Four

Beyonce Knowles has her fourth production originally titled “4”. The reason why she called like this is still not known well. Some sources said that is her favorite number and others say that is just ego and that she is trying to copy big bands like Led Zepellin, in which their fourth album was the one that memorialized them as a great band. Is she trying to do the same thing? We don’t know that for the moment, but her fans are her best judges. I have to admit that I am not a super fan of her or her music, but I have to admit two things about her: she has a pair of legs that most of us (girls) wish to have and her voice is special.

Some critics said that the songs of this album are inspired in Beyonce’s past. I can’t make a statement like this because I really don’t know anything about her emotional past, but what I can say is that I found this album like a roller coaster - ups and downs- of emotions. Starting with “1+1” a very sexy song in where passion, the union and the compromise are the main character. While in “I Care” seems like a painful song where instead of sweat of passion there are tears of pain. The responsible of her pain doesn’t care about, but she still interested in saving the relationship even if is not working. Women. In “I miss you” like the title says, there is something missing or better say someone is missing and she is affected for it and she needs that person. The song “Best Thing I Never Had” reminds when once in our lives we have idealize someone and say “I thought that you did everything right no lies no wrong” as her song says, but at one point or another we open our eyes and see the real person. Probably we feel disappointed but at the end it makes us feel stronger.

Now, here comes a thumb down song, “Party”. As a fun word we expect a entertaining song…well is not. The voices at the time they say "like to party" are slow and lazy, Andre 3000 is who saves the song. ”Rather die young” is a song of necessity of being with someone. The chorus is smooth and the section between the second and third chorus is powerful and rich. Beyonce’s voice come from her deep soul, being completely honest with what does she feel. In “Start Over” her voice comes from the down pitch to up tones, convincing us that everyone deserves another chance in relationships and we can “Love on top” being in love again. In this song his love is in the same track as her, by saying “and finally you put me first” convincing herself of his love. The music sounds like 80’s and after a couple of minutes it turns a little bit tedious.

This album is basically of love, indifference and expectations of that love. At these point of the “Countdown” Beyonce shows her strength in the relationship putting herself as equal; a fighter who really deserves to be loved. She shows her role and place in the relationship making him clear that he is crazy is he leaves her. I think this is a turn point of the album. With “End of Time” the music merges with her voice nicely but the song sounds repetitive. One of the lasts songs “I was here” has more content and emotion, it sounds kind of sad because is like a farewell. But Beyonce’s voice sounds deeper and heart touched, her voice is enjoyable. The last song and most popular song “Run the World (Girls)” closes the album. This song pops out from the whole album, showing who has the power and who the boss is.

Recommendation: “Countdown”

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