Beyonce + "4" = One Hot Single, Nothing More

I have heard many a Beyonce single over the years, but her album called "4" was the first time I've ever actually listened to a full Beyonce track listing. I went into the listening without expectations, but afterwards, as a non-Beyonce fan, I was disappointed by what I heard. Mostly, "4" seems like a bunch of filler material. My song by song notes are below.

"1 + 1": This song is kind of goofy and I'm pretty sure it doesn't mean to be, as Beyonce begs us to make love to her in a drunken, groan ballad. She doesn't know much about guns she says, but she knows she's been shot by you. I'm not really sure how that works as a lyric meaning anything other than having been shot by a gun, which would be fairly traumatic not romantic. She also keeps saying "you've got enough for both of us," as in enough love, which kind of makes her a lazy whiner expecting you to do all the loving. Make love to her? I guess she is just going to lay there like a rag doll while you do it.

"I Care": When all else fails say "oooo" and "la la la la." This has a somber drum beat and clap pop ballad tone and Beyonce's vocals deliver the lyrics adequately, but the chorus lacks any punch.

"I Miss You": Simple. Simply generic. Mariah Carey probably could have turned this dull slow ballad about missing someone into something with more fire, but Beyonce and "I Miss You" just go nowhere.

"Best Thing I Never Had": A pop story ballad that speeds up with a little rumble of angst and empowerment as Beyonce talks about losing a man and then realizing how great it was that the relationship ended because it wasn't what she thought it was. Now, I guess she is kind of singing and rubbing it in to the jerk of a dude. Really though, if it's worthy of a song then I reckon she still cares more than she wants to realize: HA! Girls who like Beyonce and a little sass should dig thing, but at the same time too many listens may insight narcissism. Careful listening, ladies.

"Party": I was expecting an upbeat "party" song, but this is more like a cheesy throwback to 90s R & B songs. Andre Benjamin's smooth flow of lyrics on the song are the only positive thing I found at the party.

"Rather Die Young": The title and chorus deserve more punch, one again this is a weak swing of a pop song ballad. "Oooooooo Oh Oooooo." Sleepy-time halfway mark.

"Start Over": I can identify with the strong desire to start a relationship over, because don't they all just seem to meander into a routine or arguing? Ha. Beyonce captures that aspect well and sings out a pleas to shake things up and fix them, a noble approach to the problems at hand, even accepting some of the blame, and she gets points for that. Aside from content, "Start Over" is nothing new or special on the pop music soundscape."

"Love On Top": An outdated and weak sound, which may make it a classic to some, but a musical fart to others.

"Countdown": This song sound similar to some of her other aerobic paced tunes, very skitzo. Does it make for a nice change of pace for the album? You can decide for yourself, I don't want to be a total party pooper, but for me (not the target audience) it is corny.

"End Of Time": Not easy to listen to. Horns and snare drums, generic lyrics, not really something to cruise and listen to, not something to dance to, not something to nod your head to, just something, that is a lot of nothing. I guess Beyonce can do her herky-jerky butt popping to it. It speeds up in some mid to later sections where I could see it used on "So, You Think You Can Dance?" or something for a short dance skit, style not important.

"I Was Here": A crying out about the desire to be remember after death, not simply by friends and family, but a more ego stroking massive impact it would seem. So, when Beyonce dies she wants every to know she was here. It seems like it is supposed to be an inspirational ballad, but it's really just a vain death wish. Morbid pop?

"Run The World (Girls)": This is the single set to be "the hit" even with the tell-tale Beyonce herky-jerky snare drum beat. It is a fun anthem and mixed tight and entertaining. This sounds like Beyonce on the current music scene, the rest of the album is filler material for this single. Too bad I'm not a girl, because they "run this mother."