Album- 4
Artist- Beyoncé
She may have started out in the mega power girl band
Destiny’s Child, but even then she was always really the star of the show, and
since her mega hit “Crazy in Love” Beyoncé has been a staple of the
contemporary music scene, creating hits that are so powerful and catchy they
will truly stand the test of time. With this album she brings another batch or
RnB and pop treats that will appeal to many people, but also features a more
old school and sonically different sound that pushes Beyoncé as an artist. Yet
with the title of 4 for this fourth studio album being a little bland, could
Beyoncé potentially being going downhill?
Track 1- 1+1
With the very beginning of the record comes a prominent
example of the honest and tender side of herself that Beyoncé really conveys
within this record as a whole. A slow RnB and soul influenced ballad, we here
listen to Beyoncé smoothly sing about the power of the relationship between
herself and her love and how they just make perfect sense together, with the
hook being the idea of the comparing their relationship to the mathematical sum
of 1+1. Lyrically it is perhaps a little clichéd, but with the low key
instrumentation of piano and guitar melodies, the believability of the track
and the essence of sincerity are powerfully conveyed by allowing the beautiful
quality of Beyoncé’s vocals to bring out all of the emotional points of the
track. And vocally she shines in that there is a grittiness and raw sense of
urgency within the vocal performance that she gives, emphasising that she is
truly invested within this relationship. The electric guitar employed towards
the end makes for a grand finish that gives the ideology that their love will
eclipse all.
4/5
Track 2- I Care
In this track Beyoncé vents out her emotions to an
indifferent partner, declaring that she still loves him and cares for him even
if he doesn’t. The RnB power ballad is strong in terms of it complex
production, which features screeching guitars, synthesiser, dense percussion
and thrashing drum beats that make for an epic soulful sound a little
reminiscent of such tracks as Prince’s “Purple Rain”. However, the song isn’t in
the same league as that track in that although she puts on a good vocal
performance that is layered with a sense of vitality and aims to maintain the
relationship, the lyricism of the track doesn’t feel as astute as it should be,
with the hook coming off in a lacklustre way in terms of the repetition and the
“lalala” motif being stereotypical.
3/5
Track 3- I Miss You
This mid tempo ballad finds Beyoncé’s vocals set against a
simple but powerful metronomic beat. Co-written by the brilliant Frank Ocean,
the song’s lyrics speak of Beyoncé ruminating over an ex love interest and
showing a raw, human quality in that she is very conflicted and confused about
her emotions. However the song’s strength lies in that vocally she does not get
too emotionally invested in the track, keeping things simple and understated
and in this way emphasising how the track is built on a sense of subtle tension
and is both a mixture of hopeful longing and powerful loneliness. The songs
production is powerful, maintaining a simple intensity through the use of tinny
808 drums and ambient synthesisers that expand and contract in a subtle but
strong way.
3.5/5
Track 4- Best Thing I
Never Had
The balladry of the record continues with this dominant, mid
tempo pop and RnB power ballad. The track lyrically finds Beyoncé singing of
the breakdown of a relationship and how this suits both Beyoncé and her lover.
The lyrics also contain a quality of revenge and karma, themes that are given
gravitas by Beyoncé’s punchy vocal performance, with the chorus being a
particularly potent moment in which the richness of her voice really comes
through. The chorus is also really strong in terms of both the hook and the
gospel quality that is incorporated within the track. In terms of production the
emotional piano melodies, strings and strong bass drums combine to create a big
wall of sound that gives grandness to the song and gives it a sort of stadium
feel.
4/5
Track 5- Party
(featuring Andre 3000)
The fifth track provides a bit of relief from the balladry
of the record and it’s strong emotional level that is based on love. The mid
paced RnB track shows Beyoncé playing her sensual side of her persona, acting
as the female protagonist who is ready for some loving and speaks of having a
party for two. The use of a simple drum machine and bubbly keyboard tones
combined with synthesisers that are bouncy and strong make for a funky musical
quality to the track that gives a nice swag rhythm to the track. Again Beyoncé
is vocally on point, with the layering of her voice and the lyrical stresses
really bringing out the sensuality of the track in a tangible way. The fast
paced rap of Andre 3000 is cool in providing a kind of two person perspective
conversation to the song, as well as bringing a naughty side to the track that
makes for a strong finish.
3.5/5
Track 6- Rather Die
Young
Here the balladry that dominates most of the record comes
back into play in the form of another RnB and soul influenced power ballad. The
track is another example of Beyoncé tapping into the human condition and
emphasising that she is as emotionally vulnerable as anyone else in the world. Within
the lyrics she speaks of the inability to fight what the heart wants, even if
you know it is wrong, with Beyoncé prostrating herself at the mercy of a lover
who is indifferent but who she can’t live without, otherwise she would rather
die young. The laid back drum beat and simple guitar riffs along with piano
instrumentation make for a sound that is familiar on the record, but still
sounds a little bit different in that it is that bit more uplifting in tone. And
vocally she brings out the passion of what she is saying as usual, but the song
is given a bit of variation and power through the layering of her vocals that
create powerful harmonies that sound like the old fashioned girl groups of eras
gone by.
3.5/5
Track 7- Start Over
The balladry of the record is here given a little bit of
change and power through the use of a pop rock influence within this track. The
songs hook is a powerful statement that has a resonating sort of feel, and
lyrically the whole track finds Beyoncé asserting her individuality whilst also
speaking of how she feels this strong love for this man and so attempts to
start the relationship all over again, because she doesn’t want to lose it. The
loud processed drums and gleaming synthesisers make for an innate strength
within the track that really heightens the lyrical and vocal message of the
song, with Beyoncé once again being vocally on point and giving a sense of grittiness
and drama to the track within the chorus.
3.5/5
Track 8- Love on Top
This track means that the balladry of the record comes to a
conclusion as we enter into Beyoncé’s more up tempo world. The track is quirky
vocally and has a strong vibrancy to it in terms of the message that she is
trying to convey, with the high number of key changes invoked in the track
showing the giddiness she feels when singing of her feeling. Lyrically the
track is all about how Beyonce is so grateful to have her man in her life and
how he just makes her feel so good. And in her vocals she just brings out that
sense of joy within the track and so really captivates the listener. Production
wise the song has a prominent retro feel, with cool synthesisers and a strong,
distorted bass groove that acts as a simple bed for Beyoncé’s vocals to really
work their magic, although the peppy saxophone instrumentation is a nice way of
bringing that big feel to the track. The only thing that lets this track down a
little is the lyrical repetition; however she pulls this off by changing key so
much it just sounds so good.
4/5
Track 9- Countdown
The up tempo Beyoncé continues with this lyrically fast
paced number that is all about the ways that Beyoncé’s man shows her love and
just how great he is, with the chorus being a powerful and literal countdown of
the things her man that is very much addictive to listen to and so catchy you’ll
start counting down with her. The song keeps in the same vein as the previous
track lyrically and so runs the risk of sounding bland. However Beyoncé
successfully avoids this by keeping a fast paced but slightly more same level
vocal performance (bar the pre chorus) and providing a cool mixture of genres. The
production gives the track a frenetic, almost club like edge, with the use of a
brass riff giving a small reggae flavouring to the track and being set nicely
against the military like rhythms and staccato horns that combined make for a
fun and slightly frivolous listen that is suited for a girls getting ready for
a night out kind of jam.
4/5
Track 10- End of Time
A declaration of co-dependence in which Beyoncé professes
her everlasting love for her man, this track keeps that cool up tempo energy
and features some variation vocally in terms of the rap style vocal that is
employed within certain sections of the track, a little bit reminiscent of her
Destiny Child days. The tracks military style back beat and marching band style
drums are strong but also feel a little bit samey at this point. However the
way the introduction of the tracks builds towards the simple but powerful
vocals of Beyoncé’s is cool, and the effects laden backing vocals give a frenetic
and nice undertone to the track.
3.5/5
Track 11- I Was Here
The balladry of the record returns for a moment in the form
of this song which is the sole song not co-written by Beyoncé: instead the
track is merely written by the legendary songwriter Diane Warren, and with the
powerful and potent subject matter and all-round grand quality of the track it
is perhaps easy to single this out as a Warren song. The song’s lyrics find Beyoncé
singing about how she wants to leave her mark on the world so that she won’t be
forgotten and her impact will be remembered. The lyrics are dramatic and very
impactful, with the chorus showing that simple human vulnerability of wanting
to leave the world not being forgotten. And vocally the strength of her voice
really allows the message of the track to shine. The production is also strong,
being based in heavy synthesisers and a powerful drum bass that makes for a forceful
song. The issue with this track is that it feels out of place in the record
against the up tempo tracks, however I also understand that it might not of fit
with the other ballads, and it is still worthy of the place on the record.
Also, at the age of 29/30 at the time of the tracks recording, is she really
old enough to be singing about such a subject, even if vocally she can pull it
off?
3/5
Track 12- Run the
World (Girls)
Kind of like a Single Ladies 2.0 in my opinion, the final
track and lead single is a powerful and forceful song where Beyoncé simply
speaks of how girls are so great and they just really run the world, with men
not being able to match their abilities and should just let the girls do their
work. The song is a strong statement but doesn’t match the pizzazz of Single
Ladies in the same way, and the lyrical repetition is here a little bit
annoying. Vocally Beyoncé brings a great swag and dominating presence to the
track, with the rap vocal style bringing a commanding energy to the track and
being complimented nicely by the sensual pre chorus. The dance hall production
with its military drum beat and heavy synth pangs allows for a punchy quality
to the track, but sonically it stands out against the other track and so feels
like it both belongs to the record in terms of the big, good finish but also doesn’t
belong in terms of being perhaps too different.
3.5/5
Final Review
The title might not be all that good, but with 4 you
definitely get the sense that Beyoncé is stepping up her musical game. This is
because there is this sense of maturity to the record and a firm grasp of who
she is as an artist, with each track having a unique power but also blending
together to make a great and cohesive record. Vocally she just sounds stunning,
and the more retro, RnB, soul, funk vibe that she uses is a great melding of
genres that shows how she is evolving musically as she takes in influences from
the world. There are a few issues, such as the lyrics being a bit similar in
sentiment and not always astute, and the way the tracks seem to be split into a
ballad driven first half and an up tempo second half. But despite these flaws
the record works and is a great listen that is not flawed by any kind of filler
tracks, and so with her fifth studio album apparently out soon, I am actually
excited to hear what Beyoncé has in store next.
8/10
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