Side Gig: ‘4’ Review
Side Gig
Posted: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 11:49 am | Updated: 4:28 pm, Tue Jul 26, 2011.
Beyonce ‘4’ review…
I’ve heard some really critical comments about Beyonce’s new album ‘4’.
One writer even went so far as to say that this project is her worst yet.
Of course the millions of loyal Beyonce fans will adamantly disagree with that writer…
So, I’ll try to add my 2 cents here.
While I don’t believe ‘4’ will ever get anywhere close to the success or popularity of B’Day or even I am…Sasha Fierce, ‘4’ does have some great things going for it, but let’s start with the criticism first…
I don’t know if the decision to drop her father Matthew Knowles as her manager and go with her husband Sean ‘Jay Z’ Carter was the best decision.
While he did sign Rihanna while president of Def Jam, that’s really Jay’s only credential as a talent scout and manager. While he is brilliant at branding and remaining relevant in the hip hop community, the Beyonce brand is an entirely different entity.
But anyway, the first single ‘Girls (Who Run the World)’ is lyrically, typical Beyonce.
Its about female empowerment and showing men who’s really boss, yadda yadda.
However, using a recycled track by Major Lazer that the public has been hearing for at least an entire season before may not have been the best move. It got her names like “copy cat” and “thief”….even though the “beat is crazy”.
I’m not sure just yet if she’s going to go with “Best I Never Had” or “1+1” as the second single, but I wouldn’t choose either.
What I think she would benefit from is a completely original and different track, possibly one featuring an acclaimed producer and imaginative and quirky emcee.
Luckily, she has just the song.
“The Party” produced by Kanye West and featuring Andre 3000 would be a great second single.
I usually don’t like artists going the ballad route until maybe the third or fourth single, in order to keep up the momentum and energy of the record.
“The Party” is an up-tempo, feel-good track that even includes Kanye introducing new, catchy terms for the public like “she got the swag-sauce, she’s dripping Swag-goo”.
In order for the excitement to continue about the new record, you have to save the ballads for later on, after you’ve got some record sales numbers back.
Regardless of the sales, ‘4’ is most certainly not Beyonce’s worst project, but rather floating somewhere in the middle.
As of June 28, ‘4’ is #1 on iTunes.
What are you thoughts??
