My review of 4

 

1+1 - it's okay, not the best track on the album, don't think it's the best album opener. 6/10

I Care - I really love this, very emotive vocals and it seems quite raw. 8/10

I Miss You - again, very emotional vocals and I can see this being a later single. 8/10

Best Thing I Never Had - definitely the 'Irreplaceable' of the album, absolutely love this, it's reminiscent of 'We Belong Together' too. 8/10

Party - I'm not keen on this tbh, it seems like album filler and the title is just unoriginal. 3/10

Rather Die Young - like a sequel to ''03 Bonnie & Clyde' but from Bonnie's point of you, and is very jazzy, could fit into her early solo albums imo. It's relatively commercial and can see this being the fourth single maybe. 8/10

Start Over - the vocals in this are ridiculously strong and I love the lyrics, especially the mountain/magic piece line. I think this is the 'Scared Of Lonely' of the album. 9/10

Love On Top - it's very smooth and slick, quite jazzy too, don't think it stands out much but is a nice happy song. It reminds me of the Motown era with the Jackson 5 and has an element of Stevie Wonder and Tina Turner in this imo. The vocal performance is very early Micheal Jackson ('Ben', 'Rockin' Robin', 'I Want You Back' etc). 7/10

Countdown - the second version of 'Check On It', very typical B'Day-era Beyonce. It is very energetic. 7/10

End Of Time - when I heard the demo I wasn't keen but my God this is absolutely brilliant! EUPHORIC - that's all. 10/10

I Was Here - it's alright but not phenomenal on first listen, but it's okay. 7/10

Run the World (Girls) - everyone knows my views on this record, absolutely classic. Love the tribal sound! 10/10

 

Stand-outs: 'End of Time', 'Run the World (Girls)', 'Start Over'.

Skip-worthy tracks: '1+1', 'Party'.

 

OVERALL RATING: 8/10

Edited June 29, 201113 yr by SceneofSIXCrimes

I love 'Dreaming'. The bonus tracks are all really strong!

Is anyone else hearing the Eastenders theme about 3 minutes into 'Dreaming' though? Haha.

I Miss You a potential single? Rule The World (Girls) one of the best tracks? :drama:

As much as I love 'I Miss You'...like Crowan says, single material? Definitely not. I can't see it connecting with the masses really.

'Run the World (Girls)' is definitely one of the best songs imo though, still absolutely love it!

First week predicted sales for the US are 275-300k, by HDD. Hopefully it'll do more when she does the promo this week, but it seems quite decent for an album that has had a severely under performing first single and was leaked 3 weeks in advance. ^_^

I love 'Dreaming'. The bonus tracks are all really strong!

Is anyone else hearing the Eastenders theme about 3 minutes into 'Dreaming' though? Haha.

 

Yes :lol: I was about to come in to say the exact same thing! It was a bit :mellow: at first, but I'm doubting Beyonce's heard of the show/theme tune so she's forgiven. It's one of my favourites out of the whole era actually.

I Miss You a potential single? Rule The World (Girls) one of the best tracks? :drama:

 

I can certainly see it being a 6th single. Considering the album is generally not at all commercial, 'I Miss You' is probably a likely candidate. :lol:

 

And RTW is one of the best tracks. Again, it might not be the most commercial, but that doesn't mean it's not quality.

I think Im warming to Run the World (Girls) :( HELP ME PLEASE!

This album is phenomenal. Seriously outstanding, I love the way that there seems to be a "sound" to it, unlike the first two albums, and Beyoncé's vocals have improved so much in such little time. My stand-out is definitely 'Best Thing I Never Had', but I'm also loving 'Countdown', 'I Care' and 'Love On Top' - does 'I Care' remind anyone else of Leona Lewis's 'Happy' (although with a stronger melody)?

 

I've not listened to 'Dreaming' yet, but the idea of it sounding like EastEnders is rather amusing.

Wow, I love 'Dreaming'. All of the bonus tracks are actually very strong.

If she releases 'I Miss You' as a single, I will fall out with this bitch, then she will have released the two worst songs of the album, along with RTW(G).

 

If I was Beyonce, the single plan from now on would go like:

 

Single 3: End Of Time

Single 4: I Was Here

Single 5: Start Over

Single 6: A brand new song from the re-edition of '4'. It ideally would be a big collaboration e.g. Beautiful Liar

 

AND THEN TOUR, WOMAN.

 

I think the singles should go:

 

03. "End of Time"

04. "Schoolin' Life"

05. "I Was Here"

 

And then no more. I'm really hoping there are no re-releases for this album. It's flawless, in my opinion, I don't want her to ruin it.

I would like:

 

1. Run the World (Girls)

2. Best Thing I Never Had

3. End of Time

4. Start Over

5. Rather Die Young/I Miss You/Countdown (out of the three, I can see 'Countdown' being chosen)

 

From Platinum Edition

6: TBA (collaboration with Leona Lewis :kink:)

I would like:

 

1. Run the World (Girls)

2. Best Thing I Never Had

3. End of Time

4. Start Over

5. Rather Die Young/I Miss You/Countdown (out of the three, I can see 'Countdown' being chosen)

 

From Platinum Edition

6: TBA (collaboration with Leona Lewis :kink:)

 

Now THAT is something I would definitely like to see :D

After reports of dissatisfaction, panic and other pre-release drama, executives at Columbia Records are feeling vindicated by the positive early returns for Beyoncé's new album, 4.

 

"All the speculation that gets around is frustrating when it's just not true," Columbia/Epic Label Group Chairman Rob Stringer tells Billboard.biz. "The story about us being unhappy with the record and stuff is just not true. There's never been any doubt or conversations about moving the record or changing it... Those conversations never existed. We're really, really happy with it."

 

The label is particularly pleased with sales reports from 4's initial days of official availability. Stringer says early indications are that the album will debut at No. 1 in as many as 14 countries, including the U.S., and in the Top 3 worldwide. It went triple-platinum in Brazil on its first day of sale, while U.K. projections have it selling "well over" 90,000 copies in its first week -- which more than doubles I Am... Sasha Fierce's roll-out in 2008 -- and 1.6 million over its lifespan. The album's second single, "Best Thing I Never Had," is No. 1 on the U.K. iTunes charts and currently sits at No. 58 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 29 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.

 

"The numbers are very good everywhere," Stringer notes. "We thought the record is great from the beginning, and some of the stuff that is happening now is vindication of it."

 

Columbia did scramble when 4's first single, "Run the World (Girls)", leaked and was released ahead of schedule, peaking at No. 29 on the Hot 100. The album, meanwhile, leaked in full on June 7, three weeks ahead of its June 28 release date, leading to reports that 4 would be delayed and possible altered -- particularly after a tepid response from the blogosphere and a feeling that, with more than 70 songs worked on for the album, there would be ample material to create something markedly different than what was being distributed online.

 

"We didn't want the leaks to happen," Stringer says. "But there was never any discussion of this album moving. It has always been that date (June 28). It's been that date for four months now. There was never a conversation about pushing it back, bringing it forward, changing the songs -- none of it."

 

Stringer says the company is looking at an 18-month campaign for 4, which will include "extensive touring" by Beyoncé. Just back from a successful overseas run that included three concerts in France and a closing-night gig at the U.K.'s Glastonbury Festival, she'll roll out a documentary, Beyoncé: Year of 4, on Thursday on MTV and BET, then perform Friday on ABC's GMA Summer Concert Series. She'll head back to the U.K. for a July 9 show at Scotland's T in the Park and a stop the next day at the Oxegen Festival in Ireland.

 

"The main concentration for the next few months is to get this record working everywhere," Stringer says. "She's well versed in being a global artist. The touring plan is extensive. The promo plan is extensive. We also know we're going to put out a lot of singles and...shoot a lot of videos from the record. There's enough positive information that we think we can work the record for another 18 months, and hopefully over that period we'll all be proved right that this is an important record and a commercially successful record."

http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/re...005257492.story

Now THAT is something I would definitely like to see :D

 

Tbh, I can't see any other female artist she is yet to collaborate with, which would work.

 

Katy, Rihanna, Ke$ha and Britney wouldn't work at all with Beyonce imo (maybe Rihanna at a huge push). She's already worked with GaGa and Alicia, Leona is the only global artist left.

J-Lo? :P

Adele? I think Jessie J could work well with her too.

 

Also, are counting the Artists Stand Up to Cancer thing, as her working with Beyoyo? :kink:

Adele? I think Jessie J could work well with her too.

 

Also, are counting the Artists Stand Up to Cancer thing, as her working with Beyoyo? :kink:

 

Oh yeah, those two would be really good, especially Adele. I wouldn't count ASUTC tbh. If we did, then we would have no one left to pick from! :lol:

 

Beyonce & Leona Lewis doing something like 'The Boy Is Mine', 'Put It In A Love Song' or 'Beautiful Liar' would be awesome! I think it would sell millions worldwide.

First week predicted sales for the US are 275-300k, by HDD.

The estimates have now increased to 290-310k, but she also did Good Morning America this morning, so hopefully that'll boost her sales even more. :D

 

In her Year of 4 documentary is shows a clip of Beyoncé recording "I Was Here"... wow.

 

Full Beyoncé: Year of 4 documentary: