. I don’t really like iTunes but trust and believe they got my 15.99. You want people to buy your shit? Make it new and different. Being _____ is no longer enough. (hey ciara!) You need to offer up something that commands attention. Will this album break first week sales records? I’m not Miss Cleo, how the hell would I know?! What I DO know is that it will make people sit up and listen and remember why they call this woman KING. (well that and she kind of strong armed us into it. You know who else demanded to be called King? Michael Jackson, that’s who.)
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