Beyonce's new cd is just as creative as it is controversial. From what I have read from other reviewers "Beyonce fails to execute a new style that is effective". I believe the opposite, as well as going to publicly humiliate anyone who claims that Beyonce is trying to make "an alter ego", even if she has used those words herself.The disc that appears most in question is "Sasha Fierce". This disc is actually extremly interesting, aside from Ego which I constantly skip due to its strange wording that is reminiscent of awkwardly sensual themes. Beyonce just about wore the hell out of me with her B'Day cd fillers, though I would still consider it an amazing cd. "Greenlight" and "Kitty Kat" started sounded like the same song and I found myself mixing the two with "Freakum Dress" and "Get Me Bodied". Finally an artist identified their own dying trend and revitalized themself. What Beyonce has done with Sasha Fierce is introduce a variety of new sounds in order to get a general response from listeners and allow her to perform within different areas. Tracks like "Diva" and "Video Phone" show a more ghetto side to Beyonce which hasn't been thoroughly explored and I have more than enjoyed. "Radio" is also reminiscent of a ghetto sound as she slurs her speech in the begining and drops certain consanant sounds to create an interesting texture and feel to her voice. The beats are, according to other reviews I have read, harder for Beyonce to dance to, however, if you were to watch any of her new music videos you would quickly bite your tongue. Beyonce is not only an amazing vocalist when she needs to be, but she is able to dance better than any other performer, far exceeding the abilities of Shakira for example. I feel listeners are annoyed with the difficult rhythms to the songs, making them a challenge for one to dance to without hearing the song several times, this screaming volumes that this cd does not exhibit simplicity.
However, one song that does show some simplicity, if not is defined by simplicity, is Diva. Yet, I am addicted to it. I found in enthralling and could not repeating it. Beyonce's use of her rhythmic voice is what rap should be like, and her husband Jay-Z should really take some lessons on changing his intunations... he is flat and sucks at rapping. Nevertheless, that is not the point. Beyonce's controversial tracks are her newest sounds, her biggest risks and I believe that this shows amazing courage and that it will pay off.
To continue talking about "Sasha Fierce", Beyonce's works do not all need to show an amazing depth and ability in her voice. If Beyonce were to constantly try to show her vocal range in every song, listeners would quickly get bored of her voice as it would start to seem to have no dimension, for example try to listen to up tempo Leona Lewis, now listen to the same song and try to enjoy it... HARD. Beyonce's undeniable creativity in her second cd "Sasha Fierce" is not her attempting to make an alter ego, solely so she can have one. The split between Beyonce Knowled and Sasha Fierce is the drastic gap between sensual up tempo beats and heart-breaking ballads, and the two are not comparable. To create a single cd with tracks such as those featured on both cds would make Beyonce seem almost hypocritical, for this Beyonce separates the two to show that she too is dimensional. However, due to shoddy information and weak focuses by the media this cd is not getting the wrap it deserves. Beyonce's actions are not pulling at straws in order to get a response, Beyonce has made the expert decision to separate sensuality to another name so that "the common man" wouldn't be as likely to condemn her meaningful ballads, claiming that a girl who sings about being taped naked on a video phone (Video Phone) wouldn't realistically be singing about her struggling relationship where she realizes she was never there for her boyfriend and is no losing him (Disappear).
However, ironically the media instantly focuses on the split as a negative thing. I remember that before I was familiar with the cd I was turned off to the idea that Beyonce was changing her name to Sasha Fierce. In truth, that was no where near happening. Beyonce is not always going to produce the same up tempo music and she has provided more than enough of similar sounding tracks for fans of her "old stuff" on B'Day, thank God she redeemed herself with "Beautiful Liar". Like how rock fans sometimes only prefer "the old stuff" of a band, this is the point where Beyonce's maturity in her career extends her into a new world of music. Though I have read reviews that claimed songs like "Ego", "Video Phone", and "Diva" display her shallower qualities and show a lack of maturity, I beg that one might reconsider this and realize what I have mentioned above. Beyonce's maturity brought her to realize that some fans enjoy uptempo, sensual tracks. Why were/are the Pussycat dolls such a radio sensation? Separating her meaningful ballads from her sensual, upbeat music, Beyonce has created herself "an alter ego" but really only made the real Beyonce the focal point of attraction while allowing those who will enjoy her uptempo music to indulge in "Sasha Fierce".
Personally, I am a true Beyonce fan and have liked and supported her since she hit the stage and I believe part of being a real fan is really examining her choices before making shallow claims as to her career moves and to her maturity. Regardless of how articulate you appear, your logic is flawed in that you fail to recognize Beyonce's reasons for creating the heavily judged "alter ego".
