guy922's Full Review: I Am... Sasha Fierce [Deluxe Edition] by Beyonc?
Beyonce Knowles is probably one of the most overexposed celebrities on today’s pop music scene. Fans and critics alike are drawn to her fiery persona and her infectious musical fluff. Anytime she releases an album it usually eclipses whatever else is beside it on the charts and goes mega platinum and her songs become anthems, usually among every group but heterosexual men (and even then there are a few exceptions).
Last year when I heard of her new album, I wasn’t really all that excited about it. Lyrics and melodies of Irreplaceable I was still trying to remove from my own consciousness, and really all it came down to was that Beyonce was coming back to be the media-hog that she is and we would be looking forward to hearing every song on her new album be released as a single over the next two years. (On 2006’s standard edition of B-Day, seven of ten tracks were singles.) I guess I wasn’t so excited because I have been hearing about this woman more and more over the years since I was about eleven years old.
I’m now 22, and I would probably have guessed that Beyonce would be the chick you literally see everywhere. When I was in fifth grade Destiny’s Child had made their debut and No,No,No Part II was big on the radio. I remember D.C’S crazy lineup changes, #1 singles, and all the drama. As time has gone on I’ve always had the feeling that Mrs. Jay-Z is full of herself, and why not? She’s a famous person; they all take and go as they wish. But, even so, she can still craft a decent tune, even if it is only the music of the moment. This, of course, brings me to I Am…Sasha Fierce.
The first thing that annoys me from the get go is the whole alter-ego concept to begin with. You have Beyonce and then you have Sasha, B’s “sexy and risqué” alter ego. It’s nothing special as far as concepts go, and it’s also about as bad as Tori Amos and 2007’s American Doll Posse concept with the five different women who add up to one whole woman. Yawn. There are two discs for eleven tracks as part of the whole “Sasha” thing. This I also find stupid and wasteful. Eleven tracks? Why two discs? It’s not like its 1979 and we’re picking up Donna Summer on a double vinyl-LP. It’s a CD, that holds 80 minutes and this whole basic album could have been accommodated on one disc. I guess this project is more about accommodating her ego though. Needless to say I just now purchased this album, and I bought it used for $4.99.
The first disc corresponds to Beyonce herself, and is mainly a ballads disc. There Are six tracks on the first disc, which opens with If I We’re a Boy, which is also the albums first single. I like this song, and I think it shows the little glimpse of artistic maturity that remains on this album. The harmonies are good and its arrangement and melody has appeal that would reach a very broad audience. Halo is my favorite song on the album, although the chorus can wear thin after a while. I like the production and Beyonce turns in a believable vocal performance.
Disappear is another well-paced and good vocal effort, but is nothing special, really. This track could have easily been placed on her last album with no real problem. Broken-Hearted Girl also showcases a good vocal performance but is typical Beyonce, overblown melodrama. I really hope they don’t release this one as a single just because I don’t want to hear it everywhere I go. Ave Maria would have been better left alone as well, but I give her an “A” for effort on this one. She tried to make the old cathedral staple a modern one on her album but it does not a thing for me.
Satellites isn’t terrible. Its mellow acoustic melody works well with Beyonce’s vocals and is a redeeming moment for the album so far. But up until now it hasn’t been terrible. This first disc is nice because it sounds as if Beyonce actually stood still for once to record the music. She doesn’t warble or do unnecessary vocal gymnastics like she used to with Destiny’s Child or in her early solo career. She seems to actually be able to focus on holding a note rather than trying to hold them all. Very refreshing for her.
However, while the first disc somewhat delivers, Disc two takes a freefall downhill. This disc of course, corresponds to Sasha. Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) is the only real highlight on this disc. Beyonce hasn’t been completely overproduced on this track and although it may get very annoying very quick, its about as edgy as Sasha can be without making you sick.
Radio is a complete disaster. Sounds like something she recorded for a Kidz Bop Collection. I don’t know whether to throw up or laugh when I hear it. The vocals aren’t really very great either, as she returns to her rushed, whisper-speaking. I can’t even get through the whole song, it’s just awful. Things certainly don’t improve with Diva-Beyonce’s obligatory piece of self-affirmation. The lyrics sound like an eighth grader wrote them, they go something like this:
“UH DIVA IS UH FEMALE VERSION OVA HUSTLA! *OVA HUSTLA! OVA OVA HUSTLA!”
The music here is nothing more than what you'd hear in a local 18-and up club. Your run of the mill Hip-Hop with electro tricks and tinged with smugness so thick you'd easily mistake it for the House of Dereon's new fragrance line. Sweet Dreams also fails to sustain. Just a bunch of filler, set to a typical hip-hop rhythm. It’s just nothing to write home about. We finally (FINALLY!) end with Video Phone, which is nothing but some more Hip-Hop fluff, with Beyonce putting on the Sex-Kitten act that Madonna wishes she could still get away with: “Press record and let you film me” or "you can be in my movie on my video Phhhhonnne", probably as close to Erotica as Beyonce will get, with the played out "naughty girl with sexual urges" act. Cutesy when your Eighteen, A stale theme for B at Twenty-eight. A more mature sexiness would be welcome. Disc two sticks out like a very sore thumb. Tsk. Tsk. Act your age girl! I feel like I'm back in high school after this.
Last Thoughts?
Beyonce and her production team have obviously come up with this annoying concept and created an even more assinying character, in an attempt to distract you for however long, from just how mediocre and worthless the majority of this material truly is.
Sasha Fierce seems to be nothing more than an over-sexed, money-grubbing, blood-sucking, home-wrecking nutcase who likes to do her makeup like she's in a revival of CATS! She should get on back to whatever hole she crawled out from. This is really nothing that sets Beyonce apart from any other top 40 fluff. Songs from this album and B-day could easily be shuffled between the two and I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference, although, at least B-day was a step in the right direction. The first disc is nothing but a tease because there are some pretty alright moments and decent songs. I wouldn’t call it durable at all. Most of the production gimmicks are those of the moment and will be played out soon as is the way of pop music. If you thought Beyonce has matured, you’re probably right, but you sure won’t be able to tell with this album. Beyonce does show promise with the ballads, but after finally getting to her eurotrash disco, Sasha falls flat on her face, leaving blood and makeup on the curb.
This album only serves as evidence that pop music has become one super crappy genre of music today. This album has probably outsold most of what was released in the end of ’08 and the good part of ’09. This of course baffles me because it’s just awful as a whole package. Her and her father (Mathew Knowles) have milked their production formula just plain dry. I guess it's better than her sister Solange's latest crap-fest (She should also stop letting her mother do her styling). If you must have it, buy it used. That way if you think it sucks you only spent about five bucks, helped out your local record store or merchant and you did not contribute to Sasha's empire of madness.
Maybe Etta James oughta whoop her butt. Great Music to Play While Wondering Why you bought it to begin with.
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