Album of the Day — June 26
Beyonce ‘ — 4
Beyonce ‘ — 4
26.June.2020
Beyonce’
4
2011
Beyonce seems to have transcended her status of artist, singer, songwriter, mother, and wife and become a life-force for many.
After a hiatus that she used to creatively fire herself up, she dug deep into traditional rhythm and blues, stamped an update on it, and unleashed 4 in 2011.
In a surprise to no one, 4 was her fourth consecutive album to debut at number one on the US Billboard 200. The album would chart in nearly every country in the world and would top the charts in Brazil, France, Ireland, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Partnering with a bevy of producers Beyonce’ had assembled a Dream Team of traditional producers, DJs, beat masters, songwriters. She needed them to accomplish her goal. In a cover story with Complex, she said: “With 4, I tried to mix R&B from the ’70s and the ’90s with rock ’n’ roll and a lot of horns to create something new and exciting.”
Beyonce’ was always exciting, but this was somehow … different.
This was her first album after severing professional ties with father and manager Mathew Knowles. 4 is also the first album that Beyoncé turned away from the music of her previous albums and went for a more intimate personal approach. Her lyrics emphasize female empowerment and a self-reflection that added another layer to her deepening artistic credibility.
“Schoolin Life” is a nod to Prince. She wraps up the best of what he could do while making it all her own and creates a song that mixes the best of bombastic R&B, studio wizardry, reflection, knowledge, and empowerment all in 4:53:
Schoolin’ Life
This is for them twenty-somethings
Time really moves fast, you were just sixteen
This is for them thirty-somethings
That didn’t turn out exactly how your mom and dad wanted you to be
This is for them forty-somethings
Well raise up your glass and laugh like a motherfucker
This is for them fifty-somethings
Hell, you’re halfway there, baby take it to the head
Mom and dad tried to hide the world
Said, the world is just too big for a little girl
Eyes wide open, can’t you see
I had my first heels by the age of thirteen
Mom and dad tried to hide the boys
I swear that just made them want me more
At fourteen they asked me what I wanna be,
I said “Baby twenty-one, so I’d get me a drink.”
CHORUS
I’m not a teacher, babe, but
I can teach you something
Not a preacher, but
We can pray if you wanna
Ain’t a doctor, but
I can make you feel better
But I’m great at writing physical love letters
I’m a freak, all day, all night ooh
Hot, top, flight, boy out of sight
And I’m crazy, all day, all night
Who needs a degree when you’re schoolin’ life?
Oh-ooh, oh-ooh
Ooh whoah oh oh oh
Oh-ooh, oh-ooh
Ooh whoah oh oh oh (schoolin’ life)
This is for them pretty somethings
Living in a fast lane, see you when you crash babe
This is for them sexy somethings
That body ain’t gon’ always get ya out of everything
This is for them bitter somethings
Stop living in regret, baby, it’s not over yet
And this is for them trippin’ somethings
That’s high on life, baby, put me on your flight
CHORUS
You know it costs to be the boss
One day you’ll run the town
For now, make your life what you decide
Baby, party ’til the fire marshals shut this sucker down
CHORUS
There’s not a real way to live this
For real
Just remember stay relentless oh yeah, oh yeah
Don’t stop running until it’s finished, yeah yeah yeah
It’s up to you, the rest is unwritten
Yeah yeah yeah
In what could be a sequel to 2008’s “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” the call and response anthem “Run the World (Girls)” Beyonce’ sets the record straight:
Run the World (Girls)
Girls, we run this motha, yeah
Girls, we run this motha, yeah
Girls, we run this motha, yeah
Girls we run this motha, girls
Who run the world?
Girls
I’m repping for the girls
Who taking over the world
Have me raise a glass
For the college grads
Anyone rolling
I’ll let you know
What time it is, check
You can’t hold me
I wrote my 9 to 5
Gotta cop my cheque
This goes out to all
The women getting it in
Get on your grind
To the other men
That respect what I do
Please accept my shine
Boy you know you love it
How we’re smart enough
To make these millions
Strong enough to bear the children
Then get back to business
See, you better not play me
Don’t come here baby
Hope you still like me
“F” you pay me
My persuasion can build a nation
Endless power
Our love we can devour
You’ll do anything for me
Who run the world?
Girls
Many critics highlighted the last single released from 4, “End of Time”, for its pulsating rhythms and horns & uplifting lyrics:
Come take my hand
I won’t let you go
I’ll be your friend
I will love you so, deeply
I will be the one to kiss you at night
I will love you until the end of time
I’ll be your baby
Now promise not to let you go
Love you like crazy
According to DJ Swivel, one of 4’s engineers, it was Nigerian Afrobeat musician Fela Kuti’s passion for music and his use of horns and percussion instruments that motivated Beyonce’ on “End of Time”. His spirit may also account for her exceptional and confident vocal delivery.
Despite the albums, overall success, only “Love on Top” reached #1 Billboards Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for seven consecutive weeks. This would make 4 Beyonce’s first album to not yield a #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.
Arguably, this only matters to record companies … because her fans don’t care. And chart performance of singles isn’t dictated by sales but by airplay … which is manipulated by forces much larger than fans.
And nothing pisses labels off more than not having bragging rights and being able to squeeze every penny out of an album by exercising those bragging rights.
When 4 leaked a couple of weeks prematurely, rumors kicked around that her label (Columbia) requested from Beyoncé to make changes to the record and reunite Destiny’s Child, claims Columbia denied. But … come on …
Critics were favorable of the 4 but reluctant to heap high praise on it. Perhaps it was this “new” Beyonce’ that intimidated them?
Adam Markovitz of Entertainment Weekly said the first half of 4 is “marred by boring ballads” and the songwriting, in general, is “not on-par with Beyoncé’s vocal talent.”
Sasha Frere-Jones of The New Yorker called 4 the best album of 2011.
Ryan Dombal at Pitchfork said 4 was “easygoing, retro-informed, and engaging” because it shows “one of the world’s biggest stars exploring her talent in ways few could’ve predicted.”
While 4 ended up on many “Best of” lists for 2011 and sold well, I think it’s true legacy will be that like so many classic albums its stature will grow over time.
4 may not have been the record people played the most out of the gate, but it will be the album of Beyonce’s they return to the most often — the sustenance that sustains the fans that see her as a life force.