wrote this a ways back and thought i would share this with you all,
Beyonce Knowles (Carter) is back with her third solo effort and this time she is coming with a new persona , mature sound, and lyrical growth that is bound to solidify her place as pop royalty. Since her days with Destiny’s Child, it has always been apparent that Ms. Carters star shined a little brighter than her band mates, yet her previous albums never gave a true representation of what she was capable of as an artist. Fast forward 15 million albums sold and nine Grammys later, it would appear that she finally has it right. I am…Sasha Fierce is an album that allows Knowles to spread her wings and deliver music that is personal and relatable.
The album is a double disc that is broken up into “I Am…” and “Sasha Fierce”, the former has Carter singing with a Passion and Fortitude that we haven’t heard since Listen. The Latter has Ms. Carter channeling get me bodied and Upgrade U. The Singles of “If I Were a Boy” and “Single Ladies” further highlight the distinct sound of these discs.
Overall, both “I Am…” and “Sasha Fierce” boasts a number of hits that are sure to make this album a favorite at the Grammys. “I Am” is rather awing and almost sublime with tracks “Halo”, “Disappear”, and “Broken Hearted Girl”.
“Halo” describes a love that is so phenomenal that it is heavenly, moreover the lyrics “ Baby when I’m looking out I’m surrounded by your embrace, Baby I can see your Halo, you’re my saving grace”, a heavenly love is exactly what the lyrics describe. However, “Disappear” tells the story of a love that never reaches fruition yet, the lovers refuse to come to terms that their love is doomed. “Broken-Hearted Girl”(BHG) is sure to touch the hearts of many. BHG definitely manages to convey the fear of love and placing your heart in the hands of another. The lyrics use the opening lines “You’re everything I thought you never were, and nothing like I thought you could’ve been.” BHG is a certified hit and Knowles would remiss to release it as a single.
“Sasha Fierce”, embodies Knowles confident and sassy side. At times, the tracks on “Sasha Fierce” sound like they were leftover from “B’Day”. Songs such as “Video Phone and Sweet Dreams” fail to capture ones attention. The lyrics of “Video Phone” are a clear contradiction of her growth as an artist. Lines such as “you a cutie, you should let me put in my movie”, are hard to swallow. It becomes difficult to believe that those lyrics came from the same artist who was just singing about “Halos.”
It is natural that not every song on an album will resonate with everyone, however songs such as “Diva”, “Single Ladies”, and “Radio” certainly have enough momentum to solidify Beyonce’s place as a “Dance Diva.
” “Diva” is a swagger infested, mid-tempo Anthem that boasts, “A Diva is a female version of a hustler.” While “Diva” has a more urban feel, “Single Ladies” feels like a continuation of the famed hit “Get Me Bodied”. Just when you thought, the party was over Beyonce’s demands that “All the single ladies” hit the dance floor. It sounds like Knowles is taunting a former Beau when she infectiously sings “if you like it then you shoulda put a ring on it.”
It is no secret that Ms.Knowles is passionate about music, so it is natural that she would put that passion into her song “Radio.” Radio describes how music has been a driving force in her life. Lyrics like “I be on the hotline like every day, I think I’m in love with my radio cause he never lets me down”, can be a bit off putting but ,within the context of the song it is brilliant. With a beat that feels like it belongs more on band mate, Michelle Williams “Unexpected” , Knowles manages to create something that has a techo appeal.
“I am…Sasha Fierce” is not the perfect album by far, but it manages to hit bases that previous efforts were unable to reach. Growth and Diversity allow Beyonce to create an album that not only will gain her new fans but also further establish her a musical “Super Power”.
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